Posted by DarkKnicks:
I dont want Bayless. I almost prefer any of the other projected top 10.
Can you elaborate a little on your thinking here dark. Funny because my #1 guy for our slot (considering we get lucky and get the #2 or #3 pick or wind up trading up to get it) is Bayless. Some of the criticisms on Bayless are unwarranted in my opinion. Let's take a look at some of them:
(1)
Does too much scoring himself as a PG/boarderline selfish player - honestly, couldn't be any further from the truth and I must've watched Arizona play about 10 times this season. He's always looking to set up teammates and make the right play. Never saw anything in his game to suggest otherwise. For Arizona, most of the time the best play is Bayless himself driving the ball or shooting his jumpshot. Nothing wrong with that. The kid's a scorer and a good one, plain and simple. Nothing wrong with an offensive-minded PG in today's NBA. I think it can only be looked at as a plus - he's just one more scoring threat on the floor. Most teams that have that element have been successful in the playoffs within the past few seasons (Tony Parker, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, Baron Davis last year, even the Mavs went to the finals recently with a Jason Terry/Devin Harris offensive-minded combo. running the show). And outside of Chase Budinger who else did Bayless have on that team that could really score the ball with any type of consistently?
(2)
Tendency to dominate the dribble and have trouble setting up the offense in the halfcourt - once Mike D'antoni firmly establishes his up-tempo philosophy with the Knicks (and hopefully after a few successful trades to get him what he needs by Donnie Walsh) how much halfcourt ball do they really expect to play now? I've seen the kid play up-tempo as well as any PG in college basketball and I forsee no problem for him slowing it down and executing in a halfcourt set. The kid has all the tools in the world to run the show and play any style of ball given the situation.
(3)
Lack of size for a SG/ability to defend SGs - I don't look at him as a SG. Bottom line. Why would this be a concern if he isn't going to be a fulltime 2-guard in the NBA? He'll play some 2 in the NBA in some situations (Crawford's still on the team and he's dominating the ball, Nate's still on the team and D'Antoni decides to go small with Bayless/Nate, etc..) but I see him eventually developing into a LEAD GUARD - bringing the ball up, calling out plays, running the show, putting the ball in the right guys hands, scoring when it's there - he can do all that and he can do it all right now. Amazing how advanced his game is at such a young age. In only his freshman season playing at Arizona against quality competition and being as successful as he was, he proved to me that he has what it takes to jump into the NBA and have a major impact right out of the gate, whereas a Derrick Rose I could see having some trouble - I just don't see the overall advanced game in Rose that I do in Bayless. And one of his strengths to me IS his defense - he shows a lot of pride in his defense, getting down low ball-hawking his man and shows good quickness, good hands and good instincts in playing the passing lanes as he came up with a lot of deflections. Perfect combination of size, smarts and athleticism to be successful defending NBA PGs.
(4)
Memphis went much further in the the tourney than Arizona therefore Derrick Rose is the better player - No disrespect to Derrick Rose and what he accomplished but this popular notion is utter nonsense in my book. Derrick Rose simply had more horses and much more to work with at his program than Bayless did in there limited time playing college ball.
Bottom line is Bayless would be a perfect fit for the Knicks. We just picked up a successful coach who stresses transition ball and had a great offensive-minded PG in Steven Nash running the show. Undoubtedly, D'Antoni will be looking for the same type of quarterback and I guarantee he sees similar qualities in Jerryd Bayless. Bayless, already possessing a highly advanced game, has all the tools needed to develop into everything we need and that's a consistent lead guard. When you take into account our needs, how you should build a team, and Donnie Walsh's comments about not having the luxury to make a mistake with the pick, a selection of Bayless, the closest thing to a "sure thing" as there is in this draft, becomes clear.
5/6/2008 4:39 PM
