Quick says Miller is going to come off the bench

[Natebishop3]

In his latest Quick chat, he said that people need to prepare for Miller coming off the bench. He said Miller is looking great, but he thinks that Miller fits in better with the second unit. He also said that Oden and Miller are looking good together.

With that said, what happens when Oden goes to the starting unit? The whole point, in my mind, for bringing in Miller was for Oden. At least primarily for Oden.

Thoughts?

 

[ironcrotch]

Doubt it. Llike helll is your notable free agent acquisition and your prized #1 draft pick that is starting to come into his own gonna come off the bench.

 

[Natebishop3]

Doubt it. Llike helll is your notable free agent acquisition and your prized #1 draft pick that is starting to come into his own gonna come off the bench.

I think the preseason is going to show that Miller and Oden should be starting.

 

[Luther]

Miller makes more sense in the second unit but he'll end up starting if he doesn't by the opener. The only reason he wouldn't start would be lack of outside shooting in the starting lineup but IMO Martell will be starting @ SF so it won't be a big deal.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Miller=Ginobli?

I dunno, I guess it's possible Miller starts off as the backup, but my guess as he and Brandon (hopefully) develop chemistry and Oden plays more and more minutes it will be impossible not to have him on the court.

 

[Natebishop3]

Miller makes more sense in the second unit but he'll end up starting if he doesn't by the opener. The only reason he wouldn't start would be lack of outside shooting in the starting lineup but IMO Martell will be starting @ SF so it won't be a big deal.

I think the reason why Nate is running Miller with Oden and Webster on the second team is to see how they play together. If Webster and Oden are in the starting unit, why wouldn't Miller be there as well? If Oden is healthy and in shape, he needs to start. Webster on the other hand, I'm not so sure. I wouldn't be opposed to him starting, not at all. I'm just not sure if he's the best option as the starter right now.

 

[fumanchu]

I wouldn't be suprised if Miller and Oden come off the bench to start the season. But if they play well, both could be starting very soon.

 

[Natebishop3]

Quick also talks about Rudy as a point guard. Apparently BRoy said that Rudy is the second best passer on the team behind Miller.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think that Miller and Oden will still be on the second unit when the season starts but I think there will also be times when they both play with the first unit. They may end up logging more minutes per game than Blake and Przbilla but will not start.

 

[BlazerFanForLife]

McMillen already said Blake is starting at PG to start the PreSeason!!!

I'm pretty sure preseason will determine everything so I'm not worried.

 

[Luther]

I think the reason why Nate is running Miller with Oden and Webster on the second team is to see how they play together. If Webster and Oden are in the starting unit, why wouldn't Miller be there as well? If Oden is healthy and in shape, he needs to start. Webster on the other hand, I'm not so sure. I wouldn't be opposed to him starting, not at all. I'm just not sure if he's the best option as the starter right now.

That's what I'm sayin. I think Miller will start with Webster/Oden..I don't think Martell will start from game 1...Just sayin I think he'll be there eventually. I'm not opposed to a Blake/Roy/Batum/LMA/Joel starting lineup with Miller/Rudy/Webs/Outlaw/Oden coming off the bench. It really doesn't matter who starts it's who's on the court for the most amount of time. We already know the starting unit I just listed can get the job done so why not make our second unit better than a lot of teams starting 5 by bringing Oden and Dre off the bench? Don't think it'll happen but I'm down with whatever. I can't wait any longer, the season needs to start.

 

[rocketeer]

In his latest Quick chat, he said that people need to prepare for Miller coming off the bench. He said Miller is looking great, but he thinks that Miller fits in better with the second unit. He also said that Oden and Miller are looking good together.

With that said, what happens when Oden goes to the starting unit? The whole point, in my mind, for bringing in Miller was for Oden. At least primarily for Oden.

Thoughts?

i expect oden to start the season as the starter, but he'll still get plenty of minutes with miller even if miller comes off the bench. i don't see that being a big deal at all. the idea of true 1st and 2nd units isn't something that exists in the nba. they're all going to see minutes with each other.

as far as specifically getting minutes for oden/miller together if one is starting and the other is on the bench, is it really that hard? just pull the pg first while leaving the center on the floor(or the opposite) and/or have them start the 2nd and 4th quarters on the floor together.

 

[BlayZa]

lordy, im confused already...

 

[Mediocre Man]

If the Blazers spent 7+ million on a back up PG I am going to be furious. Portland needed to upgrade 3 possitions. They needed a back up PF, a clear upgrade at SF and a better PG. They went after what they thought was a better SF, a much better back up PF, and then finally got something they needed in a better PG. At least a better PG in everyone's eyes but Nate's.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It's just the pre-season, and Nate has to reward Blakey for setting a Conditioning Test record while Miller failed it. If Miller started pre-season despite all that, Blake would lose a lot of trust in Nate. And it's that trust in coach and team to make the right decisions that will keep 8 starters from mutiny when 3 of them are on the bench.

 

[julius]

If the Blazers spent 7+ million on a back up PG I am going to be furious. Portland needed to upgrade 3 possitions. They needed a back up PF, a clear upgrade at SF and a better PG. They went after what they thought was a better SF, a much better back up PF, and then finally got something they needed in a better PG. At least a better PG in everyone's eyes but Nate's.

If they wanted to get a backup PG, they should have just tried to sign Sessions for less money. At least that would've been a little easier to accept, IF what Quick is saying is true.

I start to question the whole starting Joel over Greg thinking. It makes me think that, for all the talk about Greg improving over the summer, that if he's still not better than Joel, then wow. Makes one think, and not exactly pleasant thoughts.

 

[ironcrotch]

If they wanted to get a backup PG, they should have just tried to sign Sessions for less money. At least that would've been a little easier to accept, IF what Quick is saying is true.

Quick is sometimes right when he's breaking news but I don't ever think he's been right when evaluating the players. This is the same guy that was always adamant that BRoy was the PG of the future.

 

[julius]

Quick is sometimes right when he's breaking news but I don't ever think he's been right when evaluating the players. This is the same guy that was always adamant that BRoy was the PG of the future.

Didn't he also say that Lamarcus, in his rookie year, was years away from contributing?

 

[Nikolokolus]

If the Blazers spent 7+ million on a back up PG I am going to be furious. Portland needed to upgrade 3 possitions. They needed a back up PF, a clear upgrade at SF and a better PG. They went after what they thought was a better SF, a much better back up PF, and then finally got something they needed in a better PG. At least a better PG in everyone's eyes but Nate's.

If Blake ends up starting I see it happening in the Nic Batum, rookie season mold; Steve will probably log somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen minutes a night by seasons end while I think Miller will be ramped up more and more as he and B-Roy get comfortable playing together.

The real key will be to see if Brandon's supposed work on his off-the-ball game really paid off or not. Otherwise this could get real messy real quick.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If they wanted to get a backup PG, they should have just tried to sign Sessions for less money. At least that would've been a little easier to accept, IF what Quick is saying is true.

I start to question the whole starting Joel over Greg thinking. It makes me think that, for all the talk about Greg improving over the summer, that if he's still not better than Joel, then wow. Makes one think, and not exactly pleasant thoughts.

That is another thing.

Greg is our franchise center period. If he can't beat out Joel Przybilla....who is a fine center in his own right....then KP failed miserably in drafting Oden. I keep reading articles, and quotes from players saying this team will only go as far as Oden takes them, and if he isn't good enough to start then it should be considered an epic fail.

Greg wants to start, put up good enough numbers to start...on one leg...If he doesn't start, I think his confidence will be next to nothing. Greg thinks of himself as an extremely important part of this team, and it's probably because that is what he has heard from everyone. If he doesn't start I would almost bet he will think he let the team, city and fans all down. And everything written about Greg, or said about him by Blazers officials will be Bullshit!!!!!

 

[oldmangrouch]

If I had any faith in Quick, I would be really depressed about now.

 

[mook]

With nearly any franchise player, you have to add pieces that complement his skill set. The unique skill set Roy has is versatility. He does everything well--driving, passing, dribbling, rebounding, shooting--you name it, he can do it.

That's why I don't really care how Miller "fits in" with Roy, because it's only a matter of time until Roy makes it work.

It really boils down to how Miller fits in with Aldridge and Oden. And I think he'll do quite well.

 

[PapaG]

With nearly any franchise player, you have to add pieces that complement his skill set. The unique skill set Roy has is versatility. He does everything well--driving, passing, dribbling, rebounding, shooting--you name it, he can do it.

That's why I don't really care how Miller "fits in" with Roy, because it's only a matter of time until Roy makes it work.

It really boils down to how Miller fits in with Aldridge and Oden. And I think he'll do quite well.

Conversely, Miller needs to change his game to fit in with Roy and LMA, who are better scorers than he is. More passing and less shooting; Roy can't be expected to completely alter his game to what Miller does, IMO.

 

[BBert]

My thinking on this is along the same lines as Luther: I think it hinges somewhat on the PG/SF combo.

First, Greg will start. If not immediately, then soon. It is not contingent on whether he benefits more offensively fom playing with Miller or Blake. Greg will be our starting center when it makes the team better to start him, and it is all up to Greg when that happens. I'd bet by opening night.

Second, Miller should start. I can see the appeal of the Miller/Rudy/Martell/Travis/Joel lineup. That lineup rocks off the bench. Even if Miller doesn't start early in the season, he'll play more minutes than Blake to get him on the floor with different combinations. But sooner or later, he's got to start.

Where it gets dicey for me is in the SF combinations. If Nate wants to start Nico for his wing defense, which benefits the team generally and Brandon specifically, and if Nico is not a better outside shooter than Martell (by that I mean this season, not historically) then I can certainly see starting Nico and Blake then giving Miller the majority of the PG minutes during the game. If Martell outshoots Nico in preseason, and especially if Martell's defense is decent, then that will clear the path to start Miller, with Martell at SF. Or, obviously, if Nico is stroking the long ball, it's moot and Miller can start with Nico.

That would change the nature of my dream second unit quite a bit, but hopefully a Miller/Roy/Webster (or Nico)/Aldridge/Oden starting lineup will be crushing teams in the first quarter instead of having to fight back from double-digit deficits every other game.

 

[drexlersdad]

backup/starter doesnt matter, the minutes will shake out.

 

[magnifier661]

In his latest Quick chat, he said that people need to prepare for Miller coming off the bench. He said Miller is looking great, but he thinks that Miller fits in better with the second unit. He also said that Oden and Miller are looking good together.

With that said, what happens when Oden goes to the starting unit? The whole point, in my mind, for bringing in Miller was for Oden. At least primarily for Oden.

Thoughts?

I disagree. With Andre Miller in the starting line-up, we are a much tougher guard. Quick may be right for the start of the season, but I suspect Miller will be the eventual starter.

I want our starting line-up to pound the hell out of the other team. Tire them out and get them in foul trouble. Miller and Webster are the two I am really looking forward to start. They have a ton of size and weight for their position, plus they are better defenders, IMO.

Lastly, I think Oden needs to start as well. Then Roy and LMA will be the 1-2 punch offensively. Having Rudy, Blake, Pryzbilla, Batum and Outlaw coming off the bench is extremely versatile.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I disagree. With Andre Miller in the starting line-up, we are a much tougher guard. Quick may be right for the start of the season, but I suspect Miller will be the eventual starter.

I want our starting line-up to pound the hell out of the other team. Tire them out and get them in foul trouble. Miller and Webster are the two I am really looking forward to start. They have a ton of size and weight for their position, plus they are better defenders, IMO.

Lastly, I think Oden needs to start as well. Then Roy and LMA will be the 1-2 punch offensively. Having Rudy, Blake, Pryzbilla, Batum and Outlaw coming off the bench is extremely versatile.

I agree that Miller is an upgrade over Blake defensively (if only because he's got the body to fight through a pick), but Martell has never been a better defender than Nic was in his rookie season and I don't see that changing after a year long layoff from basketball.

 

[magnifier661]

I agree that Miller is an upgrade over Blake defensively (if only because he's got the body to fight through a pick), but Martell has never been a better defender than Nic was in his rookie season and I don't see that changing after a year long layoff from basketball.

Well as far as "Webster" is concerned, it's more to do with his physic. He is a lot stronger than any of the other 3's we have on our roster, so hopefully he takes the challenge to be a "more physical" defender. He doesn't have to have steals or blocks. Just put a nice body on his man and attack the basket when given the opportunity.

 

[MARIS61]

If the Blazers spent 7+ million on a back up PG I am going to be furious. Portland needed to upgrade 3 possitions. They needed a back up PF, a clear upgrade at SF and a better PG. They went after what they thought was a better SF, a much better back up PF, and then finally got something they needed in a better PG. At least a better PG in everyone's eyes but Nate's.

And mine.

 

[Natebishop3]

I agree that Miller is an upgrade over Blake defensively (if only because he's got the body to fight through a pick), but Martell has never been a better defender than Nic was in his rookie season and I don't see that changing after a year long layoff from basketball.

Boy, not if you hear Quick talk about him. He thinks Martell is an excellent defender.