That's a shame. Paul a bachelor all these years and still targeting the wrong kind of lady: [video=youtube;iS0UEa1lEV4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS0UEa1lEV4[/video]
Not wanting to start another thread to rehash everything that's been said, but has anybody's opinion changed? They both do some nice things, but I'm not sure either is going to really stand out at the next level. Armon does seem like he's got better role-player potential, but that's about all I can say at this stage.
Armon fits our style of play better, and I like what he brings to the table more. If he had a 3 point shot he'd be perfect.
After 4 games, Mills has slightly better point/assist totals, but I'm more interested in the following: Mills (per game)--1.5 steals, 3.25 TO, 4.5 PF, 1.75 FTA Johnson (per game)--2.75 steals, 2.25 TO, 1.5 PF, 4.25 FTA Just seems to me that Johnson makes life difficult for the opponent, and Mills really doesn't. I like players that irritate the opponent.
Mills is much more dynamic, but I can't quite shake the feeling that what he's able to do just isn't going to work all that well at the next level. He's quick, but his lack of great hops means he kind of plays below the rim. He looks like he has a good basketball IQ and can see the court OK, but he seems to possess a number 1 option's mentality when he's never going to be the number 1 option on an NBA team. I guess it boils down to this one thing: which player (if either) can I see stepping on an NBA court and having one bankable skill that they can bring to bear and have an impact. Mills can probably get his own jumper and would probably be able to run an up and down team that pushed it almost every possession. Armon on the other hand looks to be able to defend pretty well and could become a good defender in time, he also seems to have enough of a first step to get into the lane to pull up from 10 feet and has shown himself to be a willing passer (with some really bad habits of making a lot of jump passes). I'd give Armon the edge, but I still think he's a third point gaurd at best his rookie season.
Patty just makes a lot of stupid mistakes. I watched him get a couple of and-1's yesterday that were completely avoidable, and should have been prevented. He's quick as hell and his jumper is nice, but a point guard who doesn't have the smarts to stop himself from committing a touch foul on a guy twice his size on a 1 v 1 fast break isn't someone I would like to see on this team.
Maybe we should sign Mills with the intention of trading him later on this season. I think he's gained some value around the league, and if we don't pick him up somebody else will. Pick him up, stash him on the Stampede, let him run up gaudy statistics, and throw him in as a cheap value contract on a consolidation trade down the road. He's clearly an NBA player. Just one who doesn't fit on this team.
I get the feeling Mills has been auditioning for other teams this week and not so much the Blazers. I wouldn't be shocked to see a team like Indiana (who is starved for any kind of point guard) offer him the BAE for a couple of years; he'd fit in pretty well in Jim O'Brien's up tempo style.
I'd be in favor of a new thread after the final summer league game today. I like Patty Mills. He definitely has NBA quality speed and shooting skills. I think he could be a STARTING PG for a running team that wins 20-25 games. In that role he would be better than Johnson. However, for a playoff team like the Blazers, AJ would be better- actually, much better.
I don't think AJ will ever be a starting point guard, but the guy could definitely be a Greg Anthony. I could totally see him come in and bother someone like Steve Nash or Chris Paul.
It's awfully hard to say what he'll become, and I think after seeing so many PGotF's cycle through Portland and none of them sticking I'm going to reserve my opinions on his long term prospects ... but I like what I see so far.
I'd like to see Portland move Fernandez for a future pick, and then sign both Mills and Johnson. Let them battle it out in practice.
Does not look like the kind of guy that Nate needs to crush. He does not throw the ball into the stands trying to look cool, he plays defense and he does not pout. If Nate crushes his spirit - something very strange happened to him between now and that time. Kid looks like an NBA player that knows what he can and can not do - and does not try to press where it does not make sense.
I guess I should have made it clearer that I was kidding. Anyway, I actually agree with you. Armon seems to have a very good demeanor (competitive, quick to smile, and seemingly a pretty even keeled). I think the biggest issue with the guys who have cycled through here are that they were either too trigger happy and didn't look for teammates (Jack and Bayless) or there was a lack of commitment at the defensive end of the court (Sergio). If Armon takes defense seriously and is unselfish with the ball -- like it seemed he was this past week -- then I get the feeling Nate will be a little more forgiving of his mistakes and the growing pains he's going to go through. He just has to do three things in my opinion to have a shot: 1) no dribbling the ball of his foot on the fast break (or stepping out of bounds), 2) no dribbling with his head down, and 3) he can't sag off of his man holding up a big red cape.
