Aging like fine wine (so far)

[andalusian]

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.

 

[Minstrel]

I couldn't believe the stuff people were saying about Andre in the Suns game thread.

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."

 

[ABM]

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.

 

[THE HCP]

King...... the 52 he laid on the MAVS wasn't enough to win you over, but last night was?!?!?!?

 

[Natebishop3]

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."

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.

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.

I agree.

 

[Minstrel]

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.

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.

 

[Natebishop3]

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.

Makes you wonder how things would work if we had actually traded for CP3...

 

[BGrantFan]

3 games

 

[PtldPlatypus]

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?

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.

 

[MickZagger]

King...... the 52 he laid on the MAVS wasn't enough to win you over, but last night was?!?!?!?

I watched Willie Burton put up 57 points one game.

 

[MickZagger]

My issue with Miller is his D. He's so slow and gambles a lot on D and there is a new generation of quick PG's playing today that I just don't see him doing well against.

Should be interesting to see if he can somewhat contain Rose tomorrow night.

 

[Boob-No-More]

3 games

43 games:
31 - 12
0.720

Games with Oden = 0
Games with Przybilla = 5
Games with Camby = 20

In spite of all the misdirected Miller hate and "they can't co-exist" bullshit, the Blazers had great success last season when Miller and Roy started together in the backcourt at their natural positions - and that was with an injury depleted roster.

Yes, it's only 3 games this season, but the trend that started last season appears to be continuing. Thanks for pointing that out.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

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.

I would say KP is definitely Qui-Gon.

 

[THE HCP]

My issue with Miller is his D. He's so slow and gambles a lot on D and there is a new generation of quick PG's playing today that I just don't see him doing well against.

Should be interesting to see if he can somewhat contain Rose tomorrow night.

Brother, NOBODY can contain Rose.

 

[MickZagger]

Brother, NOBODY can contain Rose.

or Williams, Paul, Rondo, Wall, Westbrook, Evans...Its a new breed of PG these days. Miller is a solid PG, I like him. But, defensively he scares me against guys like that.

 

[Natebishop3]

or Williams, Paul, Rondo, Wall, Westbrook, Evans...Its a new breed of PG these days. Miller is a solid PG, I like him. But, defensively he scares me against guys like that.

Enter Batum, stage left....

 

[MickZagger]

Enter Batum, stage left....

Him guarding them in spurts works, but not the entire game. Against teams like the Thunder he's going to be busy with Durant, or whatever talented wing another team has. Batum is only logging like 28 minutes a game?

 

[Natebishop3]

Him guarding them in spurts works, but not the entire game. Against teams like the Thunder he's going to be busy with Durant, or whatever talented wing another team has. Batum is only logging like 28 minutes a game?

Okay... Batum AND Wesley.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The current rules have pretty much made it impossible for point guards to play aggressive perimeter defense. Nowadays with the hand check rules what they are, you're considered a good point guard defender, if you can fight over a screen, if you can funnel a 1 to his weak hand or into your help defense and if you can force your counterpart to take a jump shot, or limit his passing lanes.

Andre has definitely lost a step or two on D, but he's still really strong which allows him to cover some 2s as well as 1s and he's got a great feel for generating steals (2 in the 4th quarter against New York stood out) so he's still got some tricks up his sleeve.

 

[BGrantFan]

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."

Well, I advocated trading Miller, but only in a deal with Przy to get a younger PG who can play for years to come (Chris Paul, for example, even if it meant moving Batum and/or Oden as well). If there were posters who wanted to get rid of Miller and have Roy or Matthews start at the point, I disagree with them.

 

[andalusian]

The way the Blazers contained Rose in recent years was to have Aldridge trail him behind whoever was guarding him at the time making it practically two people guarding Rost at all time. I suspect that we will continue to see this - as the Bulls do not have Boozer to keep Aldridge occupied. FWIW - the Blazers had pretty good success with this strategy...

 

[andalusian]

I am not a fan of Miller as a great fit on this team - but until a younger, better 3 pt. shooting PG can be brought in, or at least, a younger, better defending PG can be brought in, Miller means a lot to this team, especially this year when the spacing seems to be better thanks to more cuts that make it harder for the opposing team to pack the middle and Brandon's improved catch and shoot touch.