http://www.955thegame.com/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=5254521 The more I hear from this dude, the more I like him. I like how he calls canzano out too.
Yep, I listened to it last night and thought it was great. He's definitely old school (not into iPods and music before the games, would rather focus on his mental preparation). Says he always looks ahead for players running the court, because guys who like to score, like to run and get easy transition baskets (and make the ESPN highlights with high flying dunks and alley oops). He also likes chicken. BNM
So, when does he get the "An-dre Mil-ler, clap, clap, clap clap clap" chant at the Rose Garden. Too bad that 52-point game was in Dallas. That was definitely chant worthy - especially since he single handedly forced overtime and led the team to the win. BNM
I like chicken.. Yeah man Miller is perfect for this playoff push. I get the feeling that he is hungry for some post season.
His answers are brief, like the one about chicken, which turned off Canzano. Notice that the day Canzano changed his mind about Miller, so did PapaG?
Dre is an old school chill laid back guy. He also hates dealing with the media if you ask me. He will talk to me or answer my questions for the web show cause I don't come at him like a reporter. We just talk about everyday stuff, not just hoops. He is very smart and reads what everybody is writing. Quiet and shy, but knows what the fuck is up! Great addition to our squad and it is kinda sad it has taken this long for "fans" to realize this.
I've been an Andre miller supporter since day 1 and thought the whole Blake vs. Andre situation was totally mishandled by Nate. Andre should have been the starter the first day of training camp - PERIOD. He was the better player, plain and simple. Eventually, the better player got the job and Blake took his 7.3 PER to the Lakers. But, it shouldn't have taken a month and a half of training camp/preseason and two months of the regular season to figure that out. I also think it's one reason Andre Miller was not better received by the fans and local media. Even though he was the "victim" of Nate's indecision, he was portrayed as an outsider and a source of conflict. I'm glad the fans and local media are finally starting to appreciate what Andre Miller brings to this team. BNM
YES! Thanks so much for posting this, missed it and wanted to hear it badly. Dre has his way with zano.
For such a quiet guy, he sounded like he actually enjoyed being on this team. He had a really, really rough start at the beginning of last year with the way Nate treated him. But I get the feeling in the sound of his voice, and his body language watching him talk to the coach, that he likes where he's at. I'd be a little surprised if he isn't still part of our rotation two years from now. Hopefully not a starter, though.
Good interview. Ya, just because he's quiet a lot of people assume he was sulking early on before people got to know him. He doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve, but that doesn't mean he's not a competitor. His actions speaks for itself.
Miller is by far better than Blake. But I don't necessarily agree with handing him the starting spot the first day of training camp-PERIOD. Nate played the game and knows how the locker room works. The Blazers were coming off a successful season where they exceeded expectations. You give Andre the starting spot without making him earn it and the Blazers get off to a slow start.......... Then everyone blames Miller. It worked out just fine for Andre. The fact that the local media and the fans were too slow to appreciate Miller for what he brings to a team is is their ignorance.
The problem with Nate refusing to even consider starting Miller over Blake and steadfastly continuing to start Blake, when Miller was clearly out playing him, helped foster the whole Andre and Brandon can't co-exist mentality in the local media, the fan base and most importantly on the team. Miller and Roy cannot coexist was accepted as fact by many even before the two ever set foot on the court together (they coexisted just fine down the stretch last season, before Roy got injured heading into the play-offs). That mentality was so pervasive that even earlier this year, when Brandon was totally sucking, he continued to blame his struggles on Andre and not his own diminished abilities. When you don't start your best players, you better damn well have a good reason - one that you can clearly articulate, that the players understand and accept. Fortunately, Nate learned his lesson and didn't dick around with Gerald Wallace coming off the bench for three and a half months before moving him into the starting line-up. After all, we won more games with Nic starting the past two seasons than we will this season. Does that mean Nic should automatically start ahead of Wallace? No, you start the best players and let them get used to each other and learn their roles. It would have been different if Blake and Andre were equal in past and current performance, but they were not. At the time Andre was coming off the bench with a PER in the 16.5 - 17 range and Blake was starting with a PER of 9 and a horrible shooting percentage. Starting Blake to placate Roy was hurting the team on the court, and causing dissension in the ranks. And just fanned the flames of the Miller and Roy cannot coexist mentality. Personally, I wanted Miller starting from day 1 in training camp and preseason so him and Roy could get used to playing together. Once Miller finally became the starting PG, Roy played his best ball of the season. Ironically, Blake's PER also shot up and his shooting improved when he was moved to the bench and allowed to go head to head with other second string PGs. When Nate finally moved Miller into the starting PG spot, the play of all three players improved - and that's why Miller should have been starting from day 1. BNM
Don't know about the majority, but those who opposed Miller were very vocal in this forum and in the local media. Whether, or not it was true, it sure made it seem like Miller was unwelcome and his signing was considered a disaster. BNM
