You make him sound like a starting PG. He can probably get his shot off against scrubs. Anyone else? Meh.
He's quick enough to play against anyone, that's for sure. He's a good ball handler and has a pretty good crossover. Chris Paul himself said Mills is faster than him, so that's saying something. He's not a bad guy at all to be the 3rd PG option off the bench. He'll need work, but he has all the tools to succeed in the NBA.
Fair enough. I'm not opposed to him being the 3rd PG, but I don't think he's going to do much in the league. That article is pretty BS though. Better than Blake and Bayless? Laughable.
Maybe BNM hasn't seen him play, but I have several times and while I think he's got some potential, I see him as a being a smaller, much less physical version of Jerryd Bayless -- a nice college player, but his NBA potential for me is very much in question. That said, I hope he pans out and competes for a position, because I'm always in favor of adding talent and any time a late second round pick sticks, it just validates your GM and scouts and god knows this team could use more answers than questions at the point guard spot. Let's just see what he can do in summer league before we get too high on Mills the NBA point guard.
That part is a bit much. He could probably score on Blake(who can't), but Bayless would eat him alive.
I have seen him play. He's a shooting guard in an undersized point guard's body. Yes, he's very fast, but is a defensive liability and he's definitely not a distributor. Yes, he can get his own shot, but the PG's role is to also get shots for his teammates - something Mills hasn't prove he can do any better (or even as good) as Jerryd Bayless. I did not compare his game, or his skills to Taurean Green's - I compared their worth, which I see as about equal. Mills is more athletic and scores more. Green is a better distributor and decision maker. The player I compared directly to Mills is Pooh Jeter. Do you disagree with that comparison? If so, why? What is it that Mills does so much better than Jeter that will have Mills proving he's a better PG than both Steve Blake and Jerryd Bayless by the end of training camp? Jeez, I agree this guy is the next Sergio, We already have people fawning all over him and declaring him the next fan favorite before he's even made the team. BNM
Is he going to be playing in the summer league, or does he have commitments to the Australian national team that will keep him from playing in Vegas? Bayless has supposedly been told he will be running the point on the summer league team to work on his distribution skills. Even is Mills is there, I don't want him taking one second of time at the point that could be used by Bayless to improve his game. Bayless is our PG of the future. Mills is a long shot to make the team. BNM
this is the best youtube to watch, it's the last 6 minutes of a game against Santa Clara (also featuring stat-machine center John Bryant, #54 in red). Mills is #13 in white. There's some things to like, but also some bad. Much more informative than a highlight reel. [video=youtube;nMV0y4z5pJM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMV0y4z5pJM[/video]
Mills was the "star" of the pre-Draft Eurocamp: But, like Bayless, he's not a PG: Think of him as a Nate Robinson type. He's probably as fast, but hasn't the hops. But he is a bit taller. Actually, I had a thought about all our second rounders: they're the Practice Houston Rockets! Cunningham and Pendergrass are cerebral and scrappy defenders (like Battier and Scola) and Mills is our little Aaron Brooks.
Don't forget CJ Bruton, who also looked good. But no, nobody was raving about Chris Anstey. They certainly were about Mills.
I thought I heard KP say on draft night that they'll probably have him play there, but he'll be used as an off-guard; the focus is letting Bayless have the reins to see what he can do, Mills sounded more like an afterthought. As for his national team commitments, I have no idea, but it's not like Australia plays in the European Championships and there's not world championships this year, so I think he's free and clear.
Patty Mills is the next Monta Ellis. Guaranteed. Now, on to nicknames. I recommend "Patty Melt." Because his game is delicious. Also, I know nothing about Mills except that he did well in some Olympic games. Factor that in, but it shouldn't invalidate what I've said here.
Australia is playing games this off-season, and the coach wanted to select Mills. Patty told them that he wanted to focus on the NBA at the moment, so he will be playing summer league. KP said that Bayless would be playing 90% of the point at summer league. I assume Mills will get the other 10%, and most of the time at the 2. Hopefully Patty does well, and gets the third PG spot on our roster. I think he'd develop his game better playing in the NBA, than he would playing in Europe. I have no absolutely doubt whatsoever he's got the determination to do that; if given a fair crack of the whip.
Hey I hope he succeeds too, I really do. I'm so sick and fucking tired of the point guard carousel that Portland has been riding for the past five years or so (longer?)
