Courtside

[BrianFromWA]

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT NATE SAYS ABOUT LINE-UPS ON JULY 27TH. NOBODY WILL CARE OR REMEMBER IT IN NOVEMBER.

This is the part I disagree with. Some people in here have long memories. "Jarrett Jack is our starter, until we're 4 games into the season." "Batum's our starter, until I get butterflies on Opening Night." "Sergio's getting the lion's share of the backup PG minutes--oh wait--I mean, yeah, I knew it all along." "Greg's starting, until he injures himself 5 minutes in and then I'll flip-flop him and Joel the rest of the year"

And as a bonus (not really lineup-related), the "Taurean Green will win us 3 to 4 games this year" one.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

This is the part I disagree with. Some people in here have long memories. "Jarrett Jack is our starter, until we're 4 games into the season." "Batum's our starter, until I get butterflies on Opening Night." "Sergio's getting the lion's share of the backup PG minutes--oh wait--I mean, yeah, I knew it all along." "Greg's starting, until he injures himself 5 minutes in and then I'll flip-flop him and Joel the rest of the year"

And as a bonus (not really lineup-related), the "Taurean Green will win us 3 to 4 games this year" one.

You pretty much nailed it. Nate needs to keep his mouth shut about things he has no idea of. It's the silly shit he says that makes you think how could he be taken seriously? I don't think there's any chance that Miller doesn't start, but it's just stupid for Nate to say otherwise.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Though to be fair to Nate, as I read back over my post I realized those were all "veteran vs. young guy" situations. Nate, in the end, relied heavily on the veteran in each of those scenarios. It may be that Nate's just giddy that he has two PGs to choose from who he feels won't wet themselves in the face of an NBA defense.

 

[Tince]

You people crack me up.

When we have players or coaches that say what they are feeling to the media, you crack them for being to out there. However, when guys or KP give the same interview over and over, don't reveal the truth, you rip them for being boring and overrating their players.

Talk about a no win.

 

[mgb]

MB's blog has exactly what Nate said.

"I've talked to Andre about that," said McMillan, and clearly this was addressed at the team's meeting with Miller in Las Vegas. "I think starting is overrated. You try to get a starting unit that works, and a bench unit that works.

"Our starting unit last year won 54 games. We're not going to mess with that starting unit," McMillan continued. "I anticipate that we'll start out the same way, with Brandon and Steve as our guards, and then bring Andre and Rudy as the guards off our bench. Bringing them in with Martell or Travis in that second unit, as more of a running unit, would be a good combination."

From the same blog.

Nate has wanted Miller for a long time, and perhaps no one was happier about Miller's signing than McMillan. But, McMillan is also a big fan of the starting unit that helped his team overachieve last season, and he's made it very clear that he thinks Steve Blake and Brandon Roy are very effective together.

This is the reason the team never seriously entertained deals that would have sent Blake packing. As I mentioned, while in Las Vegas, I had a former NBA general manager tell me that he considers Blake "the most underrated point guard in the NBA," and claimed to have the numbers to prove it.

 

[handiman]

There's nothing wrong with a heated competition in trading camp to show who fits best with which lineup

Is that the training camp where Blake gets traded?

 

[LittleAlex]

MB's blog has exactly what Nate said.



From the same blog.

I wonder what numbers those GM's are looking at. The numbers available to the average NBA watcher clearly show Blake is one of the worst starting point guards in the league.

 

[hasoos]

Miller has never had a 50-win season. Ever.

What does that have to do with being better? It's the team that makes the number of win mark, not one player.

 

[Ed O]

I wonder what numbers those GM's are looking at. The numbers available to the average NBA watcher clearly show Blake is one of the worst starting point guards in the league.

Well, to be fair. It's a FORMER GM...

People get fired for a reason.

Ed O.

 

[hasoos]

The Blake/Miller comparison is awfully close in terms of overall value to this particular team, with Blake having the obvious edge simply from previous success.

I think Miller would have a hard time taking his starting spot, and I don't think it would benefit the team as run by Nate. Miller is a guy who feels the need to score regularly so he's a better fit with the bench who needs someone to direct them. He would quickly tire of Roy demanding the ball from him every trip even though he would see other players open for better shots, just as Sergio tired of it when he started.

Blake has done quite well in the limited role Nate allows his starter, and it's doubtful Miller would be a better bring-it-up-and-hand-it-to-Roy kind of PG. Nate has shown repeatedly that he will not adjust his offense in the slightest to take advantage of individual players talents.

Miller was apparently brought here for the sole purpose of turning Bayless into a PG, an absurdly impossible and extremely impractical task. I'll be surprised if he's still here after this season.

Yea Blake has done so well that he is the 2nd worst starting PG in the western conference. The only PG that is worse, is Bassy, and he isn't even in Minnesota anymore, so now that Minnesota drafted multiple PG, Blake would probably now be the worst PG in the western conference once Johnny Flynn get's rolling. Go ahead. Look around the conference. There is not one team who does not have a better PG than Steve Blake now. That is a big problem. A problem that is addressed by starting Miller.

 

[Blaze01]

Blake is so overated by fans here and apparently POR mgmt that it borders on ridiculous.....

 

[THE HCP]

In what way is he over rated?

 

[hasoos]

In what way is he over rated?

How many opinions from homers thinking he should start over Miller does it take to make that a qualifier?

 

[THE HCP]

I love Blake. Played great last year, knows his role. I do think that Miller has to start though! Steve would probably be the best back-up in the whole league.

 

[rocketeer]

How many opinions from homers thinking he should start over Miller does it take to make that a qualifier?

has anyone said that blake should start and play more minutes than miller?

 

[rocketeer]

I wonder what numbers those GM's are looking at. The numbers available to the average NBA watcher clearly show Blake is one of the worst starting point guards in the league.

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/the-underrated-in-2008-09/

if you read that article and look at the list of underrated players by nba efficiency, blake is tied(with conley and sessions) for the most underrated pg in the league by that measure. that specific list is here http://www.wagesofwins.com/UnderRatedNBA0809.html

 

[andalusian]

Blake is so overated by fans here and apparently POR mgmt that it borders on ridiculous.....

Blake is so underrated by fans here that it borders on ridiculous as well. Based on win% - Blake at 65% was just behind Roy and LMA on the squad last year. That's pretty stout.

Sure, he is not a star - but he is a very nice role player that knows his role and does not make too many mistakes. Add the fact that he mashes well with our star player and does not break the bank - and what's not to love?

 

[BrianFromWA]

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/the-underrated-in-2008-09/

if you read that article and look at the list of underrated players by nba efficiency, blake is tied(with conley and sessions) for the most underrated pg in the league by that measure. that specific list is here http://www.wagesofwins.com/UnderRatedNBA0809.html

But only James Posey is worse in "Wins Produced Rank" on that list. Conley and Sessions blow him out of the water. So what this is saying is "Blake is pretty mediocre (ed.-and that's being very generous), and we know he's pretty mediocre, but he doesn't suck as horribly as you guys think. Therefore, he's underrated."

In NBA efficiency, he was 115th out of 128 qualifiers. In Wins Produced, he was 75th of 128. That difference of 40 is what Berri's using to call him "underrated".

 

[Wheels]

Blake is so underrated by fans here that it borders on ridiculous as well. Based on win% - Blake at 65% was just behind Roy and LMA on the squad last year. That's pretty stout.

Sure, he is not a star - but he is a very nice role player that knows his role and does not make too many mistakes. Add the fact that he mashes well with our star player and does not break the bank - and what's not to love?

having our Centers get into foul trouble because our perimeter D had so many holes. Oh and Aaron Brooks looking like he was in College again.

 

[hasoos]

under rated is in many situations, just a politically correct way of saying they aren't as good as the rest of the guys out there.

 

[hasoos]

has anyone said that blake should start and play more minutes than miller?

It depends on who you are talking about. Some posters here have mentioned they think he could come off the bench but play more minutes. Some posters have not. They have just mentioned Blake would start, and there is no mention of minutes. So you can only take a guess as to what they mean.

What do I mean? I mean that Millers should start and play more minutes than Blake. Flat out.

I am by no means a huge Miller fan. But he is better than Blake by quite a ways.

 

[mgb]

What it all comes down to in Nate's mind is which is better playing with Roy? I think he feels because of his 3 point shooting and willingness to let Roy run the show it's Blake. As well as who would help the bench the most and that's Miller.

Eventually though when Portland starts off slow in games I believe there will be a switch and Miller will start.

 

[andalusian]

having our Centers get into foul trouble because our perimeter D had so many holes. Oh and Aaron Brooks looking like he was in College again.

First - Blake has problem with perimeter defense - no doubt about it.

However, Joel, who played in many games with Blake as the starter did not have too many foul problems - Oden had because he was a rookie, out of shape and played a lot behind Sergio Rodriguez who made Blake look like an All-NBA defensive standout in comparison...

At the end of the day - this statement about Blake's (obvious) defensive issues has nothing to do with my statement - that Blake is clearly underrated by many. He is not a star - but he is a very nice role player on a fantastic contract that seem to be very good next to our best player.

As for who starts - I will repeat my earlier answer - depends on chemistry and how the play together. On paper - Miller seems like a better fit with Rudy/Travis/Martell/Center than with Roy. I would not get my panties in a bunch if Miller does not start the games - but I support and send my heartfelt encouragement to all of those who feel the need to.

 

[rocketeer]

But only James Posey is worse in "Wins Produced Rank" on that list. Conley and Sessions blow him out of the water. So what this is saying is "Blake is pretty mediocre (ed.-and that's being very generous), and we know he's pretty mediocre, but he doesn't suck as horribly as you guys think. Therefore, he's underrated."

In NBA efficiency, he was 115th out of 128 qualifiers. In Wins Produced, he was 75th of 128. That difference of 40 is what Berri's using to call him "underrated".

underrated simply means that he is rated lower than he should be. using their stat of wins produced, blake is tied for the most underrated pg in the league based on nba efficiency because nba efficiency rates him 40 spots lower than he is "supposed" to be rated.

you don't have to be great to be underrated.

 

[rocketeer]

having our Centers get into foul trouble because our perimeter D had so many holes. Oh and Aaron Brooks looking like he was in College again.

andre miller doesn't really provide an upgrade as far as perimeter d is concerned. and aaron brooks really didn't do much in the last 4 games of the rockets/blazers series.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

If Steve Blake is greatly underrated . . . does that mean he is a great player?

 

[anonymous gambler]

Miller will start over Blake because he's an actual above average point guard who can run the offense. If I was Pritchard, I would trade Blake tomorrow if there was any doubt about this.

I would still like to see a trade for Crash/Okafor- maybe Pryzbilla/Outlaw/Rudy/Blake and draft picks would get it done?

 

[THE HCP]

Miller will start over Blake because he's an actual above average point guard who can run the offense. If I was Pritchard, I would trade Blake tomorrow if there was any doubt about this.

I would still like to see a trade for Crash/Okafor- maybe Pryzbilla/Outlaw/Rudy/Blake and draft picks would get it done?

Why get rid of Steve! We will now have the best back-up point guard and center in the entire NBA!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Why get rid of Steve! We will now have the best back-up point guard and center in the entire NBA!

Exactly . . . now I just hope Miller accepts his role as a back up.

 

[Ed O]

I would still like to see a trade for Crash/Okafor- maybe Pryzbilla/Outlaw/Rudy/Blake and draft picks would get it done?

Okafor just got traded to NOH today.

Ed O.