Andre Miller and your Hearts and Minds
Written by Seth Johnston   
Tuesday, 12 January 2010 02:02

I've been blogging about the Blazers for damn near three Earth years now, which translates into roughly 343 internet years. I haven't made a dime off of it yet. That sounds pathetic but is deceptive; I haven't spent a dime either. Breaking even in this economy easily makes me the envy of many Fortune 500 companies.

Now that I've demonstrated my value, thereby completing the first step of the D.E.N.N.I.S. system, I'd like to talk to you about Señor Andre Lloyd Miller. He has only been a Blazer for thirty-nine games but has already been described as the hope, the curiosity, the victim, the problem, and the one with occasionally old-school Richard Pryor-esque hair. Labels can always change quickly and often aren't fair. Especially in a town where citizens are already gearing up to take to the streets over the news that Deschutes Brewery is cancelling their Cindercone Red. (Who's comin' with me?)

The thing is, since Andre Miller has been legitimately starting at point guard-by this I mean since Miller has been starting and Blake has not-Portland has been better. They've overachieved. Considering all the injuries this team has endured so far would this success have been possible had Miller not signed last summer? Would they be a game and a half behind the division lead if you remove Miller from the mix?

Of course the Blazers were also winning before Andre was starting and Blake was not. They won around 56% of those games. The also played the T'Wolves three times, the pre-competitive Grizzlies twice, the Knicks, the Nets, the Bobcats, the Bulls, the Pistons, and the Pacers.

Portland is nine and five since McMillan caved and allowed his main man be the real point guard. Those games included road wins over Miami, Dallas, and San Antonio. Home wins have come against teams including Phoenix, Denver, and the Lakers. When you consider the freakish injuries the team has gone through during that fourteen game stretch it becomes even more impressive.

I'm not claiming that Miller deserves the last batch of Cindercone for the team's play over the last fourteen games. There is some other guy on the roster who has sort of put the team on his back and done some amazing things. My point is that Miller can't be as bad for this team as he's been made out to be. Portland has improved since he was allowed a larger role, in spite of a significant loss of talent to injury. I have a hard time imagining the Blazers would have survived so well without him. Maybe its time to think up another label for the guy. But I could be wrong, remember I've never made a dime off of this.

Photo: AP



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Comments (12)Add Comment
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written by Sheed, January 12, 2010
Excellent point Seth and I agree completely. Andre mat not be Brandon Roy, but he is more of a sidekick to BRoy than LaMarcus or anyone else. Andre rules!
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written by SethJohnston, January 12, 2010
Thanks. I guess the verdict on Andre's fit with the team will be out until he gets quality/quantity time with the full squad. Hopefully that means next season.
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written by Billy Hoyle, January 12, 2010
I have to admit, I was 100% behind Blake to start the season, and I was 100% WRONG.

Miller has been our second best player since he's been starting. He's consistent and he's heady. I actually love that he can't/doesn't shoot many jumpers. His ability to finish at the rim and make free throws is the perfect fit for our offense. At this point I'm completely turned and will never look back (to Blake, anyway).
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written by asdf, January 12, 2010
The thing is, is that Miller's success shouldn't be a surprise, only that it took so long to realize it is. This has got to fall on Nate more than anything else. Andre is a veteran, it's not like he just learned how to play point yesterday.
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written by O Storm!, January 12, 2010
Right on.

For all of those "fears" about Roy and Miller not being able to play together, hopefully those have been put to bed.

The bottom line is that Miller is a true PG that gets the ball to players in a position where they can score. When Miller sees the shot clock winding down he takes the ball to the rim, when (if) Blake sees it, we get a bad three or a shot clock violation.

I've always been a big Steve Blake advocate, but the presence of Miller has relegated him to being nothing more than a 3 point specialist, and so far his shooting hasn't been all that special.

As bad as the injury situation has been, I shudder to think of where we'd be without Andre Miller.
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written by KelySmut, January 12, 2010
Seriously Steve Blake is shit. He makes us worse and when he can't hit 3s he's as useless as tits on a boar hog. Shame on Nate for not starting him sooner. Andre start Bayless off the bench. Trade Steve's ass ASAP before other teams fully realize how shitty he is. There's my 2 cents....
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written by Sheed, January 12, 2010
By the way, you know who knows nothing about basketball and chemistry? This guy:

"Miller doesn't fit with Portland. He'll never fit. You know it. I know it. The Blazers players know it. And even though Miller's been successful on the court in spurts, and played lots of minutes, all along this Miller-Blazers marriage was headed toward a blow-up encounter that was fueled by mutual frustration."

No Sir, I do not "know it."

http://www.oregonlive.com/spor...uld_h.html

Andre Miller does and will continue to fit just fine.
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written by Scotty B!, January 12, 2010
Can I join in on the Blake hating? As Homer Simpson once said, "And now the easiest part of every coach's job...the cuts." Cut Blake. Cut Webster. Bam. We're a better team.
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written by DMKPDX, January 13, 2010
Seth, I'm appreciating the fair-minded acknowledgement of Dre's contributions to our 'surprising' success during these injurious stretch of games. That Dallas game in particular was symbolic of something we haven't been able to do (win in Dallas) for years but have managed with Dre as he hits 2 free throws at the end to seal the W.

It hasn't all been smooth on the court for him but that's to be expected to a certain amount. Nate notoriously has very limited patience for OJT (see: The Sergio Project) which might speak to his (alledged) frustrations (along with "You don't play the way we want to!") but Miller's made shots and more importantly, challenged opponent's defense where Blake didn't.
I'm not a Blake-hater however. His shot (when it's falling) has its place on this team and it certainly did last year, so he's earned some respect Blazer fans. On a team where chemistry matters, Steve's a guy the team seems to like playing with and off of and it's something Andre, in theory, and in some practice, can achieve - and must if it's all going to prove to work on an ongoing basis.

I'd ideally love to see them both prosper and flourish on this team with their respective skill-sets. But - I do wonder what must happen with the burgeoning of young Bayless (who's this year's Batum in terms of surprise PT and impact).
Oh yes - always an interesting time to be a Blazer fan eh?
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written by Natsthecat, January 13, 2010
Miller DEFINITELY has made a difference! He gets the Blazers off to a quick start. He doesn't let deficits get him down. He is a VETERAN who through example, has taught the youngters how to play. I've never seen as many lob passes by OTHER players as I have since Andre has been in town. KUDOS to him. I REALLY hope the Blazers realize what they have in him and not only keep him but allow him to RUN and play his game. Also Brandon looks like he plays JUST FINE alongside Mr. Miller.
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