Sixers' Bayless needs time to get comfortable as starting PG

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The Sixers' starting lineups had been revolving doors of players. In and out, here today, gone tomorrow. This season they looked to build a consistent five that could establish a chemistry and foundation. 

That goal was dashed in training camp when projected starters Jerryd Bayless (wrist) and Ben Simmons (foot) were injured. 

As a result, Sergio Rodriguez was bumped into the starting one spot in his first season back from Spain. Rookie Dario Saric was thrust into the starting power forward position before the Sixers traded for veteran Ersan Ilyasova, who now is filling that role.

On Friday the Sixers took one step closer to fulfilling that projected starting lineup when Bayless was given the nod in his third game back.  The combination of Bayless, Gerald Henderson, Robert Covington, Ersan Ilyasova and Jahlil Okafor marked the seventh group of starters in the first 16 games of the season. 

One night is not enough, though, for a new point guard to completely click. 

“It’s going to take time,” Bayless said after the Sixers 105-89 loss to the Bulls (see Instant Replay). “It’ll get there. I think over the next couple games, hopefully, it will get to a point where I’m really comfortable. But it’s still a new thing.”

Bayless scored 11 points off 4 for 10 shooting from the field in nearly 26 minutes. He only recorded two assists and grabbed four rebounds. Bayless committed two turnovers and was a minus-16 on the final box score. He started against Rajon Rondo. 

“I think he’s trying to do what we want, he’s trying,” Brett Brown said. “He just hasn’t played basketball for a while and he’s going against a really good defensive team. It looked force-fed, it looked a little bit rushed. But you see a physical side to Jerryd that I’m attracted to. You see a downhill sort of aggressive rim attacker that I’m attracted to.”

Bayless signed a three-year deal with the Sixers this summer. He is in ninth NBA season and seventh organization. Bayless, 28, most recently played for the Bucks where he averaged 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 28.9 minutes last season. He started 18 of 52 games.

Bayless did not have the advantage of getting to learn his new team during training camp; he only participated in the first day before suffering the injury. 

“I don’t know that it’s anything in particular that has to happen,” Bayless said of getting more comfortable. “But it’s just time and playing. I still haven’t played with these guys. This is just something that’s something new.”

The Sixers will practice Saturday afternoon before facing the Cavaliers and Raptors in back-to-back games. It will give Bayless another opportunity to get familiarized with his new teammates. 

“Having him run a team and be a point guard and get our young guys where they need to be is going to be growth as he starts playing under me and in our system,” Brown said. “Each game you see a little bit more, and most of it’s positive.”

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