Roy=Starting Point Guard?

Always loved his attitude, quickness and unique talents. Having said that I am having doubts at this point. Its not due to his inconsistency which is too be expected out of a second year player but rather that his fit with Brandon doesn’t seem so obvious to me.

I agree that in theory when Jerryd and Brandon are playing together that Bayless is the off-guard offensively and the point on D while Brandon is the opposite. The problem that remains however is that Bayless is not an ideal off-guard for Brandon to play with. There is a lot of duplication in their skillsets and the one key skill someone playing off Brandon should have IMO is shooting, which Jerryd still lacks. I’m sure this could improve but at this point with a decent sample size and the somewhat awkward stoke Jerryd has I don’t see him being a consistant or high percentage shooter from long distance. I wish Bayless fit here long term but I just don’t see it outside of him accepting an ‘energy/instant offense’ type role, which is unlikely.

This doesn’t really address your point jscot but I also don’t see Brandon as a point guard in any situation. He is a playmaker but the large majority of his assists are created based on defenses collapsing on him and his ability to find the open man. As a passer in half-court sets I think Brandon would be found lacking and relying on him having the ball in his hands even more could encourage more of the Roy-centric offense that has become so predictable. A point guard who is able to share the playmaking duties with Brandon, perhaps with strengths that compliment his rather than duplicating them, while also being able to hit from distance and play good D would be ideal. There aren’t many that fit that description but its not like we need all world level skills in those areas, just servicable and dependable production.

The way I would like to have seen us address this weakness was in the previous draft, instead of through free agency. The signing of Andre Miller was predicated on the idea that the Blazers should be an elite team who were at least a dark horse pick to get to the finals. I would much rather have drafted a rookie pg that fit our needs and given them a chance to develop even if it mean’t us being a 50-55 win team rather than pushing 60 (if healthy obviously). The source of my frustration is that there were plenty than filled at least 2 of the playmaking/3pt shooting/defense requirements.

Rodrigue Beaubois was in my draft day wishlist signature along with the now infamous DeJuan Blair and was someone I thought we had a genuine chance of drafting. He had work out here before the previous draft and seemed like a pg version of Nic Batum to me – athletic, defensively minded with a body designed to play basketball. His shot and playmaking skills were a work in progress but there was clear potential for him to become more than servicable in both of these areas. A potential 3/3 guy and Blazer PGOTF in my mind.

Darren Collison worked out here and I believe would have been selected with our first round pick if he hadn’t been taken before us. Sure we could likely have moved up to get him but I like to think the Blazers thought they could get him at 25 and were surprised he was taken before then. He is an incredible defender for someone his size and is an impressive passer so early in his career. He is not a sharpshooter but is decent in this area – certainly an improvement on Bayless.

The other pg the Blazers were reportedly interested in was Steph Curry. I wasn’t sure how his game would translate to the NBA but he undoubtedly knew how to shoot the 3 and had impressive court vision. An option that looks particularly appealing in light of his recent play and despite his deficiencies defensively.

I will be accused of revisionist history I am sure, as all the potential pgs I have chosen are playing well and have reasonably large roles for rookies. However each was a viable option in a draft awash with talent and the point. Ty Lawson, Ricky Rubio, Eric Maynor, Jeff Teague, Terrence Williams, Sergio Llull and Nick Calathes would all have been options worth considering but instead we drafted a foreign SF while we had 2.5 already on the roster and two PFs (a legitimate position of need but no more legitimate than the point).

I know looking back at what ifs in terms of drafting is a tired thing to do but I truly feel that coming away from that draft with not one pg prospect (Patty Mills doesn’t count until he proves he belongs in the NBA) was a mistake despite the relative success of our 2nd round picks. That Beaubois could have been had at 25 still annoys me everytime I see him play – our long-limbed french defensive attack could have more than made up for the sometimes apathetic nature of our no.1 and 2 offensive guys on D……