The Breakout, Part 2
Jerryd Bayless
Before Thursday, the last time we saw the Blazers host the Suns on national TV in December, Brandon Roy had his “superstar” breakout by dumping 52 points on Phoenix. Last night, same setting with the same teams, it was Jerryd Bayless‘ turn. Having just recently been introduced to consistent playing time since Portland is racked by injuries, Bayless went off for 29 points (9-15 FG, 9-12 FT) in 29 minutes off the bench, and by the end of the night had Charles Barkley calling Nate McMillan into question for keeping Bayless buried until now … Bayless made the go-ahead bucket on a reverse layup with four minutes left after Portland had erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter. As Amar’e Stoudemire went through a stretch where he missed three straight jumpers on what were basically throwaway possessions, Bayless hit a corner three during a run where the Blazers took command with under two minutes to go … But you know what happens as soon as you think the Suns are done: Steve Nash starts raining threes. He hit back-to-back treys to cut an eight-point margin to two, and with four seconds left, Nash (16 pts, 13 asts) had a chance to force OT after Bayless had added a free throw. With 6-11 LaMarcus Aldridge on him, however, Nash couldn’t get a good look … Martell Webster came up with some crucial offensive boards down the stretch. If this Blazers breakout trend continues, Martell might be the guy set to explode on the Suns this same time next year. He came into the League seen as just a shooter, but this season he’s proven to be a solid defender and an athletic finisher at the rim … Early on, it looked like Grant Hill was about to have a vintage night. He scored 13 in the first quarter and was the fastest guy on the floor, then began the third with two quick buckets to spark a Phoenix run. Hill finished with 20 points, but he fell to 0-2 this season against his only remaining 1994 Draft classmates, Jason Kidd and Juwan Howard. Those guys have been around the League long enough to remember when headbands were still kinda cool, when they got corny, when they got cool again, and when they got cliche and were replaced by mohawks … One time Joel Przybilla went to the line and uncorked maybe the ugliest free throw this side of Joakim Noah. The release wasn’t even that weird, but the dull thud of the ball smacking off the backboard was enough to hurt Reggie Miller’s soul. Reggie seemed legitimately offended over on press row … Nobody in the Dime office is claiming to be Pete Carrill as far as basketball knowledge, but we know this much: If you’re gonna take FORTY-SEVEN threes in one game — and your starting five doesn’t consist of J.J. Redick, Chris Kingsbury, Curtis Staples, Glen Rice and Sam Perkins — don’t be surprised if your offense goes through prolonged periods of not being able to get a bucket. The Knicks decided to ignore the concept of the two-pointer against the Bulls, which didn’t quite work because their shots weren’t dropping like that. Danilo Gallinari went 6-of-15 beyond the arc, Al Harrington was 4-of-13, Chris Duhon made five out of 10, Larry Hughes was 1-for-6, and Jared Jeffries and Toney Douglas bricked the rest. All Chicago had to do was put together a couple big runs during NY’s dry spells and they got the win … Barkley and Kenny Smith were clowning this game. Chuck said, “Patrick Ewing and Bill Cartwright must be rolling over in their graves,” and Kenny added Danny Ferry should put a tape of New York’s performance in LeBron’s Christmas stocking … Orlando also had problems with its long-range shooting, going 9-for-28 in Miami and getting blown out in the process. The Heat have been a machine ever since the Grizzlies ran them out of their own gym over the weekend; D-Wade and crew had an intense team meeting, and have responded by rolling past the Raptors and Magic, with Wade getting to sit out the fourth quarter both times. He put up 25 points and seven dimes before getting an extended break last night, making the highlight reel when he tracked down Redick on a breakaway and volleyballed his layup off the glass … A couple high school games were on national TV: Ohio State-bound PF Jared Sullinger beasted #1-ranked Findlay Prep; and the nation’s #1-ranked player, Harrison Barnes, led his Ames (Iowa) squad in a rout over Waukegan (Ill.) … Funny moment when the announcers were breaking down the flaws in Barnes’ game, and in mid-sentence he got a steal in the open court. “THIS is the one thing he can do really well!” one of them yelled — right before Barnes missed a layup. Moments later, Barnes (26 pts, 13 rebs) got another steal and was going in for a highlight when he lost control and kicked the ball out of bounds … We’re out like Curtis Staples …
December 18th, 2009 at 5:20 am
YW says:
bayless can ball, we know that last year, good for the kid to finally have enough playing time to showcase that
December 18th, 2009 at 5:27 am
Love Sessions says:
portland was actually up 3 after bayless hit his second freethrow to make it a 3 pt game
December 18th, 2009 at 5:58 am
BRUCE says:
Orlando — Quit Jacking 3!
December 18th, 2009 at 6:03 am
That's what's up says:
Do the Knicks ever make any sense?
ever?
4 guys play 40 or more minutes, Eddy Curry gets 3 minutes (although he may have just sauntered across the court to the hot dog vendor and the score keeper counted that as minutes) and Nate gets a DNP-CD
W?
T?
F??
December 18th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Lucas says:
YES! Congrats Jerryd. We always knew you could be this good.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Pet Society Help says:
I’d still take Patty Mills over Jerryd Bayless.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:00 am
porkpiehat says:
I get what D’Antoni is trying to do, but he has the worst healthy roster in the league outside of Minnesota.
With no scorer at PG to draw crowds of defenders and big men who can attack the rim aside from David Lee, there is minimal space for the shooters,(only two) who are not really the best shooters to begin with.
And the defense is so much worse…still, I predict the Knicks WILL make the playoffs, the players buy into D’Antoni’s system because it’s fun and it works. Harrington is their salvation and doom. But at least they can screw the Jazz and their irritating fans buy not being in the lottery.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:25 am
sh!tfaced says:
Nate McMillan maybe as good a coach as he is stubborn.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Octopus Jonny says:
@7…Have you lost your mind? The Knicks aint even sniffin that 8 seed.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:36 am
POPPI GEE says:
Bayless basically said ” I told you Mutha$uckas!” Last night!
Come on Knicks wow, you gotta close teams out.
I think Barkley should be a GM and Kenny Smith should be a coach, …nah that is to much power for Barkley over Kenny.
Still I can’t wait till 1 of those two get involved in the game again some sort of way.
Ok it’s FRIDAY!
December 18th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Celts Fan says:
@Love Sessions – learn to read dude.
“He hit back-to-back treys to cut an eight-point margin to two, and with four seconds left, Nash (16 pts, 13 asts) had a chance to force OT after Bayless had added a free throw.”
To sum up: up 2 + 1 FT = 3 pts.
I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul…
December 18th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I wasn’t too impressed with Harrison Barnes. Maybe he had a little stage fright being on ESPN. In the other game, both Sullinger and Thompson were impressive only because niether looked athletic whatsoever without the ball. They both seemed awkward and lurchy. But with the ball they both had an array of post moves and handled the ball quite well for teenage big men.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Me says:
They were up 4 weren’t they? That’s when I turned it off. Unless he shot the second free throw after the commercial and missed it. I turned it off on the commercial.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:57 am
shake&bake says:
That was my first time seeing Barnes play, he looked like a very solid, skilled player. Jereme Richmond looked like the 2nd coming of Darius Miles. I don’t know how much of a compliment that is anymore, but he reminded me of Miles in high school.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Posterboy15 says:
The magic need to know when to run the ball through D12 or Vince Carter..and this game was not the game to do it through D12…Vince is so much more than a 3 point shooter, why in the hell does he have to stand out there and just watch dwight get fouled and miss free throws on nights u need a dominate scorer to go against D-wade and challenge him somewhat..Howard is a beast and the best player on the team no doubt, but Magic need to know Vince Carter is your Kobe, orLebron, when it comes to takin over games…The dude has done it his whole career and has already proved that multiple times this year. Dwight isnt consistent enough to run offense through..The shots that Carter hit last night are shots only the greats can get off when teams are double teaming..That 3 point attack needs to have balance, when Kobe and Shaq or even Dwade and Shaq had chemistry it was facilitated by the greatness of the gaurd..Bein that Vince avg about 5ast for his career, Im pretty sure he can be that guy even at this stage of his career..This is Dwight’s team but u cant rely on his offensive skill set in the playoffs..his Dominance his on defense not on Offense….With all this said,They are still the best team in the East….Go Magic
December 18th, 2009 at 10:20 am
ruballin says:
@posterboy15
Uh, no, the Magic aren’t even close to being better than the Celtics. But aside from that, I pretty much agree with your post.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:25 am
chris says:
suns-blazers was a very cool game….blazers played aldridge, webster, roy, blake, bayless, with przybilla and andre miller subbing in, a lineup that won’t work against bigger teams that rebound….and the suns didn’t have richardson or barbosa, so dragic played a bunch alongside nash, so blazers could go small. orlando should have given carter and williams the night off…2nd game back to back, neither played d or had legs. when will the nba realize that back-to-back games dramatically reduces the quality of their product?
December 18th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Chicagorilla says:
Watching the Knicks play is one of the most disturbing images a real basketball fan would ever see. I had to turn it off every 15min a go to the football game because it was starting to hurt. and every time I turned back, they had shot like 8 more threes!
At least the Bulls beat those sorry excuses for a basketball team. LMAO@ Stacy King trying to give props to Diantoni by saying “Once he has the right peices, his system will work betteR” apparently Stacy didn’t watch him in PhX.
DWades block may have been a goaltend, but I don’t care. I love to see JJ get shitted on like that. The Magic shot 29 3’s huh…. NY shot that in the first half BTW… I guess Stan doens’t think JWill or Vince and Penetrate and get buckets or set up Howard. If i’m an opposing team, I’d just put a hand up and let them fire off on those 3’s all game.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Chicagorilla says:
Oh and Bayless gets buckets, but I haven’t seen a player keep a ball in his hands this much since John Amechi.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Posterboy15 says:
@ruballin
Magic did kind of went down to Boston earlier this year and handed it to them, although neither team was at full strength and at the end it was kind of clear that Paul Pierce, Ray Allen or Marquis Daniels couldnt hold Vince, it was a hard fought game but it was Vinces cluthness u can say that took over.its only regular season tho..Well see come playoffs….
December 18th, 2009 at 11:24 am
eyes says:
1.Steve Nash isn’t OVERRATED. BEST PG IN THE N.B.A(Too unselfish)
2.Amare Stoudemire isn’t a go 2 player & is close to a 3rd option
3.Grant Hill(Thank God you got a ceasar)PHX doctors are the BEST NEXT TO DEN.(S.Singletary is better than Drajic &Alando Tucker should have been waived for Carlos Powell
4.Vince Carter is more Lebron than Kobe come clutch. Please try not to mention Mamba’s name with people who aren’t worthy
5.JERRYD BAYLESS IS A GREAT SCORER BUT DRIBBLES LIKE THE BALL IS A HOT POTATO
6.THE Knicks will forever be bad and Gallinari isn’t better than Ilyasova from the Bucks
7.D’Antoni is a JERK With a mustache from”Guess WHo”
8.Lastly if you have problems playing back 2 back games. It either means your to old or need a new training staff or doctor.
9.The Magic miss Rafer Alston. Turkolou was stupid for not signing w/ the Blazers.
10.High School Basketball is terrible.
11.If the Celts are healthy and the refs don’t CHEAT(MIL-LA OT)There is no way the Lakers are better or can beat the Boston Bullies. THE BEST TEAM IN BASKETBALL LITERALLY
12.Russel Westbrook please study Rondo’s game tape. He was an athlete just like you & turned himself into SOMETHING(RONDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FOR ALL STAR)
13.Derrick Rose & Devin Harris aren’t pure point guards. There more lead guards who get assists but
aren’t able to facilitate easy buckets for others.
14.Why is Marquis Daniels the back up Point Guard for the Celts. That’s there Achilles Heel.
15.That’s all Folks
Sorry Chirilla not a stab I no u love your beloved bulls.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:34 am
LakeShow84 says:
they need to fix that PG situation in Portland ASAP.. like i said there should be a clear cut starter (Miller) and someone taking a bulk of the minutes (Bayless) and someone for junk time and injuries (Blake)..
Why is that so hard to understand?? if Bayless didnt have to produce so much off top they would have better chemistry out there when gets tick..
He had a 3on1 last night and DID NOT GIVE IT UP.. he hit the lay up but shit man pass the rock lol cant blame him tho..
December 18th, 2009 at 11:38 am
LakeShow84 says:
@ Eyes
We’ll see about #11.. Boston hasnt beat us since the Finals.. And that includes 1 in Boston.. Only 2 games nonetheless but still lol
December 18th, 2009 at 11:40 am
BUFFALO BRAVE says:
When the playoff toughness and intensity kicks in I have a hard time seeing the magic beat the Celtics
KG will make Lewis disappear
Over the course of a long series chasing allen will wear Carter down, and Carter will be useless if his jumper isnt falling.
Howard will be frustrated by the fouls and missed FT
Who checks Pierce?
Can’t see it.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
eyes says:
@Lakeshow
They MORTAL KOMBATED you guys. It almost broke up the whole team. I think Kobe cried too. Bayless passes the ball like a Indian Giver. He couldn’t get assists in a 3 man weave. He’s a 3 in a 1 body. LOL.
Right on with the Portland assesment.
Kobe-Hate the person/Love the player
Artest-My dude love the person/player/like his new game love his old game
Pau Pau-SEXY Lol Skilled Big Man
Bynum-One Day maybe
Odom-Can’t be that good & bad in the same breath(One of the most skilled,talented players ever to play in the league. Could have been a H.O.F.’er but was to content.
Phil-I love & respect lucky bas*&^&
The rest of the team choo choo train-Just along for the easy ride.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
K Dizzle says:
“when Kobe and Shaq or even Dwade and Shaq had chemistry it was facilitated by the greatness of the gaurd..”
FALSE – when Shaq was still a dominant force, the fact that you had to double team Shaq left the guard to go one on one and gave em more space to operate
@ Buffalo Brave – I think Pietrus can guard PP and KG ain’t doin anythin to Lew if he hittin that 3. Draggin KG out to the 3 point line ain’t good for Boston’s defense
lol at heads still cryin about the bad call in Milwaukee 2 nights ago. Like I said, if Ilyasova hits ONE free throw, it seals the game…but I’d like to thank the zebras for hittin that fadeaway in ot…..
December 18th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
LakeShow84 says:
@ Eyes
i think the old veteran team ran into the young hotshots and taught them a lesson.. If anything they gave us a fatality in Boston lol.. but we older and more experienced now (i doubt we drop a 20+ lead in the 2nd half of a home game again).. And while people looked at the “we didnt have Bynum” as an excuse, ever since he came back and we’ve had him and Gasol, Boston hasnt beat us..
We’re a different team from those Finals.. Namely the WILDLY INCONSISTENT Odom is a bench player, Bynum is back and beasting, Artest is out there with his hard nosed D and is way more diverse offensively (Sorry Trev), Kobe got a whole new facet in his game, Gasol playing tougher, ETC, ETC, ETC..
Shit so much has changed in 2 years.. PLEASE BASKETBALL GOD LET THIS FINALS HAPPEN AGAIN..
Redemption couldnt come against a better team..
December 18th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Chicagorilla says:
@eyes
I don’t take it personal, that’s your opinion. I don’t think Derrick is a pure PG yet, but he isn’t a scoring PG either. Yes he can score, and has a few moves, but he’s unselfish by nature. So He looks to pass. Problem is, he doesn’t see the passing lanes like Kidd or Nash, but he has gotten 10X’s better since this time last season. Which means he’s working on it. By the time he’s 5 yrs in, he’ll be a full 20-10 PG in the mold of Deron Williams, but better.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
eyes says:
@Chi
I don’t know. I sure hope so. I’m a fan of his but it’s a hard skill to acquire. Chauncey has come the closest I’ve seen for the transition. Even he can’t muster 10 assist. The way NASH, kidd,paul,rondo,williams make it look you would think it’s easy. Believe me you could try the whole game to pass & not shoot & still not get 10+ dimes. Just look at Chris Freaking Duhon. I hate his name people. I’m a crazed Chris Duhon should not be in the league supporter. He’s a 3rd or 4th string point guard. He’ll make a great ref one day. Can’t coach. His players will be like. Yo what did you do in the N.B.A.
@Lakeshow
I’m hoping for a rematch at full strength for both teams. May the best team win AMIGO.
What no one remembers about the Kobe & Shaq tandem. Shaq was in more foul trouble than D.Howard. The rest of the team was role players. Namely Devean George & Co. Kobe was holding the team down against some of the West best to offer. Blazers,Kings,Jazz. Give Kobe some kinda of credit. He aint no wingman. Young Lebron aint got nothing on Young Kobe. Believe that. If you think otherwise. Than you just as brainwashed or didn’t really like the player or game itself. The only perimeter player at the time that could have been better
was TMAC. Had more skills than Kobe and was a much better teamate. Just didn’t have the will or luck to fall into a situation like KOBE. He also had to wait his turn at Toronto. Some of you guys have to get your basketball weight up. I mess with ChiRilla & Lakeshow. I could tell you guys genuinely love our game.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Colton says:
Celts Fan says:
@Love Sessions – learn to read dude.
“He hit back-to-back treys to cut an eight-point margin to two, and with four seconds left, Nash (16 pts, 13 asts) had a chance to force OT after Bayless had added a free throw.”
To sum up: up 2 + 1 FT = 3 pts.
I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul…
…
i think your my new best friend. hahahaha!
December 18th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
rocky lobs says:
im pretty sure i didnt see larry play last night for the knicks.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Blazermark says:
Rudy T. should come coach P-town. Bayless needs to be starting with Roy. Two complementing como-guards….. one is a SG combo the other a PG combo. They both shoot, get to the rim, draw fouls, have range, handle the ball, pass, and play D. That would be the best back court in the league. Easily!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Thype says:
How is it that people are calling for Bayless to start? The guy had one good game – no, great game – but that’s it.
Look, last night solidified his minutes, but starting isn’t going to happen and shouldn’t happen this quickly.
Let the lil’ man get comfortable, why put that kind of pressure on a young player after only one solid game?
He is, in my opinion, the obvious ‘third scorer’ that Portland has been searching for this season. I’ve been calling his number for quite a while, but I’m a Portland homer so that’s easy to say. Hah.
Hell, if he plays like that for a couple weeks I’ll line right up and say we need to see if the guy can start, at the same time I like his energy coming off the bench better.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Thype says:
@ Eyes -
What on earth are you talking about young Bron Bron doesn’t have anything on young Kobe? If I disagree I’m brainwashed?
Look, Bron’s numbers speak for themselves, his lack of supporting cast speaks for itself.
Kobe needs the love ’cause he’s the man, plain and simple, but I’ll take the young LBJ over young Kobe any day of the week.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
LakeShow84 says:
@ Thype
i wouldnt say start but he needs burn no doubt.. you can say last nights game justified he should BE OUT THERE.. to what extend i dont know seeing it was the Suns.. and that aint got nothing to do with Nash but more of a lazy Stoudemire and who is actually afraid to drive on Frye??
And another thing.. Andre Miller has HORRIBLE body language sometimes..
December 18th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
LakeShow84 says:
@ Eyes
I aint going to touch young Bron aint got nothing on young Kobe lol but i will say Young Kobe came into the league a pretty good defender and was doing a lot of the things Lebron is doing now.. namely catching Oops and yammin on EVERYONE..
Everyone acts like Kobe cant pass but when you watch his early years dude would juke out 3-4 defenders and throw a no look behind the back pass to Shaq (who was so open when he’d catch it his eyes would light up lol)..
Young kobe was a beast.. too bad we couldnt see what kind of #’s he wouldve dropped if he came in a #1 or even a #2.. shit he had to play behind Eddie Jones lol but he was pretty scrawny.. Bron came in the NBA CRAZY BUILT already lol but competetiveness trumps physical deficiencies.. see Earl Boykins on that lol
December 18th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
love sessions says:
@ Celts Fan
I read it at like 4 am. At that time it said steve nash had a chance to win with a 3 so you do the math
December 18th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
QQ says:
Bad game for the Magic. No energy at all.
Oh well, there’s always the next game.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
D.H. says:
Nash needs to shoot more. He is a great basketball player and his percentages are high enough to legitimize him taking those extra shots.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
QQ says:
@ 15:
Best team in the East.
Now we’re talkin.