The guy is clearly Armon Johnson for me. Not only does he play better defense, make better decisions and run the team better than Mills, he also is much more of a "Nate" player than Mills. I'm sure the staff is thinking just that. Plus he actually has an NBA body. He made a few mistakes, but is still a rook and overall is just solid. Future backup PG anyone?
I dunno what either or their future's is, but I do know that I've been more impressed with Johnson's all-around game and his D than I have been Patty's ... at present he looks like a 3rd point guard that you might consider developing -- way too soon to say anything more than that. Patty just confirmed for me what I've thought about him all along. More Mo Williams than Deron Williams, don't hate his offense, but his D makes my eyes bleed.
well I do hate his offense. i hate "point guards" who just run down and jack up shots all the time. either that or he just channels Sergio and tries to get all spanish chocolate with his passes, resulting in way too many stupid turnovers.
Mills took 9 shots (making 6) not sure I would call that jacking it up. Johnson took 12 btw. They are completely two different types of players. i wish we could keep both. Johnson looks to have a more all around game, but Mills can flat out score.
What's the actual question? Who would I keep? Or who do I think the Trail Blazers will keep? I don't reckon the Australian market would even cover Mills salary.
I dunno. I'm more of a Mills fan than many here--maybe because I've seen him play with the Stampede. He'll never be a starting point guard, but if you need a guy to come in for 10 minutes, hit some shots, and competently bring the ball upcourt, I kind of like him. His three point shot is definitely legit. It's a different league than when Greg Anthony used to play. Role playing backup point guards in the Aaron Brooks mold seem to do reasonably well, and that's Patty Mills' game. Down the road if there are a rash of freak injuries and Roy and Miller are out for a night or two, I can see throwing Mills out there for some minutes, and you at least stand a chance because he can give you some of the scoring those guys bring. Yeah, his defense sucks. But then that's balanced out with offensively limited/defensive specialists like Pendergraph and Camby and Cunningham (and possibly Przybilla) on the bench. I bitched and moaned about Damon Stoudamire for years and years, so it's not like I'm a huge fan of that style. But given how the team is constructed, Mills gives this team a speedster perimeter shooter it just doesn't have in anybody else. It's a good thing to have at least one of those guys at the end of the bench. If nothing else, in practice coaches can use him as a practice dummy in preparing to defend legit speedster guards like Harris and Paul.
Who you would keep. But yeah fell free to share who you think the Blazers will keep, there are no set boundaries in this poll.
What I posted above is what I think Portland should do. What Portland will actually do is an interesting question. Mills is a funny combination of Sergio and Blake. He's got Blake's three point shot (which Nate loves) but Sergio's high-speed fast-and-loose style and piss-poor defense (which Nate hates). It really boils down to which guy Nate thinks he can mold. Can he work with Johnson to develop lethal three point range? He hasn't had much luck so far doing it with Bayless. Can he work with Mills to develop at least some defense, and a finer appreciation for reducing turnovers? He never got anywhere with Sergio. My guess is he sees himself more in Johnson, and so will go with what's familiar.
I'll give you one giant hint: Nate was being interviewed the other day (courtside I think?) and he slipped and called Armon A.J. recovered about mid sentence and called him Armon. Pet nicknames already? /justsaying
Where's the logical choice, "neither"? Seriously, we should not even be wasting Summer League time on guys like these 2 who will never even be rotation players for us. I'd rather have PK back again.
Correct answer. How can either make the team? We already have our 6 guards. If you want to get rid of one of the below to make room for Johnson, you might as well get rid of two to make room for Mills, too. Or get rid of three to make room for Koponen, too. Where does it end? Roy Miller Matthews Bayless Fernandez Williams, Elliott
2 of Johnson's shots were end of quarter 3/4 court heaves and 1 other was a flaming bag pass to him at the top of the key with the shot clock running down and was forced to take a deep 3.
Fernandez is as good as gone and Matthews is going to play a lot of 3 if he is indeed a Blazer. It's tight squeeze but there is enough room for Armon.
