For the month of January: Andre Miller: 19.5 PTS/G 4.3 REB/G 7.5 AST/G 0.513 FG% 0.833 FT% Amazing what the guy can do when he's actually allowed to play his natural position/role (starting PG). Not uncoincidentally, also for the month of January: Martell Webster: 18.1 PTS/G 5.7 REB/G 0.451 FG% 0.409 3FG% It's amazing how much better Martell is playing now that he has a PG who can actually get him the ball in a position where he can score. His scoring is WAY up and his FG% and 3FG% for January are both considerably higher than his career averages. I don't think it's just a coincidence that Martell's improved play happened to occur at the same time Andre Miller became our starting PG. For the season, Andre Miller now has a PER of 17.1 and it's been rising steadily since he was allowed to play his natural position/role. Martell's PER of 13.1 has also risen substantially over the same time period and is now the highest of his NBA career. 13.1 may not sound all that great, but it's a huge improvement considering he was hovering around 10 for the first two months of the season. BNM
I knew Andre had it in him, just from watching him earlier in his career with Denver and then with Philly. Martell on the other hand is clearly having the best month of his career as a pro -- I just hope he can keep it up.
Realistically, is there any reason to think Webster can't keep this up? He's 23 and missed a whole season. It's never been about the physical tools with Webs, only the mental/confidence aspect, which now appears to be in full bloom. I say he has arrived and now represents a great contract decision by KP a year or so ago. Thank god we did not get Prince after what I saw last night!
Just one - Nate's infatuation with Steve Blake. As long as Andre Miler is starting at PG and playing major minutes with Martell Webster, Webster will continue to get easy, open looks, which he will knock down and keep his confidence high. When Blake was starting at PG, Webster was a forgotten man. All he did was stand around in the corner and occasionally receive a pass with two seconds left on the shot clock. It's no wonder his production was poor and his confidence low. BNM
Yea no kidding...It seems like Blake either just gives the ball to Roy or runs the pick and pop with Aldridge...Of course this is after he gets chased around by his defender and wastes 10-15 seconds off of the clock.
And Blake rarely hits guys in rhythm (funny how much better he is at receiving passes cleanly than giving them cleanly, being a PG and all), so even when Webster got an open look from him, it was more likely to be of the forced variety. Miller is definitely a calming influence.
