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Season In Review: Andre Miller
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  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6481

    Posted 05/05/2011 1:27 PM

    During The 2011 Season, Andre Miller...
    Exceeded Expectations (43)
     59%
    Met Expectations (28)
     38%
    Failed To Meet Expectations (2)
     3%


    We're going to start something new this offseason and review each player's season, how they performed, whether they met expectations or not and if you'd like to see them in uniform for the Blazers to start the 2011-12 season. Up first is our floor general, Andre Miller.

    Probably the most surprising aspect of his 2011 campaign was the fact that Dre's "Iron-Man" streak ended at 632 games. No, it wasn't due to injury, rather shoving Blake Griffin in the back after he didn't take kindly to Blake's antics. But that's what you can expect from Miller on a nightly basis. While quiet, he stands up for his teammates and doesn't take any crap. Even at age 34, it was still Dre Day in 2011. According to basketball-reference.com, he posted averages of 12.7 points, on .460 shooting from the field and .853 from the line, 7.0 assists with 2.4 turnovers, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 32.7 minutes per night. Aside from his scoring, which was the lowest since his rookie year (11.1), his numbers either stayed par for the course or increased across the board. Most notably, his 7 dimes a night were the highest since 2007 and he shot the ball better from the line in 2011 than any prior year. Although he has never led a team out of the first-round, he was once again one of the top performers in the post-season. He upped his points per game to 14.8 from 12.7 and did so efficiently by shooting .493 from the floor compared to his seasonal average of .460 and still managed to hand out 5.5 dimes all while being pressured 94 feet every time the ball found its way into his hands. So while he can't jump or hit the 3 with consistency (.108), Andre continues to age like a fine wine, only getting better.

    While the stats are nice, I don't think they accurately measure the importance or value in Andre's case. The Trail Blazers would have been in loads of trouble had the injury bug bit Dre this past season as the squad currently doesn't possess another reliable point guard. Patty Mills and Armon Johnson may be useful in spurts but neither has the experience yet to run a team full time. Brandon Roy and Rudy Fernandez can handle the ball for stretches, but neither is fully comfortable bringing the ball up the court nor are they as effective in getting the team set up as Miller is. Finally, Andre is really our only guard outside of a healthy B-Roy who can take his man off the dribble and create offense for either himself or others. Not to mention, his post-up game is the gold standard for point guards. While he isn't getting another younger, his game doesn't rely on athleticism. It runs on experience, craftiness and savvy, all of which don't seem to be leaving Dre's arsenal any time soon.

    The highlight of Andre Miller's 2011 season had to be his moving up the All-Time list in the NBA for assists, even passing the great Bob Cousy. Andre now stands at 14th on that list with 7,031 career dimes and if he puts together another year of 500+ helpers which he had last season, he will find himself in the Top 10.

    Miller Passes Cousy


    Let all of that information soak in for a moment Rip City. Looking back, how well did Andre perform? Do you want Dre back for another season running the show?
    I am a fan of
  1. Chris Martinez
    Chris Martinez
    Posts: 1

    Posted 05/05/2011 1:38 PM

    That man was one of the main reasons we came back from that deficit. His ability to score when no other Zer could, along with his defensive prowess would be sorely missed it traded.
  1. Kassandra
    Kassandra
    Posts: 448

    Posted 05/05/2011 2:19 PM

    i suppose in order to talk about Andre exceeding, meeting or failing to meet expectations, i'd have to tell what my expectations of him were before the season started.

    there wasn't (and still isn't) any doubt in my mind that Andre still has two- to three-years left in the tank. sure, he's not the youngest guy around, but he's missed three games over his entire career due to injury (two others for funerals and the sixth for the aforementioned suspension). the guy has never suffered any career threatening or career shortening injuries. that's the big thing right there. as i said, he's got some left in the tank.

    statistically speaking, if a player is shooting efficiently while his scoring average drops a tad, i'm not worried. teams change and while his points may be down, his assists are up, so he's contributing in other ways. additionally, Andre averaged 1.3 fewer points per game than the previous season, but hig fg percentage rose from .445 to .460. that's certainly a noticeable improvement.

    Andre's experience was a key factor for the blazers this year. he played smart basketball. his two fake timeouts during the course of the season proved just how crafty he still is.

    here's the real question for me: were we a better team with Andre on the court than otherwise? we absolutely were; no question about it. i expected that, but the difference is so glaring that i'd say he exceeded those expectations.

    ~ Kassandra
    I am a fan of my team fighting to win each and every game.
  1. CarlJ1
    CarlJ1
    Posts: 398

    Posted 05/05/2011 2:27 PM

    We wouldn't have made the playoff without Andre he was one of the main reasons why we did. I don't see us not picking up he's contract next season he was truly the rock on this team I was a fan of his when he wasn't on our team, but I have become more of a fan each year so I hope we still have Miller Time in the Rose City.
    I am a fan of Respect, Loyalty, Honor & Pride the same thing the Blazer & their true fans are made of RIP CITY STAND UP!
  1. ClydeFrog
    ClydeFrog
    Posts: 975

    Posted 05/05/2011 2:33 PM

    kassandra-

    statistically speaking, if a player is shooting efficiently while his scoring average drops a tad, i'm not worried. teams change and while his points may be down, his assists are up, so he's contributing in other ways. additionally, Andre averaged 1.3 fewer points per game than the previous season, but hig fg percentage rose from .445 to .460. that's certainly a noticeable improvement.

    I agree with this. All those stats tell me is that Dre is just taking less shots, which is why the overall scoring average dropped but he is just as efficient as ever.
    To me, he met expectations. I expected him to be our horse, play in every game and have his good and bad nights. And he did all of those. Without him running it, we don't make the playoffs. I also thought he played an integral part in Aldridge becoming the stud that he became (those lob passes are a thing of beauty and really get LA in a early rhythm). And while he saves our butts on numerous occasions with his crafty ways of scoring, he still can't shoot from the outside to save his life and it can hurt the floor spacing when he's not connecting on his mid-range shots. We have no better options at point at the moment, so I hope we pick up his team option for the 2012 season and go from there. If we are able to sign a player like Aaron Brooks in the offseason, then Dre can be used as bait for a trade. If we don't find a younger point guard to take over the reigns, then it's Dre's show to run again next year, which is fine by me.  
    I am a fan of Watching Elliot Williams Take Flight!
  1. Jared
    Jared
    Posts: 59

    Posted 05/05/2011 7:37 PM

    I think this is a no brainer, we need to have andre on this team for next year. He is our most consistent player and is absolutely invaluable to this team. I also would love to pair him with aaron brooks next season and hopefully he could take over in a year or two.
    I am a fan of
  1. BDawg
    BDawg
    Posts: 1459

    Posted 05/05/2011 7:45 PM


    here's the real question for me: were we a better team with Andre on the court than otherwise? we absolutely were; no question about it. i expected that, but the difference is so glaring that i'd say he exceeded those expectations.

    ~ Kassandra
    I agree.

    Not a player in the league more adept at reading the floor at any given moment than Andre Miller, a talent not measured by any statistic, and a talent not likely to warrant any play on SportsCenter.  Dre plays the game the 'right way' and is possibly the last active example of the league's finer years, when basketball was played for the love of the game...and not the green.  Miller embodies everything desirable in a leader.  Toughness, both mental and physical, never phased by the moment, a player who leads by example, and who always puts the team first. 

    Thank you Andre, for your level of commitment and your many sacrifices, all of which made this season truly special, and this team a pleasure to watch.

    I am a fan of players that play with PASSION and PRIDE
  1. shane24
    shane24
    Posts: 1

    Posted 05/05/2011 8:13 PM

    I agree very much. When we need a player to score and , or so  step he will i think we will mis his toughness if we get rid of him ;)
    I am a fan of The blazers bright future
  1. EthanMoney
    EthanMoney
    Posts: 301

    Posted 05/15/2011 7:46 PM

    I say met expectations...but I had very high expectations for Dre.
    I am a fan of
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