I've yet to see a point guard who is able to "get some easy baskets for his team" during every stretch of a ballgame. Such a point guard would average about 30-40 assists per game and be the single greatest player who ever played the game. So, if that's your standard for Miller, I see why you've been so disappointed in him this last year and a half.
Those Roy led teams had considerably more talent and depth than this LMA led team. However, in some ways I think this LMA led team is more of a team than the Roy teams were. Also just because Camby told Roy to step up and be more of a leader doesn't mean Roy had Marcus' respect, all it shows is that Marcus recognized that Roy was the de facto leader and that he wasn't doing a very good job and hence the comment to be more of a leader. Gramps...
How so? Webster, Outlaw, and Blake are all performing worse than they did as Blazers. Miller and Camby are both established NBA players. How does anybody know if LMA is actually being a leader?
PG -Blake SG - Roy (rookie contract, 3rd year) SF - Batum (rookie) PF - LMA (rookie contract, 3rd year) C - Pryz B - Outlaw B - Webster B - Oden B - Rudy B - Sergio B - Bayless B - Frye That team won 54 games. How is the current roster worse in terms of talent?
Webster has a 13.5 PER over 11 games after a start that had him near 20 when in the first few games after he was activated to play.
The 54 win team had Oden and a healthy Roy. Miller being much superior to Blake helps the current team, but not enough to make up for that. Matthews and Camby also this team, but Fernandez was playing his best ball that year and Przybilla was healthy and significantly better than he is now.
How do we know LMA is being a leader? The public gesture he made, honoring Dre' sacrificing his iron-man streak to send Blake Griffin into the stanchion comes to mind. Other than that I'd say he's doing it on the court by playing as hard as he is at both ends of the court. It may be difficult to fathom, but guys loafing on defense and saving themselves for their offense probably doesn't set the best example or endear a player to his teammates much. Other than that there have been some stark differences in the way LMA and Roy carry themselves off the court and the kinds of comments that they make. Lately Roy's tended more to the foot-in-mouth variety, whereas LMA seems to deflect a lot of praise on to his teammates for putting him in a position to succeed. I think Roy when he was healthy was an incredible talent with a rare ability to tilt the outcome of a game in way that few players can, but it never made him a leader exactly.
Aldridge carries himself like a leader. You notice how he stands straight up, chin in, chest out? I respect that. Roy doesn't tuck in his chin.
Canzano should write a column against all you slouchers and slackers. As we say in the South, "Move to Russia, Comrades. Shape up your chins."
I'm convinced that Andre Miller has committed some kind of affront against PapaG. Maybe he cut him off in traffic (they both live in Tualatin) or maybe he was in front of him in line at the grocery store with more than the allotted items in the express lane (that bastard). Whatever it was, maybe if we could get Dre to apologize and offer to send Papa to his restaurant of choice, he would forgive him?
This just made me wonder if I have seen PapaG before. I probably have. Huh. Now everywhere I go I'll be looking at every middle aged(?) guy wondering if it's him.
actually coaches vote towards the end of january so he only has about 8-9 more games to impress lma COULD be the 12th man, but it is going to be very tough. my analysis - voted in: kobe paul durant & (probably) carmelo fortunately yao is by far top voted center (lolz) otherwise bynum would be voted in automatic coaches choices: nowitzki gasol westbrook deron at least 2 of ginobili/parker/duncan love (my impression is he is getting the hype he needs to overcome team record) leaving 1 spot. this means LMA must beat out ALL of the other of ginobili/parker/duncan nash martin ellis griffin millsap zebo west nene he COULD be at the top of that list IF blazers to stay at least a few games above .500 and the rockets etc stay below. if the blazers drop below .500 he has no chance. obviously injury to peers increases his chances, but so far everyone is healthy.
Yeah, I don't see it happening. Aldridge v. 3 top posts on top teams (Dirk, Duncan, Gasol)--all 3 get in before him. As for other candidates on lesser teams, Aldridge v ZBo, Blake, & Love--he comes in last here too, IMO. That's 6 PFs that all deserve a nod before LA, and that's not even counting the SFs getting voted in (Durant & Carmelo). I'd be shocked if he made the squad this year.
tough yeah, but i don't think it would be shocking. it all depends on what goes down during the next 2 weeks or so. at current pace LMA's PER should be competetive with that group by the time the coaches vote. as i said i think gasol and nowitzki are automatic, and i expect love to be in for 20/15 hype. but beyond that there is hope. i'd guess LMA is well ahead of zebo RIGHT NOW because of team record and defensive reputation. i'd also guess he's ahead of blake griffin due to team record and reluctance to vote in rookies. also coaches might consider griffin being in the slam comp enough of an honor for him at this point. it might come down to LMA vs. duncan for the 12th spot, which should be a no-brainer for LMA because of PPG - unless the coaches choose to honor the spurs for their record. that's why it is vital the blazers stay above .500 for LMA to have a realistic shot. IF the blazers are above .500 LMA will be viewed as carrying the team to a winning record in Roy's absence, which might give him the boost he needs.
PPlatypus gave me an interesting idea. Take a look at this: http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=hrrS7
