Sergio Rodriguez: A year after

[Rorschach]

I'm still high on Sergio Rodriguez.

Leaving aside the fancy passes and J-Will comparisions, I think that he is pretty similar to Steve Nash on his way of directing the offense and he can be used as more than a spark off the bench (needless to say that I think that McMillan did a very dumb statement when he said Sergio's out of the rotation).

I really think that with the right seasoning he can become nearly a Nash replica if the Blazers are seriously thinking about being an uptempo team. Jack simply can't guide a fast-paced offense but he could be great playing with Sergio (as he is doing this preseason with Blake) guarding the opposite PG.

Imagine this for 2008/09:
PG - Rodriguez / Blake
SG - Jack / Rudy Fernandez
SF - Roy / Webster / Outlaw
PF - Alridge / McRoberts / Outlaw
C - Oden / Przybilla


Am I out of my mind? (Maybe too much time for Roy at the 3?)

Is really Sergio the kind of bust McMillan seems to believe?

Thank you for your comments.

[coachjon]

i don't think rodriguez can ever be on a nash level. he could be a poor man's nash because they are similar players in that they are creative playmakers.

i don't think they can play jack and rodriguez together they both need the ball in their hands to be effective.

[wombat6802]

Why can he not be Nash?

[Rorschach]

Of course, I don't imagine Sergio turned into an MVP, but a poor man Nash may be 12ppg 10apg in 35min with .45 fg and .40 3p.

I can see in Sergio Nash's speed, ballhandling ability, creativity, and ability to create easy baskets out of nowhere. Of course, he lacks the shooting skills, but what I meant is that I think he can develop into a (say 80%) kind of Nash, high octane offensive behemoth given the right seasoning and playing time. I think he is the most similar player to Nash, and that he is one of the most underrated PG's in the league. I can't forget that 23-10 Denver game.

Is a poor-shooting Nash worth a starting role in the league?

[ecuhus]

I don't know, ask Andre Miller!

[Hitster]

Roy is already Portland's starting SG so his role won't change. I could see Rodriguez's peak being say Nash's best middle form in Dallas, I doubt he'd ever reach Nash's MVP level. Interesting Portland picked up both Jack and Rodriguez via traded picks so it was nice business on both deals. I'm still annoyed that Phoenix passed on Rodriguez by trading that pick, imagine him after a few years under Nash and his pass first style would have fitted their uptempo style perhaps better than Portland's inside based game which will revolve around Aldridge and G-OD. But with that threat and if Portland get the SF role sorted then their PG will have plenty of ammo to aim at.

[ecuhus]

Steve Nash wasn't Steve Nash for a long time, and backed up Kidd early on in his career. Be patient with Sergio's progress.

[mullet is gone]

Steve Nash wasn't Steve Nash for a long time, and backed up Kidd early on in his career. Be patient with Sergio's progress.


Exactly no one thought Nash could play at a "Nash level" at a similar stage of his career. Not even his mother.

[Hitster]

Totally agree with Mullet and Ecuhus, people always assume that comparisions are with a current franchise players peak form. Steve Nash of 2003 to present is different from the Steve Nash of 1996 to 2000. Like JO at Portland was a vastly different prospect to the Franchiser he's become at Indiana. Nash to be fair was only a 15th pick back in 1996 I believe so guys picked that far down can reach franchise level. The best scorer currently in the NBA only went one place higher that year whilst guys like Jidd were selected high and have justified that position since. Guys like Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Derrick Rose are expected to reach All Star level or become good NBA starters at least whilst if a guy like Rodriguez reaches it then it's a nice bonus.

Sergio is only a year into his NBA career along with fellow 2nd seasoners Aldridge and Roy whilst Frye, Webster and Jack just going into their 3rd season and Green and McRoberts being rookies. Especially with Oden effectively being a rookie next season Portland will continue to be a work in progress with play-off hopes not being demanded as a must at the moment.