Blazers Retain Point Guard Patty Mills

[Further]

This was posted in another thread about Pendy, but I thought it should have it's own thread.
http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/10/25/1773811/blazers-retain-point-guard-patty-mills
Welcome back Mills, i hope you never have to play real minutes.

 

[mook]

I like it. He's really the only PG we have with legit speed and NBA three point range. If we wind up getting snakebit in traps against aggressive full court pressure when Miller sits, you have an option there with Mills. We'd pay the price on the defensive end, but oh well. It beats getting stuck trying to get the ball over the half court line.

Also handy in end-of-quarter situations where we need to throw a guy out there to hit a three with a few seconds on the clock.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I like it. He's really the only PG we have with legit speed and NBA three point range. If we wind up getting snakebit in traps against aggressive full court pressure when Miller sits, you have an option there with Mills. We'd pay the price on the defensive end, but oh well. It beats getting stuck trying to get the ball over the half court line.

Also handy in end-of-quarter situations where we need to throw a guy out there to hit a three with a few seconds on the clock.

Good post.

I've been out of town. So what happened to Pendy?

 

[Natebishop3]

This is kind of a "meh" thing for me. I think Patty has some skills, but I don't see him making much of an impact on this team. I like Armon Johnson more.

 

[B-Roy]

Indifferent. I don't think Patty will play more than 50 minutes combined this season, but good for him.

 

[ABM]

Good post.

I've been out of town. So what happened to Pendy?

We'll know in 15 minutes.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

This is kind of a "meh" thing for me. I think Patty has some skills, but I don't see him making much of an impact on this team. I like Armon Johnson more.

Patty is quicker, a better shooter, better play maker. Johnson is a better defender. Nate wants defense. So, Johnson is ahead of Mills on the depth chart.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Indifferent. I don't think Patty will play more than 50 minutes combined this season, but good for him.

I would not be surprised to see Johnson sent to the D-league and Mills get more minutes than that.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think Patty is here for chemistry and Glue! He's the new JP, get your freak on Bala (Aussie word for brotha)

 

[ABM]

I think Patty is here for chemistry and Glue!

Same goes for Oberto....................for Rudy's sake.

 

[mook]

Indifferent. I don't think Patty will play more than 50 minutes combined this season, but good for him.

I agree he'll (hopefully) get incredibly few minutes. But they could be "panic button" minutes where his unique skills (speed, shooting) could be important.

Anyway it's nice to have a guy pushing Johnson in practice, and if we need a practice dummy to defend against speedsters like Chris Paul, Mills sort of works.

 

[MickZagger]

I would not be surprised to see Johnson sent to the D-league and Mills get more minutes than that.

What makes you think that? How many minutes did Mills even get total in preseason? I wanna say like 5?

Armon was always the first rookie off the bench and had some games where he logged big minutes.

 

[andalusian]

Patty is quicker, a better shooter, better play maker. Johnson is a better defender. Nate wants defense. So, Johnson is ahead of Mills on the depth chart.

Patty did not look like a better play maker in summer league. He is more like JB than a real PG - he is a score-first guard, he sure is fast and he can create some - but he really does not run the offense anywhere as well as Armon, imho.

BE's reports after summer league seem to match my impressions:

"Armon Johnson was clearly the standout player of the week for the Blazers. His stock rose enormously. He played well on both ends, guarded a variety of players, kept his head in the game, and filled the boxscore on good nights and bad. His physical qualities were exciting. His production looked both solid and transferable. You never decide anything based on one week in July but Johnson has inspired hope, if not confidence, among observers and team officials both. As much as folks don't want to admit it sometimes, the Blazers point guard situation is still in flux. Johnson's performance was enough to pencil him in as a possible partial answer to that conundrum. "Possible" and "partial" aren't exactly ringing endorsements but given the lack of solid leads so far they look pretty good."

"Patty Mills had a nice enough week. His play will merit a second glance from the Blazers and other teams. But he shaded too heavily towards his own offense for a second-year player auditioning for point guard and that offense suffered when his shot wasn't on. His defense wasn't to Johnson's level either. If the Blazers keep four point guards then Mills should be on that list but I'm not sure he showed enough to make them keep a fourth guy at the position."

http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/7/19/1576307/summer-league-2010-review

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I would not be surprised to see Johnson sent to the D-league and Mills get more minutes than that.

I actually feel it's the other way around

 

[andalusian]

Same goes for Oberto....................for Rudy's sake.

Are you nuts. Rudy would never spend time with a guy that does not use the right kind of shampoo (or any kind, in Oberto's case).

 

[ABM]

Are you nuts.

Perhaps, but...

http://www.beyondthebeat.net/201010...ber/how-fabricio-oberto-fits-in-portland.html

Wendell Maxey – The signing of Fabricio Oberto runs deeper than Portland adding a new free agent big man to support their depleted frontcourt. Believe it or not, bringing in Oberto may just be part of the overall plan to appease Rudy Fernandez.

For the past month we’ve heard Fernandez lament about wanting to return home to Spain and the chance to play the FIBA style of basketball he’s grown accustomed to in international play. While management hasn’t budged about letting Rudy abandon his contract, they continue to monitor the situation and look for ways to calm the waters. Oberto is part of that process.

A member of the Argentine National Team (Gold Medal in 2004), Oberto previously played for TAU Cerámica of the Spanish League before eventually jumping to the NBA in 2005 with San Antonio and knows Fernandez from their days playing in Europe. Oberto also understands the pressures that come with playing so far from home.

Obviously, Rudy can relate. Oberto should help an unsettled Fernandez, while giving Portland some much needed help in the post.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

What makes you think that? How many minutes did Mills even get total in preseason? I wanna say like 5?

Armon was always the first rookie off the bench and had some games where he logged big minutes.

First, like I said- I would not be surprised. Doesn't mean I expect it.

Second, let's say, for the sake of discussion, that Nate sees AJ as a long term PG for the team. He's marginally NBA ready, so why not let him go to the D-league, play extended minutes and become more ready for our playoff run late in the season? I know, it's a bit far fetched, but there is some merit to the idea.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Patty did not look like a better play maker in summer league. He is more like JB than a real PG - he is a score-first guard, he sure is fast and he can create some - but he really does not run the offense anywhere as well as Armon, imho.

BE's reports after summer league seem to match my impressions:

"Armon Johnson was clearly the standout player of the week for the Blazers. His stock rose enormously. He played well on both ends, guarded a variety of players, kept his head in the game, and filled the boxscore on good nights and bad. His physical qualities were exciting. His production looked both solid and transferable. You never decide anything based on one week in July but Johnson has inspired hope, if not confidence, among observers and team officials both. As much as folks don't want to admit it sometimes, the Blazers point guard situation is still in flux. Johnson's performance was enough to pencil him in as a possible partial answer to that conundrum. "Possible" and "partial" aren't exactly ringing endorsements but given the lack of solid leads so far they look pretty good."

"Patty Mills had a nice enough week. His play will merit a second glance from the Blazers and other teams. But he shaded too heavily towards his own offense for a second-year player auditioning for point guard and that offense suffered when his shot wasn't on. His defense wasn't to Johnson's level either. If the Blazers keep four point guards then Mills should be on that list but I'm not sure he showed enough to make them keep a fourth guy at the position."

http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/7/19/1576307/summer-league-2010-review

I only missed one game, but Mills was making the passes. Much better than AJ.

 

[andalusian]

I only missed one game, but Mills was making the passes. Much better than AJ.

It looked to me like Mills was a willing passer, to a fault also - very erratic at times - where Armon was much more in command and never tried to pass when it did not make sense.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I only missed one game, but Mills was making the passes. Much better than AJ.

You're high. Patty ran some nice breaks once in a while, but had tons of ball security and turnover issues in the half-court. Armon wasn't nearly as "flashy" but he was far more on target and effective distributing the ball off of dribble penetration.

 

[ABM]

You're high. Patty ran some nice breaks once in a while, but had tons of ball security and turnover issues in the half-court. Armon wasn't nearly as "flashy" but he was far more on target and effective distributing the ball off of dribble penetration.

You calling out BP? Why, I oughta go all Nikolokolus' avatar on ya!

 

[Nikolokolus]

You calling out BP? Why, I oughta go all Nikolokolus' avatar on ya!

Just stating facts. Being high on drugs is the only reason anybody would ever think Patty ran the point more effectively in summer league.

 

[Natebishop3]

This wasn't just SL either.... Johnson seemed to play pretty well in the preseason.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

You're high. Patty ran some nice breaks once in a while, but had tons of ball security and turnover issues in the half-court. Armon wasn't nearly as "flashy" but he was far more on target and effective distributing the ball off of dribble penetration.

Well, he handed the ball off OK. But Patty sure seemed to be making more assists.

As to me being high, *unbelievably caustic and personal remark censured- albeit true, but censored nonetheless*

 

[ABM]

Just stating facts. Being high on drugs is the only reason anybody would ever think Patty ran the point more effectively in summer league.

Remember this, PB just returned from a 4-day "get-away" at the beach with his lovely wife. Were their drugs involved? I highly doubt it. However, I've heard mass amounts of sex can produce relatively the same goofball results.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Remember this, PB just returned from a 4-day "get-away" at the beach with his lovely wife. Were their drugs involved? I highly doubt it. However, I've heard mass amounts of sex can produce relatively the same goofball results.

I appreciate you sticking up for me (in a way), but Niiky has never been known to be a basketball brain. I can handle this one.

 

[DUB]

I'm really surprised, I thought for sure that Patty was gone.

Uncertain if I'm happy about it either.

It's great to have a fellow countryman playing on my team, but I'm not sure that Patty fits well with Nate.

I reckon he'll spend a lot of time in the D-League, or on the bench.

I'd rather he was traded to somewhere he'll get more minutes.

 

[andalusian]

You're high. Patty ran some nice breaks once in a while, but had tons of ball security and turnover issues in the half-court. Armon wasn't nearly as "flashy" but he was far more on target and effective distributing the ball off of dribble penetration.

Patty had one game where every pass he made was fantastic (the first game, if memory serves) - but other than that - he was very erratic. He sure looked like he was trying to be a PG first - but unfortunately, it resulted in tons of turn-overs.

Don't get me wrong - I am excited that we retained Patty - because he can score in a hurry when he gets the green light - and he is mighty quick giving the Blazers a different look that they do not really have with any other player on the roster - but I just do not think he is as good a PG as Armon, better scorer, better shooter - for sure, play maker? Not imho.

 

[BrianFromWA]

On a serious note, does anyone know how Nate or the staff uses the deep bench guys? Do they really play a "scout team" role? Would mills spend more time in POR than Boise b/c there's no one else on the team who can model CP3 or Jennings or Wall or the like in practice?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think Pendy will play more NBA games than Patty, so I think this is a bad move