The pg we need may already be on the roster

DuckyBlazer — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:24:37 -0000

Just found this web site and have been following the hedouche drama on here for teh past few days. I have read a bunch of posts about other moves the blazers should consider and the need for a pg and yada yada. People bring up a need for a pg who can guard players like brooks and paul, or who can attack the rim like sessions or miller. That got me thinking about how similar brooks and sessions were to bayless their rookie years.

The similarities are SCARY.

Brooks Rookie year numbers

Games played Minutes Points Assists fg%

51 12 5.2 1.7 41%

Bayless Rookie year numbers

Games played Minutes Points Assists fg%

53 12.4 4.3 1.5 37

On top of those numbers, look at their summer league performances. From espn

"Bayless made a splash in Las Vegas last summer, averaging 29.8 points and taking home MVP honors."

"Brooks’ 24 points, 6.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds hits big with the rockets"

Brooks got a big break for his sophomore season when the rockets dealt away bobby jackson. From ESPN

"2008-09 outlook: With Bobby Jackson gone, Brooks should establish himself as the primary backup behind Rafer Alston, and might carve out some extended minutes for himself if he can improve the 3-point shooting. "

Situation sound similar to a certain blazer soph point guard?

"The Blazers shipped backup point guard Sergio Rodriguez to Sacramento last week to free up playing time for Bayless, but there's still a chance a free agent point guard will be added to the mix. If Bayless can put together another solid showing in Las Vegas, it could convince Portland not to pursue any backcourt help from outside the organization."

My hope is that Bayless gets steady backup minutes this year, and can make the same jump as brooks did. He has the potential, and lets not forget brooks played 4 years of college ball to bayless' 1. Bayless is bigger and can guard all sorts of point guards. If he improves his shooting a decision making, as most second year players do, I think our problems are solved at the pg position. For everyone talking about Sessions, here were his rookies stats

Sessions Rookie stats

Games played Minutes Points Assists fg%

17 (started 7) 26 8 7.5 43%

So sessions carved out a spot splitting time his soph year with a beloved duck, Luke Rinour. He is the best passer of the three, but cannot shoot from range, and uses the drive and dish to be effective. Bayless has the potential to be the best defender of the three, and can attack the rim, and hopefully hit some threes. His court vision and dicision making should improve with time. Am I predicting a session/brooks like sophomore season for Bayless?

Why yes, I am. Blazers should focus on picking up Lee, for a much needed backup PF/C, and watch the development of Bayless, Batum, Rudy, and even Roy, LA, and Oden. Thats the great thing about this team, everyone with the exception of maybe the VanillaGorillaPrzybilla will improve and further their potential. Those are my two cents.

SB Nation User Blog: DuckyBlazer

The pg we need may already be on the roster