That sure looks like more of a bonehead decision every day. This is more of a comparison between the two, and not so much a slam on Mr. Sonic. I get that coaches are comfortable with what they know, but wow, how was this even up for debate?
Brandon likes to play with "Blanky" Having said that I sure would like a backup point guard who can space the floor however.
That decision was as much about Brandon as about Nate. Miller and the team just needed some time to figure out how to work with one another. I think KP sees the same thing. Nate has had three crutches that KP has traded away. First is was Jack, then Blake and Outlaw.
Basically my 3 most disliked blazers in the last 5 years, and before them, it was dixon, and we got rid of him too
Let's see: did the Blazers play pretty well when we had Blake, despite being riddled with injuries? Yes. So maybe just maybe it was a good thing to play him? And maybe just maybe the fact that Miller is playing well now isn't proof that it was wrong not to start him, but perhaps partly a result of easing him in slowly. I remember Deron Williams's rookie year: he didn't start, and he was playing behind Keith McLeod (I think - somebody who is no longer in the NBA, anyway). Does the fact that Williams' is great now show that Sloan was wrong not to start him from the get-go? Or perhaps maybe Sloan knew what he was doing, and Williams became better by having to work out the system? This is amazingly typical. A player plays well, the team does well, but still it provides "evidence" that Nate's an idiot.
Great point, but Miller is not a rookie, and has proved himself better over his entire career to be a lot better than Blake. I really don't want this to come off as a "Nate is an idiot post". Trust me, there are way too many opportunities to make those. This is simply a post wondering how it could ever have been in question......by anyone?
I think the USA basketball team over the last decade proves that a successfull basketball team is more than just thowing the best talent on the floor together. Chemistry is a big issue and for whatever reason we didnt have it at the beginning of the season, my hunch is that it had just as much to do with the adjustment of playing with Oden as it did to playing with Miller. I wouldnt put this all on Nate or Brandon, some things just are and need time. Besides now that things are working I dont really care that much to disect the past.
I think it took Miller a while to adapt his game to playing the way Nate wants the PG to play. Blake was familiar with Nate's system, the team was familiar with him, and they had achieved a lot of success last year with him running the point. All of that said, Miller is clearly the more talented player and he has found a way to adapt his game to fit with what Nate wants done and to work well with Roy when a lot of people, myself included, doubted that he could. Kudos to both Nate and Miller for getting things right at this point in the season.
I guess I just find it funny that someone would choose a few months after the guy is traded to make this point. I think it is clear where the organization stands on the great Blake vs Miller debate.
Against Dallas, We played both as Nate wants to play and how Miller wants to play. We now have the horses to both manage the offense in the half court and to push the tempo. To some extent we won last night because we played "quick" and got easy shots and moved without the ball. Wonderful basketball over all. Did you see the one time (that I can remember) when Roy brought the ball up the floor he started to walk it up and then picked up the pace some even though the defense was some what set. That was no doubt a result of the practices this week.
The problem I have with that theory is that Nate announced Blake would be the starter before waiting to see how Miller would blend in. That set up an unnecessary media circus. He could have just trotted out the usual, "we'll decide in training camp / pre-season and the best player will start..."
Blake was a team captain and they'd had success with him. The braintrust decided not to upset the apple cart and show their steady vet some respect despite having a clear upgrade. The championship isn't won in November... good job by Nate! STOMP
Yes, last night vs. Dallas the game was fun to watch as a fan. There were many last-second decisions to take it to the hoop, which is how most teams play. Most such decisions came from Miller, whether as passer or dribbler. This is why we need to trade for experience--to get guys who aren't totally indoctrinated in Nate's system. About 3-4 weeks ago, Miller had a quote saying that he was playing more conservatively now to avoid turnovers to please his coach. Until they met, Miller had 2 streaks going. He played in every game since 11/2/99, his first, and that streak is unbroken. He started every game since 2/17/00, except 1 game 12/23/06 (his very 1st game with Philadelphia after a midseason trade), and McMillan broke that streak on 10/27/09. That trade was that the 76ers received the Petteri Koponen draft pick, with Andre Miller tossed in, for Ivan McFarlin, with Allen Iverson thrown in.
