Breaking down the Blazers....Part 1

Breaking down the Blazers by position....Part One

Its starting to look like the Blazers roster is shaping up nicely for next season and some team officials have indicated they think their won't be any more personel moves before the games begin. Originally, I thought I'd begin this series with the 1 position, but with todays big news about the Brandon Roy contract I found myself thinking about him.

Other than perhaps center, the 2 is the strongest position on the Blazers.
Brandon Roy, starter
Rudy Fernandez, backup
Bayless, & Blake may play limited minutes at this position

All star Brandon Roy, recently rewarded with a five year contract worth over eighty million dollars, is the unquestioned leader of our team. If you look back at the impact Brandon has had on the Blazers one might go so far as to say that the day he was drafted was the end of the Jailblazer era. On and off the court he has been a model of what ownership and fans alike want from a player.

Draw up a list of how many 2 guards in the league are better than Brandon Roy. Or even a list of how many players are better than Brandon Roy. Your list might not be the same as mine, but it in any case it won't be a long list. For the Portland Trailblazers, Brandon Roy has been just what the doctor ordered.

What can we expect from BRoy this year? Brandon is not the kind of person or player whose performance will drop after they get their big payday. I think we can all assume that barring injury he will have another allstar season. With a deeper team, I'm hoping Nate will be able to reduce Brandons minutes just a little bit, and turn over some of the offensive responsibilty to Andre Miller. I think last years playoff series with Houston showed not only how much the Blazers rely on Brandon, but that at times they rely on him a bit too much making them a bit too predictable. Miller will help with that, and I'm looking forward to seeing opponents not knowing from which direction the Blazers are going to attack them.

Second year guard Rudy Fernandez is a player who could start for many teams. Last year he teamed with fellow countryman Sergio Rodriguez to form the Blazers Spanish Armada. Rudys acrobatic dunks and three point shooting were at times spectacular. A seasoned veteran of international and Olympic play, in many respects Rudy was no rookie. However, I do think the physical play of the NBA took some getting used to for him. In some ways I think he may have been underutilzed last year. Much of the time offensively he was little more than a spot up three point shooter. In Europe Rudy was accustomed to having the ball in his hands a little more and has a bit more to his skillset than we shown. He has proven to be a deadly and willing passer, and before the Blazers picked up Andre Miller there was talk of playing him some at the 1. Rudy is never going to be a lock down defender, but has quick hands and is capable of disrupting an opponents offense and picking up some steals.

Its unfortunate for Jerryd Bayless that he didn't grow six inches this summer. During the Las Vegas Summer League he didn't impress anyone with his performance as a point guard. In fact, he was outplayed by Pooh Jeter. What he really is, is an undersized 2 guard. Jerryd is well liked by fans for his hard work in practice and aggressive style of play. He is also in the unfortunate position of having to compete for minutes at the two positions he plays with teammates who are better than he is. His jump shot and three point shot are not what they were in college and need improvement. And these are areas where we can reasonably expect him to improve. Fans enjoy his aggressive drives to the basket, but I think he is overrated as a finisher as he commits a lot of fouls, doesn't pass well off the drive, and often gets his shot blocked. I think it will help Jerryd if his role is more clearly defined as a 2 or a 1, and then put him to work on what he needs to do to earn time at either position.

Steve Blake may also see time at this position due to his shooting ability when Nate runs a three guard lineup.

Your thoughts?

Thanks for starting this thread. I want to start thinking about what we have on our team and this is a good way to do that.

Of course, if you start with the best player (BRoy), it's hard to say anything bad. I know the SG spot is for sure, as you stated, our strongest position. I am sooo happy the Portland signed him to a long term deal.

Rudy is a fan favorite and deserves to play more, but I bet Brandon wants to play 48 if he could. Rudy will hopefully get more playing time at PG this year (just so he can play more). I believe Miller/Blake will get less time to try and be ready for the playoffs.

It is just great that we have made that transition from "can we" make the playoffs, to how can we be better "in the" playoffs. I expect great things from this team this season and it starts with the SG spot.

SteelBlazer wrote: I bet Brandon wants to play 48 if he could.

Probably.

And it brings up this question.....look at the ninety six minutes available at the guard positions how is the PT going to pan out?

Brandon- likely the coaches will want to keep him around 32 minutes. That equals one third of the ninety six minutes available at the guard postion. Who gets the remaining 64 minutes of PT?

Rudy got somewhere around 25 minutes last season and he says he wants more. Backup PG last year only got about 12 minutes. Is that all you are going to give Steve Blake? Are you going to say sorry Steve you are the backup and you will now get what Sergio got last year? You sure can't start Blake and then give Andre Miller twelve minutes. If you split the remaining 64 minutes three ways and leave Jerryd Bayless out of the equation, each guy gets a little over 20 minutes. My guess is that Miller and Rudy are going to get at least 25 minutes, and Blake will end up with whatever is left over. The cake can be only cut into so many slices.

That sounds like to me that a trade needs to happen (probably Blake). Start Miller with Rudy/Bayless in backup minutes. But, if Nate has is way...Blake stays.

Jerryd Bayless is a classic combo guard. He will be just fine where ever he goes, and what ever is expected of him I believe he can and will deliver.


I think that millers speed of offense will make it difficult for Blake to come off the bench and match that energy.I guess we will see how that works.

I would say that the only set positions are PF and SG, that is it. I know Batum has a big following but i agree with the BFT on this that Martel if healthy makes a better starting SF. I know that this is a big if but we will see. Also if Batum has not improved much and something clicks for Travis, what then? I feel all this dont thinker with the line up talk coming out of Blazer land is silly. There just isnt enough offense in that first unit. It is far to easy to key in on Roy and LA and make it a hard start. We were down to start far to many games last year, Do we really want to go with the super human efforts to come back every night. Get ahead early and never let em in it.

Good point about us getting behind at the start of games Mowearwolf. Keep in mind Greg Oden started 39 games last season. But Blake and the others rarely passed him the ball. Do you think starting Oden and adding Andre Miller to the mix would be enough?

Then you'd have the firepower of Martell AND Rudy AND Travis coming in off the bench.

On the other hand maybe the inside game of our bigs and the driving abilities of Miller and Roy make Martels outside shooting more important to the starting group....and by putting Blake on the bench in favor of Miller that is one thing you lose. Maybe Martels shooting helps create better spacing.

LOL....I think you're talking me into Webster as a starter Mowearwolf. What do the rest of you guys think?

It is still really iffy with Webster, but if he can come back right where he was at and improve, I think he could really help the starting unit. I think Batum should still get around 15-20 minutes a game.
I think Oden is going to be able to get more than 10 points a game no problem. With a year under his belt, being healthy, having Miller pass to him and probably having his team mates confidence now(more of it anyway i would assume) he should be a lot more of a viable option. I agree that he did not get the ball nearly enough last year. At any rate it is nice to have 2 full units with guys that can play at any position, we are going into the area were we have to much talent at all spots. Center is fine There is time there for both to split and they can play some PF, but after that.................there is a log jam at starter or back up at all the spots. I know Roy and Rudy will be the 2's but what about popular player Bayless?(we may have been sold on something he isnt) There remain a lot of ? for the season.

Starters: Oden, Aldridge, Batum, Roy, Miller--size, length, scoring, team D.
Primary backups for this year: Prz, Webster (health permitting), Rudy, Blake

Batum will slide to backup PF to get overall increased minutes. Roy will see time at all 3 back court spots. Rudy will also function as a PG and be utilized more and more as both a scorer and a playmaker. Blake's time goes down as the season goes on.

Outlaw and Blake are unlikely to get new contracts after this season with raises going to 5 mil and above--and that's what they'll want. They're in prime earning years. Yes, the big contracts cost, but the midlevel ones add up ... fast.
Webster healthy? If so, his value can rise dramatically meaning he's good to keep and good to trade.
Prz makes around 6.8 mil this year and 7.4 in 2010-11 on a player option. Oden getting better makes all the difference ... which means Prz has really good value but said value is a high cost per minute (hopefully) real soon. Oh, and he's in his prime and will soon enough get his last big contract.
And Bayless ... It's not just Miller and Blake ... it's also a squeeze with Rudy. Keep learning young man.

Prz, Webster, Outlaw, Blake, Bayless--5 players--all worthy of minutes--for only 2-3 rotation spots.

I dont see Batum playing much PF, It would have to be a situational thing. He is more apt to guard the other teams SG or even PG.
That should be the starting line with Oden, LA, Batum/Webster, Roy and Miller, but Nate loves his security blankets. He loves Blake(must remind him of himself) and really trusts Joel. He is very reluctant to go with the young guys or new players. If I were KP and PA I would make it clear that Miller and Oden are to start.
The Blazers really need to shop Blake and Bayless along with Outlaw.

The Batum at backup PF possibility goes back to Batum saying he'd talked with CoachMac and that going with a speed lineup would have Batum perhaps getting time there. Situational, absolutely.

I realize a good share of fans (and media) would suggest Portland goes in with what they have and wait for trade opportunities, but it's a chemistry thing with me (not letting it go on too long). The right trade involving such decent players and guys like Blake, Outlaw, etc. Absolutely. Prz is a great security blanket and needed at this point.

[I freely admit to biases for Batum. Rudy as well.]

Pryz is a healthy security blanket.... Blake is the opposite, Nate will continue the crazy talk of starting Steve until a trade is made that takes the unhealthy security blanket away. Now don't get me wrong Steve is a VERY good backup but Nate starting him over Miller shouldn't be an option and if Nate can't see that then it's time to get rid of the blankey.

With the addition of Andre Miller, it pretty much eliminates Bayless seeing any playing time unless there is an injury to any of the top 4 guards.

I would imagine Nate will probably use the three guard lineups of Miller, Roy or Fernandez during late in the 1st, early in the 2nd, and middle of the 3rd quarter.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see the 4th quarter team to win games turn out to be either:
- Miller, Roy, Fernandez, Outlaw, Aldridge or
- Miller, Roy, Fernandez, Aldridge, Oden

Martell doesn't start full court play with the Blazers for another month. Right now, he is limited to drills and shooting the basketball with the assistant coach. I wouldn't expect Martell to get very much playing time.

I keep seeing a lot of critsizm of Nate and talk of almost "Micromanaging" him....

Lookat Seattle/Oklahoma post Nate McMillen... Look at Portland "Pre-McMillen".... Nate is a good Coach. A coach who is around the Players more than any of us and who also has a ton of Basketball under his belt... Give him some room...


THe Security Blanket talk. Perhaps it is just him not having more options. I can tell you that Miller producing will make him a security Blanket. He knows Blake and simply needs to know Miller. I would be more surprised if he simply handed the keys to the kingdom to Miller before a minute of camp.

And at Center.Goven Oden's lack of consitstency, why wouuld Priz not be his Security Blanket. It is pretty simple. Produce and minutes will come your way...

I was actually surprised that Center was mentioned as a strengh comparable to SG.

"Other than perhaps center, the 2 is the strongest position on the Blazers." I Like Priz, but he strikes fear in noone. ANnd I like Oden, but he has not matured int a player yet. I think Both PG and the Forward Poitions as they stand now are stronger positions. If Oden Matures, that defiently changes. He simply has not shown it yet.

Players lose starting positions all the time. Miller will walk right in and start at PG, IMO. If your position can be improved, it will be. Thats the NBA. Any coach that starts a guy because he "knows" him better is questionable. According to Nate he has been hawking Miiller for a long time. That means he "knows" his game. Pryz off the bench is a very attractive option. He will dominate even more against opposing second teams.

I agree Nate is a good coach, but he is a young coach. Nevertheless, he's good enough to guide these young fellows to their destiny.

I hope Rudy steps it up. He may have not been ready for the physicality of the NBA last year. But I dont think he can afford to do that this year. He was a litltle scared last year. As our second option at SG he must be driving that ball, taking contact. His outside game is good enough to help him blow past most defenders. But hes got to be more agressive this year.

Miller, Roy, Battum, LA, Oden, ........ With a heap of talent just itching to get minutes.