But the PG situation continues to be a problem. Blake’s minutes right now better pay off in terms of a trade this season, or I’m going to be pretty dumbfounded. Miller just dropped 52. 52. And he did it because he needed to, because LaMarcus could never do that filling in for Roy.

Is there any more ideal situation than what we have here? Miller is a heady PG who doesn’t always look to score, but knows when he has to and can. He’s one of the best passers in the game. Notice Bayless’s lob to LA in Dallas? Bayless can dish the rock, not unlike a young Andre Miller. Bayless can get to the line, not unlike Miller. Defensive ability. Shot improving. It’s simple: you start Miller, and Bayless comes off the bench first. Next year, same thing, most likely. The year after that, Bayless starts and Miller may be gone.

Instead, Nate has deeply upset both Miller and Bayless at times this season, and I don’t blame either one of those guys. As I’ve said before, if Roy really did express desire to play more minutes with Blake, Nate needs to help his young star grow and learn how to play with a true PG, learn how to play off the ball and be patient.

The beginning of this season was really rough. I know it takes time for a team to come together, especially with Miller coming in, the return of Martell, a new and improved Oden, etc. But the team was flat. Nobody was happy and Nate didn’t know what to do with the offense.

But I’ll grant him this: we have a problem in Portland. You can ask guys to sacrifice minutes and stats to contend for a ring in a situation like Boston’s, where guys are past their peaks. You can’t ask young guys like Martell, Bayless, Rudy, Nic, etc., to sacrifice their personal development for the sake of the team and expect them to be okay with it. That’s a key difference. I’m worried about it because I want to see all of these guys stick around (Blake and Miller leaving sooner or later, of course). There truly may be too much young talent on this team. And can Nate manage it correctly? So far, well, he’s done some things right, but he’s done a number of things poorly this season.

I know, I know, I’m just some recliner-loving wannabe coach, right? Maybe, maybe, but Dean didn’t look comfortable with the situation on the road trip Nate missed earlier this season, either. Between his lines I read a little bit of “hey, I’m just working with the coach’s rotation here–I know Bayless is damn good.”

Like you’ve recently said, now it’s Nic and Martell. Both really solid young players, both guys who can defend, both good people. If LaMarcus had a rebounding bone in his body, I’d say run him at center more and go with Nic at the 4, as you’ve mentioned a couple of times, I believe.

In short: we’re watching, Nate. Good luck, and godspeed.

How can you say awful, though? He has mismanaged a couple situations, but under a lot of coaches this team might have completely sunk with the injuries. Not a perfect year because of the point guard stuff, but at least he hasn’t bobbled the starting lineup anymore and has been fairly consistent — between Blake and Miller — playing the effective, or less less-effective, hand.

Now let’s just see how he handles the brewing Batum-Webster situation.