The team did regress a bit this year. If that's due to the point guard play, then Blake is better than Miller. If that's due to the injuries, then it depends on whether Miller injured those players and/or whether Blake was a superior healer of other players. If it was due to some random variation, then it depends on whether Blake is a luckier fella than Miller. But we can all agree that the team regressed a little bit this season in win total. And that Blake was the starting point guard last year, while Miller was (largely) the starting point guard this year. And that last year was an odd numbered year and this year is an even numbered year. These are facts, that's all.
I would say some key players have regressed.. mainly LMA and Rudy. But I think had there been a healthy GO at the way he was playing before he went down.. what he offered more than would have compensated for the regression of Rudy and LMA (not in their skills obviously, but in overall impact on the game, and team)
I don't recall saying that Blake is better than Miller. I'm merely noting that 54 > 51. I don't understand why this basic mathematical fact is upsetting some people.
Here is the reason I believe Skiles does deserve a lot of consideration: 1. His team really wasn't that good to begin with, and overachieved. Before the season started, they were a bad team that probably wouldn't make the playoffs in the eastern conference. That is bad. Now they are not. 2. They did overcome some injuries. 3. They truly did play some good ball this season. With some excellent winning streaks. Reasons why I don't think that he deserves all the credit: 1. Brandon Jennings was much better than anticipated by many. If nothing else, he is ahead of schedule. 2. Surprise players like Ilyasova.
You forgot to add the emote. Then people would have understood that you were citing a bunch of unconnected facts, not meant to make any point.
Anyhow, back to the subject at hand. I feel that Skiles should win it, followed by Nate McDillon, with Scott Brooks taking 3rd for guiding an injury-free team to the 8th seed in a Yao-less Western Conference. My reasons don't matter.
I was citing one connected fact. The fact that 54 > 51. You did add some unconnected possibilities influencing the numeric data, possibilities which may or may not have value in assessing the numeric data.
He didn't give a reason. He just noted that the team has regressed and Blake was then and Miller is now. I might similarly note that dinosaurs existed back when there was no USA and since the founding of the USA, there haven't been any dinosaurs. These are facts. I didn't connect them. PapaG didn't connect his facts either, which is where you are misunderstanding him.
I have reasons. I just haven't shared them. Well, I did early in the thread, but if you didn't want to read them, no biggie.
I was counting in Blake as the starter last year and Miller as the starter this year among your unconnected facts. Both were implied in your post: "Blake won 54 games as the starting PG last year. 'Dre will top out at 51 if we win against GS. The team regressed this season." Blake being the starter last year, Miller largely being the starter this year and 54 > 51 are all facts, which you didn't connect together ("Portland lost more games because Miller replaced Blake"). I was just helping you be understood! People thought you were connecting them together and making that argument I put in parenthesis. You were just citing facts. Not making arguments.
I thought it was pretty easy to understand numeric values, but then people want to get all touchy-feely and start clouding the issue by throwing out reasons, assumptions, opinions, facts, and anecdotes. I'm just a simple man.
We are at base a touchy-feely species. If tigers had language, I imagine they'd appreciate your 54 > 51 argument and not cloud it with other thoughts. As it is, they're pretty on board with "alive > dead" and don't get too wrapped up in opinions, emotions, anecdotes, etc.
Blake sucks as a point guard. Anyone with any understanding of basketball can see that. He doesn't make anyone around him better. He actually makes everyone around him worse. He puts no pressure on the opposition.
