really you can't? Which do you think is the more likely scenario... Miller walks up to some Yahoo sports writer and says that quote because he's frustrated and unprofessional about how he's being used in his 11th preseason... or ... he's answering a question along the lines of how do you feel about coming off the bench? #2 makes a lot more sense to me. Dude didn't sign to be relegated to the bench, he's a stud who has started his whole career. If that was the only possibility in Portland, he'd have gone elsewhere. Nate and management led him to believe that he'd be competing for a starting spot and guess what... thats whats actually happening. Basically I see this as much to do about nothing. 1 Eye Jack... Quick might have a little bit of drama queen in him? Ya think? STOMP
He's paid to be a professional ball player, not a PR wonk. As long as he's not in the police blotter or doing illegal or unethical things in his off time, I don't give two shits what he says to the media/fans or how he says it. It seems to me that some fans of this team have become so sensitive to what kind of people its players are that they've at times lost focus that it's about on court ability and performance and not about singing Kum-by-yah with their teammates and being "warm." This team is overloaded to the gills with "nice guys", it needs a couple of no nonsense, hard asses
I would like to point out that Miller could have quashed all of this crap had he just put in a little work over the off season and come into camp in shape. That would have signaled to his new teammates, coaches, GM, owner, fans and especially media types that he was willing to do what it takes to get into the competition for the starting PG spot. Instead he obviously came into camp out of shape and unable to adequately compete against Blake, a player that obviously took his off season very seriously setting the new team record for this conditioning test. It is not as if Miller was not fore warned about the test and that it was difficult to pass. He elected to do his same ole, same ole. He was asked at his presser if he was in shape and gave his schpeel about how the off season is his time, yada, yada, yada. Well, now he is on the Blazers time and he came into camp out of shape. Terrible first impression he made. To deflect the blame for his poor conditioning into a media should not report on this stance is bullshit. We all know that Travis failed the test several times one year and the team was trying to determine if his asthema (sp) had anything to do with it. But Travis sucked it up, dealt with his teammates, coaches, media and even fans without placing blame on somebody else. Now I have never been enamored with Miller. I am very skeptical that he will be a great fit here. But I also know that Blake will make an excellent backup PG and that we do need a reliable starter. But I also know that if I show up to my new job and crap my pants on day one, people are going to be questioning me. Miller needs to own up to faling the test and then suck it up and pass it if he has not yet done so. This is his fault. Players play, coaches coach and reporters report. That is what Quick/Freeman/Clownzano have done here. Miller knows that and did an end around and went to a friendly "reporter" to him in Stein to do a fluff piece. Miller knows the game and played it bringing in a national reporter trying to big time the local honks. Just suck it up Miller, get in shape and compete. Nothing is given in Blazerland and I support that.
It sounds nice in theory, except it is very rare for 10 year veterans to work excessively hard during the off-season. Miller has been one of the most productive point guards in the league for most of his career and he's gotten ready for each season the same way -- why change now? For one thing the results of that test were never really meant for public consumption ... but ultimately that conditioning test is going to mean fuck all in April when the "real" season starts -- again, Miller has been one of the most productive (and durable) players at his position for most of his career following the same off-season regimen, he would be a fool at his age to try and do something different. Miller has widely been regarded as one of the more effective players so far in pre-season (apparently the only guard intent on feeding Oden the rock) and has clearly been outplaying Steve Blake ... finding a fit with new teammates who are not used to a certain style of play is going to take time and has absolutely nothing to do with his ability to run an arbitrary conditioning test. As for him talking with Marc Spears, he knows him from his time playing in Philly and Denver, whomever initiated the interview is pretty meaningless, but its clear Miller trusts him more than he does the group at the Oregonian who seem much more interested in embarrassing him and calling into question his off-court personal habits.
I dont blame Miller for being a little pissed about the conditioning test results being made public. Make it public AFTER all the players have passed the test with a simple article saying that everyone has passed it and leave out the details of how many times it took each player to pass it.
Well then Miller obviously has a hearing Problem. Does any of us have a reason to doubt Nate when he said that while in Vegas having dinner with Miller he explained to Miller that he could very well come off of the bench in Portland? If he does not have a hearing problem then he may have over rated his abilities, under rated Blakes abilities or something in between. The fact is, Miller knew it was a possibility he could come off of the bench in Portland. He signed anyways. Why? Maybe Portland was the only team with interest in his services. Maybe Portland was the highest bidder. At this point it does not matter to me because his statements say he is a liar. He is more concerned with starting than winning. That is a slap in the face to our guys that have been here for the rebuild and have sacrificed. Miller can go start on a mediocre team. Good bye and I hope we can find a replacement that is willing to compete with Steve Blake and hopefully beat him out and if not keep his mouth shut and come off of the bench.
How many years in a row has the conditioning test been made public? However I must admit I was surprised at how they specifically pointed out that Miller was the only player with a guaranteed contract to not pass the test.
10 seasons * 82 games = 820 total games possible... he's missed 3 of those due to injury 3 / 820 = that he's been healthy 99.97% of the time which is much better then any other Blazer Dude is a proven workhorse who knows how to take care of himself. Nate's little test is (according to him) for guys to gauge where they are at with their physical fitness, and quite obviously this isn't a concern with Andre. STOMP
Not sure, but I remember reading somewhere that in years past it took Outlaw several attempts to pass it.
When I first read his quote, this is the impression I had. But after reading more, it seems to me that his quote was addressing the idea that if he had been told he would absolutely be coming off the bench with no option for competing for the starting role, he would not have signed here. Which seems very reasonable to me.
I kind of feel bad for him. He has only been in town a few weeks and this is how we welcome him. He is just in some of the things he talks about. The reporters are responsible for any news that is leaked about him. And they have been one sided. They haven't helped his cause at all.
We've known in year's past who failed the test (Outlaw). If Miller is embarrassed about coming into camp out of shape, he needs to get over it.
LOL. Okay that was funny! But I wrote this in the o-live room. "As much as I may dislike what some of the columnist say about the Blazers, and believe me there is a ton I disagree with, I know it's their job. Blazer fans are so involved and loyal to their team, almost to a fault. Because of that, they want to know every little detail and wins and losses are almost feel like "THEY LOST". I am one of those types. With that said, the beat writers try to find everything about each player, so "us fans" will "tune in". Sometimes they write about something silly and us fans run with it. But it's honestly our fault for going too deeply into a comment made. Can't say I blame any media for that one." I really think this applies.
You are clearly wrong on this. Quick, Freeman and the new guy at the Columbian have all been quite clear that Miller is hands down a better PG than Blake. I think there is little debate on that subject even amongst us fans. Where there is debate is if he fits with Roy, will that be offset by how much he feeds Oden and if he fits the culture of team before individual. This is all about Miller letting his feelings be hurt because Jason Quick did his job and reported who passed and failed the run test just as he has done every year. I do not recall Jamal Mcgloire pissing and moaning about Quick reporting that he had failed the test and he was new to the team just as Miller is. Freeman was doing his job when reporting that Miller is an introvert that socializes little with the players and has even less interaction with the fans. This is news because besides Joel all the other players are very social. There is always a "get to know the new guy" piece in the paper. If Miller thinks it reflects poorly on him in the paper that he is an introvert maybe he should try being more affable. Otherwise let the truth stand, which is he is an introvert. He needs to quit being a baby, that is all.
Or perhaps he isn't used to being in a city like Portland with no other teams for the local media to cover. I'm telling you right now, that the sports coverage in Seattle is NOTHING like it is in Portland. The Blazers are under such a microscope it's completely laughable. Don't get me wrong, I love the Blazers, but I don't need to know what they would want on desert island or what they do on their days off. The Portland media needs to realize sometimes less is more.
Plus he is a big time Blake guy. I remember last year during one of those podcasts Quick does he took time out to go on a rant deriding folks who thought Blake was a bad point guard.
I am starting to not like Miller. Yeah, he is a good player and all that. But chemistry is what I always talk about. I get flamed a lot for it. People tell me chemistry doesn't exist in teams. But here it is right before our eyes. I hope mixum doesn't have the last laugh @ -54 because of Millers prima donna attitude. I hope I am wrong. But Miller is starting to look like a bad signing.
Yeah. And then Miller says 4 players told him their times were fixed to make it look like they passed?!??!! wtf !!! Why would Nate do that?!
Ugh, the way Quick sucks off Steve Blake and tries to make him into something he isn't drives me nuts. I like Blake for what he should be (a high quality reserve point guard), but he's neither dynamic enough or physically gifted enough (read big enough) to hang for 30 minutes a night 82 games a year (not even counting the playoffs). People constantly bring up Derrick Fisher as a comparison because they both like to spot up and take 3s, the big difference between the two is that Fisher is a big body who can get through a pick and used to be a pretty good defender at his position, something Steve has never been.
I wonder if this is merely a misunderstanding. I can't imagine Nate actually doing that. Perhaps this is merely a case of Miller not being aware that the "pass" time is different based on position, and he saw 4 people who took longer than him (but were Centers or something so actually passed).
