Hate to point out what short memories many of you have but Steve Blake started all 4 games we won against Phoenix (including the pre-season) and had been traded before the loss in March. Blake starting = 4-0. Miller starting = 1-3 Steve Nash owns Andre Miller.
I guess you missed the game. Check the stat sheet, our bigs and Rudy won the game by shutting down Hill, Richardson and Collins with D, but Nash had a great night and no problem at all doing anything he wanted on offense.
In 2005 Andre Miller played for Denver vs San Antonio in the playoffs, won game 1, lost series 1-4 In 2008, Andre Miller played for Philadelphia vs Detroit in the playoffs, won game 1, lost series 2-4 In 2009, Andre Miller played for Philadelphia vs Orlando in the playoffs, won game 1, lost series 2-4 All of these series were first round match-ups, and Miller's team was the 6th or 7th seed in all of them. No series even went to 7.
Your point? That Miller led underdog teams to road victories? That's somehow supposed to make us doubt Miller? The use of "logic" on this board astounds me greatly.
Boy, it takes just one loss for all the crybaby bandwagoners to come out and show their true colors. Never mind that the series is tied and heading to Portland, or that we were just playing a team that was in full "backs to the wall" mode. Did you all really expect a Portland sweep? My prediction was that we steal game 1, and then hold home court. Looks like we're still on target, until PHX can win in the Rose Garden.
No I think it takes one game where this team shows how poorly coached and inept they are at playing the best teams in the NBA for people to question, what the fuck are they doing in practice to get owned by 30 points in a playoff game? That's common sense!!! Most people I think thought it was highly unlikely we'd win game two, but to be spanked that way opens the door to questions just like these! How could it not?
Got news for you: We're the 6th best team IN THE WEST. Phoenix is the 5th best team IN THE LEAGUE. We're playing without our 3-time All-Star. Phoenix is 95% healthy, with the only injury to rookie Robin Lopez. Hill and Richardson had career shooting nights, something that is unlikely to happen again. Oh, and we're tied 1-1 heading back home for the next two. And all you fairweather fans just want to piss and moan, even though we're in a great position. Career shooting nights from role players + team in full panic mode = blowouts. I think that game 1 is more indicative of how the series is going to go than last night. Everyone's acting like they expected us to sweep or something...
I have perused a few, and you're right. Its like "Fire Nate!" to "I love Nate!" in the span of minutes, complete with Jessie Borton orgasm noises.
Time for a reality check. Take out the preseason, and you have: Regular Season Game 1, Blazers win: Miller starts, Blake comes off bench http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore/_/id/291217022/phoenix-suns-vs-portland-trail-blazers Game 2, Blazers win: Miller & Blake both start http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore/_/id/300210021/portland-trail-blazers-vs-phoenix-suns Game 3, Blazers lose: Miller starts, Blake not on team http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore/_/id/300321021/portland-trail-blazers-vs-phoenix-suns I don't think I need to link the playoff games, obviously Miller is 1-1 starting. Thats a total of: When Miller starts: 3-2 When Blake starts: 1-0 But really - whoopity doo! Everyone knows Nash is better than Miller. And everyone knows Miller is better than Blake. To think that Phoenix shouldn't have an edge at point guard is silly. But if Steve Nash "owns" Andre Miller, why won't his coach even let Nash guard him?
Well, to me it points out that Miller isn't a true star PG, and needs a star player around him to help him win games. That's why losing Brandon is such a big deal. Miller can't be asked to carry the team in terms of creating offense, defending a "Tier-One" PG, and scoring every night over a playoff series. Nothing in his past shows he's capable of doing it. That's not an insult to Miller, it's just the reality of having him as a starting PG. Knowing this, I don't see how anyone can blame Miller for not being something that he is not. His history shows he's not good enough to lead a good team to a playoff upset; it's not his fault, though.
Specially when you take into consideration the other "Star" player's performance. Good lord, could LMA get anymore pussy than last night? I dont get him, Sometime he's got some sweet post moves, other times, its as though he forgets everything. And why the fuck doesn't he shoot the fucking ball when there is nobody in front of him without having to take the infamous Troutlaw two-step first.
So you're basically writing off the Blazers after 2 games, heading back home tied 1-1, a position that OKC, Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee would kill to be in.
