Blazers beat Rockets, but the rotation is far from fixed.

So much for open competition and the old may the best man win mentality.  Last night Nate McMillan rewarded mediocrity when he stuck to his guns and stuck Steve Blake in the starting lineup.

Blake did not earn his starting spot by out playing his counterparts in the pre-season. He did not earn it by having a better resume either. He earned his spot by being subservient to Brandon Roy.

How did Blake take advantage of his golden egg? By giving Blazer fans a lackluster performance remnant of the reason the Blazers went out and signed Andre Miller in the first place.

Blake played 26 minutes last night scoring 7 points off of 2-6 shooting and 1 of 2 from the stripe. He turned the ball over 3 times and if it wasn’t for his teammates efforts to get to balls it would have been more and only got 2 assists. 13 of Aaron Brooks 19 came while he was in the game, which was a major reason we lost the series.

I’m having a hard time believing that Jerryd Bayless would have done any worse. In all honesty Jerryd out performed Blake hand over fist in the pre-season. I know it’s pre-season but Nate did say that no ones job was safe and every one would get a shot at playing time.  Talk about absolute coach speak with no regard for consequences.

Dre on the other hand had a very productive 26 minutes, putting up 9 points, 7 assists and only 2 turnovers. His assists are electric. Travis Outlaw, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Fernandez can all attest to that. They all were on the dunk/layup side of Dre’s court vision. Dre did struggle finding his shot, but let’s face it, it’s hard to find something you have never had.

I understand that this is Brandon’s team and 9 times out of 10 doing what’s best for Brandon is the same as doing what’s best for the team. This is the outlier.

Greg Oden needs Dre on the floor the entire time that Greg is. Dre makes Greg better and that is what is best for this team. Greg relishes the motion that Dre creates on court. Face it when Dre is in and there are Blazers cutting and screening off the ball, it creates space for Greg. Greg is a much better offensive player when given the ball when defenders are out of position and he just has to react.

The game is more enjoyable from a fan perspective when it's not about watching Brandon go one on one every possession. Don't get me wrong I love watching Brandon break some ankles with his beautiful crossover but besides him and LaMarcus no one else creates for themselves. Blake plays a station to station style game that is similar to the WNBA and we all know that no one watches that.

So Brandon is more comfortable with Blake. I can understand that, but Brandon has to realize he is going to get his regardless, might as well have someone out there helping everyone else who needs it.

Last night the Blazers won despite Blake not because of him.

-Kurt Valentine

Comments

[Lance]

Kurt, I mostly agree with everything up there. My may contention with your article is your use of Blake's defense as a positive for A.Miller. Blake's D is mediocre at best, but so is Dre's. I don't thank it is fair to Blake to blast him for poor defense, while completely ignoring the fact that Miller's D is just as bad.

[JACOB von weller]

Miller= good Blake= not good