Blazers @ Rockets game thread 1/5/11

Funny Rudy tweet that I didn't know where to put:

rudy5fernandez Rudy Fernandez
Minesota.....so cold

 

I just don't get the Miller hate. The guy was 5 - 8 for the game. It's not like he took 20 shots, or shot a poor percentage on the shots he attempted. He was tied for 7th on the team in field goal attempts, but tied for second in field goals made. He helped keep the team in the game when no one else was scoring, but one or two posters here hate Miller so blindly they act like he's a selfish ball hog that almost cost the team the game.

 

Some people set their mind that they don't like a player and nothing will change that, no matter how good that player is. There's no going back.

People who are never wrong in their own mind is one of the biggest character flaws out there.

Kinda sad, really.

 

I just notice in my quote that I said early in the first half, that should have been early in the second half. But anyway, yea, I completely agree. I don't see how anyone could watch yesterday's game and then take out of it that Miller was the villain in the game. As I said it has to be agenda driven.

 

No, it doesn't have to be agenda driven. He was telling everyone to clear out so he can go 1 on 1 instead of running the offense or trying to make it easier for his teammates. On one particular play Aldridge was in the post ready for a pass and Andre told him to clear out. Soon after that Miller was taken out and I'm glad he was.

Overall I'm pretty tired of Miller's style of play. He's a good PG, no doubt. But I'm ready again to have a PG that can spread the floor. I'm tired of seeing teams doubling off him and most of the time he can't do anything about it and it hurts the Blazers.

 

So, you think Aldridge's sudden emergence as a dominant low post scoring threat has nothing to do with the ball being taken out Brandon Roy's hands and given to a PG that is capable of feeding the low post? Do you also think it's just a coincidence that the team is scoring more and getting more balanced scoring now that we no longer have an offense that relies heavily on the Roy iso?

It seems to me that we are seeing the best ball movement lately that we've seen in years - and Andre Miller is the one directing that. He may not be racking up a ton of assists, but he's the one initiating the offense and facilitating the ball movement.

With guys like Alridge and Mattews scoring at career best rates, I'd be hesitant to give up the starting PG who is getting them the ball - even if he can't hit an open 3-pointer to save his life.

Does he occasionally call his own number? Sure he does (all good PGs do), but it's most often when he has a mismatch and can drive on or post up his defender - and the other guys aren't hitting their shots. Seriously, he took 8 shots last game (tied for 7th most on the team), and he made 5 of the 8 (0.625 FG%) and that makes you tired of him calling his own number? Rudy was 3 - 11. Matthews was 4 - 12. Why isn't anyone bitching about their shot selection?

BNM

 

This has nothing to do with Roy. For the most part this has nothing to do with how the team is paying without Roy. This is one incident where I said I agreed with McMillan's decision to take Miller out of the game because of the way Miller was playing. Stop blowing it out of proportion.

 

I'm not blowing anything out of proportion. And no, your comments were not JUST about this one incident. You wrote:

"Overall I'm pretty tired of Miller's style of play."

And that's what prompted my response. Overall, the team is playing well - better than expected without Roy and Oden. They have good ball movement and balanced scoring. And, Miller is a key part of that.

BNM

 

I am tired of Miller's style of play. I still said he was a good PG, though. This has been my opinion of him since last year. I've said numerous times he's a good PG but that he's never been the best fit here. Again, nothing new. I'm not saying trade Miller for any scrub with a 3pt shot. He does play an important role on the team and I've also said that before. But there are obvious limitations to what he can do and I don't see what's so crazy about pointing them out.

With that said this old game thread needs to die. I'm sure this discussion(if it really needs to continue) can be picked up in another thread.