Rudy with a bigger role

[MickZagger]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/10/mcmillan_wants_to_run_more_of.html

In addition to pick and rolls, McMillan says he will encourage Fernandez to push the ball upcourt whenever he gets a rebound. Last season, he felt like Fernandez immediately looked for a point guard to pass to after he rebounded.

Puts a little less stress on Roy by handling the ball more. I like it.

 

[BlazersBlood]

Good. Rudy has the court vision and ability to finish on the break. I feel 1000000X better with him leading the break over Blake.

 

[BBert]

Wow. That is refreshing and exciting. This is great news.

 

[MARIS61]

Miller was unfazed that he was the only player with a guaranteed contract who didn't pass the team's conditioning test, which requires players to complete a series of sprints in an allotted time. "That don't mean nothing to me," Miller said. "That conditioning stuff don't mean nothing to me.

Not good when your PG is the slowest player on the team.

Is Miller going to ever get on board with this team attitude-wise?

Does not appear so.

Probably why they're planning on using Rudy more, so they can trade Miller and Bayless with that 2.6mil for a young talented PG who WILL.

 

[Natebishop3]

Miller was unfazed that he was the only player with a guaranteed contract who didn't pass the team's conditioning test, which requires players to complete a series of sprints in an allotted time. "That don't mean nothing to me," Miller said. "That conditioning stuff don't mean nothing to me.

Not good when your PG is the slowest player on the team.

Is Miller going to ever get on board with this team attitude-wise?

Does not appear so.

Probably why they're planning on using Rudy more, so they can trade Miller and Bayless with that 2.6mil for a young talented PG who WILL.

You are going to eat crow when the season starts. Mark my words.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

You are going to eat crow when the season starts. Mark my words.

He's on a fast and will refuse the helping.

 

[Natebishop3]

He's on a fast and will refuse the helping.

He's already eating crow. He just refuses to accept that it's crow, and instead calls it chicken.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

Probably why they're planning on using Rudy more, so they can trade Miller and Bayless with that 2.6mil for a young talented PG who WILL.

I doubt Sactown would give us Sergio for Miller and Bayless, unfortunately

 

[THE HCP]

How can anybody question Miller as a player? The guy can flat out ball!!! Conditioning test or not he is a real deal PG!

 

[Natebishop3]

How can anybody question Miller as a player? The guy can flat out ball!!! Conditioning test or not he is a real deal PG!

It's just Maris.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I am also kind of skeptical of Miller.. For some reason it just doesn't seem like the right fit? I don't know.. we will see. I hope he does as great as some think he will.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I am also kind of skeptical of Miller.. For some reason it just doesn't seem like the right fit? I don't know.. we will see. I hope he does as great as some think he will.

What's to be skeptical of? Playing his way into shape has been his routine for his ten years in the league and it's lead to him missing 3 measly fucking games due to injury in that entire span of time ... something's working.

 

[hasoos]

I have been saying for a long time I think they should start Rudy and Roy and go big. I don't care what other folks say about balance between units, your starting unit should be markedly better than your bench unit and should play the bulk of the minutes. Going big would force matchup problems on to other teams. Rudy can guard most point guards without issue. Rudy would also be able to pass over the top of most of those PG because of his vision not being blocked by them. Yea I know they picked up Miller. But if you consider that if they did this, and had Miller and say Bayless playing SG in the reserve unit, and you still have a great scoring punch off the second unit, and having Bayless doing what he does best, which is score.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I can see Rudy, Roy and Miller possibly being on the floor at the same time, but a Rudy/Roy starting backcourt seems pretty unlikely, especially if you are calling Rudy the point guard in that pairing; Brandon's far better defensively and has much better handles than Rudy.

 

[PapaG]

I can see Rudy, Roy and Miller possibly being on the floor at the same time, but a Rudy/Roy starting backcourt seems pretty unlikely, especially if you are calling Rudy the point guard in that pairing; Brandon's far better defensively and has much better handles than Rudy.

True, but I don't want Roy guarding the opposing PG and chasing them all around the court.

 

[Nikolokolus]

True, but I don't want Roy guarding the opposing PG and chasing them all around the court.

Absolutely agree ... and I wouldn't want to see Rudy doing that either, because I don't think he's got the defensive chops to handle it.

This was kind of my original point above; I don't think it's very likely we'll see a starting lineup of just Rudy and Roy in the backcourt -- they're going to have to be paired with somebody who can guard a point guard and that seems likely to be Miller or Blake.

 

[elcap15]

Cant you go small and put Rudy at the 3? Rudy and Roy could switch everything on defense and with Miller at PG that would be two awesome finishers off the ball. With Oden and LMA protecting the basket you could stand to give up a little perimeter defense if the opposition has a big SF.

 

[mgb]

I think this might be a indication that Blake will come off the bench. I think Nate would rather Rudy bring it up than Blake and Blake can be there for the outside shot. Not saying Rudy won't play with Roy, but it makes more sense him playing with Blake rather than Miller and Miller can take pressure off of Roy and get Oden and LMA easy shots.

Maris was very selective on the quote from Miller:

Miller was unfazed that he was the only player with a guaranteed contract who didn't pass the team's conditioning test, which requires players to complete a series of sprints in an allotted time. "That don't mean nothing to me," Miller said. "That conditioning stuff don't mean nothing to me. It's a long season. It's something to see where guys are. My goal is to stay healthy, and my conditioning has never been a problem in this league. I mean, if you are going to put me out there with a whole bunch of young guys and (want me to) finish in 60 seconds, it's probably not going to happen at this point in my career. But when you step on the court, it's entirely different kind of conditioning. Running sprints is totally different than dribbling the ball up and down the court."

 

[VanillaGorilla]

What's to be skeptical of? Playing his way into shape has been his routine for his ten years in the league and it's lead to him missing 3 measly fucking games due to injury in that entire span of time ... something's working.

No no no no I'm not skeptical about that at all. Its obviously worked for him. I just don't know if he will fit in as well as most people here think. I know he will make us better but I just don't know how much better. Basically, I'm taking the pussy stance.

 

[BenDavis503]

I am not worried about Miller at all!!! He is going to be a stud.

IAE, I am glad Rudy will push the ball up the court! That is great news.

 

[Nikolokolus]

No no no no I'm not skeptical about that at all. Its obviously worked for him. I just don't know if he will fit in as well as most people here think. I know he will make us better but I just don't know how much better. Basically, I'm taking the pussy stance.

Nothing wrong with pussy ...

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Nothing wrong with pussy ...

Except HCP's.. don't ask.

 

[KingSpeed]

Miller was unfazed that he was the only player with a guaranteed contract who didn't pass the team's conditioning test, which requires players to complete a series of sprints in an allotted time. "That don't mean nothing to me," Miller said. "That conditioning stuff don't mean nothing to me.

Not good when your PG is the slowest player on the team..

Miller has the longest streak of starts in this league.