Kerry Eggers: "Miller opens things for everybody"

[Nikolokolus]

http://portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=125420246608687600

For the past two weeks, Miller has taken part in pickup games with his new teammates at the Blazers’ training facility. Early reviews were laudatory.

When you’re playing alongside Miller, “You always have to be ready,” Brandon Roy says. “He makes passes I know I’m afraid to make. He threads the needle.”

“It’s great to have a great point guard, to take a lot of pressure off our star player (Roy),” Martell Webster says. “It opens up the court for a lot of people. You could have (Miller) on the first or second unit ... it’s going to be amazing to watch. He’s going to open up a lot of things for everybody. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

Roy commands the ball much of the time, especially in the fourth quarter. The last two seasons, Blake has spent a lot of time spotting up at the 3-point line while Roy handles the ball. Miller won’t be doing that, but Roy believes it will add a new dimension to his game.

“My biggest strength is with the ball in my hands, but over an 82-game season, I don’t want to have to handle the ball as much,” he says. “I want to get better playing off the ball. I want to be able to come off screens, set screens and run the floor.

“Coach (Nate McMillan) says that’s something he’s going to push me toward. I’m going to keep that ability to handle the ball and use pick-and-rolls, because that’s the strength of this team. I want to stay strong in what I do well, but also improve off the ball.”

A lot of ground covered in this article from the Trib's Kerry Eggers, well worth the read. Click through for more.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

http://portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=125420246608687600



A lot of ground covered in this article from the Trib's Kerry Eggers, well worth the read. Click through for more.

This here says it all.

"When you’re playing alongside Miller, “You always have to be ready,” Brandon Roy says. “He makes passes I know I’m afraid to make. He threads the needle.”

He and his teammates have spent way too much time being afraid to make plays on the court. More so, his backcourt buddy , Steve Blake.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Miller was the king of allyoops in Denver. I think Greg, LaMarcus, Travis, and Nic are really going to benefit the most.

 

[STOMP]

nice read... sounds like everyone was being professional about their situation. I liked what Roy was saying about playing with Miller and off the ball. That will keep him fresher for crunch time when he'll be the focus.

STOMP

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

Miller was the king of allyoops in Denver. I think Greg, LaMarcus, Travis, and Nic are really going to benefit the most.

So will Martell Webster. But all this hinges on coach.

 

[MARIS61]

This here says it all.

"When you’re playing alongside Miller, “You always have to be ready,” Brandon Roy says. “He makes passes I know I’m afraid to make. He threads the needle.”

He and his teammates have spent way too much time being afraid to make plays on the court. More so, his backcourt buddy , Steve Blake.

Unless Nate (the person they fear will bench them for making plays) is gone, I don't see how anything will change. Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was. He routinely got pulled immediately anytime he made a nice flashy assist.

So unless it's a racial thing with Nate, he won't let Miller do anything highlight-worthy either.

I wonder how Miller will react to that?

 

[Natebishop3]

Unless Nate (the person they fear will bench them for making plays) is gone, I don't see how anything will change. Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was. He routinely got pulled immediately anytime he made a nice flashy assist.

So unless it's a racial thing with Nate, he won't let Miller do anything highlight-worthy either.

I wonder how Miller will react to that?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Unless Nate (the person they fear will bench them for making plays) is gone, I don't see how anything will change. Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was. He routinely got pulled immediately anytime he made a nice flashy assist.

So unless it's a racial thing with Nate, he won't let Miller do anything highlight-worthy either.

I wonder how Miller will react to that?

That was Sergio's problem (well, one of many) - he's all flash and no substance. I'd rather have a good solid, easy to catch passes that lead to easy baskets than flashy no look shit that leads to turnovers (ala Jason Williams). Screw the highlights. I'll take the wins.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was.

I know you don't care much for facts, but you're dead wrong.

In Miller's 3rd season, he had an AST% of 49.8% (lead the league) with a TOV% of 16.5%. By comparison, last season, Sergio's AST% was 35.7% and his TOV% was 24.7%. So, Miller was a far more effective passer who also turned the ball over a lot less.

This also explains why Miller has a career PER = 18.0 and Sergio's career PER = 12.2.

P.S. That 49.8% AST% is the 12th highest in NBA history. The only players to ever post a higher AST% are John Stockton (8 times), Chris Paul (twice) and Steve Nash (once). So, you are absolutely dead wrong when you say "Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was".

BNM

 

[Bob Dobalina]

I know you don't care much for facts, but you're dead wrong.

In Miller's 3rd season, he had an AST% of 49.8% (lead the league) with a TOV% of 16.5%. By comparison, last season, Sergio's AST% was 35.7% and his TOV% was 24.7%. So, Miller was a far more effective passer who also turned the ball over a lot less.

This also explains why Miller has a career PER = 18.0 and Sergio's career PER = 12.2.

P.S. That 49.8% AST% is the 12th highest in NBA history. The only players to ever post a higher AST% are John Stockton (8 times), Chris Paul (twice) and Steve Nash (once). So, you are absolutely dead wrong when you say "Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was".

BNM

What's that term? PWNED?

 

[julius]

I think the issue with Blake "going to the corner" when Brandon takes over late in the game, is that it relies too much three point shooting.

There is a place for three point shooting, but when that's all you provide (when you're not the facilitator), you're limiting yourself on offense. I don't think Miller is the best PG for the team, but I think he'll be a better PG for the team than Blake. Blake is a really good role player, Miller is a top 10 PG.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Unless Nate (the person they fear will bench them for making plays) is gone, I don't see how anything will change. Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was. He routinely got pulled immediately anytime he made a nice flashy assist.

So unless it's a racial thing with Nate, he won't let Miller do anything highlight-worthy either.

I wonder how Miller will react to that?

I'll give you the 'more creative' thing, but better just isn't going to cut it -- there's simply no reasonable metric you can point to that suggests Sergio is a better passer through his first three seasons than Miller currently is or was through his first 3 seasons.

http://www.basketball-reference.com...m=1&p1=millean02&y1=2002&p2=rodrise01&y2=2009

Funny how that works huh?

 

[Natebishop3]

We could add Chris Paul and Maris would still think Sergio is/was better.

 

[oldmangrouch]

So....Eggers thinks he is fitting in, and Quick does not.

Based on historical trends, I will put my money on Eggers.

 

[ABM]

So....Eggers thinks he is fitting in, and Quick does not.

Based on historical trends, I will put my money on Eggers.

IMO, Quick's behind-the-blinds analyses are mostly suspect.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

We could add Chris Paul and Maris would still think Sergio is/was better.

Yeah, and he'd insist that Paul was a shooting guard.

 

[KingSpeed]

I know you don't care much for facts, but you're dead wrong.

In Miller's 3rd season, he had an AST% of 49.8% (lead the league) with a TOV% of 16.5%. By comparison, last season, Sergio's AST% was 35.7% and his TOV% was 24.7%. So, Miller was a far more effective passer who also turned the ball over a lot less.

This also explains why Miller has a career PER = 18.0 and Sergio's career PER = 12.2.

P.S. That 49.8% AST% is the 12th highest in NBA history. The only players to ever post a higher AST% are John Stockton (8 times), Chris Paul (twice) and Steve Nash (once). So, you are absolutely dead wrong when you say "Sergio is a better, more creative passer than Miller ever was".

BNM

I second that. Dead wrong.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

As a Blazer player I am in a position to contend Egger's position with regard to Miller . . . and I know for a fact that Miller does not open things up for everybody.
-Jerryd Bayless

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Wow, Boob-no-more absolutely owned Marris.

 

[BBert]

I'm not sure this is what Martell meant to say:

“It’s great to have a great point guard, to take a lot of pressure off our star player (Roy),” Martell Webster says. “It opens up the court for a lot of people. You could have (Miller) on the first or second unit ... it’s going to be amazing to watch. He’s going to open up a lot of things for everybody. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

Seeing it? Like from the bench? LOL Don't sell yourself short, Martell! You can play with the big boys!