I've been gone for a bit due to personal stuff. What happened with BenDavis503 and who is the mystery person to which you refer.
I think you mean it's amazing what happens when your coach actually plays the best PG on your team and allows him to play decent minutes.
Wrong. With Miller and Roy both out, the Bucks outscored the Blazers 12-3 over the first 4:34 of the 4th quarter. At that rate, the Blazers still would have won 105 - 103 in regulation. By putting Miller back in the game, it greatly slowed the rate the Bucks were cutting into the Blazers' lead. During the next 6:23, with Miller in the game, the Blazers were only outscored by two points (117-102 vs. 100-83). The big difference, of course, was on the offensive end wher the Blazers went from scoring 3 points in 4:34 to scoring 17 points in 6:23. With the Blazers scoring at that rate, it would have taken the Bucks another 3.5 quarters to catch the Blazers. With Roy out, Miller was the key to preserving the double digit lead and ensuring the easy win. BNM
To be correct, it was -2 (117-102 vs. 100-83) during the 6:23 Miller played in the 4th quarter. In the 5:27 he didn't play, the Blazers were -12. So yes, Miller was the key to preserving the double digit lead and easy win. BNM
He's meshing a lot better lately. 18/8 over his last 4-5 games or so. I can see why he was in our second unit. He's a GREAT floor general in the open floor. With that unit we really should be pushing the tempo into the SSOL territory.
It will never happen with Nate as our coach. Besides, our "second unit" rarely plays as a unit. Other than the start of the game and the start of second half, when all five starters are on the court, we usually have a mixture of starters and subs in the game. I think the team will run a little more and get a few more opportunistic fast break points now that Miller is playing more minutes, but I don't think you'll ever see anything approaching SSOL with Nate as our coach. BNM
When somebody is bleeding all over the place and you put your hand on the wound to staunch the flow of blood, does it come to a dead stop that instant. Whatever, this is just "your thing," I get it.
I'm just surprised that our coach still can't get our guys to beat the press; it's killed us for how many years now?
You've got to be quick and be a great ball-handler. Jerryd is still awfully young and has kind of a high dribble, Blake isn't strong enough to beat a trap and tends to clutch up when guys put a lot of pressure on him. The only guys I trust with the ball to consistently beat a backcourt trap are Andre and maybe Roy because of his size and strength to go with his ball-handling. The biggest thing is know how to attack it being able to make the right pass before the trap gets there.
Jason Quick is called that (Quick) because he is. I think the Blazers brought Patty, specifically, to beat him. Unfortunately, he was wounded and is still not in game shape to catch him.
The Andre Miller haters/doubters can rest assured that they are in the same camp as John Canzano on this issue (that should make them feel good). After all, it was the bald faced idiot who boldly stated just a week ago: "Miller doesn't fit with Portland. He'll never fit. You know it. I know it. The Blazers players know it." If John Canzano said it, it must be true, right? If there's one thing John Canzano knows less about than the NBA salary cap, it's evaluating player talent. He's the same guy that wanted us to draft Adam Morrison and Pooh Jeter. If you find yourself sharing John Canzano's opinion about a player, that's a pretty good indication that it's time to get a new opinion. BNM