Eggers once again showing he understands the game better than the entire staff of the GoryOnion combined.
Call it a hunch, but I think Nic is going to surprise some people with an improved offensive game to go with his already well above average defense.
what experience does andre miller have that the blazers don't already have? is he going to show them how to make the playoffs, but lose in the first round? wait, they already did that. is he going to show them how to win 55+ games? oh wait, he's never won 50 games during any season of his career. the idea that adding "experience" is somehow going to vastly improve the team is dumb on its own, but the idea that andre miller has the "experience" to put the blazers over the top is just moronic.
so what experience does andre miller have that the rest of the blazers don't? if my post is wrong in some way, feel free to correct me.
I don't think it's experience so much as another quality talent being added to the mix... a different facet to their attack. With his outside shot Steve Blake has a complimentary game to what the Blazers have run, but Miller gives them another dynamic weapon to attack with. In the playoffs vs the Rockets, Blake couldn't force the issue with the size advantage he enjoyed over Brooks, he just spaced the court. Miller would have backed Aaron down/run him off pick and rolls and generally caused all sorts of havoc in the paint. Brooks and (more importantly) Houston's frontline absolutely would have been much more at risk to foul trouble which likely could have factored in to how the games played out. STOMP
Miller simply brings a dynamic we didn't have last year: A guy who can attack the hoop, but with the idea of creating for his teamates every time he does. He's not the perfect piece, but I think he's an upgrade and a perfect compliment to Blake.
Sometimes experience is just being in the league a while. He's played with a bunch of coaches. He's been on crappy teams, he's been on decent teams. He's on his last lap and he's a lot more serious and hungry than anyone else on our team. He can see what a valuable and unique player we have in Oden (I hope) and will make sure he gets the ball more. Check out his playoff numbers. That shows that he's got experience of being a damn good PG in the playoffs. Who on our team can say that? (Incidentally, looking at those numbers makes me really want Iguodala. And this is from someone who's argued against him when his ardent fans on this board have brought him up. I wonder if the Sixers are still interested in moving him because of his big contract? We could give them an attractive package of young cheap players and a PG that their coach knows, and whose contract is cheap and expiring, but who would mean they don't have to throw Holliday to the wolves right away...)
What Miller adds is another guy who can create for others. Blake is a safe and steady PG that creates somewhat but is far from elite in this regard. The Blazers now have to guys that can attack the rim and create for others that they did not have before. That's where it starts and where it ends. Bayless can attack the rim - but he is not great creating for others (yet?), - so that's where his value to the Blazers might be.
Funny, I didn't see you coaching our team and winning a gold medal in the Olympics. but I did see Nate do that, and Nate wanted a vet with experience on this team. I take his word over yours pal.
Believe it or not, experience is important on almost any job or career. It's also important for trying to teach Bayless hbow to be an NBA PG. That said, Miller brings depth to the PG position. That's huge.
From what I've read he brings BBI and is able to communicate it to the rest of the team while on the court both on O and D as well as passing skills that will reward players for listening to him.
You are making the erroneous assumption that Nate will allow his players to play their game once playoffs arrive. That has never been, and will never be, the case. We'd have beaten Houston if it were.
I see nothing wrong with what you posted. Miller isn't a "been there, done that" guy who has been a proven winner in the playoffs. That said, he is a player with great court awareness, and he does have experience in that he knows how to prepare for games and how to involve his teammates. Like you, however, I find the "experience" argument for Miller a bit disingenuous considering that he has not won even a playoff series in his career. If the Blazers were looking for a veteran PG who has won a major title in his career, they already had one in Steve Blake. Not that Blake was leading the Blazers to a title, either, but let's discuss Miller on his merits, not on playoff "experience" that he lacks, just like every other player on the team.
People have short memories. Game 1, Blazers v Rockets. Houston gets off to a quick start, Blazers collapse and get blown out on their home floor. Game 1, Philly v Orlando. Magic gets off to a fast start and is threatening to blow Philly out. Miller is the guy who rallies the troops and leads them to a come-from-behind victory. "Experience" isn't just earned in the play-offs....but the play-offs is when it tends to become visible. Oh, and one final note, since I know someone will drag this argument out: yes, Philly lost in 6 games - "just like Portland." BS. Philly lost to a clearly better team - Blazers lost to a team they had a good chance to beat.
