Merged: Miller & Blake: who should start?

[PtldPlatypus]

Since Wheels is getting into it on his show, I figured we should have a thread about it too. Wheels seems to be of the opinion that perhaps Blake should start, and I'm inclined to agree with him.

What do y'all think?

 

[Wheels]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Since Wheels is getting into it on his show, I figured we should have a thread about it too. Wheels seems to be of the opinion that perhaps Blake should start, and I'm inclined to agree with him.

What do y'all think?

Sorry, Rudy is deserving of more than 22 MPG.. I say give Websters minutes to Rudy and Travis. Rudy needs to play at least 28 MPG.. Here is how it works for me

Miller 30 MPG
Blake 18 MPG

Roy 35 MPG
Rudy 28 MPG

Batum 22 MPG
Outlaw 24 MPG

LMA 35 MPG

Oden 30 MPG
Prz 18 MPG

 

[Wheels]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Whoah, I posted it when I read your minutes break down.

 

[Minstrel]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Start the better player which, unless Miller collapses or Blake elevates his game tremendously, is Miller.

Miller can't shoot the three, but he'll take some of the play-making pressure off Roy and he'll get Oden and Batum more easy baskets. He'll get everyone more easy baskets, but I especially like what he can do for Portland's rawest offensive starters. Miller's slashing ability and distributing ability are much more valuable than Blake's perimeter shooting, IMO.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Since Wheels is getting into it on his show, I figured we should have a thread about it too. Wheels seems to be of the opinion that perhaps Blake should start, and I'm inclined to agree with him.

What do y'all think?

I'm inclined to wait to form my opinion until training camp and preseason. On one hand, Blake is a great back court complement to B-Roy, because he can draw the defense out of the paint. But on the other hand, having Miller allows Brandon to not expend so much energy bringing the ball up the court and running the pick and roll early in the game.

As for the second unit, it certainly would seem beneficial to have Miller team up with Rudy in the back court. Miller can be the playmaker and rely on Rudy's movement off the ball and outside shooting to open up the court. You'd also theoretically have Webster in there and either Joel or Greg to run the pick and roll with a great passer.

I just can't see Miller not starting, but we'll see what training camp brings.

 

[illmatic99]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Miller, without question. You don't go out and bring in a $21 mil player to put him on the bench behind Steve Frickin Blake. There are plenty of ways Miller can make Roy, Aldridge, and Oden better. And I value significant improvements from those guys more than I would Rudy, Travis, etc.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Outlaw 24 MPG

That's about 23 minutes too much for Trav.

 

[illmatic99]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Jay Allen just said he likes Blake in clutch situations. WTF is this guy talking about?

Blake is the epitome of anti-clutch.

Edit: Good God. This town's love affair with Steve Blake is sickening.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Whoah, I posted it when I read your minutes break down.

Sorry BW--I realized after I posted it that the "minutes/rotation" portion of my original post would detract from the intent of the thread, so I edited, but not soon enough.

 

[RoyToy]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Uh, Miller....easily.

 

[BlayZa]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

if its not miller, that'd be mighty confusing.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Miller should start IMO. He's the better over all player IMO and gets to the foul line.

Miller 30 MPG
Blake 18 MPG

Roy 35 MPG
Rudy 28 MPG

Batum 23 MPG
Webster 23 MPG

LMA 35 MPG

Oden 28 MPG
Pryz 20 MPG

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Start the better player which, unless Miller collapses or Blake elevates his game tremendously, is Miller.

Miller can't shoot the three, but he'll take some of the play-making pressure off Roy and he'll get Oden and Batum more easy baskets. He'll get everyone more easy baskets, but I especially like what he can do for Portland's rawest offensive starters. Miller's slashing ability and distributing ability are much more valuable than Blake's perimeter shooting, IMO.

I generally agree with this sentiment, but I think our team could/should be different. On a normal team, you start all your best players in order to create space for each to operate. On this team, that's not necessary; IMO, the role players (Blake, Rudy, Webster, TO) create the space necessary for the best players (Miller, Roy, LA, Oden) to do what they do best.

In my mind, if you bring both Miller and Oden off the bench about 5 minutes into the game, you can keep that pair together nearly the entire game (which would be best for Oden, IMO). You can still give them 30 mpg each, plus you can ensure that either Roy/LA or Miller/Oden is on the floor at all times, with them all 4 on together at the end of the half (when it's most important).

 

[santeesioux]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

If Blake gets the starting spot i would be more worried about how much Miller has degraded with age...

 

[RR7]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

If it's not Miller, and he can't beat out Blake, or isn't good enough to start over him, then wtf did we just spend 14 million dollars on? A 7 million a year backup PG? I think this is easily Miller. My assumption is Nate feels the same.

 

[PapaG]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Miller. Not even a second thought about it.

 

[hasoos]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Since Wheels is getting into it on his show, I figured we should have a thread about it too. Wheels seems to be of the opinion that perhaps Blake should start, and I'm inclined to agree with him.

What do y'all think?

I think that I wouldn't even think that while high.

 

[PapaG]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Jay Allen just said he likes Blake in clutch situations. WTF is this guy talking about?

Blake is the epitome of anti-clutch.

Edit: Good God. This town's love affair with Steve Blake is sickening.

I wouldn't call it a love affair, but Blake did play the second half and the year, and playoffs, with a shoulder that required surgery after the season. After seeing previous "nice guys" like Derek Anderson shut it down for hangnails, Blake has proven to be a very gritty player who is effective on the court. Perhaps people appreciate what he did for the team last year?

 

[hasoos]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

I wouldn't call it a love affair, but Blake did play the second half and the year, and playoffs, with a shoulder that required surgery after the season. After seeing previous "nice guys" like Derek Anderson shut it down for hangnails, Blake has proven to be a very gritty player who is effective on the court. Perhaps people appreciate what he did for the team last year?

So he is tough. It doesn't mean he deserves to start.

 

[PapaG]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

So he is tough. It doesn't mean he deserves to start.

Nobody deserves to start, and I feel Miller is the easy answer since he's being paid to start. Who said anything about Blake deserving to start?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

EDIT: Yeah, I know I have guys who are just gone with no one to replace them; it's brutal because we have guys who have started or played super-sub roles for us in the past who simply have no minute available to them. I'm hoping that by being slightly under the cap still, we can consolidate a little, maybe by trading a player for a pick or something.

The biggest challenge is giving Rudy enough minutes to stay interested in the team. I worry that in three years, he'll pack up and leave our bench gutted because we consolidated to make him happy and he leaves anyway.

Since Roy can play up to 3 positions, my first 9-man rotation takes advantage of that to give everyone some minutes. It assumes Bayless and Webster are gone.

Miller (24) / Blake (18) / Roy (6)
Roy (24) / Rudy (24)
Batum (24) / Outlaw (12) / Roy (6) / Rudy (6)
LMA (36) / Outlaw (6) / Joel (6)
Oden (36) / Joel (12)

Miller = 24
Blake = 18
Roy = 36
Rudy = 30
Batum = 24
Outlaw = 18
LMA = 36
Joel = 18
Oden = 36

Lineup two assumes Blake and Outlaw are gone. Since Webster can't play the 4, and Bayless plays some 2, it's not a 1:1 trade for the lineups.

Miller (24) / Bayless (12) / Roy (6) / Rudy (6)
Roy (24) / Rudy (18) / Bayless (6)
Batum (24) / Webster (18) / Roy (6)
LMA (36) / 2nd Rounder (6) / Joel (6)
Oden (36) / Joel (12)

Miller = 24
Bayless = 18
Roy = 36
Rudy = 24
Batum = 24
Webster = 18
LMA = 36
2nd Rounder = 6
Joel = 18
Oden = 36

 

[Pinwheel1]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Well I can see the advantages with starting Blake for the first 6 minutes of the game. That means Miller plays the second 5-6 minutes of the quarter with the first team and another 5-6 minutes with the second team. (in 2nd quarter) That won't happen, but I wouldn't mind it.

 

[hasoos]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Nobody deserves to start, and I feel Miller is the easy answer since he's being paid to start. Who said anything about Blake deserving to start?

It is inferred. Anybody even bringing up the question obviously feels Blake has a claim on the starting spot. If they didn't feel that was the case, then why would they even bring it up?

I would remind people who are arguing that Blake should start because of toughness, that Andre Miller actually is the Iron Man in the NBA right now with like 530 consecutive starts.

 

[LittleAlex]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Well I can see the advantages with starting Blake for the first 6 minutes of the game. That means Miller plays the second 5-6 minutes of the quarter with the first team and another 5-6 minutes with the second team. (in 2nd quarter) That won't happen, but I wouldn't mind it.

Last year Portland would go in the hole in the first quarter of a large number of games, only to make a big push later in the game to win. Wouldn't it be nice if Portland didn't spot their opponent 10 points to start the game?

I don't know for sure that Blake was the reason for the slow starts, but I believe he was large part of the problem. Perhaps having Miller on the floor will make that problem go away.

If Miller is healthy and doesn't start next season I will be dumbfounded.

Miller >>>> Blake. It isn't even close.

 

[PapaG]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

It is inferred. Anybody even bringing up the question obviously feels Blake has a claim on the starting spot. If they didn't feel that was the case, then why would they even bring it up?

I would remind people who are arguing that Blake should start because of toughness, that Andre Miller actually is the Iron Man in the NBA right now with like 530 consecutive starts.

Who is making that argument? I was addressing a poster who was venting about a "love affair" with Steve Blake. He did PG the team to 54 wins, so it's not like he's a slug.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

Last year Portland would go in the hole in the first quarter of a large number of games, only to make a big push later in the game to win. Wouldn't it be nice if Portland didn't spot their opponent 10 points to start the game?

The hole was usually dug after Blake and Batum left the game at 6 minutes in. Sergio and Outlaw would come in and the offense went to shit in a hurry.

 

[hielo español]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

I like Blake a lot and if people don't appreciate what he did last season, well that is their loss.

That being said, Miller strikes me as one of the best players in his position, a bonefied starter and that is exactly what he should be.

 

[hasoos]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

The hole was usually dug after Blake and Batum left the game at 6 minutes in. Sergio and Outlaw would come in and the offense went to shit in a hurry.

Way wrong. The Blazers were often down double digits halfway through the first.

 

[Haakzilla]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

...this is NOT even a question

 

[hasoos]

Re: Miller & Blake: who should start?

I like Blake a lot and if people don't appreciate what he did last season, well that is their loss.

That being said, Miller strikes me as one of the best players in his position, a bonefied starter and that is exactly what he should be.

There is a big difference between appreciating what Blake did last season, and him deserving to be a starter. The proper role for Blake is the "Danny Young" role. Come off the bench and don't fuck up. It doesn't mean we don't like what he did. The facts are that Blake is the 2nd worst PG in the western conference. He played hard. Great. Doesn't mean he deserves to start here. It is pretty typical when players don't have the skills for high level of play they talk about effort, tenacity, etc. Those are nice ways of saying they aren't starter worthy.

I believe most of the fans know what Blake did and didn't do last season. He played hard, played through injuries and did his best. But his best was 2nd worst PG in the western conference. That is a fact.