So, we haven't played ANY decent teams in the 43 games Miller and Roy have started in the backcourt together? The 43 games, all without Oden and many without Batum, Pryziilla and Camby, where the team still went 32-11, a 0.720 won-loss percentage, a 59-win pace for an 82-game schedule? Gee, there must not be very many decent teams in the league, because we've played just about all of them at least one time during those 43 games. BNM
Best PG since Rod Strickland - the FIRST time. Miller had a PER of 18.1 last season and the team had a higher winning percentage with him starting than not. When him and Roy have started together at their natural positions, in spite of a roster depleted by injuries, the team wins 0.720 of their games. Yet, he constantly gets bashed by the clueless who chant their "he'll never co-exist with Roy" mantra like a bunch of brain dead zombies. And Miller did this in 82 games and 2500 minutes last season. Batum, who I absolutely love as a player, puts up a 17.3 PER in 918 minutes over 37 games and people cream their shorts over him and call him the next Scottie Pippen. Yeah, I get that Batum is young and loaded with potential, yet the fact that a veteran player who puts up an 18.1 PER over 2500 minutes is constantly bashed in this forum seems a little inconsistent. A little perspective, people. BNM
Between Miller and Camby, do we have a monopoly on the two ugliest, yet fairly effective, jumpers in the league?
I've been anti-Miller but last night, he won me over. I'm all for keeping him now. He takes so much pressure off Roy. Roy struggled a bit in the 4th and Miller was able to take control of the game. Having two guys who can create their own shot as well as for others in our backcourt is the way to go IMHO.
One more thing. The problem in the playoffs was that when the Suns put Grant Hill on Miller, we had no counter. With a healthy Roy, we would've won that series.
Best. Analogy. Ever. So, does that make Nate McMillan Qui-gon, and Roy ObiWan? and who will eventually bring Steve back from the dark side? Who is our Luke Skywalker? God i hope it's not his son, because I don't want to wait that long.. an interesting question though, who is Jar Jar?
The thing that's nice about Miller is that he can create with the ball. Blake never could do that. If Miller had a three point shot, he would be unguardable.
The best thing about this duo this year is that they both worked to be better together - Brandon's off the ball shot seems silky smooth and Andre is in shape at the start of the year. I am still worried about the good defensive teams that pack the middle and have good perimeter defense - but so far, so good, and the spacing is much better than it looked last year thanks to the extra cuts.
I couldn't believe the stuff people were saying about Andre during the off-season and pre-season, namely, "We need to dump the only very good point guard we've had in eons as quickly as possible. Matthews or Rudy should be the new point guard, despite neither of them having point guard skills."
For the record, the only reason I've ever been a proponent of trading Miller is if the Blazers were to use his (EC) value towards picking up a younger starter-caliber PG (i.e. Chris Paul) in return.
You know that I've always been a big proponent of bringing him here. The only reason why I could see the Blazers benching him for Matthews or Rudy was if Roy was going to play the point. I'm not saying I would want Roy playing the point, because I'm still not convinced that he can, but if that's the move that Nate is going to make, we might as well put Miller on the bench or trade him and start Matthews. I'm still a fan of his game, and I've really been confused by the supposed "tension" between Roy and Miller. It just doesn't make sense. Iggy loved Miller and I don't see Iggy and Roy being THAT dissimilar. I agree.
Yeah, but Roy isn't a point guard. If he were, if he could do that, he'd have been installed at point guard prior to now. He probably would have requested it, considering he likes to have the ball in his hands. Roy is like Kobe or Wade or a prime McGrady...a shooting guard with excellent passing skills for the position. That's why I've always been for experimenting with Roy off the ball. If Roy can succeed that way, it allows the team to maximize both Miller and Roy. No, the team shouldn't be focused on maximizing Miller to Roy's detriment, but it's certainly a big, big gain if they can maximize Miller while not losing anything much from Roy. It also would bode well for future ability of the team to put another actual point guard alongside Roy once Miller is done.
No, I actually believe that KP was Qui-Gon (since he brought Blake/Anakin into the fold, despite the concerns of others), which would probably make Larry Miller Darth Maul (as the one who destroyed Qui-Gon/KP). Nate is Obi-Wan, and Roy is our Skywalker. As to the final query, it would be someone who is annoying, talks funny, contributes little, but saves the day once in a while. Sounds like Rudy to me.
