Nate on Miller playing vs LA... questionable if not doubtful

[MIXUM]

Wow... if nate benches miller and ends his iron man streak... shit will hit the fan. Im just gonna guess Miller plays but damn imagine if its nates call and he benches miller. oh boy. This is according to Joe Freeman. Quick also said on the game that this was the most heated incident in a balzer practice since bonzi through the gatorade bucket with mo cheeks.

Im wondering if this back thing being doubtful is the quiet approach to a suspension for milleR? or is Miller gonna hide behind injuries as a form of pouting?

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/01/just_seven_players_practice_fo.html

 

[Luther]

Yea Miller is going to hide behind injuries as a form of pouting....He's only played like 600 straight games.

 

[LameR]

I really hope that Nate doesn't use this as a way to get back at Miller. I mean, there's no way to actually tell really, but it'd be a shame if that was the reason for the streak to end.

 

[ucatchtrout]

If Nate pulls that kind of lame ass crap I will officially begin a FIRE NATE MCMILLIAN CAMPAIGN.

There is no call for that kind of petty crap from the coach...who is not blameless or without fault in this incident.

I'm in Millers court on this one. I don't care what was said at the meeting last summer, Nate told everyone that there would be open competition and the best players would start. He never gave Miller a chance to do what Miler has done for 11 seasons at a very high level. That much is clear. Whether it is because of Brandon, or Nate, or both of them it doesn't matter. Andre Miller was never given a chance to be Andre Miller.

I don't blame Miller for being pissed. He has been painted the villian in this by the media, and by his coach. He deserves better.

I don't give a crap about the free throw thing at the end of the Memphis game. That is small potatoes compared to the big picture....more like the puss coming out of the pimple.

Its pretty clear Nate does what Nate does. His unwillingness to try new things holds him and the team back. There is a difference between sticking to your guns and refusing to acknowledge that someone else might have a better idea.

Part of why Andre Miller was brought here was to help the team run. Nate has said over and over again he wants the team to run. It doesn't. Period. And at this point I do not believe him when he says he wants it to run. He simply isn't telling us how it is. Just like he was blowing smoke up our rear ends when he said Taurean Green was going to play important minutes and help us win games.

Unless these guys blew out all the baggage they have been carrying today and patch it up in short order, this relationship is broken. I believe another fire that has been simmering is one inside Rudy Fernandez. And if Jerryd Bayless goes back to the bench when Batum, Fernandez and Outlaw return, there is going to be a problem there as well. Neither of those guys has been given a real shot. Bayless has recently, but thats only because of the injuries. If he doesn't get a chance to play his next contract is going to be a pittance of what he may really be worth. He and his agent both know that. And Rudy passed up big bucks in Europe to come over here. Playing less than twenty minutes a game as a reserve and jacking up threes probably isn't what he had in mind. Returning to a more prominent role and big dollars in Europe certainly has to be something that has crossed his mind. Certainly this hasn't escaped the attention of his agent. Unless the situation changes, I'm betting Fernandez goes back to Spain, and Bayless leaves the team at the end of his rookie contract. And who could blame them if they did?

Nate is on a year to year deal with the Blazers. For all we know he may be out of here at the end of the year. If he wants to make it a career in Portland and that is what the team wants, then they ought to get rid of all the guys who want to run...LA, Rudy, Bayless, and Miller, and give Nate the frigging last word on all personell decisions, because he has certainly proven he isn't going to play anyone other than his favorites...and that he is going to play slowball controlball. Let the fans know too, this is how its going to be....for better or for worse. Just don't tell us one thing and do another.

Its high time Nate be called out for his shortcomings. The media has been on Millers rear ever since he arrived. Nate has been good for this team and the community, but he isn't all that. The stalling tactic at the end of the Memphis game was what he called. And when he made that call the momentum completely shifted away from the Blazers who had run up a nice lead late in the game by playing aggressively. The same tactic was employed in both losses to Atlanta as well as in other games this season. If its his call, he should take the responsibility for it rather than throwing his players under the bus and blaming the loss on poor execution. Which is what he has done ALL YEAR LONG.

 

[B-Roy]

I
There is no call for that kind of petty crap from the coach...who is not blameless or without fault in this incident.

Miller isn't either...

 

[Buzz Killington]

what a fuck in Nate Mac pulls this bullshit.

 

[ucatchtrout]

"I encourage open and honest dialogue, I think that is always good,'' Pritchard said. "I think it can be (healthy). We have the ability to take it one of two ways and I believe in the character of this team, and you know, I think we can come together.''

Pritchard said the exchange was "normal".

"On every team I have ever been on ... guys have opportunity to speak what they feel. That's OK. The question is, can we become better because of it. Either you can or you can't. I'm hoping we can.''

Pritchard and McMillan both said there would be no punishment forthcoming.

"Absolutely not,'' Pritchard said. "We don't muzzle people. It's like being in a marriage. If you don't say something it builds and builds, then it's said, and when it is and it is honest and open, you can get better from it.''

If after this....Nate benchs Andre out of spite he will show everyone his own ego is more important than winning.....proving HE HIMSELF is not championship material.

And I will officially begin a FIRE NATE campaign.

 

[illmatic99]

If after this....Nate benchs Andre out of spite he will show everyone his own ego is more important than winning.....proving HE HIMSELF is not championship material.

Absolutely!

I hope he's not as petty as he makes himself out to be. He deserves a significant portion of the blame for Dre airing out his laundry.

 

[RoyToy]

Considering Andre Miller has played a ridiculous amount of games in a row and played great on Tuesday, I'm inclined to believe that after a two day rest Miller himself will say he is fine to play and will be cleared.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I will be incredibly disappointed if Nate holds Miller out of a game because of personal issues between the two. It really will say alot about Nate and his ego.

Nate is fully aware of the streak and the meaning and importance of the streak. In fact there was a game on the road, Cliipers I think, where Dre played like 5 mins and never reentered. I thought they did that move because Dre was hurting but they wanted toi keep the streak alive.

I'm hoping these two vets of the game (Nate and Miller) go out for a beer. Share some stories, laugh about how they got all heated up over something that really isn't that big of a deal . . . not for two people who have been in the NBA this long. Gunna sound like Kp on this, but maybe they can actually bond over this.

Problem I see is going out and bonding doesn't sound like an Andre thing and Nate's big ego isn't going to allow him to break the ice it takes to crack Miller.

Tomorrow's game should be intersting . . . but Miller better play.

 

[RoyToy]

McMillan would have to be a complete ass to sit Miller tomorrow. Not only would it end Miller's streak or w/e, this team needs all the players it can get right now.

 

[BBert]

ucatchtrout just wrote the book on Nate. Awesome.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Calling Nate an ass based on conjecture about something that he is unlikely to do is kind of messed up...IMHO...

But I do agree it would be lame in the highly unlikely event he does that.

 

[Sug]

All the Nate haters are getting their undies all bunched. Oh man, this is almost as funny as the Roy is selfish crowd earlier in the season.

 

[hasoos]

It all depends on how fast Miller recovers from his "Nates Dick in my ass" injury.

 

[yakbladder]

So..just out of curiosity...

Let's just say, for argument's sake, that Miller severely injured his back at the end of the third quarter the other night. And Miller shows problems in his play because of it. And maybe he's showing some real pain in practice to the point where he's being unproductive. Nate chooses to bench Miller and Miller protests because he's an iron man, yada yada yada, pain is nothing, and he can play.

If you're in Nate's shoes what do you do?

And how is it that with one or two lines from the entire conversation you can make such judgment calls about Nate?

Maybe Nate was an ass, but doesn't the possibility even exist in your mind that Miller is also (or was solely) an ass?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

So..just out of curiosity...

Let's just say, for argument's sake, that Miller severely injured his back at the end of the third quarter the other night. And Miller shows problems in his play because of it. And maybe he's showing some real pain in practice to the point where he's being unproductive. Nate chooses to bench Miller and Miller protests because he's an iron man, yada yada yada, pain is nothing, and he can play.

If you're in Nate's shoes what do you do?

And how is it that with one or two lines from the entire conversation you can make such judgment calls about Nate?

Maybe Nate was an ass, but doesn't the possibility even exist in your mind that Miller is also (or was solely) an ass?

That makes a lot of sense. In this thread, that's worthy of a rep.

 

[hasoos]

So..just out of curiosity...

Let's just say, for argument's sake, that Miller severely injured his back at the end of the third quarter the other night. And Miller shows problems in his play because of it. And maybe he's showing some real pain in practice to the point where he's being unproductive. Nate chooses to bench Miller and Miller protests because he's an iron man, yada yada yada, pain is nothing, and he can play.

If you're in Nate's shoes what do you do?

And how is it that with one or two lines from the entire conversation you can make such judgment calls about Nate?

Maybe Nate was an ass, but doesn't the possibility even exist in your mind that Miller is also (or was solely) an ass?

Nate has been known to jerk a player out of the game if they weren't "moving right". You might be on to something there. I think the free throw thing was the trigger. I think really what we have here is a challenge to authority, and perhaps Nate and Brandon don't like it.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Nate has been known to jerk a player out of the game if they weren't "moving right". You might be on to something there. I think the free throw thing was the trigger. I think really what we have here is a challenge to authority, and perhaps Nate and Brandon don't like it.

Remember earlier in the season when Andre rolled both ankles? He played the next game, but walked up and down the court and basically played like ass. He's in the game, but not helping. Maybe Nate just wants to let him sit. Maybe it's Andre's ego being bruised here, not Nate's.

 

[yakbladder]

Remember earlier in the season when Andre rolled both ankles? He played the next game, but walked up and down the court and basically played like ass. He's in the game, but not helping. Maybe Nate just wants to let him sit. Maybe it's Andre's ego being bruised here, not Nate's.

Keep in mind I'm not saying that's what happened.

I think Kingspeed had it right *cringe* that 95% of the stuff that gets written is BS.

I'm just saying there are multiple possibilities and jumping to the conclusion that Nate is out for personal revenge seems to not only label Nate as an ass, but labels KP and Paul Allen as an ass in thinking they wouldn't see that.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If Nate pulls that kind of lame ass crap I will officially begin a FIRE NATE MCMILLIAN CAMPAIGN.

There is no call for that kind of petty crap from the coach...who is not blameless or without fault in this incident.

I'm in Millers court on this one. I don't care what was said at the meeting last summer, Nate told everyone that there would be open competition and the best players would start. He never gave Miller a chance to do what Miler has done for 11 seasons at a very high level. That much is clear. Whether it is because of Brandon, or Nate, or both of them it doesn't matter. Andre Miller was never given a chance to be Andre Miller.

I don't blame Miller for being pissed. He has been painted the villian in this by the media, and by his coach. He deserves better.

I don't give a crap about the free throw thing at the end of the Memphis game. That is small potatoes compared to the big picture....more like the puss coming out of the pimple.

Its pretty clear Nate does what Nate does. His unwillingness to try new things holds him and the team back. There is a difference between sticking to your guns and refusing to acknowledge that someone else might have a better idea.

Part of why Andre Miller was brought here was to help the team run. Nate has said over and over again he wants the team to run. It doesn't. Period. And at this point I do not believe him when he says he wants it to run. He simply isn't telling us how it is. Just like he was blowing smoke up our rear ends when he said Taurean Green was going to play important minutes and help us win games.

Unless these guys blew out all the baggage they have been carrying today and patch it up in short order, this relationship is broken. I believe another fire that has been simmering is one inside Rudy Fernandez. And if Jerryd Bayless goes back to the bench when Batum, Fernandez and Outlaw return, there is going to be a problem there as well. Neither of those guys has been given a real shot. Bayless has recently, but thats only because of the injuries. If he doesn't get a chance to play his next contract is going to be a pittance of what he may really be worth. He and his agent both know that. And Rudy passed up big bucks in Europe to come over here. Playing less than twenty minutes a game as a reserve and jacking up threes probably isn't what he had in mind. Returning to a more prominent role and big dollars in Europe certainly has to be something that has crossed his mind. Certainly this hasn't escaped the attention of his agent. Unless the situation changes, I'm betting Fernandez goes back to Spain, and Bayless leaves the team at the end of his rookie contract. And who could blame them if they did?

Nate is on a year to year deal with the Blazers. For all we know he may be out of here at the end of the year. If he wants to make it a career in Portland and that is what the team wants, then they ought to get rid of all the guys who want to run...LA, Rudy, Bayless, and Miller, and give Nate the frigging last word on all personell decisions, because he has certainly proven he isn't going to play anyone other than his favorites...and that he is going to play slowball controlball. Let the fans know too, this is how its going to be....for better or for worse. Just don't tell us one thing and do another.

Its high time Nate be called out for his shortcomings. The media has been on Millers rear ever since he arrived. Nate has been good for this team and the community, but he isn't all that. The stalling tactic at the end of the Memphis game was what he called. And when he made that call the momentum completely shifted away from the Blazers who had run up a nice lead late in the game by playing aggressively. The same tactic was employed in both losses to Atlanta as well as in other games this season. If its his call, he should take the responsibility for it rather than throwing his players under the bus and blaming the loss on poor execution. Which is what he has done ALL YEAR LONG.

Well said.

I had a bit of revelation when I was driving home and listening to Quick mostly tear Andre down, and then Brian Smith mostly take Nate and management to task on Canzano's show.

I think Nate is the coaching equivalent of a line cook; a highly efficient, very very good line cook -- the Van Gogh of greasy spoons if you will -- but he is not a 'chef.' He can make a mean Denver omlette if you give him some eggs, some peppers, some ham and some cheese, but he couldn't make a souffle if his life depended on it.

Andre Miller will likely break his streak of games here in Portland, his reputation has likely been tarnished here in Portland, and he will likely be traded within a month. For his sake I hope he goes somewhere that he's wanted and somewhere he'll be allowed to flourish, and most of all appreciated.

I didn't use to believe that Nate hindered the point guards that have cycled through here over the past five years, I always figured they were just inferior (and no doubt some of them were), but now I'm not so sure he can be held blameless anymore. A damn shame.

 

[KingSpeed]

For his sake I hope he goes somewhere that he's wanted and somewhere he'll be allowed to flourish, and most of all appreciated.
.

Washington needs a PG and Jamison needs a change of scenery...

 

[yakbladder]

I didn't use to believe that Nate hindered the point guards that have cycled through here over the past five years, I always figured they were just inferior (and no doubt some of them were), but now I'm not so sure he can be held blameless anymore. A damn shame.

So now Telfair and Jarret Jack and the rest were just misunderstood and not used properly?

Which ones in particular have gone on to spectacular NBA careers?

Oh, and BTW, I think Miller wasn't as highly valued as a few of you would like to think, considering only two teams bid on his services.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Just to toss some grist for the mill, Miller's probably also having trouble playing into shape like he normally does because his minutes are down. So not only is he not where he normally is at this point in the season, he's not at his best month of the season yet anyway.

Miller's value may currently be a bit depressed.

 

[ucatchtrout]

One of the things Nate himself said at the end of last season was he wanted to add veteran leadership and experience.

KP goes out and gets both in Andre Miller.

Only trouble is, Nate has refused to make use of that veteran leadership and experience from the git go. He has insisted on maintaining control for the sake of maintaining control.

 

[B-Roy]

So now Telfair and Jarret Jack and the rest were just misunderstood and not used properly?

Which ones in particular have gone on to spectacular NBA careers?

Oh, and BTW, I think Miller wasn't as highly valued as a few of you would like to think, considering only two teams bid on his services.

+1.

 

[ABM]

Does anyone find it a bit ironic that, both, KP and Nate were Point Guards?

 

[Nikolokolus]

So now Telfair and Jarret Jack and the rest were just misunderstood and not used properly?

Which ones in particular have gone on to spectacular NBA careers?

Oh, and BTW, I think Miller wasn't as highly valued as a few of you would like to think, considering only two teams bid on his services.

Telfair sucked, and Jack was mediocre, but Jack has gone on and done well enough that the Raptors are now considering trading Calderon and keeping him as their starting point. Sergio still doesn't play a lick of defense, but has shown that when allowed to play more uptempo can be very effective on the offen sive end of the court.

As for Miller, I watched him play plenty of times over the years and his game is legit ... his desirability and lack of suitors had more to do with teams without cap space, and his age.

I'm just saying that Nate's misuse has caused me to rethink his handling of his point guards in the past, not to say that I think he's categorically mishandled them.

 

[ABM]

FWIW......


http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=117580664532763900

When Kevin Pritchard arrived at Kansas from Tulsa, Okla., as a freshman in 1986, he was a 6-3 white guy with average quickness, a decent jump shot and a boatload of determination.

Pritchard, signed to a five-year contract last week as the Trail Blazers’ new general manager, wanted to play point guard.

“During the time we recruited Kevin, he told us he wanted to play point guard,” says Larry Brown, then the Kansas coach. “I told him he wasn’t a point guard, that hopefully after being at Kansas awhile he could develop into one, but I couldn’t promise him he’d be a point guard.

“We thought we’d lost him (as a recruit). But a short time after that, he came to us and said we were truthful with him, and he was going to come anyway.”

Seven games into his college career, Pritchard was Kansas’ starting shooting guard. The next season, he moved to point guard and helped Danny Manning lead the Jayhawks to the NCAA championship — but not before enduring the wrath of his taskmaster coach.

“You know how hard Larry can be on a point guard,” says R.C. Buford, senior vice president and general manager of the San Antonio Spurs and then an assistant coach on Brown’s Kansas staff. “He abused the poor kid. Kevin was never a natural point guard, but he made himself into one.

“He was a little bit bullheaded, but he had great confidence and was a great competitor. Because of that, he succeeded to a level many people probably never would have dreamed.”

After playing his final two seasons at Kansas under Roy Williams, Pritchard was drafted in the second round by Golden State and spent four years as a backup guard in the NBA before finishing his career in the Continental Basketball Association and in Europe.

“Kevin was a big-time player for us,” says Williams, now North Carolina’s coach. “In all the years I’ve coached, there are two players I honest-to-goodness believe had a chance to be NBA players for 12 to 15 years but never were in the right place at the right time. Kevin is one of those.

“Had he been in the right place, he could have been a big-time NBA player, too. But he’s done pretty well. He’s one of only 30 guys doing what he’s doing. He’s succeeded greatly in spite of the time he had to spend with me.”..............

 

[BlazerBenner]

If Nate pulls that kind of lame ass crap I will officially begin a FIRE NATE MCMILLIAN CAMPAIGN.

There is no call for that kind of petty crap from the coach...who is not blameless or without fault in this incident.

I'm in Millers court on this one. I don't care what was said at the meeting last summer, Nate told everyone that there would be open competition and the best players would start. He never gave Miller a chance to do what Miler has done for 11 seasons at a very high level. That much is clear. Whether it is because of Brandon, or Nate, or both of them it doesn't matter. Andre Miller was never given a chance to be Andre Miller.

I don't blame Miller for being pissed. He has been painted the villian in this by the media, and by his coach. He deserves better.

I don't give a crap about the free throw thing at the end of the Memphis game. That is small potatoes compared to the big picture....more like the puss coming out of the pimple.

Its pretty clear Nate does what Nate does. His unwillingness to try new things holds him and the team back. There is a difference between sticking to your guns and refusing to acknowledge that someone else might have a better idea.

Part of why Andre Miller was brought here was to help the team run. Nate has said over and over again he wants the team to run. It doesn't. Period. And at this point I do not believe him when he says he wants it to run. He simply isn't telling us how it is. Just like he was blowing smoke up our rear ends when he said Taurean Green was going to play important minutes and help us win games.

Unless these guys blew out all the baggage they have been carrying today and patch it up in short order, this relationship is broken. I believe another fire that has been simmering is one inside Rudy Fernandez. And if Jerryd Bayless goes back to the bench when Batum, Fernandez and Outlaw return, there is going to be a problem there as well. Neither of those guys has been given a real shot. Bayless has recently, but thats only because of the injuries. If he doesn't get a chance to play his next contract is going to be a pittance of what he may really be worth. He and his agent both know that. And Rudy passed up big bucks in Europe to come over here. Playing less than twenty minutes a game as a reserve and jacking up threes probably isn't what he had in mind. Returning to a more prominent role and big dollars in Europe certainly has to be something that has crossed his mind. Certainly this hasn't escaped the attention of his agent. Unless the situation changes, I'm betting Fernandez goes back to Spain, and Bayless leaves the team at the end of his rookie contract. And who could blame them if they did?

Nate is on a year to year deal with the Blazers. For all we know he may be out of here at the end of the year. If he wants to make it a career in Portland and that is what the team wants, then they ought to get rid of all the guys who want to run...LA, Rudy, Bayless, and Miller, and give Nate the frigging last word on all personell decisions, because he has certainly proven he isn't going to play anyone other than his favorites...and that he is going to play slowball controlball. Let the fans know too, this is how its going to be....for better or for worse. Just don't tell us one thing and do another.

Its high time Nate be called out for his shortcomings. The media has been on Millers rear ever since he arrived. Nate has been good for this team and the community, but he isn't all that. The stalling tactic at the end of the Memphis game was what he called. And when he made that call the momentum completely shifted away from the Blazers who had run up a nice lead late in the game by playing aggressively. The same tactic was employed in both losses to Atlanta as well as in other games this season. If its his call, he should take the responsibility for it rather than throwing his players under the bus and blaming the loss on poor execution. Which is what he has done ALL YEAR LONG.

Spot on!