FanPost

Patty Mills: International set up to NBA?



How does international experience translate into the NBA?

Hey everyone, new here and a first time poster. Have been a Portland fan for a very long time, and am also Australian, so i was obviously very excited when Patty Mills became a Blazer. There are not to many Aussies with half an idea on basketball that are not a fan of Patty, when we started seeing him playing for the AIS, youth Boomer then Senior Boomers squads the basic collective country started to get very excited. This isnt par for the course for any Aussie going ok in the NBA, as there are more than a few people who have a dislike for Andrew Bogut after some poor choice words about Luc Longley a few years back.

The Mills hype obviously hit fever pitch in the lead up and then actual games at the Beijing Olympics, and Patty did not disappoint, im sure you are all aware of his exploits against the Redeem Team however he also preformed right across the tournament, his two best games where against Argentina, when he scored 22 points against players like Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Fabricio Obert, and Marcelo Nocioni, and of course Team USA against CP3, Deron Williams and Jason Kidd. The reality was this was his first mens experience, he was 19, he started our series as a deep bench player and by the finals was probably our 7th man, plus not looked upon as our first scoring option (Bogut, Anstey, Newley and Anderson) were this.

Now this is international ball, and anyone who follows it knows the Australian game plan, its always been a pick an pop style. Go inside for the jumper to our big guys, or find the outside man for 3, I think that has a lot reasoning as to why all down under boys that have gone into the NBA over the years with the exception of Gaze (Bullets/Spurs) and Heal (T'Wolves) have been guys above 6'10, most made good passing centers.

This was why Patty coming onto the scene was so exciting for us, he was the first player at international level that had a damaging perimeter game, so fit well into our game, but also could take it to hoop and dish. Patty was giving us a boost through the Olympics more than guys 10 years his senior.

So my question is this:

What makes the leap from proven performer at International level to getting at least a few minutes court time at NBA level so great? I see so many people focus on the fact that Mills was drafted second round at fifty five but not a lot of people go, his numbers and overall effect on games during the Olympics was more than Ricky Rubio who went a lazy 51 picks earlier? surley this should translate to at least serviceable at NBA level.

I'm not saying the kid should instantly start and will drop 20/10 games day in day out, but you would think he may be more usefull than a bench warmer down on the 10th seat?