Yeah - Brad was clearly crap today (IF YOU ONLY WATCHED THE LAST 30 SECONDS) - prior to that he was actually very good for us. Patrolled the defensive boards well; made a few very nice passes (one to Budinger for a jam) and provided a nice high screen for Lowry to go nuts off. Yeah - he had a crap pass to Hill that probably cost us the game - and he ALMOST gave it up again when we had a chance to get a shot off - but he still played well tonight. Fine, vent, get frustrated, he no doubt cost us that game tonight - but Brad Miller is a good option as a backup C in the NBA. Anyone who can't see that is an imbecile. If Ming didn't get hurt, then we're probably a top 4 team in the West and gloating about how strong our C position is with Ming, Miller and Hayes (who would only play spot minutes there with a healthy Yao).
Brad Miller gets a lot of hate because his benefits are indirect while his deficiencies are right smack in your face. When the offense is running smoothly and efficiently, especially with the second unit with guys unfamiliar with the system like Dragic and Patterson, people don't attribute that to Brad because they just can't make the connection. They don't think he is doing anything out there. Meanwhile when he can't get a rebound or is slow on a rotation people will blame it all on him(and rightfully so) because it is just easier to identify. Overall he has helped the team and has been a tremendous calming force for the young guys off the bench. His contract isn't even that bad considering the non-guaranteed 3rd year. Comparing him to Jordan Hill is a travesty. EDIT: And yes he lost us the game tonight. If he didn't turn it over there I am almost 100% positive Kyle was about to rain a 3 and tie the game. Oh well.
I don't think Brad would have been bad in the role they intended for him - Yao's backup. Unfortunately, that's never going to happen. But at worst he's a good locker room guy, right?
Simply put, Brad Miller lost the game tonight. Without those two terrible passes, the Rockets would have at least had a chance to tie the game. The last 30 seconds are on him. I agree that he's been helpful this season in making good passes and running with the second unit, but that wasn't happening in Pheonix. There were numerous bad passes that were deflected in the lane earlier in the game, not to mention the atrocious defense by the whole team. Overall, I don't think anyone can say Miller had a good game. Adleman needed to realize that what he had on the floor was not working. There was no offense and even less defense. Martin was giving us the Ariza treatment and wasting possessions, the offense was motionless, and Kyle was forced to shoulder the loud offensively. Defensively, that wasn't the best lineup to have in the game. Lee should have been playing for Martin, and maybe Hayes for Miller. I mean, Hayes wasn't playing any worse than Miller did at the end of the game.
Yeah he threw the ball to the Suns twice in the last minute. But he stole one back. And I blame Lowry more for the last shot. He should have shot the ball. There is no way you should throw the ball to a big man for a desperate 3 point shot.
The dude had a terrible game... give it up. -comparing him to Jordan Hill is a travesty. Look up video from the 2009 playoffs when he was with the Bulls... he was a big reason why they took the Celtics to 7 games, and hit all the....yes.... "Clutch" shots. -Also, he did not "loose" us the game. The team was already down three and didnt hit a buzzer beater. The game was not the Rocket's to loose, it was a chance to get lucky and hit a big shot. Adelman could be blamed too for not making them take a time out to set up a play. It was a bad night for Brad and the rest of the team... give it up blaming everyone from Morey on down.
Gotta agree. His last 30 seconds were atrocious, but he was doing some good stuff on the court before that. I won't put the loss on his shoulders though. As Feigen was saying, one play (or even 2 or 3) doesn't decide the game. Letting the Suns shoot 54% from the field had a lot more to do with it. And that was primarily on Martin's man and Patterson's man.
I agree with the contigency on this thread that think that he is generally a plus for us coming off the bench. Strectching the floor, making good passes, passable on the boards, what have you. In the very he won't hurt you in cruch time. But, last night was hard to watch, maybe he got drunk and stayed out late partying with his friends in Sacramento or something. You could tell he was pissed with himself st the end of the game.
Brad did have some positives tonight on the offensive end, however, he was very poor on the defensive and late game collapse stands out more
I'm sick of people using this stupid excuse. When you look at aquiring superstars a great GM or organization should also think longterm about the players health by looking at how strong the athlete is physically and does he have a built physically that would more than likely equal longterm durability. That right there is something that is just as important to look at besides overall talent when you are looking at aquiring a superstar. Saying all that Morey didn't go get T-Mac and Yao but to say he thought Yao would be healthy this year is complete BS! Everybody in that damn building called the Toyota Center knows he needs years to heal from that damn injury. Stop BSing the fans and the rest of the city with this BS!
