I am tired of all these clowns coming on here and saying that Brad Miller deserve to be an all-star over yao. There stats are almost identical in fact yao scores more than miller, and miller also has a very talented group around him. Miller doesn't see half the double teams yao has to deal with. NO MORE Brad Miller deserve to be an all-star over yao post, it just isn't true.
i've argued this a bunch of times but Miller deserves it more than Yao. In fact I haven't seen a single analyst say Yao should get it over Brad Miller. I love the Rockets but looking at it objectively B. Miller deserves it over Yao and Shaq. In fact I just read an article by Steve Kerr saying it should be B. Miller over yao and Shaq. yesterday it was barkley and kenny smith. the week before it was some guy on sports illustrated or the sporting news. i think yao is great but his play has been so inconsistent to the point where you barely notice he's out there.
Kings are having the same record as last year with or without Miller, Pacers are actually having a MUCH better record without him. Why does he deserve it over Yao again?
Any time two players are having comparable seasons, the player with the better team record generally will get the nod over the other. Just like Amare won RoY over Yao. Stoudamire, like Brad Miller, did not have to face double teams, was the 3rd option in his team’s offense, and did not have as much pressure put on him. But because his team beat the Rockets to the play-offs Amare won. Not saying it’s fair, but that’s the way I think it should be.
It is freaking unbelievalbe how many idiots out there are still saying Miller over Yao. Stats don't mean jack when taken out of contact? How many times will Miller draw double/triple teams before receiving the ball? How many times Miller can alter shots around the rim? Does he even have a post move? Those are the most important factors come playoff time, when teams play defense much more intense than regular season. Yao presents matching problem for any team, maybe except LA. Miller doesn't. Miller isn't even in the same class as Yao. Enough said.
What the thread title said ... If you disagree then ask you this question: Who would you worry the most if you play the Kings? Would h-it be Peja, Bibby and BJ, Or Brad Miller? Then you ask another question: who do you think the opponent of the Rox worry the most when they play the Rox? For any one who knows basketball, it is priceless to ahve a center that can intimate opponent's players and alter opponent's offensive plan. Even Kobe ot TMac has to think twice when to drive to the basket against the Rox. The giant in the paint automatically require them to put in extra effort. The same cannot be said about Miller.
but i haven't seen you counter the points such as their stats are a push, Yao anchored the best NBA defense so far this season, and opponents' game plans are geared to stop Yao, etc.
Brad Miller surprised a lot of people this year with his play. Most people didn't expect him to have as big an impact as he's having right now. That's the reason why he is getting a lot of support. Yao, on the other hand, hasn't really lived up to the expectations yet. He's having a decent year, but is still very inconsistent. Most people expected him to be close to a 20-10 player this year.
The Rockets game is predicated on Defense. We score much less than the Kings, yet Yao still scores more than Brad Miller. That means that Yao scores a much higher percentage of the Rockets points that Miller and anchors the defense. I have never once seen Brad Miller take over a game. He is a good finisher and can hit the mid range jumper, and with the movement offense is many times open as Bibby, Jackson and Peja shoot and drive. He also has the benefit of playing with Vlade is one of the best passing big men ever. I think Brad Miller's having a good season, but he simply does not control a game the way Yao does. He is a role player and have never been the focal point of the offense. I have no qualms with Peja starting in a front line with Duncan (who should be a center) and Garnett, but out of a choice of Shaq and Yao and Miller, I think Yao should start. Shaq has been out half the season and has not thrown up any spectacular numbers in those games. That and guys like Steve Kerr and Barkley, Smith etc annoy me. Its what the FANS want to see. Bibby and Cassell might have complete games, but the fans want to see exciting plays and dunks and something new. So Francis and Yao again starting the All Star game!! Deal with it! Of course we'd better make the playoffs in which I think we could upset a higher seed, b/c that'd be embarrassing to not make the playoffs AGAIN with 2 all-star starters. Of course in '98 LA Had 4 Players at the All Star Game... Shaq/Kobe/Van Exel/Eddie Jones and got swept by the Jazz then got swept the next year by the Spurs.
OJ is guilty even though he didnt get voted in. *sarcasm* sometimes its good to go against the grain, but yao is clearly better. if you really want to have a strong argument, payton is clearly better than francis, with or without stats.
Does anyone here think that the Rockets would have a better record if we had Miller on our team instead of Yao? That's how I think of it. And the answer is easily, NO WAY.
Why we even have this thread? This is an All-Star game, you have to be a STAR to be placed in the team. I really like B. Miller (I found I have been repeating this lately), but he is a ROLE player. You cannot be an All-Star if you are not even the star of your team. Stats are meanless when talking about All-Star because the impacts on the game between the STAR and ROLE player are not comparable. Without a ROLE player like Miller, the Kings will do just fine with someone else (they did that last couple of seasons); but without a STAR player like Yao, the Rockets have to change the way they are playing. --daoshi
I think that argument is based on how much Millers performance has complimented that team. On a one on one comparison, there is no competition but I think most people assumed Miller wouldn't do quite as well in the West and with Divac and Webber there and whatnot but he's capitolized his situation and that's hard to say about alot of players. coughSTEVENFRANCISPOINTGUARDFOR THEHOUSTONROCKETScough But then again who wants to see high flying Brad Miller playing in the all star game anyway? I'd rather watch George Muresan m'self. Having a triple double threat at center is awesome. The Kings be lucky.
My counter points are: -I would argue that Brad Miller's stats are better than Yao's. I think the assist gap is huge. (4.7 assists vs. Yao's 1.5) -Miller has been far more consistent than Yao. -The Kings have the best record in the NBA and have been playing without their best player. The key difference is Brad Miller. Peja has also stepped it up. -Yao isn't regarded as the anchor to the Rockets' great defense. Was Patrick Ewing ever regarded as the anchor to the Knicks great defensive teams when Van Gundy was coaching there? The Rockets play great team defense. In response someone will probably say some of the following: -Brad Miller has better shooters that can hit shows thus he has more assists. -Brad Miller has had off-nights too. -The Kings were also without C Webb for much of a last year and still were one of the best teams without him. -How can Yao not be the anchor, when he alters so many shots and when the team defense forces people inside to him. I've considered what most of you guys are saying, but looking at it objectively I'd give the nod to Miller as I believe most of the league/analysts would. I think it's close and far from clear cut, but based on the first half of this year I'd say it's Miller or Shaq than Yao. I think that a lot of you guys are looking at it through rose colored glasses. In fact I haven't read a single article that has stated that Yao should be in over Miller/Shaq. Mark Stein just gave Shaq the vote. Steve Kerr gave Brad Miller the vote. Marty Burns gave Brad Miller the vote. Charles Barkley gave Shaq the vote. Kenny Smith gave Shaq the vote.
Since you've seen so many Sacramento games and watch for Miller's consistency compared to Yao's , you should recognize these stats. Pts./Rebounds 6/8 8/6 8/6 7/10 6/8 5/10 8/7 7/6 11/9 10/8 11/9 13/7 12/6 Remember Miller isn't seeing anywhere near the coverage that Yao is. The kings went 8-5 (61.5%)when Miller had these stats...It'd be great if we could have that kind of winning percentage when Yao has these games too.
Brad Miller deserves to be on the all-star team, but does he really deserve to start over Yao Ming? The Rockets are a top ten team this year, with the number one defense. If one was to select one player that was most responsible for this, I would have to say Jeff Van Gundy, but since Van Gundy is like 5 foot 2, I would select Yao Ming for the center postion in the all-star game. Yao is the main focus of the Rockets and Rocket opponents. Stuart
