Andre Miller wasn’t the Portland Trail Blazers first target of the offseason, but he was number one on head coach Nate McMillan’s list. After the signing, the coach praised the veteran, saying he has a “high basketball I.Q., a feel for the game” and a “guy who will know the sets, put players in their spots.”

Miller, a starter for the past ten years, signed with the Blazers assuming he would be their starting point guard. But despite McMillan’s backing, the fourth year head coach kept Steve Blake as the starter throughout the preseason and named him the head honcho to begin the regular season. Miller was incensed by the decision: “If I was told right out when I had my meetings that I would be a backup, then I wouldn’t have come here.”

All indications are that Miller has since accepted his backup role, but he hasn’t immediately been able to adjust to it. In the season’s five games, he has scored in double-digits only once–15 points in a loss to Houston–and, usually a steady shooter, has managed to make just 12 of 38 field goals, or 31 percent. He has dished the assists, averaging five per game with a high of eleven against the Atlanta Hawks, but his lack of cohesion and his conservative play on offense has hampered the Blazers so far this young season.

He is part of a second unit that features shooting guard Rudy Fernandez and forward Travis Outlaw, a lineup that McMillan considers fast-paced and offense-oriented. But because Miller’s shot hasn’t fallen, the options suddenly become limited, as both Fernandez and Outlaw are very streaky. The second unit’s inability to produce is one of many reasons why Portland is off to a 2-3 start, but Miller can fix the problem by looking to create for himself on a regular basis.

Hopefully the coach’s latest comments regarding his struggles will boost his game. McMillan, understanding Miller’s woes, demanded the guard to be more aggressive. “I want him very involved” he said, “To the point where I want him pushing and handling the ball probably 90 percent of the time he’s in.” Miller was a consistent scorer with Philadelphia, averaging 17 points a game while still possessing an incredible amount of unselfishness. McMillan wants that player to surface.

He’s comfortable with Miller in the role of a scorer or a facilitator, and over the course of a game, the guard can be both. But, in trying to get into shape, find an identity, and develop chemistry coming off the bench, he has been far too tentative offensively, and certainly not as aggressive as McMillan would like.

I’m sure Miller would like to be more aggressive, to be a consistent threat for the Blazers, but their is an adjustment period, which he is clearly and understandably in the middle of. As he becomes more comfortable with Portland, the chances are great that he will contribute more offensively, take more of a responsibility, set the tempo, and make more plays for others.

The entire team has started slow. It’s not just Miller; many of their players are struggling. Hopefully, as Miller’s play increases, so will his teammates. Then the Blazers can get back to playing winning basketball, and be the Western Conference force they are capable of.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 7:50 pm and is filed under Most Recommended, NBA, News Headlines, Portland Trail Blazers, Right Column, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.