Clearly Andersen will be taking up Cook's role on the team now that we have Miller, Pat-Pat, Hill, and Hayes all backing up the big positions... he is a small expiring contract to make salaries work and a third stringer that's all.
This. Miller brings a toughness to the center position that, frankly, has been missing since Hakeem retired. I don't know about those comments from that guy who lives in Sacramento (disparaging Miller), but our new backup center has a reputation for being a tough son of a biatch. In addition, Miller's rough play will hopefully show Hill and Andersen how a 5 is supposed to play in this league. I am very hopeful for the new season, and if Yao has truly lost 40 lbs and is ready to go, I am in heaven because we will see some great bb from the Rockets.
We can only hope. IMO, Hill right now is soft as a mashmallow. Hill has talent, size to do it all, but does he have the burning desire, the nastiness to be successful as a NBA big? It is early, but can one wake up from one's stupor and become a beast?
When YoYo interviewed DM at the summer league, Morey said its going to be hard for PP to crack a veteran rotation of Chuck and DA. To me that was indicating DA clearly has a role here next to Yao.
This is basically an assessment based on the last year that Miller played. I've watched Brad Miller at Chicago, Indiana, Sacramento, and then Chicago. Always been one of my favorite players due to the outside shooting for a big man and his not-afraid-to-mix-it-up-in-the-paint attitude. So glad we signed him. Miller can be effective for the next 2 years- 3, not sure. But his game is predicated on skill and savvy, and like Robert Parish, Deke, etc., he can certainly contribute as a solid back-up. I always laugh when these idiots call a player a "complete joke," as if a 2-time All-Star, a 8-10 boards per game, a 12-14 points per game, and a 3-4 assist per game player (at the center position, no less) for a career is a joke, regardless of what last year's stats were. Pathetic, TMOL fan- pathetic.
I'm still thrilled about this signing.... It has made my post-Vegas trip PAIN much better. Anything good about the ROckets is good for me.
Sometimes a GM goes all-out to sign a guy because the coach says he needs that guy to make his system work. You do it because you, as a GM, do not coach the team yourself. You hire a coach, work with him on his requests, and assess his regime each season. If Adelman can't make this team work after Morey has paid big bucks for Martin and Miller, Adelman and his staff will be out the door. And yes, we'll then be left with some of Adelman's favorite players, just as we were left with some of Van Gundy's favorite players after he went out the door. Unless you want your GM running the team, that's life. I wouldn't have paid Miller what we're gonna pay him. I bet Morey wouldn't have, either. But Morey's not doing this for Miller. He's doing it for Adelman. And if it doesn't work, Adelman will pay.
Chalk this one up as a good one for me. I'll take his size, strength, and experience to utilize the minutes needed to keep Yao's minutes down and keep him healthy the whole season. Miller isn't flashy and not going to be someone you're going to be circling in the box scores...what he is going to do is going to be a minute eater and keep you from getting worked over in the middle when Yao needs a breather. he will also give us a good match up against other team swith two bigs. Finally some size where you're supposed to have it. I'm tired of our backup C's having to play 4-6 inches taller than they are. It's not flash...it's production.
agreed. It's not like BradMill is your starter or a very important player on this team. He is your 7th or 8th guy Kevin Martin has to prove more. I don't see either Morey or Adelman out of the door soon unless Alexander loses his patience
Yeah, because Yao is invincible like Heman and can bang in the low-post with the gods.... I just said that I'd like to see him learn the high-post. Mostly because Yao doesn't do it effectively. Did Deke teach Yao how to play a little stiffer and stop taking charges? Yes. You need to get off your high Yao-orse and realize that every player can still be taught some tricks. It's not like I said we need to sign Kurt Thomas to teach Yao to shoot the 15 foot jumper. The high post is a lot less taxing than the low post and Rick Adelman's offense opens up quite a bit with a high/low post player. I'd like to see Yao from his rookie year showing off his passing skills and add his incredible jump shot to the mix from 15-19 feet. That gives the Rockets another option on offense when the low post ain't workin'. That's it. Go fly a kite. ---hat!
I think Miller is a mistake. We made the mistake with Dave Andersen and now making it again with this guy. I understand Adelman wants to use Miller to create space in the paint so guys like Martin and Brooks can drive in and get to the line without the shot blocker being there (Presumably having to step out to guard Miller). But Miller's shot has not been there the last few years. If he's not hitting 40% then this strategy will fail badly. It's a very high risk move in my Opinion.
I'm not overly concerned about the contract... not overly concerned about his age... not overly concerned about much in this signing... but one thing I think this might help -- Hill will have to play against him every day in summer camp. :grin: (To all the nay-sayers, I'd say... ... naah, I'll wait and see like everybody else here.)
There is nothing high risk about it. Lets say he's a flop this year. Then during next off season or before next years trade deadline Miller's contract turns into an expiring. Remember, that last year is only guaranteed for like 1 mill. He's overpaid in terms of per-year basis, but I'd rather over pay a guy like Miller for 2 years than play the young guy with potential game like we did with Swift (where it didn't work out) or with Ariza (where it did).
Can anyone think of a better C that could be had for less? Personally I'm pleasently surprised he signed with the Rockets at this stage in his career. And just like I don't like paying $10k for a new roof it is necessary sometimes you have to pay the going rate to keep other items from getting damaged. I really didn't want to watch another year of Chuck (love him but seriously) and David. And I really didn't hold out a lot of hope that Hill was going to be our C answers - evidently management didn't either. Brad was the cheapest solution unless you would rather send up some guys up on the roof with umbrellas to patch the C leak.
High risk from a standpoint that it won't work out on the court. He may not be stuck in a Rockets Uniform for 3 years, but certainly he will be hear for at least 1.5 and that's long enough.
