Mills, Johnson Battling To Make A Point (Columbian)

[ABM]

http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/blazerbanter/2010/jul/09/mills-johnson-battling-to-make-a-point/

TUALATIN, Ore. — The battle has only just begun. And neither the players directly involved nor the Portland Trail Blazers’ coaches have any idea how long the competition will last, nor exactly how the back-and-forth oneupsmanship will play out.

But a few things are already certain. Patty Mills and Armon Johnson are young, talented point guards currently wearing Blazers uniforms. Yet there is no guarantee both will be employed by Portland when the 2010-11 season opens in late October. Moreover, there is a good chance that either Mills or Johnson is going to cancel the other one out.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Mills is entering his second year with the Blazers. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Johnson was chosen by Portland with 34th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Both have NBA potential. Yet with ironman veteran Andre Miller currently holding the keys as the Blazers’ starting point guard and up-and-coming third-year guard Jerryd Bayless waiting in the shadows, there will likely only be room for one more 1 guard on Portland’s roster.

Which means that every strong move or false step Mills and Johnson make during the 2010 NBA Summer League will be closely watched, graded and analyzed. And with Portland’s summer schedule one day away from tipping off, the duo are already on their game.

“I definitely feel like I have to prove something,” Johnson said Friday, following a morning workout at the team’s practice facility. “Just go out and play and play basketball. This is what I came here to do, and I’m having fun doing it.”

The former Nevada standout definitely had fun Friday, smiling wide after swishing a smooth pull-up jump shoot during a full-court scrimmage.

But in a symbol of the already-brewing competition, the assist went to Mills. In addition, Johnson’s jumper followed an impressive drive by Mills during their team’s previous offensive play. Mills started at the top of the key, pushed right, cut left, and then contorted his body before sending up a twisting, turning layup. The attempt resulted in an airball. But the hard-to-touch speed of Mills’ game was clearly displayed.

“I’m just excited to get out and play,” said Mills, a 21-year-old native of Canberra, Australia. “I haven’t gotten that chance for a while.”........................

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Since I think Bayless will either be traded or not be our #2 PG unless our other non Miller PG sucks eggs, then this will be a fun competition. If Bayless gets traded, then they may both make the team.

 

[THE HCP]

Why would JB NOT be our #2 PG?

 

[LameR]

Why would JB NOT be our #2 PG?

Yeah I don't get this either. I want Bayless to be our guard off of the bench.

 

[THE HCP]

Bring back Patty just for practice and I'd be cool with that.

 

[jlprk]

We have room for 6 guards, 6 forwards, and 3 centers. We have 7 guards. They will move either Rudy, Bayless, or Mills. In that order of probability.

 

[mgb]

If we have to decide between them I'd take the rookie and D over Mills and O.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Why would JB NOT be our #2 PG?

Bayless is a SG. He doesn't understand the PG position. He is incapable of running a team or the offense. He's proven that repeatedly. How many times do you want him to continue to prove that before we finally give up? I think part of the Bayless problem is that people love his scowl and practice habits and translate that into him being a great player. Unfortunately, it's what a player does on the court that counts most.

 

[ABM]

Bayless is a SG. He doesn't understand the PG position. He is incapable of running a team or the offense.

That said, even when Miller is in the game, the ball invariably ends up in Brandon's hands a good bit of the time. Although, Miller is rather adept at generating the ally-oop play.

 

[STOMP]

We have room for 6 guards, 6 forwards, and 3 centers. We have 7 guards. They will move either Rudy, Bayless, or Mills. In that order of probability.

I'm counting 3 Centers (Greg Camby Joel) 5 forwards (LA Pendergraph Cunningham Babbitt Nic) and 7 guards (Roy Rudy Williams Bayless Johnson Miller Mills). Barring a trade, I see no reason why Roy can't continue to spend time at the 3 allowing some of their other guards more PT... he matches up fine there as most teams run a small ball group for significant portions of the game. Also by the projections I've read Joel will be on the IR for a few months as well so they could add a backup scrub if they choose to.

Bayless is a SG. He doesn't understand the PG position. He is incapable of running a team or the offense. He's proven that repeatedly. How many times do you want him to continue to prove that before we finally give up? I think part of the Bayless problem is that people love his scowl and practice habits and translate that into him being a great player. Unfortunately, it's what a player does on the court that counts most.

I think he made a lot of progress as a PG last year and am fine going into the season with him as the primary backup... dude is just 22 years old. What holds him back the most from grabbing a bigger role hasn't been his ability to run a team like a classic PG but his shaky outside threat. He started off the season shooting pretty well from the perimeter but by the end he was struggling like his rookie year. IF he can improve his perimeter percentages close to the same amount he did from year 1 to 2, the game will really open up for him. With his speed and finishing ability, he doesn't need to be a classic court general like Miller to be effective at the position, but he does have to be able to bury an open look to keep the D from collapsing.

STOMP

 

[Nikolokolus]

I really like Jerryd as this team's backup shooting guard and with Rudy pretty much gone (is there really any doubt?) I think the job is his barring some trade that ships him out, but I'm not comfortable with him being given primary playermaker duties; this team is still shy a backup who can get the team into its offense.

I'll be curious to see if Armon or Patty can actually run an offense -- setting teammates up, finding them at their sweet spots, getting the bigs involved, etc. If either emerges then great, if neither can get it done then I have no problem with the team cutting them so long as they can get somebody like Kyle Lowry, Luke Ridnour (anybody else left?) to play that backup role.

 

[STOMP]

I really like Jerryd as this team's backup shooting guard and with Rudy pretty much gone (is there really any doubt?) I think the job is his barring some trade that ships him out, but I'm not comfortable with him being given primary playermaker duties; this team is still shy a backup who can get the team into its offense.

there is only speculation

STOMP

 

[Shooter]

Since I think Bayless will either be traded or not be our #2 PG unless our other non Miller PG sucks eggs, then this will be a fun competition. If Bayless gets traded, then they may both make the team.

At this point, I'd rather see what either one of them can do. Bayless has been a big disappointment.

 

[Nikolokolus]

At this point, I'd rather see what either one of them can do. Bayless has been a big disappointment.

As a point guard I'd agree ... as a bench 2 guard I think he did pretty well.