Mike Miller to Lakers---the party's over!

[DPG21920]

This trade would actually be a small step back for the Lakers. The Lakers already have enough jumpshooters. Mike is a better shooter, but his defense is less than average. He may give you three more ppg than Odom, but he will give 10 back at the other end of the court.

I do not know, although Mike is not the best defender, it is not from the lack of effort. He really works his butt off on that end of the court for the most part. The Lakers will have a nice group of defenders at most positions so all they need is for people to put in the work and Mike would do that.

But I still hope this trade happens.

[The Franchise]

I do not know, although Mike is not the best defender, it is not from the lack of effort. He really works his butt off on that end of the court for the most part. The Lakers will have a nice group of defenders at most positions so all they need is for people to put in the work and Mike would do that.

But I still hope this trade happens.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Mike Miller fan. Before getting Ron Artest I was hoping the Rockets could pull off some kind of trade to get him. But he would actually have been an upgrade for us. I just don't see how trading him for Odom would make the Lakers any better. A lot of Laker fans seem to undervalue his importance to the team, but I don't see Mike raising their level of play.

[DPG21920]

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Mike Miller fan. Before getting Ron Artest I was hoping the Rockets could pull off some kind of trade to get him. But he would actually have been an upgrade for us. I just don't see how trading him for Odom would make the Lakers any better. A lot of Laker fans seem to undervalue his importance to the team, but I don't see Mike raising their level of play.

I agree. I was just saying it would not be a step backwards defensively for the Lakers. Definitely a step backwards over-all.

[Gino]

Amazing that anything that originated on Hoopsworld.com could create so much buzz.

Its from Hoopsworld! Its not real!

[IronMexican]

Why is everyone so worked up about a trade that wont happen? I'd love it though.

[Spur-Addict]

I wish the Lakers would do something like this. Do this and you take away some size and length which would be fantastic.

[lefty]

He's one of the tougher dudes in the NBA. He's always been known as a gritty/tough guy on the court. You think Mike Miller is soft?

[timvp]

When Mike Miller fouls you, you'll get a bruise.

Miller rarely fouls. He's one of the least fouling players in the NBA. And this so-called enforcer one flagrant foul in the last seven years. You'd think a guy who makes a habit of committing hard fouls would rack up more, no?

Looking through the league, you won't see many more shooting guards tougher than Mike Miller. What other shooting guards out there would give a good hard foul almost every time? Raja Bell, Matt Harpring are the 2 guys that come readily to mind other than Mike Miller.

@ comparing Miller to Harpring and Bell. I kinda now hope this trade goes through so I can bring up how you thought Miller was Bill Laimbeer reincarnate.

Oh and quoting DPG isn't exactly the best reference. He likes going against what timvp says and is on record as saying Bargnani is a stud in the making, Iguodala wasn't going to re-sign with the Sixers and the Spurs were in danger of losing Kurt Thomas.

[DPG21920]

Miller rarely fouls. He's one of the least fouling players in the NBA. And this so-called enforcer one flagrant foul in the last seven years. You'd think a guy who makes a habit of committing hard fouls would rack up more, no?

@ comparing Miller to Harpring and Bell. I kinda now hope this trade goes through so I can bring up how you thought Miller was Bill Laimbeer reincarnate.

Oh and quoting DPG isn't exactly the best reference. He likes going against what timvp says and is on record as saying Bargnani is a stud in the mkaing, Iguodala wasn't going to re-sign with the Sixers and the Spurs were in danger of losing Kurt Thomas.

I was going with what you said foolish. I said Mike was not an enforcer.

Please post a link to where I said Bargnani was going to be a stud.

Many others saw the cap problems that signing AI might cause along with some other teams having cap space.

I never said I thought the Spurs were in real danger that KT was going to be gone, I said I did not like the fact he was an UFA and that he did not have to give the Spurs a chance to match if he did not want to.

Didn't you say the Ime Udoka would be the perfect replacement for Bowen, only to later say he would not be because: "things change"? And didn't you say that that Mahinmi has "a 50/50 chance" of sticking in this league or not? Hmmmm, I would think everyone only has those two options.

[timvp]

Please post a link to where I said Bargnani was going to be a stud.

Many others saw the cap problems that signing AI might cause along with some other teams having cap space.

I never said I thought the Spurs were in real danger that KT was going to be gone, I said I did not like the fact he was an UFA and that he did not have to give the Spurs a chance to match if he did not want to.

I should have used an emoticon to show I was kidding.

Didn't you say the Ime Udoka would be the perfect replacement for Bowen, only to later say he would not be because: "things change"?

For what the Spurs had to spend, Udoka was the perfect option last summer. He is about as good of a Bowen replacement as there can be in terms of defense first at ude and a reliance on corner three-pointers, but last year proved that Bowen is miles ahead of Udoka defensively. I've basically given up on the idea Bowen can be replaced by another defensive specialist. He'll need to be replaced by another type of player. The problem is his replacement will likely have to be an all-around talent ... and those types of players are both expensive and hard to come by.

Maybe Udoka can surprise this year and show more lateral quickness and an improved offensive game. I guess we'll see.

And didn't you say that that Mahinmi has "a 50/50 chance" of sticking in this league or not? Hmmmm, I would think everyone only has those two options.

I don't understand what your beef is with that point. I give Mahinmi a 50% chance to stick. What is your percentage?

[DPG21920]

I should have used an emoticon to show I was kidding.

Ha, you are getting worse than AHF was to me when I first got here. That is why I changed my avatar to Tupac!

For what the Spurs had to spend, Udoka was the perfect option last summer. He is about as good of a Bowen replacement as there can be in terms of defense first at ude and a reliance on corner three-pointers, but last year proved that Bowen is miles ahead of Udoka defensively. I've basically given up on the idea Bowen can be replaced by another defensive specialist. He'll need to be replaced by another type of player. The problem is his replacement will likely have to be an all-around talent ... and those types of players are both expensive and hard to come by.

Maybe Udoka can surprise this year and show more lateral quickness and an improved offensive game. I guess we'll see.

I just do not see how people could look at Bruce, see how great of a defender he is/was and think that someone could really replace that, especially someone as old as Ime. I mean, I really like him and he will play a nice role, but not replace Bruce. I agree with your point about needing to have an all around player, because if you cannot get someone who defends just as well as Bruce, the strategy of having a player like him on the floor goes out the door. I guess we needed to define replace. If people meant that Ime would take his spot, than yes maybe. But if they thought he would be as valuable then no.

I don't understand what your beef is with that point. I give Mahinmi a 50% chance to stick. What is your percentage?

It was just one of those on the fence statements you gave when Bruno was grillin' ya. Everyone has those odds and it does not say anything. It is like saying when he takes a shot he will either miss it or make it. Just funny. Should have used a smilie to let you know I was kidding....But I don't use smilies because they are for girls.

[Pero]

Miller rarely fouls. He's one of the least fouling players in the NBA. And this so-called enforcer one flagrant foul in the last seven years. You'd think a guy who makes a habit of committing hard fouls would rack up more, no?

@ comparing Miller to Harpring and Bell. I kinda now hope this trade goes through so I can bring up how you thought Miller was Bill Laimbeer reincarnate.

Oh and quoting DPG isn't exactly the best reference. He likes going against what timvp says and is on record as saying Bargnani is a stud in the making, Iguodala wasn't going to re-sign with the Sixers and the Spurs were in danger of losing Kurt Thomas.

Dude, did you post this or something very similar somewhere else too?!? I think I read it like twice before. Am I just having a serious dejavu right now?

[bostonguy]

That is the point exactly.

Miller ain't stopping Paul Pierce but Paul Pierce will surely remember each and every one of those fouls. With the bigger Lakers this year, the tables will be turned this year with the Celtics being the undersized team.

A "bigger" Lakers team means nothing if they cant play quality team defense. The Jazz had a size advantage over LA and that didnt really do all that much. Outside Bynum and perhaps Odom, the Lakers wont really have that big size advantage that you keep talking about. Gasol/Vlad are soft, Big Baby/Powe>>>Mihm/Powell. Bynum will be the only real advantage but if the Lakers D continues to be soft, he will be in foul trouble often and early with Pierce waltzing down the lane.

Giving hard fouls doesnt result in good defense.

[duncan228]

...But I don't use smilies because they are for girls.

Hasn't helped me.

[timvp]

Ha, you are getting worse than AHF was to me when I first got here. That is why I changed my avatar to Tupac!

At least I let that Bargnani topic die and I didn't bump the AI2 thread . . .

I just do not see how people could look at Bruce, see how great of a defender he is/was and think that someone could really replace that, especially someone as old as Ime. I mean, I really like him and he will play a nice role, but not replace Bruce. I agree with your point about needing to have an all around player, because if you cannot get someone who defends just as well as Bruce, the strategy of having a player like him on the floor goes out the door. I guess we needed to define replace. If people meant that Ime would take his spot, than yes maybe. But if they thought he would be as valuable then no.

I don't think anyone thought he'd replace Bowen. But most thought he'd be able to provide 40-50% of his defense. It turns out Udoka can't defend the same type of players Bowen can, so it doesn't really work.

And age doesn't really have much to do with it. Udoka was younger when he got here than Bowen was.

It was just one of those on the fence statements you gave when Bruno was grillin' ya. Everyone has those odds and it does not say anything. It is like saying when he takes a shot he will either miss it or make it. Just funny. Should have used a smilie to let you know I was kidding....But I don't use smilies because they are for girls.

Everyone has a 50% chance of making it? Really? TD didn't have a 50% chance to make it. Malik Hairston doesn't have a 50% chance of making it.

Saying someone has a 50% chance of making it isn't the same thing as saying someone will either not make or will make it.

[Big P]

I'm pretty sure this is coming from a Hoopsworld article, talking about which trades the articles author THINKS should happen..pretty sure thats where this "rumor" is coming from.

[Allanon]

A "bigger" Lakers team means nothing if they cant play quality team defense. The Jazz had a size advantage over LA and that didnt really do all that much. Outside Bynum and perhaps Odom, the Lakers wont really have that big size advantage that you keep talking about. Gasol/Vlad are soft, Big Baby/Powe>>>Mihm/Powell. Bynum will be the only real advantage but if the Lakers D continues to be soft, he will be in foul trouble often and early with Pierce waltzing down the lane.

Giving hard fouls doesnt result in good defense.

Lakers are an underrated defensive team because they play at a high tempo so there's alot of scoring regardless. Lakers were one of the best defensive teams last year in almost every stat category except ppg allowed but that's the result of the speed of the game. A more telling stat would be opponent fg% which the Lakers were something like top 5.

A bigger team will be much more effective than last year. Last year the Celtics totally abused the Lakers inside. You don't stop guys like Paul Pierce, but you can foul the out of them to slow them down.

This year, Perkins will have to deal with Bynum instead of Odom. No more PJ Brown. Who's gonna sub in for Perkins when he gets in foul trouble guarding Bynum...6'9 Glenn Davis?

Kobe gets the Allens instead of Posey.

Not having Posey and PJ Brown this year is gonna cost the Celtics their repeat.

Although I don't like a Mike Miller trade at least he'll bring some toughness to the Lakers if it does happen.

[lefty]

Lakers and Celtics won't go back to the Finals in 2009 anyway

[DPG21920]

At least I let that Bargnani topic die and I didn't bump the AI2 thread . . .

I don't think anyone thought he'd replace Bowen. But most thought he'd be able to provide 40-50% of his defense. It turns out Udoka can't defend the same type of players Bowen can, so it doesn't really work.

And age doesn't really have much to do with it. Udoka was younger when he got here than Bowen was.

Everyone has a 50% chance of making it? Really? TD didn't have a 50% chance to make it. Malik Hairston doesn't have a 50% chance of making it.

Saying someone has a 50% chance of making it isn't the same thing as saying someone will either not make or will make it.

You can't bump the Bargs thread because it needs some time and a lot of people thought signing Brand would cause some cap problems with AI. Many people thought that Udoka was a perfect replacement for Bowen, but I was referring to someone his age would have to improve their defense to match Bruce and people that age are generally set in their ways.

I get what you are saying about the 50/50, it was just funny to spin it.

[Allanon]

Lakers and Celtics won't go back to the Finals in 2009 anyway

It's good for everybody that the Celtics lost Posey & PJ Brown. It doesn't seem like the Celtics realized how much Posey meant to their team.

If your Spurs make it to the Finals vs Celtics, Manu wouldn't have to worry about Posey roughin' him up.

On the flip side, it sucks Posey went to the Hornets.

[DPG21920]

Hasn't helped me.

Now that is funny!!!!!!!!!

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

@ Mike Miller being tough and gritty. Is it his hair clips or hair band that makes him tough and gritty?

[The Truth #6]

If white players can't be gritty and tough, then what's left? Lazy and stylish? Slow and foreign?

[DPG21920]

Maybe Collins just ruined the deal????

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba,107950

I was going to let this unusual news intentionally slip past my blog radar — you know, save new Minnesota center Jason Collins anymore embarrassment — but then I realized just how little was going on, and, more importantly, just how much my dad would enjoy it. So ... sorry, Jason — family first.

Per Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

New Timberwolves center Jason Collins probably will miss training camp and the regular season's opening week after undergoing surgery in California on Monday to repair an elbow tendon.

Collins was injured in what a team spokesman called a "freak" golf-cart accident. He partially ruptured his triceps tendon after his golf cart skidded and tipped over.

And that's that. Collins is expected to miss eight weeks. Doh!

But here's what I want to know: Did Collins' twin brother, Utah Jazz center Jarron, actually feel Jason's pain at the time of the accident? Like, was Jarron chilling at home in California, sipping ice tea out on the porch, when all of a sudden a lightning bolt of pain shot through his arm?

And what about Brook and Robin Lopez? They're twins, they went to Stanford — did they feel anything?

So many questions, man. So. Many. Questions. We need a CSI: Minnesota.

[timvp]

Maybe Collins just ruined the deal????

I don't think this deal is anywhere close to being done. And even if it were, Collins is strictly a salary filler. He could be retired for all the Lakers care.