Reborn

by Tom Ziller on Jan 31, 2008 7:34 AM PST in Recaps

This Brad Miller fellow, he's alright.

That was by far his best game in about four years, and arguably his best game ever. (He went for 22/16/5/4 in 2003.) Just a tremendous performance, and a beautiful testament to what we expected from B-52 back in 2004.

The question with Brad starts to become: How long can he keep it up? He's got about 20,000 pro minutes under his belt. Vlade Divac lasted about 36,000 minutes (not counting international competition or pickup games in the freezer at the Alpha Beta). Miller got a later start, but (I assume) Marlboros and Stolichnaya affect a player's conditioning more than Copenhagen and Keystone. In my estimation, three to four more valuable seasons wouldn't be out of the question. (That jump shot and passing acumen alone can keep him around so long as he can get two inches off the floor and run faster than a rhinoceros.)

Call me an optimist, but I think Miller can be relevant on the next great Sacramento Kings team. His performance this season is more inline with his first campaign as a King than anything since... and it'd be even better if the rotational flux didn't lead to various backdoor turnovers or the shot was falling consistently. Players improving or staying level in their 30s is not unheard of. By nature, we do not expect it. We watched Doug Christie and Chris Webber and Vlade reach cliffs and dive. We figured Brad had done the same. I'm glad he wore a parachute.

Miller's night won't be the biggest news of today, but I figured it deserved attention before we, ahem, move on.

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Post-game comments

Last night, while being interviewed after the game, Brad gave props to Vlade for teaching him how to time passes.

Vlade was effective despite his conditioning until he was who knows how old. (Literally, nobody knows how old he is, only how old he says he is.) So with Brad's improved physique and work ethic, I'd put my money on him being a big part of our next championship-caliber team.

And hopefully he can pass the big-man-passer torch to Hawes

Ron Artest: A legend in his own mind.

by LeaguePassAddict on Jan 31, 2008 11:15 AM PST reply actions

Theoretically Vlade was 36 when he left the kings

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Jan 31, 2008 1:42 PM PST up reply actions

Insane

I won't call you an optimist, but I will call you INSANE. Brad has had a great year and I'm really happy that he actually worked in the offseason for the first time in his career. For all the good Brad has done this year, Brad's been hurt nearly every other year, and he tends to wear down at the end of the season. I'm not saying it's impossible for this newly found work ethic to continue, but I also can't completely rule out being attacked by evil space monkeys from Mars.

by Carl on Jan 31, 2008 1:43 PM PST reply actions

Good Points

Especially about the space monkeys, as they have haunted me before and will again.

The thing is, if Brad were making $8 million and not $11-12 million we would think of him as roughly a fair value player. And he could very well continue to be productive for the next two and half years of his contract - we really don't have to worry about him losing a step or getting less vertical, do we?

Shed the payroll of 2/3 of the hydra (Miller has lost his hydra status - it is now K9(woof!), 'Reef and lobster claws) and it becomes very easy to live with Brad's contract. Put someone beside him that can block shots and move around in the low post and you may have something.

And lest we forget - Brad Miller is the guy that gets the ball to Kevin Martin more than anyone else, especially around the basket. Life gets tougher for Martin if Miller is not around.

Gotta go - I hear monkeys!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 31, 2008 1:50 PM PST up reply actions

It's not the monkey's you're hearing

It's Chris shrieking from seeing the monkey in his closet (again).

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Jan 31, 2008 2:13 PM PST up reply actions

Those rhinos can move

Top speed, Rhinoceros unicornis: 35 mph.

Ballhype

by jgurney on Jan 31, 2008 2:13 PM PST reply actions

Yes but

can a rhinoceros cut to the basket and orbit 6 inches off the ground 3 feet in any direction while bouncing the ball off his nose drinking a keystone and getting his hair cornrowed? I think not. Advantage Brad Miller

(Brad receives Extra Bonus Points for driving an RV.)

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Jan 31, 2008 2:16 PM PST reply actions