The Right backcourt mate for Brandon

by Rip City Reign on Jun 29, 2009 1:15 PM PDT

The prevailing wisdom regarding the search for a PG holds that Brandon needs a shooter who can play defense and won't dominate the ball.

I don't believe that is necessarily the case.

Brandon has shown the ability to take over a game with the ball in his hands in crunch time. However, I have seen this take a toll on him physically and as the number of clutch moments increase, the need for someone to take the pressure off Brandon will become huge.

Enter, Andre Miller, the classic creator and penetrator who has proven the ability to efficiently run a team, shoot a high percentage and finish in the lane. Miller's ability to get into the lane and improved passing (over Blake) will create more opportunities for easy baskets from Roy, Rudy, GO an Aldridge.

The downside is that Miller is older, is not an effective shooter from deep, and is not as accomplished a defender as Hinrich. Miller's ability to create would allow more mid range opportunites for the wings. Playing with Miller, Brandon could score more easy baskets in transisition and scoring from mid range and allowing him a break from being forced to carry the team on his back as he did this year.

With the extensions of Roy and Aldridge looming, there is a need to act now in free agency to add the piece that takes the Blazers to the next level.

There are those who will undoubtedly object to the idea of acquiring Andre Miller due to his age. However, a 3-4 year deal could act as a bridge to the Bayless era and allow Miller to mentor Bayless as a younger more athletic version of himself.

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Enter Jerryd Bayless

with a rediscovery of his college jumpshot range and a sergio-esque court vision.

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Jun 29, 2009 1:20 PM PDT reply actions

Is this a Bizarro Jerryd Bayless?

by staylost on Jun 29, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Miller is my 3rd choice of PG upgrades

after Harris and Kidd

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Jun 29, 2009 1:25 PM PDT reply actions

I'd say the same but sub Bibby for Kidd

"Sometimes I catch myself watching him and he's shooting floaters all-net. And just to watch how he's talking trash. I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Rudy's a competitor." - Brandon Roy

by Trail Ducker on Jun 29, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Mine goes Harris, Kidd, Heinrich, then Miller

"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein

by Garden of ODEN on Jun 30, 2009 1:33 AM PDT up reply actions

The problem I have with Miller

This has happened everywhere he has gone. A solid, good stats, veteran added to a young promising roster. Sounds like a good match, but what happened in Denver, LA, Philly? Those teams all went from promising to disappointing and back to rebuilding. I really feel like Andre Miller is the kind of player who looks good on paper, but doesn’t get the job done.

"I been ridin' the midnight train, got ice water in my veins." -Bob Dylan
"Sasha? That's a sissy name." -Mike Rice

by koyote on Jun 29, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions

My take

Miller fits with Philadelphia better than he would with Portland. They are a young athletic, fast paced team. But if Philly doesn’t want him, why should we? I think Miller is a bigger gamble than Hinrich.

"I been ridin' the midnight train, got ice water in my veins." -Bob Dylan
"Sasha? That's a sissy name." -Mike Rice

by koyote on Jun 29, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Seriously?

Miller’s first year in Cleveland they won 10 more games than the previous year. His first year in Denver they went from the worst team in the league to improving 26 wins and making the playoffs (thanks in no small part to Melo, too). His first full year in Philly they improved 5 wins, and they’ve made the playoffs in both his full years there. Are they really considered to be “rebuilding”?

The only time that what you’re describing happened was with the Clippers, who were dysfunctional in general, but had also traded two huge pieces of their identity (McInnis and Darius) to get him. Plus, they’re the clippers.

by Royster on Jun 29, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Philly is NOT rebuilding, I got your back

"Sometimes I catch myself watching him and he's shooting floaters all-net. And just to watch how he's talking trash. I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Rudy's a competitor." - Brandon Roy

by Trail Ducker on Jun 29, 2009 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions

The only guard I want other then what we have is Jason Terry

Draft Cole Aldrich 2010

by jlarose78 on Jun 29, 2009 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

only jason terry

what if you could get cp3, harris, or rubio

fire nate before its too late

by pipgras on Jun 29, 2009 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I like your reasoning

You make a good argument for Miller. I honestly don’t know who will be the best choice…Hinrich, Miller, Sessions, Nash, Kidd, or someone else. I only know that we definately need to make a move to upgrade the PG position. That needs to be our main priority this summer! Turkoglu, backup PF, etc, need to take a backseat.

I trust KP realizes this and will make the right choice and bring in the right guy!!

by socalblazer on Jun 29, 2009 2:55 PM PDT reply actions

The only problem I have with Miller is what if the defense packs the lane

and dares him to shoot from outside? That’s scary…

Koponen - PG of the future. For Italy, that is. Book it.

by Blazerholic on Jun 29, 2009 2:55 PM PDT reply actions

I've heard there was this team with great offensive rebounders...

But I agree. No poor perimeter shooters wanted.

by staylost on Jun 29, 2009 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions

problem:
outside shooting, perimeter defense, creating off penetration, taking pressure off of brandon

solution:
get hinrich/promote bayless.

thank you.

by JohnCanzano on Jun 29, 2009 4:17 PM PDT reply actions

this isnt john canzano

you didnt talk about yourself

by GreatOden'sRaven on Jun 29, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions

im confused

why would you want hinrich if your promoting bayless?? 9.5 seems like a lot for a back up pg that you have to trade for

fire nate before its too late

by pipgras on Jun 29, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I think he meant

Blake would be gone in the Hinrich deal and Bayless would be “promoted” to #2 PG (since he was #3 last year?)

just a guess

by two4larue on Jun 29, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Ugh

Having Hinrich and Canzano in the same breath makes me ill.

* Building a Greg Oden Fanboy Treehouse Clubhouse this summer...

by OdenFanBoy on Jun 30, 2009 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions

My problem with Miller is...

Age and expected salary. He’s definitely at that age (32/33) where many/most players start to break down. Yes, maybe he’ll be like Kidd and keep on producing, but look at how Kidd is producing: running the offense, keeping the team’s confidence up, and outside shooting. Kidd has managed to stay productive as his penetration skills have faded by becoming a good outside shooter (best 3-point shooter in the playoffs this year for the Mavs, ahead of Dirk and Terry). Unless Miller can somehow continue to get into the lane as he gets older or make a miraculous improvement in his outside shooting, he’ll become an offensive liability pretty quickly. I also wonder how well he’d adjust going from a fast-paced offense in Philly to the slowest-paced offense.

Now if KP thinks he has at least a good 3 years left in the tank and that he’d be willing to sign a 3-year contract at roughly the MLE level, he might consider it. But after putting up a PER in the 18 range last year, and knowing that this is likely his last somewhat-long contract, I think he’ll be pushing for $7-8M/season over 4 years, which is just too much at his age (IIRC, he made ~$8M last year). Especially when we already have a guy in Blake who, faults notwithstanding, fits the Blazers’ system almost perfectly.

FWIW, I’d rather have Hinrich or Kidd.

by MDBlazerfan on Jun 29, 2009 8:25 PM PDT reply actions

Your problem with Miller is his perimeter shooting and you prefer Kidd...Huh?

by 52therim on Jun 30, 2009 1:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Miller's a nice player

but I have trouble with the notion that our most important trading opportunity in years will be spent on a “bridge to the Bayless era.” The Bayless era as you call it is still a figment of imagination, not a basis for a multi-million dollar decision that will affect us for years to come. We better be careful we don’t get a “bridge to nowhere.”

by oregonslee on Jun 29, 2009 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Thank you, agree completely..

I still am not convinced at all that Bayless is the answer. I don’t think he is a point guard and I don’t think he ever will be. He’s Allen Iverson without the attitude and certainty, and look how he has disrupted every offense he has ever played in. I would happily trade Bayless before I would trade Steve Blake.. I’ve always thought of Blake as the perfect backup pg for our championship team, just like Joel will be the perfect backup center for that team.

Personally, and I know there are alot of Bayless fans here, but I would trade him while he still has value and is known mostly as a Summer League MVP around the Association.

Miller, Hinrich, Nash or Kidd would all be intriguing to watch help mold this young squad. Nash and Kidd could certainly teach our young guys about winning and building a championship attitude…

The caveat is I wouldn’t break the bank for any of them..

Now CP3 or D-Will, that’s a different story…

by blazersunited on Jun 29, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions

Keponen isn't playing in this summer league

Maybe Bay will get to show us some PG skills (or lack there of)? I’m hoping option A

"Sometimes I catch myself watching him and he's shooting floaters all-net. And just to watch how he's talking trash. I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Rudy's a competitor." - Brandon Roy

by Trail Ducker on Jun 29, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions