Andalusian: I just said I think it's possible some players have gone on (in some cases) and come closer to reaching their potential (even if that is somewhat limited) than they did while under Nate -- as in going from atrocious to mediocre, or mediocre to pretty good (as in the case of Jack for example)
Fair enough.
I've never asserted that Miller is an all-NBA or all-star caliber player, but he's long been a very effective creator and finisher throughout his career, but in this particular system that Nate runs his shooting percentages have tanked, his assist numbers are down, he's a starter in name only, and it's looking more and more like he hasn't exactly been given a fair shake here.
His AST% is around the 30% where it has been for the last 4 years, his TOV% is around 15% where it has been for most of his career, his TS% is .514, he is .531 for his career, so the difference is not that bad.
He is pretty much the same player he has been for quite some time now.
You really seem to be confused here. I'm not saying that any of those guys were the answer or should have started or that I'd even want them back, I'm just saying I'm not so sure Nate's offense allows point guards who cycle through here to flourish ... and Steve Blake having a "career year" as a spot up shooter really isn't the same as him having a career year as a point guard.
Nate's system is built around his best player. Brandon Roy. For Roy to be effective as he is, he needs the ball in his hands, and he likes the half-court sets. When Nate tried to appease Miller by putting him in the 2nd unit to run to his tastes and take charge of it, Miller sulked. No matter what Nate does - it is not good. If he is not starting - it is a slap on Miller, and if he starts and gets to plays to the strengths of his super-star, it is a slap on Miller.
Really - we all knew that fast break point-guards are not good playing next to Roy, and quite frankly, half court sets - where Oden will be as efficient as he can be on offense in the future - are again not suited for fast break PGs. Nothing new here. We have seen it with Sergio before. Miller is a square peg, and given that Nate manages to get the same win% out of him while playing him in a system that does not suit him - is quite an achievement.
Good coaches adjust the style to the best players and fit the role players around them. Nate tried to do it by giving Miller his own unit to run, but Miller did not like it. He is trying to get Miller to play with Roy - but if Roy is not the dominant ball handler, you marginalize the wrong player.
So - what to do?
There is a reason Miller was an after-thought in the recruiting process, he is not a good fit offensively, and he is not the solution to Portland's biggest problem last year - perimeter defense against quick guards.
Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians, here. The team needs to revolve around Roy on offense, Oden on defense. Miller is not a good solution on either side of the floor. It is as simple as that. You can go on bitching that Nate needs to accommodate Miller, but the fact is that he tried to - and Miller either did not want to be the guy that takes the 2nd unit and make it flourish, or could not. It is, what it is. Miller is not a good fit, and he is an overrated player, offensively, when you look at the body of his work in the NBA. Simple as that.
I've never heard your dumb little story. Spill it, I'm bored.
