According to the post game show, Nate told Jason Quick after the game that the opening night starting lineup will be: Blake Roy Batum Aldridge Oden
I had been quite upset about the rumored lineup featuring Joel. I am not terribly upset with starting Blake initially, but Steve really isn't very good, and eventually this season someone will pass him up.
I agree. Oden deserves it and Miller will be a starting before all is said and done, so I'm not too worried about it.
well i am very dissapointed miller wont be starting but like i said along time ago.... if blake starts... batum starts so im okay with that as long as oden starts. but my ideal lineup would be.... Miller/Blake/Bayless/Mills Roy/Rudy Webster/Batum LA/Howard/Doubtlaw/Cunningham Oden/Pryz
Man... miller is gonna be pissed. And the other thing thats a bit disturbing.... this bench unit of Miller, Rudy, Webby, Outlaw, Pryz have been awful together in pre season. They single handly let the suns take the lead tonight. How long before Miller demands a trade?
I just see a lot of potential for chemistry problems. Rudy already looks..... different. Miller is going to be pissed. He was paid 7 million dollars to come here and, apparently, back up a guy who probably wouldn't start for more than half the teams in the league. One of our three small forwards is going to end up sitting. Whether it's Webster, Batum, or Outlaw. About the only positive I've seen so far is that Oden is looking great.
Why? Miller will most likely end up with more minutes anyways and I actually think Blake starting the game is a good idea, and I like Miller. I'm not trying to read too much into the Miller-Roy playing together (non)issue but I think it will help Roy get off to better starts in the 1st quarter. And Miller can run more with the second unit and run it completely. Of course he will also play a lot of minutes with the first unit so I don't see it as a big deal. The whole preseason I have thought it was more important that Greg start than Miller. I have a feeling it will hype Greg up and he will dominate the beginnings of games.
make that three of us who have a bad feeling. its shocking to me that kp signed miller wout realizing how much of a bad fit he was with roy.
Also, how would you feel if you were Miller and you clearly outplayed Blake, but you're relegated to the bench because Brandon Roy wants Blake in the starting lineup. Think that will cause a rift between the two?
We'll see what happens. Nate has changed the starting lineup within 3 games every singles season he's been here and only one of those years was it due to injury. MAkes me think he's not utilizing preseason appropriately, but ohh well.
