Another step for Miles

by myemic23 on Dec 23, 2007 7:04 PM PST

Freeman is reporting that Miles returned to 5 on 5 drills today for the first time. It sounds like it was just light halfcourt workouts but it is still a nice sign. Right now Miles is saying and doing the right things, I am interested to see how this plays out. Here is the link:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2007/12/sunday_surprise.html

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I'm really curious about how this shakes out too.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 7:18 PM PST reply actions

Awesome

I love that our prodigal son is saying the right things, although his worrying about not being able to practice seems ridiculous. Grab the gym keys and go put up some shots for christs sake.

Anyone have any thoughts on how he gets worked back into the rotation once he is healthy enough to go. Obviously he will get worked in slowly, but who gets their minutes cut to make room for Miles? Do we only play Trout Law in the 4th (I always hated the nickname Trout, but when you add Law to it as Ziller did it is an instant hit.) Less burn for Jack? It seems he has the biggest skill overlap with Trout Law so it should be interesting how this develops. Could we at times run one hell of a big line up with Roy, Martell, Miles (Trout Law), Aldridge, and Pryz. That is one scary line up size wise lined up in a zone defense, try throwing the ball over the top of that.

To conclude my ramblings it seems that Trout Law may get shafted a bit as Miles has an impressive overall skill set, while Trout Law is limited, but what he is limited to he has been awesome at this year.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 7:24 PM PST reply actions

I think I agree that Bo is the most likely

one to have minute reduction because of the skill overlap. Darius is still young... we'll have to see what he can do when he returns, unlike Oden his knee was supposed to be very, very bad pre-surgery. I think there is much room for Outlaw to grow still, but Miles probably could too, what is he, 26 now?

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 7:38 PM PST up reply actions

yahoo says

26 years young. That is a good point about how bad his knee was supposedly.

I am hoping this works out for the positive for the Blazers as I could see Miles getting cranky if he is healthy and not playing close to 30 minutes a night. He obviously deserves to be in the starting line up as he has started for some of the lousiest teams of this decade. I hope Darius has lost a sense of entitlement as this team is doing better without him as a focal point.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 7:45 PM PST up reply actions

"Obviously deserves" to start???

When did Darius sacrifice himself for the Blazers or the city of Portland in such a way that would mean that 2 years after an injury, he "deserves to be in the starting lineup"? Was it when he played selfish basketball? Maybe it was when he dogged it down the court on those many occasions? Or, maybe it was when he ripped into our head coach and blamed him for the problems primarily caused by players like him and his homeboy Zach? Maybe it was with the off-court shenanigans? Please, help me out here. This team is finally thriving because it is rewarding hard work, dedication and a true team concept. If Darius can get on board with that and show he can make a contribution, more power to him. Otherwise, we owe him nothing other than what it says in the contract.

by esacxela on Dec 24, 2007 2:13 PM PST up reply actions

Aw jeez

I love how you take one little comment and twist into a "Darius is sitting around not working out" story line. This is how bad reputations get started. It's nonsense. He's going to the gym. He's putting up shots. He just wants an NBA team to practice with. And that's supposed to be a bad thing?

by Jumbo on Dec 23, 2007 10:17 PM PST up reply actions

I think you missread this

I did not say Darius was lazy or doesent work out. It seems that there is no reason for him to complain about a lack of practice when he has is own personal trainer for rehab and more assistant coaches than he can shake a stick out to work on skills.

I doubt that my reply to a diary on blazers edge is really helping or hindering his repuation. If you go on to read more of my posts on this topic you might find I am a big Darius supporter.

I just dont like excuses.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 10:34 PM PST up reply actions

Okay

So we're doing close readings of texts now, huh? Alrighty then, let's start the parsing and explicating so we can see what really's going on. First we'll start with the original source and the quotes from Darius himself and then we'll juxtapose your reaction and then I'll add my interpretation just so you can see what my train of thought was:

"It was fine, it felt good to play with more than one person," Miles said. "I'm anxious to play. I love what we are doing. I love the chemistry and everything about what's going on right now."

I love that our prodigal son is saying the right things

You're calling Darius the prodigal son, a loafer, someone who's been partying instead of working. You talk about "saying the right things" as though Darius doesn't really mean them. Or that he's just saying the right things as opposed to doing the right things.

"We're not going to really have too many practices this month, so I was just grateful to have this one,"

his worrying about not being able to practice seems ridiculous.

An expression of gratitude for the one time he's going to get to practice with the team is somehow "worrying" and "ridiculous" to you.

"This is what I've been waiting on," he said. "To get out on the court with nine other guys and play basketball and attack. I had fun today, even with the little bit I did."

Grab the gym keys and go put up some shots for christs sake.

You're telling him to go to the gym and shoot baskets. The only implication I can read from that is that you don't think Darius goes to the gym and puts up shots. He needs you to tell him to do it.

I think I read everything pretty good. What do you think?

by Jumbo on Dec 24, 2007 1:50 AM PST up reply actions

fair and balanced

Jumbo, I'm just jumping in here with some support for you. I think you read it right, and did a great job explaining. You were responding to his post, unaware perhaps of his support of Miles. Not a bad idea to draw attention to unneccesary negativity.
Did any of you read those horrendous posts from the Raptor site? What a contentious, immature, inane , and dysfunctional group of posters! We should all try to self regulate so nothing like that ever appears here.

by crakarjack on Dec 24, 2007 9:27 AM PST up reply actions

I just checked back in and read this comment

and want to add my two cents:

I perceived the comment as jonestr being a Darius supporter and did not feel the intent was at all to question Darius' work ethic based on his response to me. If you re-read through the comments that jonestr and I wrote this evening prior to your input I think you'll find that to hold true.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 11:29 PM PST up reply actions

I reply to posts

and comments individually and don't really pay much attention to who wrote them.

by Jumbo on Dec 24, 2007 1:52 AM PST up reply actions

The point is

that you misunderstood him, because he is claiming to be a Darius supporter and it's being confirmed by someone else (who provides evidence). Why not just say, "OK, sorry, I misunderstood" and let the water go under the bridge?

We're all fans here, supposedly on the same side, supporting the most promising team in the NBA, even if not everyone agrees on everything. Why not just be as friendly as possible? If everyone did agree, and everyone made the same points in the same way, it would be a pretty boring site.

by jscot on Dec 24, 2007 7:26 AM PST up reply actions

I didn't

just say "ok, i misunderstood" because I didn't misunderstand. I read, I understoon, I replied.

I like what you said though:

If everyone did agree, and everyone made the same points in the same way, it would be a pretty boring site.

Water's under the bridge. Nobody's starting beefs. I'm just saying, Darius puts up shots and anybody who implies he doesn't is putting out nonsense.

by Jumbo on Dec 24, 2007 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

Communication 101

I wish everyone on blogs could get this.

If he says you misunderstood his point (and he did) and there's evidence that he doesn't believe what you understood him to be saying, then guess what? There's been a misunderstanding, a miscommunication, whatever.

Who's fault? Who cares. When you say you didn't misunderstand, that's actually false. What you are meaning to say is, "You didn't communicate well, and that's why I misunderstood." Ok, fair enough, if it's important to you why the misunderstanding happened, you can argue that point.

But when it comes right down to it, you seem to be a reasonable guy (based on past history), and I really don't think you care that much whose fault it is. But when we reach the point of debating whose fault the misunderstanding is, we've wandered far from basketball....

Personally, I will be glad when Darius is gone, though I'm willing to believe that he can change. It's going to take a lot of evidence before I'll believe it, though. I do agree that he seems to be doing and saying some of the right things, and I'm glad to see it. There's going to be a life after basketball, and he's beginning to look like he'll do ok, and that's good to see.

by jscot on Dec 24, 2007 9:46 AM PST up reply actions

in the weeds

Ignoring all the nonsense and getting back to Darius:

What do mean change? Why does he need to change? What is it about him that makes you want to get rid of him? I'm seriously curious. Before we start compiling evidence that he should get a reprieve, let me see some of your evidence that Darius should go. What does he need to change exactly? Is it the Mo Cheeks thing? A few bad games? Not living up to your expectations? Where's the beef with Darius. I just don't understand it. Never have. Compared to the Michael Vicks and the Barry Bonds' of the sports world, Darius has done next to nothing to deserve the hate he gets. I'm not saying he's awesomely perfect. His game is certainly flawed and his mental toughness is questionable, but so is Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster (based on past history). I would like to see someone, (doesn't have to be you) put together the complete "Darius is a bad man" essay and collect all the dude's demerits in one place so we can all see if they're really that big a deal. I suspect they're not. I think certain people have just accepted this meta-narrative of "Darius the bad guy" and then they read everything about him through that filter. Am I wrong?

And to reiterate for clarity, I'm not on Darius' jock. I don't think he's made of Pure Awesome like Brandon Roy or Lamarcus Aldridge. I'm pretty sure that Martell, JJ and Travis will have no trouble holding on to their rungs in the SF depth chart. I also trust Nate and KP to make the correct the decision about him. If he really is as bad as everyone says, he will be traded to the Knicks ASAP.

by Jumbo on Dec 24, 2007 12:23 PM PST up reply actions

Isn't the Cheeks thing enough?

He said some other things, too. But that was enough, really. Very, very immature, at best.

The best thing for him, if he is able to resurrect his career, would be to go someplace where that isn't part of the background. Too many people in Portland will always remember that.

If he really has grown out of that kind of stuff (and I hope and think maybe he has), the best thing is a fresh start.

by jscot on Dec 24, 2007 12:44 PM PST up reply actions

Not enough

That was over two years ago. And I'm sorry, but who cares what people in Portland remember? If he's productive on the court, I'm totally fine with a bunch of fans being grumpy about something that happened to some other coach back in 2005. As long as the Nate likes him, the team likes him and Pritchard likes him, I could care less that a few grudgeholders in the stands think he's a jerk.

by Jumbo on Dec 24, 2007 2:21 PM PST up reply actions

Addendum

I'd just like to add this quote from Joel Pryzbilla, a man of unimpeachable integrity, I think we can all agree:

"We support Cheeks 100 percent and the same with Darius," center Joel Przybilla told The Oregonian. "It was just an instance of two guys having different views. I have seen worse. I was in Milwaukee with Anthony Mason, and this was nothing. We just need to move on. Shoot, we are already past it. As soon as Darius is back, we will be waiting
for him."

source

by Jumbo on Dec 24, 2007 2:30 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah

clearly Miles would have to be able to accept a different role, but I wouldn't put that past him. Not playing for such a long time, stepping into an almost entirely new team (that is winning without he and Zach - like you said) could make you think... if you were prone to do so. He definitely knew that right or wrong Portland had lost faith in him. I remember reading quotes from him basically saying he would feel the same way if he read and heard all the things that the media has said about him. I just always had a problem with what appeared to be his laziness, as far as I can see that seems to have gone by the wayside with regards to his recovery. I've seen him in the gym that I work out at and began defending his weight last summer saying that he seems like he's in very good shape considering what he's gone through to me.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:12 PM PST reply actions

Cool

you should try and strike up a conversation with him and give us the details on the site. I like that guy a lot and hope he can deliver for the Blazers.

I remember seeing him pull a behind the back dribble on the break that was ridiculously smooth for a guy who goes 6'-9". I have been enamored ever since.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:27 PM PST up reply actions

I haven't seen him sense the summer

I think during the season they are sparse at the club, either in the practice facility in Tualatin or at the Rose Garden. I know he's a pretty nice guy.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:34 PM PST up reply actions

since

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:36 PM PST up reply actions

i wonder if

darius has worked much on his incredibly lousy FT shooting.

he was never a 3 pt shooter. why play him rather than martell or james jones? i don't see it.

ignacio

by ignacio on Dec 23, 2007 8:24 PM PST reply actions

True

but that guy can rip some nets from the elbow extnded, he just can hit 3's.

If he can bring some great energy on the defensive end, something I have never really seen him do, he could easily displace either of those guys, or at least move Martell to sg.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:29 PM PST up reply actions

pregame shootaround

I watched him trying to shoot threes while joking around at a pre-game shootaround. He missed every single one. Granted he was fully decked out in his suit and dress shoes and barely paying attention and even shooting one handed if I recall correctly, but it was not impressive, for what it's worth.

by Jumbo on Dec 24, 2007 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

Stinks to be Udrih

if they don't pull this off! Ouch!

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:36 PM PST reply actions

wrong diary

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:39 PM PST up reply actions

Interesting... but only in an academic sense

I don't see any way Miles cracks this lineup. He has to get better than Webster and James Jones (not to mention Outlaw). Then he has to be better than whatever free agent we get in a couple of years. He's only on the roster because he's under contract and KP couldn't unload him for a cup of cheap coffee.

But hey, he's a Blazer, so I'm kind of cheering for him and feel good that he's working hard on his rehab. But realistically, it's a matter more of social interest than anything else.

The best possible scenario is that he has a Rudy-like moment at the end of some season and gets a full minute of playing time and ends up making a jump shot.

by Fizbin on Dec 23, 2007 9:05 PM PST reply actions

To me the best case scenario

is that Miles is able to get back to the point that he was at a couple of years matured, can ball, and then we have a real need to move a couple of bodies (too many players not enough time). I agree it's going to be pretty tough for Miles to unseat a piece, but he was on a roll when he went down a couple of years ago, has admitted that he hadn't felt better than about 70-75% for a couple of years prior to that. If he can play, there even if he is not here for the long-haul we may be able to package him, Isiah sure wanted him, if he can play again maybe he still would? Regardless the more people we have that can play, the more options we have, eventually a trade is coming, although I am of the school that believes that will probably be at draft time as opposed to prior to the trade deadline this year.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 9:31 PM PST up reply actions

At this point

The only thing he brings right now is the ability for the Blazers to send McRoberts to Idaho for a stint in the D-league without worrying about yanking him back if an injury occurs.

I don't want to be too negative but he won't get playing time this year unless there are injuries and they need the help or he comes into practices and dominates Jones, Webster, or Outlaw. I think the injuries are more likely than him taking someone's minutes.

by tssbro on Dec 24, 2007 1:19 AM PST reply actions

no miles!

I think Miles will get scrub minutes at the end of the season, and then have an outstanding summer league (if he accepts that role). I don't care how good Miles becomes. I do not want anybody from the 'jailblazers' era to take any credit for the playoff runs in the next few years. He along with the others helped put a dark cloud over the Trailblazers and Portland. They were the laughing stock of the NBA. The team's value plummeted and was almost sold. His attitude exemplified everything that was wrong with the Blazers. I am glad he is getting healthy, and with a better attitude. I wish him luck, but not as a blazer. The funny thing is...I used to like him and always thought he could turn it around.

by clonigro on Dec 24, 2007 11:10 AM PST reply actions

no miles!

I think Miles will get scrub minutes at the end of the season, and then have an outstanding summer league (if he accepts that role)...then trade away! I don't care how good Miles becomes. I do not want anybody from the 'jailblazers' era to take any credit for the playoff runs in the next few years. He along with the others helped put a dark cloud over the Trailblazers and Portland. They were the laughing stock of the NBA. The team's value plummeted and was almost sold. His attitude exemplified everything that was wrong with the Blazers. I am glad he is getting healthy, and with a better attitude. I wish him luck, but not as a blazer. The funny thing is...I used to like him and always thought he could turn it around.

by clonigro on Dec 24, 2007 11:12 AM PST reply actions

Shoots

I like Miles and wish the best for him. I hope he recovers and helps this team. If he does not fit, then I hope he can go to a team where he can contribute.

Happy Holidays and Mele Kalikimaka!

by tominhawaii on Dec 24, 2007 12:51 PM PST reply actions