I was busy closing a deal yesterday (finally) so I couldn't waste most of my "work" day here, but while in the car I was listening to John Lund. Lund claimed that a source in the Blazer organization told him Miller would be moved because there is a general feeling within the organization that 'Miller has gotten too comfortable with not winning as an NBA player', to paraphrase what was said. Lund covered Miller while Miller was in SLC in college, and apparently got to know him somewhat while covering the Ute team that made the NCAA title game. Lund didn't really comment on what he was told in terms of giving his own opinion; he said he was just relaying something that somebody within the organization told him. I found it interesting, maybe because it kind of falls in line with my own thoughts on Miller. While Roy has been bashed for not "changing his game", even when he was healthy last season, Miller never really took any heat for not being willing to change his own game by being an uptempo guard off of the bench.
I have never questions millers ability to win ball games.. He was stellar in the playoffs last year. Pretty much won that first game for us.
He was complete crap after Game One of that series. Like worse than Steve Blake bad, comparatively, from the previous season, even with Game One.
Could be. Then again, after 11 seasons, I'd think a guy might want to try something new on a team that won 54 games the previous season. Instead, he sulked around and forced his way into the line-up, and a team that should have been a Top 3 seed tied for 6th. Maybe there is something to it?
Yeah I would call bullshit on this. I think his quiet nature is confusing some that he doesn't care. He is too much of a professional not to do what ever it takes to win. I would not doubt that all the injuries with this team have gotten him down as I am sure he had hoped to contend for a title, but he will be traded for two reasons. his age and his potential ending contract. Not because he is comfortable with losing.
Nate doesn't have a contract for next season. Plus, Nate has won in the playoffs, as both a player and a coach.
He was the best point guard on the team last year. He's now what, 15th on the all time assist leaders list? More importantly, look at his history in Philly. Those teams sucked but he got them to the playoffs. He may have not gotten them out of the first round but those teams sucked balls. Hell even his last season he took Orlando to 7 games and Orlando went on to play for the championship. But more importantly a player who doesn't care about winning means he doesn't care about playing. 632 consecutive games means he cares.
Yeah, I don't understand. He doesn't care about winning, but he cares about playing? I suppose he could be so self-centered that he just wants to boost his own stats so he plays every game he possibly could, but I find that unlikely. Ed O.
But if he were self-centered he wouldn't be here - http://espn.go.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/assists
I was out of town when that happened, and it did surprise me, but when I found out it was Muggsy Bogues that he passed to get to 15th, I have to admit it made it seem less impressive to me, because I don't have Bogues even on my radar as an all-time PG. Of course, he too struggled as a starting PG to win in the playoffs, although he did get out of the first round one time more than Miller has thus far. I agree with that, but I don't think that Lund would just make up the quote, do you? Perception can be more important than reality, unfortunately, and maybe that's the case with Miller and some people within the organization.
Sure he could be. He knows he can't shoot, but he's a gifted passer. A player can be selfish in terms of caring more about assists, IMO, than wins. I don't think it's the case with Miller, but it could be the case. Ed O.
He shot worse, that's about it. Of course, Miller was covered by Phoenix's best defender, and the focus of their efforts, while Blake was a spot up shooter. Sometimes there's things that effect the stats, which helps to look at, as opposed to analyzing stats in a vacuum as you choose to. Of course, generally we just get the I was just posting stats reply, so..
One stat I'm curious about... how many airballs did Miller shoot with the game on the line in a critical playoff game for the Blazers?
