The more I watch Blake on the pick and roll, the more infuriated I get. He’s been a bit better the last two games because he’s playing against awful pick-and-roll teams in NY and Indiana.

There’s just no way that Blake is the best pick-and-roll defender at PG on this team. If you’ve ever played a lick of organized ball, you quickly recognize how bad he is there, and how much better Bayless is defending the pick and roll.

I haven’t read every post here, but has anyone talked about what a PG must do to defend the pick-and-roll well? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Don’t get picked. Slip over it, fight through. Blake can rarely do this. I’ve seen him actually chasing the play from behind both the picker and the G.

2. Make the big do something he doesn’t want to do, if you get picked. Blake never pressures that big.

3. Rotate to pick up the guy who is picking up for your defense. Blake’s not good here because he’s smaller than anyone he’s going to rotate to.

4. Cut off ball to prevent pick and roll. Blake rarely tries this because the PG can then blow by him and force the defense to rotate.

5. Trap the ball. Blazers don’t try this very often, and Blake is rarely in position to try this because he goes under the pick all the time.

So, if it’s not clear:

It’s not always Blake’s guy who is scoring, or even the guy setting the pick. His poor pick and roll defense is often responsible for guys getting open looks all over the floor.

If Brandon ever realized that this is why he is coasting, tired, to try to pick up shooters like Wilson Chandler, he wouldn’t object to Blake playing less.

Martell is fine for now. (I know, I know, I know.)

Batum is going to be great.

Move Blake and/or Miller for a backup 4 or 5 and press on with what we have in Portland. It’s clear to even casual fans that Blake shouldn’t be playing ahead of Miller and Bayless.

The change of scenery argument might carry a lot of weight with Butler. We should also remember he has never been the healthiest fellow.