Andre Miller Should Start (Bust-a-Bucket)

[ABM]

From: Bust-a-Bucket

Yesterday, Brian T. Smith of the Columbian caught up with Andre Miller and got some juicy offseason quotes, if there is such a thing. Instead of the previous talk about I'll do what it takes to fit in, he was more direct about where he sees himself on the 2009/10 Blazer team. Gavin Dawson posed the question on Twitter, and I've gone back and forth with Casey Holdahl on it too. Should Andre have to battle Steve Blake for the starting gig? Here's some of what Andre Miller had to say:

I want to do what's best and what the team is. And if any player then tells you that he (doesn't want) to be a starter, then he's lying. I mean, I'm going in there as the starting point guard - there's nothing else to it.

If you read the whole article, you may come away with two different views of what Miller is saying. On one hand he speaks to the team concept and battling for the starting position. On the other hand he talks as if he is the point guard. A lot of this just sounds like confidence, which is very good. Either way we have Andre Miller who is a true distributor and will help out our big men, and frankly the whole team.

My real question is this; regardless of whether Andre Miller thinks he's the starter or not, should he be the starter?

The answer is yes...................

 

[LittleAlex]

I think training camp should be where that is determined.

However, I can't imagine a scenario outside of injury where Blake would beat out Miller for that spot.

 

[BrianFromWA]

IMHO, there isn't a whole lot that can be said or not said in the summer to set positions. It's not like Nate's going to read this and think "Oh man...if I don't start him he'll be upset."
I disagree with Miller about "every player wants to be a starter". Jerome James is quite happy collecting his check and not playing.
I think that after about the 2nd set of drills on Day One of practice Andre Miller will be the starting PG. If Blake somehow has increased the level of his play to make it even an issue, so much the better for our team.

 

[THE HCP]

IMHO, there isn't a whole lot that can be said or not said in the summer to set positions. It's not like Nate's going to read this and think "Oh man...if I don't start him he'll be upset."
I disagree with Miller about "every player wants to be a starter". Jerome James is quite happy collecting his check and not playing.
I think that after about the 2nd set of drills on Day One of practice Andre Miller will be the starting PG. If Blake somehow has increased the level of his play to make it even an issue, so much the better for our team.

Good point, but aren't you late for a Dungeons and Dragons tourney in your mom's basement?

 

[THE HCP]

I did just watch the game from last season at Philly and Miller looked amazing.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I haven't played D&D since sixth grade. Once you build up to a Level 56 Paladin with magic cloaks of Invisibility and the Ring of Awesomeness, there's really nothing else to achieve. Consider my presence here "Mikey Jordan on the Birmingham Barons".

 

[gatorpops]

I did just watch the game from last season at Philly and Miller looked amazing.

Is there a place where I can go and see that game? I was not able to record it last year and would like to see at least some highlights of that game.

I did sit and watch the 5th and 6th games of the Huston/Portland playoff games last night just because I was needing a Blazer fix.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The reason bust-a-bucket thinks Miller will be the starter should have nothing to do with the Columbian interview, it should be based strictly on the fact that Miller is a far superior player to anybody else on this roster at the point guard position ... crazy, I know.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I disagree with Miller about "every player wants to be a starter". Jerome James is quite happy collecting his check and not playing.

If one defines player as "one who has a desire and the ability to play basketball at an NBA level," then Miller's statement is completely accurate. Jerome James most decidedly does not qualify.

 

[Masbee]

I did just watch the game from last season at Philly and Miller looked amazing.

And Miller was amazing in the playoffs last season, whereas Blake - was not.

The chances of Blake beating out a healthy Andre Miller are not good. And, I would be pretty upset if he does, as that means that Miller has lost his game, or Nate is a bad coach.

 

[BlayZa]

it'll work itself out in camp and preseason, but once he's learned the plays and is familiar with the playing styles of our guys, Miller will be starting.

 

[Natebishop3]

There's really only one way that Steve Blake beats out Dre, and that's if he actually starts passing the ball. The guy needs to stop working on his outside shot and starting watching game film.

 

[MARIS61]

I did just watch the game from last season at Philly and Miller looked amazing.

Apparently Philly management had a different view of the game.

 

[andalusian]

Apparently Philly management had a different view of the game.

Yeah. The cheap, don't care if we win view.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Yeah. The cheap, don't care if we win view.

Pretty much.

Philly needs to just push the plunger and commit to rebuilding. For a team at that point, a vet like Miller is rather superfluous. He has much more value to a contender.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Miller's starting or not should depend on whether or not Oden starts. I want Miller and Oden playing in the same unit, and at least 30 mpg. I don't care if that's the starters or otherwise.

Where it might get dicey is deciding who plays in the last two minutes of a close game. We've seen that Nate likes to put the ball in Roy's hands then and let him create. In that kind of situation Blake is more useful, because of his three-shooting. But I don't know how happy Miller would be to be sitting on the bench in those situations, even if he is the starter.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

There's really only one way that Steve Blake beats out Dre, and that's if he actually starts passing the ball. The guy needs to stop working on his outside shot and starting watching game film.

That's silly. Blake passes the ball when he's supposed to. He did tie an NBA record for assists in a quarter, did he not? Blake's problem is that he can't penetrate and put himself in position to get a certain kind of assist. It's not like he's a gunner (like Bayless, for example).

 

[oldmangrouch]

Miller's starting or not should depend on whether or not Oden starts. I want Miller and Oden playing in the same unit, and at least 30 mpg. I don't care if that's the starters or otherwise.

Where it might get dicey is deciding who plays in the last two minutes of a close game. We've seen that Nate likes to put the ball in Roy's hands then and let him create. In that kind of situation Blake is more useful, because of his three-shooting. But I don't know how happy Miller would be to be sitting on the bench in those situations, even if he is the starter.

But does that role need to be cast in stone? Why not mix-and-match based on the opposition? Dwight Howard with 5 fouls does not play the same as Howard with 3 fouls!

 

[Natebishop3]

That's silly. Blake passes the ball when he's supposed to. He did tie an NBA record for assists in a quarter, did he not? Blake's problem is that he can't penetrate and put himself in position to get a certain kind of assist. It's not like he's a gunner (like Bayless, for example).

Didn't we just have a thread about NBA stat people and generous assists? Some of those 14 were a little.... off.

 

[ucatchtrout]

Miller is going to start.

We didn't pay him twenty two million dollars so Nate could give him Sergio Rodriguez 11 minutes per game, and have him sit on the bench as a backup.