Reborn
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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Comments
Post-game comments
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
by LeaguePassAddict on Jan 31, 2008 11:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Theoretically Vlade was 36 when he left the kings
by pookeyguru on Jan 31, 2008 1:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Insane
by Carl on Jan 31, 2008 1:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Good Points
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!
by section214 on Jan 31, 2008 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's not the monkey's you're hearing
by pookeyguru on Jan 31, 2008 2:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Those rhinos can move
by jgurney on Jan 31, 2008 2:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yes but
(Brad receives Extra Bonus Points for driving an RV.)
by pookeyguru on Jan 31, 2008 2:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

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