Fool me once. Then get better personnel.

and keep Steve as the backup.

I would have accepted this simple sentence,

“He’s a good point guard for this system, but he’s not a good point guard.”

although I do think need you underappreciate Blake’s 3 point shooting. Shooting 42 freaking percent is amazing. If he doesn’t shoot that then the defense collapses and makes it even MORE difficult for Oden/LMA to develop. It’s not like Blake is Iverson or Artest. As you mention, he’s only scoring ~9 or 10 a game. That’s two or three threes a night—just enough to keep the defense honest.

Otherwise though, great read. You nailed everything.

“although I do think need you underappreciate Blake’s 3…”

It was a good analysis but on that I think was all filtered through his man-crush for Bayless. If Bayless is to magically become that hard-nosed, high flying, hall-or-famer that Ben is expecting, then that makes Sergio enemy number one and Steve Blake enemy number two. I’m not behind this at all. I glad Pritchard is the one running the team. Geez Ben.

The easiest mistake for General Manager Kevin Pritchard to make this offseason would be to talk himself into another year with Steve Blake as the Portland Trail Blazers’ starting point guard. Given Blake’s dollar store salary, lunch pail dependability, solid character and the fact that he’s coming off what team officials love to call a “career year,” the temptation to stick with Blake is overwhelming. Indeed, last Friday afternoon Pritchard told the media he did not foresee “wholesale changes” to the roster and name-checked Blake specifically as a player who has taken on increased responsibility as a veteran on a young, developing team. The temptation to ride this “career year” 11 points and 5 assists per game point guard must be resisted at all costs if the Blazers are serious about taking their next step on the way to an NBA championship.

I’m not as big on the idea that Steve HAS to go to make room for B-Rex, but I agree that relying on Steve as the starting PG would be a big mistake – and one that would prevent the Blazers from becoming a true title contender for as long as it continues (unless or until B-Rex steps up and becomes a point guard).

Given his skill set — great first step, aggressive defensive intensity, ability to finish at the rim, Tae-Bo physique — Bayless should be able to succeed as a full-time backup point guard next season.

but i have to wonder if having a “tae-bo physique” is really a skill set?

Yes, I think that the Blazers need to address the point guard situation this offseason, but getting rid of Blake would be a mistake. I think Blake is the perfect back up point guard for us. Imagine him coming off the bench. It would make the bench that much better and would be an absolutely perfect fit.

We can say that’s KP’s job. But it’s the question he needs to answer before telling Blake “you are out” or “you are the backup”.

Do we say “we want a better Blake in the future”, then that’s Hinrich, maybe Conley. If we say “we want a completely different style for our starter, a penetrating point guard, one who can use screens and we don’t care that he can’t really shoot the three” then that could be Miller, Sessions, Bayless, Robinson (don’t laugh, better PER than Steve/Rondo/Billups) and a small number of others. Some of those don’t exactly scream “playoff experience”. So there are still many questions to answer.

Ben’s own thoughts boiled it down to one three point shot Steve didn’t make. Steve’s contribution to this team has been much more than one shot. You may disagree, but if Steve makes that shot we would not be talking about this. Steve has gotten better every year. Jaun Dixon..come now. Without Steve Blake we do not get into the playoffs this year. We need him for next year. The Denver/Detroit trade showed how important a point gaurd is, and how disruptive bringing a new one in can be. There are few piont gaurds I would trade for Steve. He is the perfect player to bring Bayless along just like Joel is the perfect center to bring GO along. I have met Ben. I like Ben. I would trade Ben for Steve in an instant.

Blake’s value with this team increases if GO is a better low post scoring option. GO got more touches in the middle of the season and had some big games. After his 2cd injury the Blazers seamed to go away from him. I don’t think you can blame that completely on Blake. I can recall lots of times where the ball was thrown into GO and he threw it right back. He’s simply not comfortable yet.

If we had a better scoring option down low
- Steve’s high % 3 point shooting a real weapon spreading the floor
- Less pressure to break down defenses, throw it into Greg/LA to create double teams/mismatches with good ball movement.

this needs to be on the main page.

I thought Blake was a good fit for this last season and would love to see him stay on the roster… but it’s undeniable that the team would benefit from having more at the 1.

You need to take precautions man.

He will come back to destroy us in games.

Given his skill set — great first step, aggressive defensive intensity, ability to finish at the rim, Tae-Bo physique — Bayless should be able to succeed as a full-time backup point guard next season.

Also, the point which makes Steve Blake sound like a shameless chucker (Blake shot over 300 three-pointers… that means Aldridge and Oden weren’t getting the ball!) doesn’t hold any weight at all. Good post players need point guards to spread the floor so they have room to operate.

Shaq needed Nick Anderson, Rick Fox and Kobe… Dwight Howard needs Rashard Lewis… Yao has Brooks and Battier… You can’t just dribble the ball down the floor and rush it into the paint and expect success (although I would point out that Steve Blake did effectively initiate a low-post oriented offense when the Blazers had Zach Randolph).

How’s Bayless’ shooting percentage from beyond the arc? If Bayless’ man gives him 15 feet of space, is that going to hinder Greg Oden’s develop moreso than if Blake were there drawing out the defense? Not to mention, how many more games do we lose if our starting point guard (Bayless) and starting center (Oden) wind up picking up a foul per minute?

Steve Blake has MANY, MANY faults, but it seems like this article would’ve been better served if it outlined his strengths within the Blazers’ offensive and defensive scheme, then addressed weaknesses as a bridge to the possibility that someone else may be a more perfect fit.

If nothing else, save the man-crush for the skinemax hour because Bayless wasn’t the option now and likely won’t be the option next year.

There is a lot of misguided anger and nonsensical rage coming out of the arguments in that link. You can’t deride your best 3 point shooter for attempting to shoot. How many did Travis Outlaw take? Also, it’s not his job to shepherd the young bigs into becoming beasts, they have to do that themselves and demand the ball by proving their ability. It’s not Blake’s fault Oden can’t keep himself in a game no matter who the opponent is, and that he has no offensive moves other than back down and dunk it. Blake simply contributed what he did in the season, he didn’t choke or melt down in such a way that it made Portland a bad playoff team. I think he was a much smaller part of why the Blazers didn’t advance that what that is suggesting.

I’m a Blake fan, but I do agree he probably fits this team better in a backup role. I do think he’s a capable starter though, who could be better in a system with more transition offense and running.

I think you missed the mark on this one. Blake is certainly upgradable, but its not like our team will forever be stuck in the 1st round until we trade him. When Bayless is good enough to deserve run, he will get it. No need to sacrifice everyone that stands in his way. I am with you that an upgrade is very desirable, but one more year with Blake is not going to seriously stunt this teams growth.

BTW. the argument about Blake taking 328 shots that should have been going to Greg and LMA is totally silly. LMA and Oden need Blake to knock down 3’s to stretch the D and give them room to operate. You want to stunt LMA and Greg’s growth? Play Bayless at point guard…

white dudes in the nba ;)

But I guess thats why there are forums like this. If everyone agreed, it wouldn’t be any fun to talk about it.

Basically, I think Ben is undervaluing a PG that can spread the floor. Basketball players at different positions need complimentary skillsets in order to help other players work more effectively with their given skillsets. A driving, slashing pointguard clogs the middle for Roy, making his life harder. A PG that can spread the floor (42% 3-point percentage!) opens up the lane tremendously.

But then again, I do see the upside for both types of PGs. So who knows.

I like Martell becoming the object of much defensive focus. I like the idea of Greg becoming a huge problem for opposing defenses next year. I think both of those things are givens.

I think Brandon, Rudy, Nic and LaMarcus will all be continue to develop into bigger offensive threats next year as well.

With defenses having so much more to worry about next year at these other four spots, all we need is a solid 3 point threat from the PG spot across court from Martell with Brandon up top and LaMarcus and Greg in the paint.

Who will opponents cheat off of? I feel sorry for teams having to play all five of those guys straight up. But only a little. I’ll still watch.

Steve, Brandon, Martell, LaMarcus and Greg.

Then Rudy, Joel, Nic, a FA BIG and a bit of Jerryd off the bench.

60 wins + WCFs.

bookitfatty.

1. Sergio must move.

2. Target Hinrich in a trade which involves Blake and Outlaw. If that is undoable, live with Blake.

3. Rex is the backup in 2009-10, with anticipation that he is a future starter. Don’t play him 30 seconds as anything other than a point guard. He is a point guard.