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Weekend Recap, losses to the Hornets and Lakers
Written by Sheed   
Monday, 05 January 2009 08:45
I learned something last night as the Trail Blazer game got out of reach in the 4th quarter.   Portland is not a great team right now without Brandon Roy.  They remind me a lot of the bad teams in the NBA, hanging around for 2 quarters, but when the good team goes on a run, the game is virtually over.  It’s frustrating to watch, realistically the Blazers should have been up by 10-15 points at half time but neither Rudy nor Steve Blake could make an open shot in the first half.  Even after those miscues we were still in it as the 3rd quarter began.  Unfortunately that’s when things really started to unravel.

The 3rd quarter was atrocious, the Lakers went on a 9-0 run at one point and Portland had some silly turnovers including 2 shot clock violations.  How is that even possible?  Probably the most embarrassing type of turnover considering you have complete control over the situation, if you’re paying attention. I felt like nothing was going right and the Lakers were looking much better than they deserved to look on this night. Back to back games with no leadership, no clutch shooting and not enough physical “drive to the hoop” play.

I’ve also come to conclusions about the team after losses to New Orleans and Los Angeles;

Jerryd Bayless flat out needs to play more.  He should be our back-up point guard, and sooner than later he will be the starter.

Moving Channing Frye is inevitable. He is a poor man’s LaMarcus Aldridge on a team with LaMarcus Aldridge. That doesn’t make any sense; we need a back-up power forward like, David Lee!

I am completely tired of Travis Outlaw’s game as it relates to the Blazers. He seems so out of place on the court; looking for his own shot, fumbling over himself, I shouldn’t be so nervous every time one guy has the ball.

I am not over reacting at all; games without Brandon Roy are going to be tough.  Perhaps having Brandon sidelined is a good thing, it lets Pritchard see our flaws which in turn will cause him to make a move which will benefit Portland a great deal in the future.  Hopefully the next few games against Detroit, Golden State and Chicago don’t go as poorly as the last two.  I can see the Pistons exploiting our weaknesses and causing even more trade talk.  We will see a major or maybe a minor trade by the time the deadline comes around on February 19th.

Comments

avatar Bowerz
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I really hope that we can trade Sergio instead of Bayless. Im not sure exactly how Lee would be fit into the rotation -- it seems like he wouldnt want to resign with a team that already has a bonafide starter in LA.
Monday 05 January 2009, 05:10
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avatar Sheed
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I totally agree. I think Bayless is going to be so good for the Blazers, they won't trade him.
Monday 05 January 2009, 05:24
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avatar Hilly
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Great Post!!!

Last night and this morning I have been talking to co-workers about all of those points. Last night was so frustrating to watch and I was ashamed when we had two shot clock violations (one of which we didn't even attempt a shot). Also Batum is better than Travis at defense and hitting the boards. He can't however create his own shot but Travis will turn it over more times than not.

I am not going to write anything else because my feelings were summed up in that post.
Monday 05 January 2009, 06:35
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avatar DogPissJones
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Good write-up. I'm also a Bayless fan. His shooting has been nothing short of pathetic but I think that's just rust and nerves. He needs to be the point though.

I'm starting to wonder though if Pritchard had this whole situation planned out and really just drafted Bayless as trade-bait knowing that getting him at 13 was a steal.

Lee seems like the type of guy who would be content as a 6th man. He reminds me of Pryzbilla....or someother hard-nosed player who is not all about "getting his" and just happens to be white. hmmm...that's probably racist....well....he reminds me of a......taller, stronger Avery Johnson!
Monday 05 January 2009, 06:47
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avatar Sami A
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Nice article. Nets fan here, I just saw that Busta Bucket video which was hilarious by the way.

David Lee has been putting up numbers this season,(for his standards at least) so who knows if he views himself as something different. The previous poster is right though, he's a team first type of guy
Monday 05 January 2009, 08:05
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avatar The Great Pumpkin
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I thought I read somewhere that Bayless in not being viewed as the PG of the future. I think they trade him.
Monday 05 January 2009, 11:29
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avatar Chief Bare Skin
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I can't believe how similar our sentiment is. I thought, right from the beginning of the season, that Bayless should start at the point, In EVERY GAME of the season, hands down. He wasn't picked 11th for nothing. Hell, Kobe Bryant was the 13th pick in the 1996 draft, and we all know how that turned out. I think Sergio (as much as I love the Spanish Armada) needs to go, Frye needs to go, and Travis should be at the back of the rotation once Martell comes back for good...
Monday 05 January 2009, 15:02
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avatar CrazyJoe
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I have to disagree, Jerryd Bayless is younger than Sergio, that is all he has going for him. Both guys can't shoot but I am not sure Bayless can make any shot. If you were 6-2 or under, you have to be able to make open 3 pointers or even long 2's. Until he can do that his ability to drive to the bucket (I won't even talk about the fact he can't finish at the rim) will be negated. Both he and Sergio rival Joel for worst shooter on the team and until they can keep defenses honest both will be non-factors. I do think Bayless has the potential to be the only true good one-on-one defender though.
Tuesday 06 January 2009, 08:03
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avatar Sheed
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It's tough to say much about the potential of Bayless right now, based on his work in the NBA so far. He played one year at Arizona and he has played very little so far in Portland. Sergio however is 2 years older and has a lot more NBA experience. We pretty much know what Sergio is, it's not going to get a whole lot better in my opinion. Bayless has plenty of potential, he just needs more reps.
Tuesday 06 January 2009, 08:10
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avatar CrazyJoe
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True but Bayless looks so uncomfortable out there. He is hesitant in everything he does and makes me nervous any time he has the ball. I am all about potential but it would be nice if we didn't have to wait 5 years like we did with Outlaw to be a useful player. Bayless should have stayed in school.
Tuesday 06 January 2009, 08:22
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avatar Sheed
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I honestly don't think it will take that long with Bayless. He is much better then we've seen so far. At least to some degree he showed his capabilities in summer league. Eventually he'll adjust to the better talent in the NBA and be very good.
Tuesday 06 January 2009, 08:43
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avatar CrazyJoe
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I hope you are right because he looks like a D-leaguer currently. I have been ripping on Sergio as much as anybody but after seeing Bayless play they have both looked equally awful. The summer league is not the NBA so it is hard to put much stock into that. He was the focal point of the offense there and he never will be with the Blazers. If he can't learn to be a pass first point guard with a good jump shot he has no place on this team. His ball handling skills need to improve and ultimately what will keep him playing is the fact that every guard in the NBA and drive right by Blake and Sergio.
Tuesday 06 January 2009, 11:59
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Important Summer Dates

July 1st, 2009: Start of negotiations on long-term contracts for Roy and Aldridge.

July 10th-19th, 2009: Las Vegas NBA summer league.

July 22nd-25th, 2009: Team USA Training for Roy, Aldridge and Oden.

September 7th-20th, 2009: Eurobasket Tourney

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