Bayless: Starter vs. Bench numbers

[jeff_hostetler]

Way to early to anoint him the PG of the future, we do not decide on who we pick in the draft because Bayless is on the team.

I definitely agree about that. However, say Bayless took over the starting role earlier, and he was able to put up the numbers he has as a starter for the whole season. A 22 year old guard, playing his first real season of NBA basketball, who puts up 16 points, 8 assists and a steal per game, shooting close to 50% from the floor.

Would you still take Irving (doesn't count if you plan on trading him), knowing you have a BIG hole at C and could use some help at the 3?

[jeff_hostetler]

personally i wasnt criticising with the "he plays like a SG".. i just think that's his style.. its not a bad thing.. not every PG has to be the second coming of stockton.

i think he should embrace the combo guard role, instead of pressing the "i'm a PG" thing.. and he'll be fine

I disagree. There's more than one type of point guard, just as there is more than one kind of power forward, for example. Just because he likes to score, can score, and can create a good scoring opportunity for himself doesn't mean he shouldn't be classified a PG. Barbosa, who exclusively looks to score may find that combo guard designation more apt, because he doesn't do the primary job of the PG (to get other players good looks) but he can play there if it's needed. But Bayless gets his assists - and a good number of them - and he can find the open man. He's able to do this because he's such a scoring threat. A scoring PG is still a PG, so long as he doesn't ignore his other responsibilities.

[WJF]

Lets see how he fares in more games, sure he had a few decent games earlier in the season when Jose was out, he has also put together two back to back solid games, but what will happen if the next one is 7 points on 3 for 12 shooting with 6 assists and 5 turnovers?

Way to early to anoint him the PG of the future, we do not decide on who we pick in the draft because Bayless is on the team.

[heinz57]

And to those who criticise his, "he plays like a SG" style, that may be true - in that he scores like one - but he's also dropping a good number of assists. In fact, 7.5 assists as a starter is good for 11th in the league. So I don't really know what the problem is with him scoring. Would you rather have a point guard who can't score or create his own shot?

personally i wasnt criticising with the "he plays like a SG".. i just think that's his style.. its not a bad thing.. not every PG has to be the second coming of stockton.

i think he should embrace the combo guard role, instead of pressing the "i'm a PG" thing.. and he'll be fine

[jeff_hostetler]

As a huge baseball guy I always have adhered to the 'don't trust anything you see in September' rule, so, I guess the question is whether we are seeing the real Bayless (he can play PG at a high level for 82 games) or is it just him playing on a bad team at the end of the year against teams playing out the string. Can we trust what we see or is it just a mirage?

It has come against good teams, which is very positive, but you always have to wonder about these kinds of developments and whether it is just a fluke.

But that's exactly where the earlier arguments to play Bayless more contradict this, "only at the end of the season" argument. Bayless put up a number of 20+ppg/7+apg when he first came over. That is, when he got a lot of playing time and started when Calderon went down with injury. Bayless' numbers clearly show that when he's given the trust of the Raptors to lead them, he responds very well.

And to those who criticise his, "he plays like a SG" style, that may be true - in that he scores like one - but he's also dropping a good number of assists. In fact, 7.5 assists as a starter is good for 11th in the league. So I don't really know what the problem is with him scoring. Would you rather have a point guard who can't score or create his own shot?

This is particularly compounded when looked at amidst the trade/bench Bargnani calls. The argument against doing so is, "where are the points going to come from?" Well, Bayless can score 20ppg just as easily as Bargnani can.

[ceez]

Then he becomes trade bait

[ceez]

Basically, whenever he's started he looks great. Yet whenever he comes off the bench he's awful.

If anything, he could start while we bring along Burks.

[ceez]

He was a big reason we best the pistons in that massive comeback

[mcHAPPY]

As a huge baseball guy I always have adhered to the 'don't trust anything you see in September' rule, so, I guess the question is whether we are seeing the real Bayless (he can play PG at a high level for 82 games) or is it just him playing on a bad team at the end of the year against teams playing out the string. Can we trust what we see or is it just a mirage?

It has come against good teams, which is very positive, but you always have to wonder about these kinds of developments and whether it is just a fluke.

He had a couple of good starts earlier in the year when Jose was out as well.

[slaw]

He played his game and we beat the Magic, and almost beat the bulls. What more do you want?

As a huge baseball guy I always have adhered to the 'don't trust anything you see in September' rule, so, I guess the question is whether we are seeing the real Bayless (he can play PG at a high level for 82 games) or is it just him playing on a bad team at the end of the year against teams playing out the string. Can we trust what we see or is it just a mirage?

It has come against good teams, which is very positive, but you always have to wonder about these kinds of developments and whether it is just a fluke.

[mcHAPPY]

It's frustrating to me that in a season that so clearly should have been devoted to development, Bayless has for some reason been overlooked. This one has to be on Triano (unless, as is possible, the mentality has been, "Play Jose. Let's see if he can continue to play well, and maybe well get some decent offers for him in the offseason." In which case, that's on BC, and may not be a bad strategy. And I'm a big Calderon fan, so don't accuse me of hating on him or treating him unfairly.)

I think it is on BC. I read somewhere in an article where BC said something to the effect of, "Jay has done everything we've asked of him this year." Calderon needed to raise his value. With only 2 years remaining on his contract and averaging nearly a double double as a starter, he might have as much value now as he will ever have. I think my stance on hm is pretty well known - trade him.

[ceez]

Floor general PG's are few and far between. Let Bayless be Bayless.

[ceez]

He played his game and we beat the Magic, and almost beat the bulls. What more do you want?

[WBG416]

i've said since the raps got him that he's more of a SG.. unfortunately, i think it's a matter of pride for him.. it sounds better to say you're a PG than an undersized SG

personally, i dont think there's any shame in being "the next steve francis"........ unless you're steve francis.

Haha, i hope Jerryd doesnt take this comparison to heart, he might refuse to play in Canada..

[heinz57]

I like Bayless. But people on this forum were saying he was one of the least effective players on the raps just like last week?

The problem is, he doesn't really play like a point guard. He has more of a monta ellis shooting guard style, he likes to slash, he likes to drive, and he looovvves to jack up shots rather than make the extra pass. But i think this is just him learning and growing as a young player

With more confidence (and less Jose). Bayless could be great for the Raptors

i've said since the raps got him that he's more of a SG.. unfortunately, i think it's a matter of pride for him.. it sounds better to say you're a PG than an undersized SG

personally, i dont think there's any shame in being "the next steve francis"........ unless you're steve francis.