<!-- http://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/statuses/81541727986532352 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox81541727986532352 {background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/202530045/-twitter_eye_on_bsktb.jpg) #000000;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox81541727986532352'><p class='bbpTweet'>Blazers GM tells CBSSports.com's Ben Golliver Blazers are listening to offers for PG Miller, Miller has been made aware <a href="http://bit.ly/jkyJmv" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/jkyJmv</a><span class='timestamp'><a title='Fri Jun 17 02:00:37 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/statuses/81541727986532352'>less than a minute ago</a> via <a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com" rel="nofollow">TweetDeck</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=81541727986532352'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=81541727986532352'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=81541727986532352'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA'><img src='http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1237465765/-73x73_eye_on_bsktb_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA'>Eye on Basketball</a></strong><br/>CBSSportsNBA</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet -->
I always liked Andre Miller. I hated watching his back up beneath an opposing player who had jumped in the air, so that the player would land on him, thus getting a foul on the guy. The refs always fell for it. But he plays unspectacular basketball, spectacularly. Smart point guard. I'm not advocating a trade for a 35 year old PG, mind you. Interesting to see if Portland gets any bites.
Miller needs the ball in his hands and is awful from long range. He's also slow and can't keep opposing PGs out of the paint. Miami isn't the best fit for him. He would be a huge upgrade at PG for the Lakers in place of Fisher and would make sure Bynum and Pau got all the touches they wanted. Kobe would have to adjust, but Miller must have learned something the last 2 seasons about playing next to a strong-willed, prolific SG.
Isn't he old enough to be an assistant coach or something? I'd be pissed if I was a fan of the team that gets him. Miami could try to do better.
No, this one <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oGgFySE-x4k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Every year since they signed him the Blazers have tried to trade him. And every year, Miller has been one of the main reasons why the injury-riddled Blazers team holds together well enough for a playoff berth. This isn't a knock on Aldridge by any means but Miller helped the Blazers out more than they or Brandon Roy would like to admit.
I guess you missed the 09/10 season entirely. There was more drama between Nate McMillan, Andre Miller and Brandon Roy than you could imagine. A book could be written. There was enough material for a full-year soap opera. It took the entire season for the three of them to figure it out, but the Blazers became a very dangerous team near the end. IMO, it would have been them losing to the Lakers in the WCFs instead of the Suns if Roy hadn't got injured late. Miller and Roy became quite lethal together closing games. It was beautiful to watch. If Miller and Kobe learned to play together and if Kobe adjusted to Miller getting Pau and Bynum a lot more shot attempts during the course of games, the Lakers might be championship favorites again.
I know you've watched more Blazer games than I have AP but, maybe it's just me, did Roy's attitude toward Miller their first year together kind of rubbed you the wrong way? I mean, I understand Roy needs the ball to score but it wasn't as if Miller was avoiding him on plays and not passing him the ball. If anything, coexisting with Miller should have been Roy's MO to begin with so that he could prolong his knees/career.
No question Roy's attitude was wrong. Actually, Nate McMillan's was wrong too and he admitted it later. Once they laid the egos down and all got on the same page (it took about 60 games), the Blazers were the 2nd best team in the WC before Roy got injured. If Miller can win Brandon Roy over, he might be able to do the same with Kobe. But Miller has an attitude of his own. He demands respect and doesn't back down from anyone. Once teammates accept him for what he can on the basketball court, the guy makes other players more effective on offense.
I was just giving you hard time because you said two years, but it was closer to just over half a year of playing next to a prolific scorer. After that he wasn't the same guy, even if he did have his moments here and there, like against Dallas.
Well IMHO the Lakers need 3 pt bombers most of all, they already have a ton of guys who can score mid-range and inside (Pau, Bynum, Odom, Artest, Kobe).
That's the main problem with Andre Miller. He just can't hit 3s and long 2s. But his basketball IQ and savvy make up for it and he's a huge upgrade from Fisher+Blake. If possible, the Lakers need to sign a couple of bench guys that can drill 3s. Regarding Artest, I think his role declines next season and he will be even less of a factor on offense.
