Miller out; Ollie in
Posted on December 23rd, 2008 – 11:29 AMBy Jerry Zgoda
Mike Miller didn’t accompany the team to San Antonio for tonight’s game because of that sprained ankle. Veteran Kevin Ollie will start at point guard with Randy Foye playing off the ball instead.
28 Responses to "Miller out; Ollie in"
It’s interesting that Shaddy isn’t getting the nod, as he did when McHale took over. It’s probably a matchup decision, as Mac wants Ollie to defend Parker. But this strays from his “philosophy” of not making tactical matchup moves like Wittman did every night. We’ll see how it works out. I wish we could get something out of Shaddy in a kind of “showcase” and then trade him for something, anything.
Does this leave Foye guarding Ginobili? That should be fun to watch. Layup drills for both Parker and Ginobili now.
[…] On the Wolves – […]
Mike Miller is really turning out to be a trooper.
It is hard to cheer for a team that packs it in before Christmas.
Merry Christmas all of you losing team followers.
I feel bad for Miller. So many fans are down on him but he really is a great player. We’re just such a terrible team and so deficient at the point guard spot that Mike can’t ever get his game going. Hopefully we fix that problem by the trade deadline or at least this summer, and Mike can go back to being a 16-7-3 player.
That said, it’s kind of sad when we’re in even more disarray than last year’s Grizzlies, isn’t it? Ya…
Anyway, I’d like to point out two things:
First, I’ll reiterate that Foye has just 8 assists in his last 100 minutes of burn (three games’ worth). I’d bet that’s a huge reason Ollie is starting tonight. Has McHale finally given up on this “Foye is a point guard” thing? I hope so.
Second, a little comparison of Craig Smith and Paul Millsap, since both are starters now.
Smith in 7 starts:
14.4 ppg
4.7 rpg
1.4 apg
0.7 spg
0.3 bpg
Millsap in 15 starts:
19.2 ppg
11.6 rpg
2.8 apg
1.6 spg
1.2 bpg
Also, keep in mind that Millsap’s 15 starts have all resulted in 15 double-doubles (meaning at least 10-10 every game he’s started in) and that his best performance so far has seen him drop 32-10, 2 steals and 2 blocks on the Celtics.
ALSO keep in mind that Millsap was drafted in 2006, with the 17th pick of the second round. 11 picks AFTER we drafted Craig.
Craig’s a solid player, but I’d say it’s clear Roy/Foye wasn’t the only error in judgment McHale made in that draft.
Just thought I’d throw that out there to everyone who’s been telling me Millsap isn’t worth the talent I proposed we trade to acquire him.
The Wolves were one of many teams that missed on him twice. It is hard to believe that things like that happen, but they regularly do. The Wolves are usually lucky if they find a second (or first) rounder that can even make the team.
Craig Smith is a role player that can score in bunches, in certain situations, but is not an answer as a full time starter. Of course they are so bad that it hardly matters right now. I would rather have the slightly taller Love get more of Craig’s minutes at least for some rebounding and experience.
I noticed some things in the Rockets game (although nothing new):
1. Foye made a few scores at the end but it looked like the only one that anyone trusted at the end was Al. None of these players can create a good shot on their own. It was painful to watch because Al can’t score all of the points.
2. Mark Madsen was not needed in the game as Al played decent against Yao. Madsen provided little and was a major liability on offense for a long stretch in the third. Don’t get me wrong as the Mad Dog should be unleashed in certain situations.
3. Double teaming Yao did not seem necessary most of the time and usually the defensive rotation left some good shooting Rocket open for a three pointer. (Also kills them against teams like San Antonio and Phoenix)
4. Al gets doubled and the Wolves have very few (if any) three point shooters to take advantage in the same manner.
5. Rashad was at his frustratingly best. He made some good shots in the first half and a few forced ones. In the second he got sloppy and forced some shots, layups, and missed free throws. Do the coaches say anything to him? How can he do the same things over and over?
6. As always the general lack of athleticism was evident.
Oh yeah, the lineup change will really help. Lets put a slow aging pg against one of the fastest and quickest players in the league. Just trade Telfair to the lakers, they need back up pg now that farmar is hurt and get their first rounder for next year.
Bryan
At this point I think the Jazz would be more likely to trade Boozer than Milsap. It sounds like Milsap is going to be their starting PF for years to come. The only player the Jazz would take for Milsap is probably Al Jefferson.
The Jazz would definitely be more willing to trade Boozer. I’ve talked to a few Utah fans, and they’re adamant that Boozer be moved…he hasn’t inspired much confidence with his comments that he’s “definitely opting out” of his contract, and this injury of his is taking far longer to recover from then it was supposed to. There’s a lot of rumors that he’s pulling a Manny Ramirez “I’m injured until I’m traded” thing right now. So all in all, on top of Millsap being a beast this year, Boozer seems to have worn out his welcome.
The Wolves top scoring threats other than Miller don’t share the ball well at all. That’s the basic issue for Mike. He moves it….and it never comes back.
Put him on a contender that has players that understand team basketball and he’s right back to what he was. Touch, touch, touch, and he’s in the game.
He’s just lost in the mess right now.
McCants is a coach killer.
Why people talk about his is beyond me.
He will never shoot a high percentage in the NBA. He doesn’t have enough game.
He’s undersized, has an average handle at best, rarely thinks anything but shoot when he’s on the floor, and he battles all the wrong things.
He’s just another piece that doesn’t fit. Lots of them on this squad….
McHale should worry less about match ups and just focus on developing his players.
He isn’t going to be back next year anyway the way things look. Ollie ain’t savin’ Christmas and he never could score. He’s an end of career plugger and a never was.
Play Shaddy and put up with his inability to guard the pick and roll because of his size.
At least he’ll move it and get guys in the flow. He’s your only real point with quicks and instincts that has some upside anyway. Foye’s an undesized 2. Always has been. He’s your Vinny Johnson on a good team.
Al Jefferson or Carlos Boozer…
Very funny trade idea. Let’s make the Wolves older.
If we’re just day dreaming, go get Ronnie Brewer if you can find a way to grab him. Not that you can…but at least you’ll get a team guy, and a nice player with skills who you’ll be glad you had around when the team improves.
How does foye have no assists yet, he is playing guard the whole night, either pg or sg, you have to fall into an assist don’t you. 40+ and no ast yet. wow, at least he is shooting decent tonight.
yeah he got an assist
I wasn’t suggesting we trade for Boozer. That’d be awful for us. I suggested trading for Millsap a few weeks ago and everyone said I was giving up too much talent for him in the deal I proposed, so I just wanted everyone to see how good Millsap really is (and reiterate that he’s another guy McHale screwed up on in the draft).
And well, tonight we got lit up by Tony Parker. What’s new….
Also, noting Foye’s single assist, that now makes it 9 assists in his last 150 minutes of play. Although tonight he wasn’t the point guard. Still, you’d expect even a shooting guard to get three or so a game at least.
I’m starting to wonder if it’s less an issue of his court vision and creativity and more an issue of his mentality. Tonight he wasn’t even looking to pass, everything was shot, shot, shot…
Am I reading the boxscore right, Foye had 16 rebounds? I didn’t watch most of the second half what is up with that stat? How can he have one less rebound than all the Wolves frontcourt players combined? Don’t get me wrong, guards pulling down boards is probably a good thing but that just seems really weird.
Foye’s being asked to score and he knows it.
He has to given what’s around him other than AJ.
Miller’s out. Smith gives you some little freaky baby hooks and touch shots but he isn’t a primary. Love is a garbage scorer. Gomes doesn’t want it right now.
McCants is a never will be and a black hole most nights.
Shaddy’s even being aggressive to the hole because they need points.
The rest of the bench…CBA quality.
Foye’s doing what he can do and it’s playing to the best part of his game.
God knows when this team will win again. This is really bad. Historical bad.
Jerry, are there any rumors floating around about the Wolves possibly making a trade any time soon? I know that they’re not going to make a playoff push, but it would be nice to have a reason to tune in for a game or two every once in a while.
The Spurs were taking a lot of long jump shots. Dead legs on a back to back. Lots of long rebounds.
Foye did a nice job plugging the weak side holes, grabbing boards and getting out on the transition game. Mostly for himself..but at least he put up points.
This just shows how over rated rebounds are for a stat. Which makes what Love does even less important. Think about it, an assist = at least 2 points, and points are.. well points. Rebounds just mean you were standing in the right place at the right time like Foye tonight. Unless there offensive rebounds which Love gets, but the problem is they are off of his own misses or when the shot is blocked back into his face.
McHale’s bad trades and poor draft decisions.
Yeah, that’s one long novel…or mini-series…or whatever. Paul Grant. I saw him hit the side of the backboard from 12 feet. Never saw him play again.
Hope to me is time, cap space, and draft picks well spent right now.
I’d build young and forget about trades.
Take the best talent. AJ’s young enough to go that way.
For all our sakes…just make sure you have the right person evaluating the talent.
Find someone.
They say that this is a TERRIBLE DRAFT so it would only be fitting, but with the picks we should get… We can pick up a center like Thabeet (7′3 Mutumbo clone) (2nd), a SF like Chase Budinger (17th),a point guard like Darren Collinson/Ty Lawson (19nd), a SG like Diante Christmas (30th)… in the 2nd round they could maybe go for Tyrese Rice who is a fantastic point guard that is a pass first style PG! with the (32nd pick), Then with the two picks we got in the terrible Mario Chalmers deal (Miami, and Philedelphia, or Indiana we get 2 of those 3 picks)… At that point in time I would look at Alonzo Gee (SG), and take a shot at international PG Nando De Collo or De Callo… maybe move him and Tyrese Rice around. Bring in 3-4 PGs that can actually play the position… Try and move Foye, Miller, and Al Jefferson (the blackhole), and let McCants (play defense at all) go in free agency. Of course all of this is predicated on a complete overhaul of the front office, coach, coaching staff, and the hope and prayer that we can actually trade away that McHale garbage.
Al Jefferson can be as young or as old as you want him to be. He is a blackhole on this team.
he can only score, and 1/3rd to 1/2 of his rebounds are off of his own missed shots.
His passing is about the same quality as McCants’ defense, and Madson’s free throws… (so piss freaking poor that we should be paid to have to endure it!)
I think we need to trade Miller to a contender for any kind of garbage we can get preferably to dump the salary after this season…
Foye and McCants… anything we can get for them as well. One can’t play PG, and the other is 1 dimensional and paper thin at that!
For Jefferson we should be able to get a quality SG/SF… we draft Thabeet and use Love and Smith at the PF position next year… maybe draft a 3rd PF in the late 1st, early 2nd next year…
This team looks 100% better, young, and with a new coach, a new front office, and all of that… this team might be a playoff contender before I die… I mean I’m 36, and plan on seeing 85… and with this current roster, and management… I could live to be 300 and they wouldn’t have a prayer following this broken track record.
BC
The only thing Thabeet and Mutombo have in common is that they block shots and are both over 7ft tall. Mutombo was a big body where Thabeet is much more thin.
Also the Wolves don’t own their own 2nd round pick, that is going to Detroit so in you dream draft that #32 pick is not the Wolves. Just an FYI.
Plus Tyrese Rice is the exact opposite of a pass first PG he is a scoring PG and has been his whole career at BC.
