http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14040245p-14871881c.html
Injuries force Miller to go on offensive
The Kings center recently has doubled his shot attempts.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, January 5, 2006
Brad Miller went home Tuesday night, mulled the numbers and shook his head.
"I was thinking that to myself last night, Man, 22 shots?" said Miller, whose Kings lost to Philadelphia despite his 36 points on 22 attempts. "I can't imagine averaging 25 shots a night like (76ers guard Allen) Iverson. That would be insane."
Consider this borderline insanity.
The Kings' jack of all offensive trades has turned his attention to the scoring side, picking up slack left by injuries to Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim in a development that is entirely necessary. Only in the most dire of circumstances does Miller let loose like this, his sometimes passive nature giving way to the shooter within.
He is the reluctant scorer, the big man with big-time touch from all ranges, who is more comfortable distributing than dominating. Yet in the three games since Abdur-Rahim's jaw was broken against Portland on Dec. 26, Miller has opted for the latter.
After averaging 9.7 shots in his first 27 games, he has put up 19 attempts per game in the last three, his scoring nearly doubling as well. Miller has averaged 26.3 points in the stretch after scoring just 12.1 points per game in the first 12 games of December.
All of it, of course, is no accident. Miller said he spent much of the early season making the new guys comfortable, thinking pass first, so Wells and Abdur-Rahim, among others, could fit in. He remains the team's assists leader, the one dubbed "point-center" by Wells, and has had four 10-assist outings this season. But without so many mouths to feed, he's free to take a take a few bites himself.
"With those guys out, I know I've got to shoot the ball," said Miller, whose 51.7 shooting percentage is second behind Abdur-Rahim among Kings regulars and 15th in the league. "That's why my assists have been dropping, because I've been looking to get those shots in."
The question of Miller and his offensive potential rears its head from time to time, this being the latest. But Kings assistant Elston Turner said the coaching staff doesn't urge Miller to shoot more because the team's system isn't built that way. It is an equal-opportunity offense, with little room for forcing looks that aren't there.
What's more, Miller's looks most often come off screens, while his athleticism - or lack thereof - isn't the reason he finds open shots. NBA general managers didn't vote him the "player who does the most with the least" in the league for nothing.
"He's not the kind of guy who's going to (create) his own shot," Turner said. "It has to work in the system. Anytime it's available in the system, then yeah, you take advantage of it. I don't care if it's 50 shots a night."
The approach fits Miller's persona.
"We don't want to put any pressure on him, saying, Man, you've got to shoot more balls," Turner said. "You take whatever they give you. That's the way our offense works."
The defense, on the other hand, is another matter. Turner said Miller can do more on the other end, even with the added offensive load.
"He needs to improve his awareness defensively," Turner said. "He gives up low-post position too easy. I'd like to see a little more strength in his boxing out, a little more rebounding. I think guys come over his back too much. I don't know if that's just fundamental boxing out or athleticism. That's two different things there."
Still, Miller's rebounding has improved with Wells and Abdur-Rahim out. The duo accounted for a combined 14 rebounds per game before they went down. Miller has averaged 10.3 rebounds since Wells was hurt Dec. 19, surpassing him for the team lead (8.1 overall).
"Bonzi's not there to steal rebounds anymore," Miller said. "I kept telling him he was stealing at least two and a half out of my hands (per game). With him out, I've been trying to get in there a little more."
And more, for the time being, is exactly what's needed.
"(Miller) can put up to 30 or 40 shots, as long as we win," forward Kenny Thomas said. "But it's not even about him getting up 20 shots, or 15. I think the biggest thing is if we win."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Injuries force Miller to go on offensive
The Kings center recently has doubled his shot attempts.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, January 5, 2006
Brad Miller went home Tuesday night, mulled the numbers and shook his head.
"I was thinking that to myself last night, Man, 22 shots?" said Miller, whose Kings lost to Philadelphia despite his 36 points on 22 attempts. "I can't imagine averaging 25 shots a night like (76ers guard Allen) Iverson. That would be insane."
Consider this borderline insanity.
The Kings' jack of all offensive trades has turned his attention to the scoring side, picking up slack left by injuries to Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim in a development that is entirely necessary. Only in the most dire of circumstances does Miller let loose like this, his sometimes passive nature giving way to the shooter within.
He is the reluctant scorer, the big man with big-time touch from all ranges, who is more comfortable distributing than dominating. Yet in the three games since Abdur-Rahim's jaw was broken against Portland on Dec. 26, Miller has opted for the latter.
After averaging 9.7 shots in his first 27 games, he has put up 19 attempts per game in the last three, his scoring nearly doubling as well. Miller has averaged 26.3 points in the stretch after scoring just 12.1 points per game in the first 12 games of December.
All of it, of course, is no accident. Miller said he spent much of the early season making the new guys comfortable, thinking pass first, so Wells and Abdur-Rahim, among others, could fit in. He remains the team's assists leader, the one dubbed "point-center" by Wells, and has had four 10-assist outings this season. But without so many mouths to feed, he's free to take a take a few bites himself.
"With those guys out, I know I've got to shoot the ball," said Miller, whose 51.7 shooting percentage is second behind Abdur-Rahim among Kings regulars and 15th in the league. "That's why my assists have been dropping, because I've been looking to get those shots in."
The question of Miller and his offensive potential rears its head from time to time, this being the latest. But Kings assistant Elston Turner said the coaching staff doesn't urge Miller to shoot more because the team's system isn't built that way. It is an equal-opportunity offense, with little room for forcing looks that aren't there.
What's more, Miller's looks most often come off screens, while his athleticism - or lack thereof - isn't the reason he finds open shots. NBA general managers didn't vote him the "player who does the most with the least" in the league for nothing.
"He's not the kind of guy who's going to (create) his own shot," Turner said. "It has to work in the system. Anytime it's available in the system, then yeah, you take advantage of it. I don't care if it's 50 shots a night."
The approach fits Miller's persona.
"We don't want to put any pressure on him, saying, Man, you've got to shoot more balls," Turner said. "You take whatever they give you. That's the way our offense works."
The defense, on the other hand, is another matter. Turner said Miller can do more on the other end, even with the added offensive load.
"He needs to improve his awareness defensively," Turner said. "He gives up low-post position too easy. I'd like to see a little more strength in his boxing out, a little more rebounding. I think guys come over his back too much. I don't know if that's just fundamental boxing out or athleticism. That's two different things there."
Still, Miller's rebounding has improved with Wells and Abdur-Rahim out. The duo accounted for a combined 14 rebounds per game before they went down. Miller has averaged 10.3 rebounds since Wells was hurt Dec. 19, surpassing him for the team lead (8.1 overall).
"Bonzi's not there to steal rebounds anymore," Miller said. "I kept telling him he was stealing at least two and a half out of my hands (per game). With him out, I've been trying to get in there a little more."
And more, for the time being, is exactly what's needed.
"(Miller) can put up to 30 or 40 shots, as long as we win," forward Kenny Thomas said. "But it's not even about him getting up 20 shots, or 15. I think the biggest thing is if we win."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
