Blazer fan here-Gimme the skinny on Bayless

[RipCity21]

From what I have been able to read, he seems to be pretty talented player and should fit in well next to Roy in our backcourt. I have read these articles and have taken as much as I can from them but am coming here to the source to see what makes this guy tick. Here is some of the info IU am going off of so far

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/...-Bayless-1067/

http://nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/jerrydbayless.html

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8388

http://www.realgm.com/src_fromtheraf..._arizona_v_20/

So I have read all of those and have liked what I have seen, but I have also heard some things that were not so complimentary, such as he was not liked by his teammates in HS and he is not a team player, more of a "MEMEME" type player. He does seem cocky but maybe sliding to 11 will sober him up and humble him a little.

Has anyone here spent time around him and what are his strengths and weaknesses not listed in the above articles as I imagine that you guys probably have watched a ton of film on him in games.

Obviously this is an UA forum so I imagine that all the reviews will be good ones, but I want to get to know what some of his deficiencies are. Any info would be helpful and thanks guys.

[ACE]

u r getting a great player and it was steal. The guy balls, no other way to put it.

He goes left a little too much is what drat was saying i think

[Statman]

Originally Posted by RipCity21

From what I have been able to read, he seems to be pretty talented player and should fit in well next to Roy in our backcourt. I have read these articles and have taken as much as I can from them but am coming here to the source to see what makes this guy tick. Here is some of the info IU am going off of so far

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/...-Bayless-1067/

http://nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/jerrydbayless.html

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8388

http://www.realgm.com/src_fromtheraf..._arizona_v_20/

So I have read all of those and have liked what I have seen, but I have also heard some things that were not so complimentary, such as he was not liked by his teammates in HS and he is not a team player, more of a "MEMEME" type player. He does seem cocky but maybe sliding to 11 will sober him up and humble him a little.

Has anyone here spent time around him and what are his strengths and weaknesses not listed in the above articles as I imagine that you guys probably have watched a ton of film on him in games.

Obviously this is an UA forum so I imagine that all the reviews will be good ones, but I want to get to know what some of his deficiencies are. Any info would be helpful and thanks guys.

My take - he's a fierce competitor. He'll outwork anyone. He takes his job on the court seriously, and demands alot from himself and others. He's smart. That being said, he can get out of his game mentally when things don't go his way & he gets frustrated. He'll then at times force too much. But, when he's on his game - he's practically unstoppable.

As for his play - he can hit threes, he can spot up, AND he can go to the hole. He elevates VERY high on jumpers - which is good because he's not long. He's steaky. IF he can beat his defender off the dribble to the right - he's VERY dangerous going to the hole. To the left, not so much.

His court awareness with the ball is not great - especially above the top of the key when he's working off a screen (he's almost always thinking shot first). He's solid at getting the pass to his teammate when he does see the opening though. He SHOULD improve in this area - he'll be helped playing with Roy who is a very good passer for a shooting guard - so Jerryd won't be expected to always initiate the offense.

Jerryd is VERY athletic - and he is a decent to solid defender right now, but he'll improve as a defender when he gets better at utilizing his athleticism when anticipating passes or drawing offenisive fouls - or just keeping the offensive player from "getting a step" on him.

Anyway - I do not believe he is a "me first" type player. When I think of a "me first" guy - I think of a guy who could care less about his team, his teammates, or his team's results as long as he gets his (ie, would rather score 40 in a loss than 10 in a win). Jerryd's ambition is to win, period. He seemed miserable after every loss last season.

Portland may become my third favorite team - I'm liking alot of players they are bringing together there - and of course I love Frye and Bayless.

[N1-X]

I just might go to a Blazer game now! It was cool seeing the Oregonian newspaper have a full page front page with Bayless on it.

[Applequest]

Congrats on the pick up! Ive been impressed with what the Blazers have been doing recently, and Im glad we have another guy there now. I will definitely be pulling for them.

Anyway, I think you should be thrilled with Jerryd, because he could be the last piece of to what could be a title team in a couple years. Jerryd isnt a selfish player, I think thats an unfair assessment. He was pretty much forced into awkward role on our awkward team last year. He isnt ready to be an NBA point guard right now, but he will be. And in any case, Brandon Roy is such a good facilitator that you really dont need a pure point guard.

The bottom line is you werent winning a title with Steve Blake at the point, but you can absolutely win one with Jerryd, Roy, Aldridge, Oden, and the rest of those guys if things pan out.

[PG Anonymous]

Long time Cats fan of course and previously fair-weather Blazer fan since I've been in Portland 9 years now.

Bayless is perfect for Portland. What I like best about him is his passion for the game... so many players are missing that these days. I think his competitive drive and passion will rub off on all the Blazers. And he's a tough kid, another attribute the Blazers can use more of.

Basically, pencil in Portland competing for a Championship in 2 years. And they could surprise some teams next year.

Don't forget about SF Rudy Fernandez - should be an instant impact player. The only other player in the draft that I wanted for Portland (other than Bayless) is D Rose, so I'm thrilled.

Originally Posted by Applequest

The bottom line is you werent winning a title with Steve Blake at the point, but you can absolutely win one with Jerryd, Roy, Aldridge, Oden, and the rest of those guys if things pan out.

[catdefender]

Dang guys, with the glowing reports you wrote about him we should have won the national title.

My take.........started out as a great competitor but something turned that switch off........maybe KO.

Absolutely sucks against bigger guards.......Kyle Weaver, Westbrook, Mayo, and WVU's bunch all ate his lunch. Mayo even subleased his ass. He needs to use his quickness more against bigger guards and hopefully he will.

JB may turn into a great player but he really needs some fine coaching and has to develop better court awareness. His pg skills are average at best and he was probably the worst rebounding guard Arizona has seen in the last 20 years.

[Statman]

Originally Posted by catdefender

Dang guys, with the glowing reports you wrote about him we should have won the national title.

My take.........started out as a great competitor but something turned that switch off........maybe KO.

Absolutely sucks against bigger guards.......Kyle Weaver, Westbrook, Mayo, and WVU's bunch all ate his lunch. Mayo even subleased his ass. He needs to use his quickness more against bigger guards and hopefully he will.

JB may turn into a great player but he really needs some fine coaching and has to develop better court awareness. His pg skills are average at best and he was probably the worst rebounding guard Arizona has seen in the last 20 years.

I don't really disagree with this - except Jerry actually schooled WSU & Weaver (21.5 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2.0 topg, 67% TS%) in two fairly easy wins.

I was on the record three months ago (see my blog) on Jerryd's mediocre supporting stats - rebounds, assists, steals, & blocks (if you want to include blocks - I didn't in my little study) - and how that might not bode well for NBA success (college guards that succeed in the NBA usually are VERY strong in terms of supporting stats in college).

BUT - Jerryd was just a freshman - and I do believe he should greatly improve his ability to translate his athleticism into positive results in the boxscore - specifically steals. His court awareness will improve I'm sure - but it will take time. I bet Portland might be great for development - with all the young players they have, I bet they are trying to TEACH in practice more than many other teams probably do.

[RipCity21]

Originally Posted by catdefender

Dang guys, with the glowing reports you wrote about him we should have won the national title.

My take.........started out as a great competitor but something turned that switch off........maybe KO.

Absolutely sucks against bigger guards.......Kyle Weaver, Westbrook, Mayo, and WVU's bunch all ate his lunch. Mayo even subleased his ass. He needs to use his quickness more against bigger guards and hopefully he will.

JB may turn into a great player but he really needs some fine coaching and has to develop better court awareness. His pg skills are average at best and he was probably the worst rebounding guard Arizona has seen in the last 20 years.

NO this is good as most media outlets just fawn over his good stuff and leave out his bad stuff. I watched that UA/USC game for the specific reason of watching Mayo v Bayless and did think that Mayo came out looking better, but he did go #3 to #11, but hey I can't complain

What is good for us here is that Roy will guard bigger Gs and Bayless will play the smaller Gs.

Bayless was my #1 target I hoped Pritchard would go after and I remember going to bed that night and I could ot get visions of Bayless, Roy, and Rudy coming down the court followed by LaMarcus and Oden trailing.

I still think Blake will be the starter, but starter does not mean a whole lot here, as even though Blake and Webster started last year, thery were not in the game in the 4th much, it was Jack and Travis Outlaw, aka Trout. Blake will start at least this year but will only play 15-20 mins and Bayless and Rudy will fill in the rest of the G minutes, sans Roy's 30-35.

Here is the thing about the Blazers, if you are a true fan of NBA basketball, you have to love what the Blazers are doing, accruing a ton of high quality, character guys, who happen to be pretty damn good basketball players also. We were the youngest team in the league last year and the 3rd youngest all time and we came out with a 9 win improvement and a .500 record and the future is so bright I gotta wear shades.

Thank you guys for letting us have JerryD and I hope you guys have as good a season as we expect here in Rip City.

Also thanks for Channing, dude is cool as all hell and even has some game to him.

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by RipCity21

Thank you guys for letting us have JerryD and I hope you guys have as good a season as we expect here in Rip City.

Also thanks for Channing, dude is cool as all hell and even has some game to him.

yep, but it's too bad that you had to take that scummie Ike Diogu with him.

[catdefender]

Originally Posted by Statman

I don't really disagree with this - except Jerry actually schooled WSU & Weaver (21.5 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2.0 topg, 67% TS%) in two fairly easy wins.

I was on the record three months ago (see my blog) on Jerryd's mediocre supporting stats - rebounds, assists, steals, & blocks (if you want to include blocks - I didn't in my little study) - and how that might not bode well for NBA success (college guards that succeed in the NBA usually are VERY strong in terms of supporting stats in college).

BUT - Jerryd was just a freshman - and I do believe he should greatly improve his ability to translate his athleticism into positive results in the boxscore - specifically steals. His court awareness will improve I'm sure - but it will take time. I bet Portland might be great for development - with all the young players they have, I bet they are trying to TEACH in practice more than many other teams probably do.

You my friend are dead wrong about Weaver. When Weaver was on Bayless he had zero points in the first half and (CBud lit up Wazzu) then when the cougs put Weaver on CBud Bayless went off against Low. In fact I just rewatched the game the other day...........it is plain as day.

[Wyowildcatsfan]

Jerryd has the drive and competitive spirit to work on the holes in his game and become a great nba player as everybody else said. He has some stuff to work on in his game and I don't think he's ready to be a consistent starter his first year but he WILL be a great nba player in a few years.

I've always kind of liked the blazers over the years, but now their definitely in my top 3 favorite teams in the league

Originally Posted by catdefender

You my friend are dead wrong about Weaver. When Weaver was on Bayless he had zero points in the first half and (CBud lit up Wazzu) then when the cougs put Weaver on CBud Bayless went off against Low. In fact I just rewatched the game the other day...........it is plain as day.

You my friend are doubting the wrong person. If there's one thing that Statman knows it's Stats. You're not winning that battle my friend.

[Azwldctfan]

Jerryd Bayless in the NBA is a Ben Gordon type or a shorter Raja Bell... probably will be a better driver to basket than Raja, but pretty similar. Good D, good shooter, not many rebounds or assists or steals or blocks. I'd probably throw Cuttino Mobley in that list also.

[Statman]

Originally Posted by catdefender

You my friend are dead wrong about Weaver. When Weaver was on Bayless he had zero points in the first half and (CBud lit up Wazzu) then when the cougs put Weaver on CBud Bayless went off against Low. In fact I just rewatched the game the other day...........it is plain as day.

All I pointed out is that Jerryd had great games against WSU twice - I didn't sit and break down play by play who was covering Jerryd. I assumed some of his 43 points came against Weaver - since in your post the insinuation was that it was Weaver's responsibility to cover Jerryd.

You are talking about one of the games (I am not sure which one) - are you telling me that Jerryd had zero points at half and over 20 in the 2nd half against WSU one of the games? If Weaver was shutting him down - why didn't WSU go back to having Weaver cover Jerryd - since he was obviously going off on them in the 2nd half?

[catdefender]

Originally Posted by WiseByndHisYrz

You my friend are doubting the wrong person. If there's one thing that Statman knows it's Stats. You're not winning that battle my friend.

I've already won the battle because I know the TRUTH. I like a lot of the stuff statman puts on here but that doesn't make anyone GOD.

[catdefender]

Originally Posted by Statman

All I pointed out is that Jerryd had great games against WSU twice - I didn't sit and break down play by play who was covering Jerryd. I assumed some of his 43 points came against Weaver - since in your post the insinuation was that it was Weaver's responsibility to cover Jerryd.

You are talking about one of the games (I am not sure which one) - are you telling me that Jerryd had zero points at half and over 20 in the 2nd half against WSU one of the games? If Weaver was shutting him down - why didn't WSU go back to having Weaver cover Jerryd - since he was obviously going off on them in the 2nd half?

Because they were getting run out of the gym and there was nothing that Bennett could do. Either Bayless or CBud was going to have Low on him and that was bad news for the cougs. You guys can play Bayless up to be the best thing since sliced bread all you want but the fact remains that he was great against bad teams and good teams, for the most part, ate him up. He was great against Texas A&M and Stanford the second time but he abosolutely sucked against every other premier team. (NO ASU is not a premier team)

[azdback32]

Jerryd plays with a lot of emotion, he plays with a lot of heart and he hates to lose. the dude has great elevation on his jump shot and he can take most defenders off the dribble and take it to the hole. one of his few weaknesses is that he has trouble dribbling to his left, as some have mentioned, and NBA coaches and players will notice that, so he will definitely need to work on that.. but the blazers got a great kidd in Bayless, there is no one better that they could have taken at that spot.