Blazers President Larry Miller Backs Coach Nate McMillan

Portland Trail Blazers President Larry Miller backed coach Nate McMillan in a pre-game interview on Sunday with 95.5 FM's Jay Allen. 

Miller first called on Blazers fans to hang in there. "We're going through a little bit of a struggle right now. But I'm confident that Nate and the coaching staff and the team will get this turned around. And we'll get back on track. Teams go through this. The Lakers just lost four games in a row. Teams go through these struggles sometimes and I would just want to make sure the fans will be there with us."

Miller offered his full support to McMillan, calling him "without question, one of the best coaches in the league." Miller also said it was poor execution, not a lack of effort, that caused Portland's six-game losing streak. "It's not for lack of trying. they're trying. Just the execution hasn't been there. But I'm confident that I know that Nate and the staff will figure out how to get these guys to execute for four quarters, not just two or three."

Message to Blazers fans

I think the thing I would like to say to Blazers fans is that we have the best fans anywhere in the country. These fans have supported this team through thick and thin. We're going through a little bit of a struggle right now. But I'm confident that Nate and the coaching staff and the team will get this turned around. And we'll get back on track. Teams go through this. The Lakers just lost four games in a row. Teams go through these struggles sometimes and I would just want to make sure the fans will be there with us.

The Blazers are playing hard and scrapping, just not winning

They are playing hard. They are giving effort out there. To your point, they're scrapping, they're fighting. For some reason, we haven't been able to execute in the fourth quarter. It's not for lack of trying. If that were the case, I'd be looking at this like, 'Hey we've got a really, really serious problem.' It's not for lack of trying. they're trying. Just the execution hasn't been there. But I'm confident that I know that Nate and the staff will figure out how to get these guys to execute for four quarters, not just two or three. 

Getting a win against the Clippers would be big

I totally agree. Just getting a win will help turn things around. I'm hoping a month or so from now we're on a six or seven game winning streak and we're talking about this from a totally differnt perspective. This has been tough. This has been tough for all of us, not just the fans, but for all of us as well. When we lose these games, we're hurting just like the fans are hurting.

What have you and Nate talked about recently and how is he doing?

I've been talking to Nate, he's hanging in there, he's doing everything he can to turn this thing around. To me, Nate is one of the best coaches in the league, without question he's one of the best coaches in the league, and we're fortunate to have him as our head coach here. Again, I'm confident Nate is going to figure out how to get this turned around. He's in a pretty good mood, he's in pretty good spirits as well as can be expected, he's doing good.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter