http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/34331.html
Marty Mac's World: If Miller is to rebound, he'll block out last year
By Martin McNeal -
Last Updated 6:24 am PDT Thursday, October 5, 2006
Is Brad Miller going to play this year?
That's what my friend wanted to know Wednesday at a local eating establishment. Now, this friend knows Miller remains on the Kings' roster. He didn't mean participate, he meant play.
He meant play hard, aggressively; rebound like a maniac; knock lane intruders on their butts and play as if he were trying to earn a new contract instead of sitting on top of one paying him megabucks.
Miller, 30, suffered through an inconsistent 2005-06 regular season and was worse during a first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Any 7-footer who starts, shoots 40.4 percent and averages three rebounds in nearly 28 minutes a game, as Miller did in the playoffs, might want to consider giving some type of rebate to the team or at least his teammates.
It need not be money. The rebate could come in markedly improved performances this season.
Miller publicly has admitted he was terrible against the Spurs in the playoffs, but he was consistent because San Antonio locked him up during the regular season as well. And to hear people talking smack about him is no big deal.
"Hey, this is the NBA," Miller said. "Doesn't everybody talk ... about everybody anyway? That's just the way it is. I just didn't feel comfortable last year, for some reason. It's not like I'm a top-50 player of all time. I'm going to have a (bad) year some time."
The summer didn't provide much relief for Miller. He was a surprise selection for the U.S. Men's National Basketball Team but ended up watching as much of the team's World Championship performance as any of us.
Miller, an outdoors enthusiast, wearing new sneakers with "BM" on the tongue and a deer head on the side of each shoe, said getting his head right is his first order of business.
"I have to forget about this summer," he said.
Miller generally speaks his mind, but he reserved his thoughts about his lack of participation on the national team.
Asked about being used so sparingly, Miller bit his lip -- literally -- and said nothing.
When he was asked if he wanted to continue playing on the national team, Miller's lip again absorbed the pressure of his unusual silence.
Quite often, silence speaks louder than words. And if Miller wants to speak forcefully this season when the Kings can afford nothing less than his best, 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one blocked shot and five hard fouls a night will make him sound as loquacious as the late Richard Pryor.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com
Marty Mac's World: If Miller is to rebound, he'll block out last year
By Martin McNeal -
Last Updated 6:24 am PDT Thursday, October 5, 2006
Is Brad Miller going to play this year?
That's what my friend wanted to know Wednesday at a local eating establishment. Now, this friend knows Miller remains on the Kings' roster. He didn't mean participate, he meant play.
He meant play hard, aggressively; rebound like a maniac; knock lane intruders on their butts and play as if he were trying to earn a new contract instead of sitting on top of one paying him megabucks.
Miller, 30, suffered through an inconsistent 2005-06 regular season and was worse during a first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Any 7-footer who starts, shoots 40.4 percent and averages three rebounds in nearly 28 minutes a game, as Miller did in the playoffs, might want to consider giving some type of rebate to the team or at least his teammates.
It need not be money. The rebate could come in markedly improved performances this season.
Miller publicly has admitted he was terrible against the Spurs in the playoffs, but he was consistent because San Antonio locked him up during the regular season as well. And to hear people talking smack about him is no big deal.
"Hey, this is the NBA," Miller said. "Doesn't everybody talk ... about everybody anyway? That's just the way it is. I just didn't feel comfortable last year, for some reason. It's not like I'm a top-50 player of all time. I'm going to have a (bad) year some time."
The summer didn't provide much relief for Miller. He was a surprise selection for the U.S. Men's National Basketball Team but ended up watching as much of the team's World Championship performance as any of us.
Miller, an outdoors enthusiast, wearing new sneakers with "BM" on the tongue and a deer head on the side of each shoe, said getting his head right is his first order of business.
"I have to forget about this summer," he said.
Miller generally speaks his mind, but he reserved his thoughts about his lack of participation on the national team.
Asked about being used so sparingly, Miller bit his lip -- literally -- and said nothing.
When he was asked if he wanted to continue playing on the national team, Miller's lip again absorbed the pressure of his unusual silence.
Quite often, silence speaks louder than words. And if Miller wants to speak forcefully this season when the Kings can afford nothing less than his best, 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one blocked shot and five hard fouls a night will make him sound as loquacious as the late Richard Pryor.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com
