Importance of the Andre Miller Signing

As an avid NBA fan as well as a Portland, OR resident I'm not sure if people understand the importance of the Andre Miller siging which accured a few weeks back. For the last few years watching the Blazers move from the dweller of the NBA to a 54 win season. I've always felt that they were a good point guard away from being a regular playoff contender. Not taking anything away from current starting point guard Steve Blake, the Blazers needed someone who can direct the offense and take the burden of of Brandon Roy's shoulders. Looking over the entire roster the PG position had to be the weakest on the team. When you look at the center tandem of Oden and Pryzbilla, Fernandez and Roy at the 2, the plethora of small forwards (Webster, Batum, Outlaw even Fernandez can slide over to the 3) and with Aldridge at the 4 spot with news that Outlaw will be the primary backup there. Adding Miller who thrives in a more uptempo offense which the Blazers didn't really apply last year they have five position players who are athletic and can get out to fill the lanes. He's had some of his best years in Denver playing along side a mobile Marcus Camby, fleet footed Nene and a young Carmelo running with him. I have no doubt that Aldridge can fill the lanes better then most other PF in the game and don't count out Oden being healthy and getting out on the break ala Dwight Howard. Even has he grows older he is a bigger guard and better defensive player then Blake is. I don't think the Blazers will miss a step with Miller either coming off the bench or starting. The mixture of the two guards will bring a good change of pace that opponents will have to adjust to, as Blake is a better outside shooter than Miller. Not many people have dicussed this topic in the lue of the bigger free agents on the market (Turkoglu, Odom) and the trades of Shawon Marion and Vince Carter. The Blazers finished the season with a tie for the second most victories in the Western Conference and if they continue to improve as the have each of the last 4 years don't be too surprised if they get close to cracking the 60 win mark for the first time since they won 59 in 2000 when they lost to the Lakers in 7 games during the Western Conference finals. Adding a vetern leader and with the increased maturity of the young players that encompass the roster I see the Blazers getting out of the first round and being a team that most won't want to see in the playoffs. As long as everyone can manage to stay healthy they will have a young, talented, deep and hungry. The only questions I can forsee is how Coach McMillan will juggle the minutes to keep everyone happy, especailly with the return of Webster who was suppose to be a starter last season, and how injure plagued will they be again this season. All these issues and question will be answered once the season gets underway.

I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts on this so please feel free to express yourself.



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