tlongII
10-16-2009, 03:23 PM
http://columbian.com/article/20091016/BLOGS05/910169997/-1/BLAZERBANTER
They could have already split apart. Fractured. Taken two separate roads, neither of which point in the same direction.
But instead of falling away from each other, Portland Trail Blazers point guards Steve Blake and Andre Miller have become closer.
Both express mutual admiration, three weeks into the team's 2009-10 training camp. Both praise each other's distinctive traits, while offering reminders that whatever holes one has, the other will fill.
Blake and Miller are more alike than they are dissimilar; more comparable and complimentary than they are clashing.
Most importantly, Blake has Miller's back.
"I enjoy the differences that we have. He has a great understanding for the game," Blake said Wednesday. "You can always see that he's thinking, engaged in the game. He is a great finisher around the basket. He is a very good passer — you always see him looking for the open teammate. And so I think he brings a lot positive qualities to our team. I think he's going to help us a ton."
And Miller has Blake's.
"I support him in whatever he does. I enjoy passing to him. I enjoy playing off of him," Miller said minutes later the same day. "He's a shooter, he's a tough guy. And a lot of people don't see that. They criticize (him) for his defense or whatever — we all get criticized about something, you know. So, I see a competitive person that knows how to play basketball."
A week ago, Miller's statement that he would not have joined the Blazers this summer if he knew he was not going to be the team's starting point guard shook up the Portland fishbowl.
Now, the words — a perfectly fine mixture of pride, confidence and respect — feel like yesterday's news.
Moreover, the professionalism with which Blake and Portland coach Nate McMillan have handled the situation — if there ever really was one — speaks volumes about a Blazers team that will have to work through much more difficult scenarios this season if it hopes to reach the next level.
McMillan used Miller's statement about starting as a teaching opportunity. Stepping on top of the platform Miller provided, McMillan preached last Sunday at the team's practice facility, using all-inclusive words such as "team" and "us." And then Portland's coach wrapped everything up in one final word: Blazers.
"We're going to play the right way. It ain't about you; it's about us," McMillan said. "And we can be successful when we play together. And that's what it's about."
Meanwhile, Blake did what he always does: He put his head down, drove forward and kept playing. He never cracked. He never gave into the temptation of using the media as a mouthpiece. He never even showed he cared.
Blake said he learned long ago that winning takes care of everything. It answers questions, silences critics, and keeps you on the court.
Blake's college coach, Maryland's Gary Williams, drove the point home.
"He was a big believer in telling you: Just play basketball," Blake said. "And if you do your job and you win, things will work out; things will take care of themselves."
On Wednesday, Blake and Miller nearly matched each other's words as they compared professional basketball to work. A hard, demanding job, but one they were fortunate to have; one that beats just about any 9-to-5 gig around.
And each sounded so similar in their admiration for and appreciation of each other, it was hard to believe some had spent the months leading up to Portland's 2009-10 season trying to drive them apart.
The Blazers have a few significant issues to work out right now, namely defense and offensive cohesion.
What they don't have is a point guard problem.
"All I know is I've enjoyed being a teammate of (Miller's) so far," Blake said. "I think he's a great player. We've gotten along great and I enjoy being around him, and that's all that matters to me."
They could have already split apart. Fractured. Taken two separate roads, neither of which point in the same direction.
But instead of falling away from each other, Portland Trail Blazers point guards Steve Blake and Andre Miller have become closer.
Both express mutual admiration, three weeks into the team's 2009-10 training camp. Both praise each other's distinctive traits, while offering reminders that whatever holes one has, the other will fill.
Blake and Miller are more alike than they are dissimilar; more comparable and complimentary than they are clashing.
Most importantly, Blake has Miller's back.
"I enjoy the differences that we have. He has a great understanding for the game," Blake said Wednesday. "You can always see that he's thinking, engaged in the game. He is a great finisher around the basket. He is a very good passer — you always see him looking for the open teammate. And so I think he brings a lot positive qualities to our team. I think he's going to help us a ton."
And Miller has Blake's.
"I support him in whatever he does. I enjoy passing to him. I enjoy playing off of him," Miller said minutes later the same day. "He's a shooter, he's a tough guy. And a lot of people don't see that. They criticize (him) for his defense or whatever — we all get criticized about something, you know. So, I see a competitive person that knows how to play basketball."
A week ago, Miller's statement that he would not have joined the Blazers this summer if he knew he was not going to be the team's starting point guard shook up the Portland fishbowl.
Now, the words — a perfectly fine mixture of pride, confidence and respect — feel like yesterday's news.
Moreover, the professionalism with which Blake and Portland coach Nate McMillan have handled the situation — if there ever really was one — speaks volumes about a Blazers team that will have to work through much more difficult scenarios this season if it hopes to reach the next level.
McMillan used Miller's statement about starting as a teaching opportunity. Stepping on top of the platform Miller provided, McMillan preached last Sunday at the team's practice facility, using all-inclusive words such as "team" and "us." And then Portland's coach wrapped everything up in one final word: Blazers.
"We're going to play the right way. It ain't about you; it's about us," McMillan said. "And we can be successful when we play together. And that's what it's about."
Meanwhile, Blake did what he always does: He put his head down, drove forward and kept playing. He never cracked. He never gave into the temptation of using the media as a mouthpiece. He never even showed he cared.
Blake said he learned long ago that winning takes care of everything. It answers questions, silences critics, and keeps you on the court.
Blake's college coach, Maryland's Gary Williams, drove the point home.
"He was a big believer in telling you: Just play basketball," Blake said. "And if you do your job and you win, things will work out; things will take care of themselves."
On Wednesday, Blake and Miller nearly matched each other's words as they compared professional basketball to work. A hard, demanding job, but one they were fortunate to have; one that beats just about any 9-to-5 gig around.
And each sounded so similar in their admiration for and appreciation of each other, it was hard to believe some had spent the months leading up to Portland's 2009-10 season trying to drive them apart.
The Blazers have a few significant issues to work out right now, namely defense and offensive cohesion.
What they don't have is a point guard problem.
"All I know is I've enjoyed being a teammate of (Miller's) so far," Blake said. "I think he's a great player. We've gotten along great and I enjoy being around him, and that's all that matters to me."