John Lund's "Inside Source" on Miller/Winning

[HailBlazers]

 

[jlprk]

Why does a conversation about Miller's future have to devolve into a pissing match about PapaG?

I think most of us are having a conversation with PapaG.

It's PapaG. What's the differerence?

 

[hasoos]

There is a reason Miller has never won a playoff series folks. He has no outside shot. We knew what we were getting when we got him, and that is what he is. A savvy PG with no outside shot. It's was just a matter of time before a coach made him a jump shooter and exposed him for what he is in the playoffs, because that is when your weaknesses get exposed. He has a history of being on teams that get out to a series lead and then the other coach looks at film, turns him into a jump shooter, and the series turns around.

 

[julius]

Could be. Then again, after 11 seasons, I'd think a guy might want to try something new on a team that won 54 games the previous season. Instead, he sulked around and forced his way into the line-up, and a team that should have been a Top 3 seed tied for 6th.

Maybe there is something to it?

You know, the fact that the team with Blake as the starter started off really shitty AND Blake was traded might have something to do with him starting.

 

[toutlaw25]

There is a reason Miller has never won a playoff series folks. He has no outside shot. We knew what we were getting when we got him, and that is what he is. A savvy PG with no outside shot. It's was just a matter of time before a coach made him a jump shooter and exposed him for what he is in the playoffs, because that is when your weaknesses get exposed. He has a history of being on teams that get out to a series lead and then the other coach looks at film, turns him into a jump shooter, and the series turns around.

Yeah that makes perfect sense. Because a coach needs to look at tape to realize he doesn't have an outside shot. Even the most casual Blazer fan knows this, but you think the head coach needs several games to scout what has been his biggest weakness his entire career....really?

 

[MickZagger]

There is a reason Miller has never won a playoff series folks. He has no outside shot. We knew what we were getting when we got him, and that is what he is. A savvy PG with no outside shot. It's was just a matter of time before a coach made him a jump shooter and exposed him for what he is in the playoffs, because that is when your weaknesses get exposed. He has a history of being on teams that get out to a series lead and then the other coach looks at film, turns him into a jump shooter, and the series turns around.

Rajon Rondo would beg to differ. Teams making adjustments? Weren't the 76ers down 3-0 the year they came back and tied up the series against Orlando. A Magic team who went on to play in the Finals.

 

[Shooter]

What a load. Miller plays hard every game. I've never once questioned his desire to win.

 

[PapaG]

Rajon Rondo would beg to differ. Teams making adjustments? Weren't the 76ers down 3-0 the year they came back and tied up the series against Orlando. A Magic team who went on to play in the Finals.

No, they weren't. The Sixers were up 2-1 in that series with a Game 4 in Philly (lost that game 84-81), and then lost the series 4-2.

 

[MickZagger]

lol, at people blaming Miller for losing that series last year against Phoenix.

 

[PapaG]

lol, at people blaming Miller for losing that series last year against Phoenix.

lol, at people claiming the 76ers were down 3-0 against Orlando before forcing an imaginary Game 7.

 

[MickZagger]

lol, at people claiming the 76ers were down 3-0 against Orlando before forcing an imaginary Game 7.

I wasn't sure. You looked it up, congratulations!

 

[PapaG]

I wasn't sure. You looked it up, congratulations!

I knew you were wrong , so I looked it up for the actual facts.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Shaq doesn't have an outside shot either. How the fuck did he manage to win all those rings? Why didn't opposing coaches make adjustments and make Shaq a jump shooter? Stupid NBA coaches!

Seriously, Alvin Gentry made one adjustment and Nate never countered. He allowed the Suns to get away with putting their worst defender, Steve Nash, on our small forward and their best defender, Grant Hill, on our PG. Allowing you're opponent to put their best defender on your PG totally disrupts your offense. Remember when the Bulls put Pippen on Magic? In game 1 of that series, Jordan guarded Magic and the Bulls lost by 2 points. In game 2, Jackson put Pippen on Magic and the Bulls went on to win four straight and their first NBA title.

Unfortunately, with Roy injured, Rudy sucking and Batum disappearing (no doubt due to Nash's lock down defense), Phoenix was not made to pay for using their best defender on our PG.

BNM

 

[PapaG]

Shaq doesn't have an outside shot either. How the fuck did he manage to win all those rings? Why didn't opposing coaches make adjustments and make Shaq a jump shooter? Stupid NBA coaches!


BNM

Comparing Shaq and Andre Miller, and then Magic Johnson to Miller? Really, that's the basis of your post???

You're better than that.

 

[MickZagger]

*Edited*

 

[Boob-No-More]

lol, at people blaming Miller for losing that series last year against Phoenix.

No shit. Nate got out coached by Alvin Gentry and Roy had a PER of 4.5 for the series, but yet again, it's Miller's fault the Blazers lost. How predictable.

BNM

 

[PapaG]

No shit. Nate got out coached by Alvin Gentry and Roy had a PER of 4.5 for the series, but yet again, it's Miller's fault the Blazers lost. How predictable.

BNM

Old Grant Hill = prime Scottie Pippen?

I'm not saying Miller is solely to blame for that series, but the only reason Hill was effective was because Miller CAN'T SHOOT. Hill wouldn't have been able to defend a PG with a jump shot.

 

[PapaG]

*Edited*

*Edited*

 

[PapaG]

"Taunting"

LOL, Sly. I agree, btw. Good edit, although I really posted nothing other than the literal truth.

 

[Hey]

Who said Portland should've beaten Phoenix last year? Phoenix swept the Spurs didn't they? And reached the Western Finals.

 

[MickZagger]

Dude, relax.

I'm as cool as a cucumber. Might want to check that blood pressure there though, bud.

 

[MickZagger]

"Taunting"

LOL, Sly. I agree, btw. Good edit, although I really posted nothing other than the literal truth.

The literal truth?

 

[PapaG]

Anyhow, back to the point of the thread. Miller was up 2-1 against Orlando with a home Game 4, and he choked.

He was tied 1-1 against PHX with a home game, and he choked.

The guy is not a proven winner at PG. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to win, though. It just means he doesn't win.

 

[MickZagger]

Anyhow, back to the point of the thread. Miller was up 2-1 against Orlando with a home Game 4, and he choked.

He was tied 1-1 against PHX with a home game, and he choked.

The guy is not a proven winner at PG. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to win, though. It just means he doesn't win.

Your boy Steve Blake is a winner though?

 

[MARIS61]

I agree with that, but I don't think that Lund would just make up the quote, do you?

1. It's not a quote. It's hearsay with an unidentified (fictional?) source.

2. Of course I think he would make it up. Why would any Blazers employee high enough up the ladder to voice such an opinion risk losing his high-paying job to give Lund a "story" that would decrease Miller's trade value?

3. Seeing as how this is a very public smearing of Miller's character I suspect there's bad blood between the 2 from Miller's college days.

 

[MARIS61]

Your boy Steve Blake is a winner though?

Good chance he'll get a ring.

They only give rings to winners.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Who said Portland should've beaten Phoenix last year? Phoenix swept the Spurs didn't they? And reached the Western Finals.

Thank You. A different PG and a different coach were not going to change the winner of that series or probably the winner of the individual games.

You don't even have to watch the game to know if the Blazers lose, this board will be jumping on Miller and Nate with those posters having such conviction they will outtype with argument. I just don't think every loss can really be pinned on the same person every game . . . sometimes the other team is just better. Phx last year was more talented than Blazers.

 

[Minstrel]

Sure, you could say Portland should have beat Phoenix last year but is the reason we didn't because of Miller?

No, it's because Roy was injured. A fully healthy Roy, and the Suns can't focus their defensive efforts on Miller. A fully healthy Roy and the Blazers win that series easily. The team pushed the Suns to 6 without Roy or Oden (arguably their two most talented players...Roy definitely at the time, Oden probably).

Miller has never been a superstar who could carry a team to victory. He's been a top-ten point guard most of his career and a borderline All-Star. It isn't like it would take a cosmic fluke for a good, not great, player who cares about winning to play his entire career for teams not talented enough to make noise in the playoffs. While there's a simplistic satisfaction to evaluate players by the team accomplishments (it kind of sounds like "bottom line" even if it's illogical), playoff wins are determined by the whole roster.

 

[ABM]

Good chance he'll get a ring.

They only give rings to winners.

PJ just announced he's done at the end of this season, though. Translation: Jedi Mind Tricks for fear of Spurs.

 

[tlongII]

I think the criticism is unwarranted. It's not Miller's fault that he can't shoot. That's just the way it is. It has nothing to do with being content on a team that is not winning in the playoffs.