Kerry Eggers on Miller Signing

[e_blazer]

“He wasn’t the best player on the Sixers last season, but the most important,” says Phil Jasner, the Hall-of-Fame beat writer with the Philadelphia Daily News. “There’s a distinction there.

“Portland has a young, talented team that won 54 games last year and has a chance to go further in the playoffs next year. Andre might wind up being the catalyst to that. The Blazers could profit from a dose of experience and high basketball IQ. He could be the right guy at the right time for the right team.”

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=124855404181432400

 

[Haakzilla]

...the dynasty begins in 2010!!!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Eggers once again showing he understands the game better than the entire staff of the GoryOnion combined.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

All we need is to get a stating SF and we're set to contend with the best.

 

[Nikolokolus]

All we need is to get a stating SF and we're set to contend with the best.

Call it a hunch, but I think Nic is going to surprise some people with an improved offensive game to go with his already well above average defense.

 

[rocketeer]

what experience does andre miller have that the blazers don't already have? is he going to show them how to make the playoffs, but lose in the first round? wait, they already did that. is he going to show them how to win 55+ games? oh wait, he's never won 50 games during any season of his career.

the idea that adding "experience" is somehow going to vastly improve the team is dumb on its own, but the idea that andre miller has the "experience" to put the blazers over the top is just moronic.

 

[Wheels]

what experience doesn't andre miller have that the blazers don't already have? is he going to show them how to make the playoffs, but lose in the first round? wait, they already did that. is he going to show them how to win 55+ games? oh wait, he's never won 50 games during any season of his career.

the idea that adding "experience" is somehow going to vastly improve the team is dumb on its own, but the idea that andre miller has the "experience" to put the blazers over the top is just moronic.

still spewing your garbage eh?

 

[rocketeer]

still spewing your garbage eh?

so what experience does andre miller have that the rest of the blazers don't?

if my post is wrong in some way, feel free to correct me.

 

[STOMP]

so what experience does andre miller have that the rest of the blazers don't?

I don't think it's experience so much as another quality talent being added to the mix... a different facet to their attack. With his outside shot Steve Blake has a complimentary game to what the Blazers have run, but Miller gives them another dynamic weapon to attack with.

In the playoffs vs the Rockets, Blake couldn't force the issue with the size advantage he enjoyed over Brooks, he just spaced the court. Miller would have backed Aaron down/run him off pick and rolls and generally caused all sorts of havoc in the paint. Brooks and (more importantly) Houston's frontline absolutely would have been much more at risk to foul trouble which likely could have factored in to how the games played out.

STOMP

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

Miller simply brings a dynamic we didn't have last year: A guy who can attack the hoop, but with the idea of creating for his teamates every time he does. He's not the perfect piece, but I think he's an upgrade and a perfect compliment to Blake.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

so what experience does andre miller have that the rest of the blazers don't?

Sometimes experience is just being in the league a while. He's played with a bunch of coaches. He's been on crappy teams, he's been on decent teams. He's on his last lap and he's a lot more serious and hungry than anyone else on our team. He can see what a valuable and unique player we have in Oden (I hope) and will make sure he gets the ball more.

Check out his playoff numbers. That shows that he's got experience of being a damn good PG in the playoffs. Who on our team can say that?

(Incidentally, looking at those numbers makes me really want Iguodala. And this is from someone who's argued against him when his ardent fans on this board have brought him up. I wonder if the Sixers are still interested in moving him because of his big contract? We could give them an attractive package of young cheap players and a PG that their coach knows, and whose contract is cheap and expiring, but who would mean they don't have to throw Holliday to the wolves right away...)

 

[andalusian]

What Miller adds is another guy who can create for others.

Blake is a safe and steady PG that creates somewhat but is far from elite in this regard. The Blazers now have to guys that can attack the rim and create for others that they did not have before. That's where it starts and where it ends.

Bayless can attack the rim - but he is not great creating for others (yet?), - so that's where his value to the Blazers might be.

 

[Stevenson]

so what experience does andre miller have that the rest of the blazers don't?

if my post is wrong in some way, feel free to correct me.

Funny, I didn't see you coaching our team and winning a gold medal in the Olympics. but I did see Nate do that, and Nate wanted a vet with experience on this team.

I take his word over yours pal.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

what experience does andre miller have that the blazers don't already have? is he going to show them how to make the playoffs, but lose in the first round? wait, they already did that. is he going to show them how to win 55+ games? oh wait, he's never won 50 games during any season of his career.

the idea that adding "experience" is somehow going to vastly improve the team is dumb on its own, but the idea that andre miller has the "experience" to put the blazers over the top is just moronic.

Believe it or not, experience is important on almost any job or career. It's also important for trying to teach Bayless hbow to be an NBA PG.

That said, Miller brings depth to the PG position. That's huge.

 

[mgb]

From what I've read he brings BBI and is able to communicate it to the rest of the team while on the court both on O and D as well as passing skills that will reward players for listening to him.

 

[MARIS61]

I don't think it's experience so much as another quality talent being added to the mix... a different facet to their attack. With his outside shot Steve Blake has a complimentary game to what the Blazers have run, but Miller gives them another dynamic weapon to attack with.

In the playoffs vs the Rockets, Blake couldn't force the issue with the size advantage he enjoyed over Brooks, he just spaced the court. Miller would have backed Aaron down/run him off pick and rolls and generally caused all sorts of havoc in the paint. Brooks and (more importantly) Houston's frontline absolutely would have been much more at risk to foul trouble which likely could have factored in to how the games played out.

STOMP

You are making the erroneous assumption that Nate will allow his players to play their game once playoffs arrive.

That has never been, and will never be, the case.

We'd have beaten Houston if it were.

 

[PapaG]

so what experience does andre miller have that the rest of the blazers don't?

if my post is wrong in some way, feel free to correct me.

I see nothing wrong with what you posted. Miller isn't a "been there, done that" guy who has been a proven winner in the playoffs. That said, he is a player with great court awareness, and he does have experience in that he knows how to prepare for games and how to involve his teammates.

Like you, however, I find the "experience" argument for Miller a bit disingenuous considering that he has not won even a playoff series in his career. If the Blazers were looking for a veteran PG who has won a major title in his career, they already had one in Steve Blake. Not that Blake was leading the Blazers to a title, either, but let's discuss Miller on his merits, not on playoff "experience" that he lacks, just like every other player on the team.

 

[Peaceman]

You are making the erroneous assumption that Nate will allow his players to play their game once playoffs arrive.

That has never been, and will never be, the case.

We'd have beaten Houston if it were.

Kind of like Phil Jackson making his players play the triangle. That never worked out either.

 

[oldmangrouch]

People have short memories.

Game 1, Blazers v Rockets. Houston gets off to a quick start, Blazers collapse and get blown out on their home floor.

Game 1, Philly v Orlando. Magic gets off to a fast start and is threatening to blow Philly out. Miller is the guy who rallies the troops and leads them to a come-from-behind victory.

"Experience" isn't just earned in the play-offs....but the play-offs is when it tends to become visible.


Oh, and one final note, since I know someone will drag this argument out: yes, Philly lost in 6 games - "just like Portland." BS. Philly lost to a clearly better team - Blazers lost to a team they had a good chance to beat.

 

[Haakzilla]

Kind of like Phil Jackson making his players play the triangle. That never worked out either.

...apples to oranges

 

[PapaG]

People have short memories.

Game 1, Blazers v Rockets. Houston gets off to a quick start, Blazers collapse and get blown out on their home floor.

Game 1, Philly v Orlando. Magic gets off to a fast start and is threatening to blow Philly out. Miller is the guy who rallies the troops and leads them to a come-from-behind victory.

"Experience" isn't just earned in the play-offs....but the play-offs is when it tends to become visible.


Oh, and one final note, since I know someone will drag this argument out: yes, Philly lost in 6 games - "just like Portland." BS. Philly lost to a clearly better team - Blazers lost to a team they had a good chance to beat.

Houston, without Yao, took LA to 7 games. "Clearly better" Orlando lost in 5.

 

[Ed O]

Houston, without Yao, took LA to 7 games. "Clearly better" Orlando lost in 5.

He was saying that Orlando was clearly better than Philly.

Ed O.

 

[hasoos]

Houston, without Yao, took LA to 7 games. "Clearly better" Orlando lost in 5.

Actually I would point out, only part of the series was without Yao. During the part with Yao, they went .500 with the Lakers. Without him they lost all but one.

The way I look at this move is, now hopefully Portland won't get totally hosed at the PG position every night. Where the Blazers used to get hosed, every night at that position. Portland had arguably the worst PG in the western conference, right there with Minnesota. Considering the Blazers are in a confernce very strong at the PG position, that pretty much put Portland 10 points and several assist in the hole every night, not to mention the foul trouble caused to our bigs. The foul trouble issue still isn't solved, because Miller isn't a good defender. But at least he will go at them, and get them into foul trouble too.

 

[STOMP]

Actually I would point out, only part of the series was without Yao. During the part with Yao, they went .500 with the Lakers. Without him they lost all but one.

The way I look at this move is, now hopefully Portland won't get totally hosed at the PG position every night. Where the Blazers used to get hosed, every night at that position. Portland had arguably the worst PG in the western conference, right there with Minnesota. Considering the Blazers are in a confernce very strong at the PG position, that pretty much put Portland 10 points and several assist in the hole every night, not to mention the foul trouble caused to our bigs. The foul trouble issue still isn't solved, because Miller isn't a good defender. But at least he will go at them, and get them into foul trouble too.

Good post. You're right about the Blazers still being vulnerable to quick attacking guards getting their Bigs in foul trouble, but they do enjoy better frontline depth then most teams. In the tit for tat way that games are often officiated, I'll take the Miller upgrade of at least being able to trade fouls.

STOMP

 

[rocketeer]

I see nothing wrong with what you posted. Miller isn't a "been there, done that" guy who has been a proven winner in the playoffs. That said, he is a player with great court awareness, and he does have experience in that he knows how to prepare for games and how to involve his teammates.

Like you, however, I find the "experience" argument for Miller a bit disingenuous considering that he has not won even a playoff series in his career. If the Blazers were looking for a veteran PG who has won a major title in his career, they already had one in Steve Blake. Not that Blake was leading the Blazers to a title, either, but let's discuss Miller on his merits, not on playoff "experience" that he lacks, just like every other player on the team.

of course. miller should be judged on his merits just like ever other player on the team.

but several times i've seen miller's experience mentioned as a positive. it isn't(even if you think experience is important). he has no more experience than steve blake, has never been on a team that won 50 games, and has never played in the 2nd round of the playoffs. in my mind, those aren't negatives against him but they also aren't an upgrade of anything the blazers had last season.

same goes for when people say he's going to be great for oden/aldridge. if there was evidence of him playing well and improving allstar caliber bigs in the past, i would agree. but there isn't evidence of that. miller has only played with an allstar caliber big once in his career. that doesn't mean that he won't be good for oden/aldridge, just that the expectation that he will be isn't really based on anything he's shown so far.

miller does have positives. he'll be another blazer with the ability to attack the basket and create his own shot. he'll take some of the pressure off roy during the middle of games and let roy work off the ball some to not use up as much energy. i just have to disagree when people name things like experience as one of the positives miller brings to the table.

 

[rocketeer]

Actually I would point out, only part of the series was without Yao. During the part with Yao, they went .500 with the Lakers. Without him they lost all but one.

the rockets were down 1-2 with yao. they went 2-2 without him. of course the two losses with yao both included artest being ejected unfairly(though one of the games was already basically out of reach when it happened). and the two wins without yao came in houston when the lakers really didn't bother to even show up to the game and let the rockets build 15+ point leads immediately(17-4 in the first win without yao and 17-1 in the second).

 

[Nikolokolus]

You are making the erroneous assumption that Nate will allow his players to play their game once playoffs arrive.

That has never been, and will never be, the case.

We'd have beaten Houston if it were.

Sacramento is this-a-way ...

|
|
|
|
|
\/

 

[PapaG]

He was saying that Orlando was clearly better than Philly.

Ed O.

Oh. Comparative arguments confuse me at times. There isn't much of a comparative baseline on comparing series, which was my point. It appears to me that both Orlando and Houston were 4-2 better than Philly and Portland, respectively.

Still not sure what the meaning is, but the point of the OP is clarified. Thanks!

 

[KingSpeed]

what experience does andre miller have that the blazers don't already have? is he going to show them how to make the playoffs, but lose in the first round? wait, they already did that. is he going to show them how to win 55+ games? oh wait, he's never won 50 games during any season of his career.

the idea that adding "experience" is somehow going to vastly improve the team is dumb on its own, but the idea that andre miller has the "experience" to put the blazers over the top is just moronic.

When you've done something for a long time, as Miller has with basketball, you learn a LOT about the game. Even if you haven't won a championship, as he has not, you learn the league, you learn the refs, you learn the game. Andre Miller brings an understanding of the game to our team that will make us better, I think.

 

[KingSpeed]

so what experience does andre miller have that the rest of the blazers don't?.

10 years in the league.