His confidence soaring, Oden returned to the locker room after the game — and an NBATV interview — to joke on camera that his Ohio State Buckeyes would “smash” either the Beavers or the Ducks in the Rose Bowl. He laughed and smiled as he said, “Sorry, but it’s true.” What’s this? Giggles talking smack? Love it.
While the hot discussion topic might still be whether Steve Blake or Andre Miller should start at point guard, tonight we finally saw real evidence that Miller running the second unit is good for all parties. Make no mistake, Miller had a much better game than Blake tonight. But ask yourself this: Does Miller score the same 16 points if he plays all his minutes alongside Brandon Roy? Probably not. Does Brandon Roy score 18 points if he plays all of his minutes alongside Andre Miller? Do these two players, the team’s two best play-makers, combine for 12 assists if their minutes overlapped more? Are both Aldridge and Oden able to get going if Roy and Miller are both in the game simultaneously, if Blake isn’t there to keep the defense a little bit more honest? Does the team’s dominant second quarter take place if Blake is running the show rather than Miller?
via Media Row Report: Blazers 122 Bulls 98 – Blazersedge.
I’m having to walk a fine line with the Blazers this season. On the one hand, I see Oden finally coming into form. His defense is just monstrous right now, and last night he actually had post moves-post moves!- working. That’s unstoppable. It’s the same thing with Howard. When Dwight actually has his drop step hook going, like in Game 7 of the Boston series last year? Nothing you can do. Same with Oden. They were passing, they were working, they were moving as a team and not just “Brandon Roy And His Band Of Misfit Toys!.” This team really is on the verge of absolutely detonating a crater into the Western Conference. And Nate McMillan must get some of the credit for that.
On the other hand, I still feel like he’s responsible for their occasional lapses in focus, for mismanaging the backcourt, and for generally not being awesome. But Ben makes a good point that Miller’s actually too good for the first unit. And with results like last night, even against an offensively neutered Bulls team that really just wants to go home from this horrific road trip, he’s got them playing at an amazingly high level.
Also, I say Jerryd Bayless play last night and my heart soared.
/swoon
