Game 73 Recap: Blazers 112, Hornets 101

As a 100% FG shooter, he trumps both Paul and Nash in PG ranks.

He becomes a much better player.

Sweeeeeeet!

He hit one and they played like he’d never do that again, something like “he’l have to hit that again to prove to me he can hit that shot.” I just laughed. He’s no Kareem at it, but he’s good enough and certainly uses it enough not to be an oddity.

But his best stretch for me was the big reb in traffic defensively, tipping it around before finally snaring it-and then moments later, an actual spin and hard drive to the hoop for the foul and a good attempt.

Bayless doesn’t get time because the old Vet called Dre takes all his minutes. He is just a big PT hog LOL.

Rudy didn’t shoot well tonight but played some nice D. He had a few steals and a fair number of deflections.

So he might be in more when we’re playing catch-up. FWIW, he had nice games in our last 2 Toronto wins…

I miss it in Travis. Don’t quite have it yet with Jerryd

“You look like a guy who’s trying to get himself off! Rex, you’re the fifth option when playing with the starters, so don’t ever lose sight of that! Brandon, LA, Dre and Marcus are the guys who are going to be getting the ball going to the basket and if you can’t deal with that you’re going to struggle!”

I was fine with his play too, other than the benchwide comic relief at the end.

ULC’s not gonna like this, but…Bayless is not prepared to be a backup PG on a playoff contender. (Sorry, but he doesn’t pass the eyeball test, no matter what the stats may say…) Hopefully the “lack of Blake” won’t cost Portland a playoff game. I fully expect to see a Roy-Andre-Rudy rotation in the post season, with Rex in there for short minutes (seconds?) in case of foul trouble and on a very short tether

That drive and falling-over turnover in the 4th quarter was cringe-worthy. It’s like #4 has taken a few steps backwards in his “How to run the half-court set, 101” development.

Just 9 games to go, before PG finishing school is out for summer

Yes. The bench needs to show up tomorrow. The last game vs OKC was a bomb. The Blazers owe them a spanking.

Do the Blazers make a big effort next season to figure out who is the point guard of the future (and trade for one if necessary).

Or, just keep playing Andre till his wheels fall off and then figure it out.

I’ve weighed in on this question before, here’s a couple of thoughts.

Portland in general (and Nate, more recently) hasn’t had much success developing young PGs. They seem to draft a new one every year, but the veterans (Blake, Miller) work out better with McMillian. So…stop drafting young PGs and try to swing a deal for another veteran when Andre slows down. There should be a few veteran PGs who will want to come and play with Roy and Oden, when that time comes (Tony Parker is my pipe dream)

The “Batum as point forward” scenario. Nic joins Brandon and Rudy in a “who cares who the PG is?” lineup and they get enough quality ball movement from this trio (and Rex) to make the whole search for a new PG moot

Devin Harris…but that means either Rex or Rudy (or probably both) are gone. You’d be playing a rotation of Roy-Miller-Harris and there wouldn’t be any guard minutes left over for anyone other than somebody like Deiner, Mills or Koponen. Devin and Andre would be a brutal shooting backcourt so I’m not sure if Harris is really a viable option as long as ’Dre is in charge.

Mike Conley Jr…meh, too small. I have to admit I had my fill of undersized guards back in the days of Damon. They always look better than they are. There was a guy who called Vance on Friday who was trying to convince Kenny that Stoudamire was a better PG than Andre…never mind that DS was a shooting guard in a PG’s body and during his best season in PDX his P/A stats were 15/6. Greg Anthony was a better “PG” for Portland when he was here than Damon was…and so was Kenny Anderson (as Vance mentioned) You can have your waterbug and I’ll send Miller out there and Andre will post the little guy up all day, and then he’ll whip a pass out of the inevitable double team to an open teammate for an easy basket.

Of course this is without stats outdoorman, but it seems that LMA has progressively and notably became better on defense, better at inside moves on offense, doesn’t shy away as much, learning to block out and becoming more consistent when playing against tough fours and dbl teams. West and Stoudemire is good recent examples.

More importantly I think Cambyman will be a gigantic help to Greg next year if he stays. How am I doing without stats Outdoor man.? I actually love debates and was mostly having fun and learning. I was just hung up on the whining thing and I apologize for coming on so strong.

I feel guilty for liking Camby better then Joel. but I honestly feel that Camby has much more value to us then Joel. I also think Joel’s contract will be sold next year for financial reason’s. Of course it would be great if we could keep both, but I don’t think either Joel or Cambyman is ready for third stringer.

My idea is to keep Camby as back up 4 and 5 when needed and Joel and Greg at 5. Greg could play the four when needed.

You can’t have to many bigs