Andre Miller 2007 Season Review
Stats: 36.7 MPG / 17.0 PPG / 49.2% FG / 8.8% 3PT / 77.2% FT / 4.2 RPG / 6.9 APG / 1.28 SPG / 0.7 BPG / 2.51 TOV
Andre Miller hands-down was the team MVP in my book. He had career highs in shooting % and points per game. Committing only 2.5 turnovers per game was the second-best season of his career. He controlled the flow of the game and made big shots all year. The one thing he did especially well was stop opponents’ runs. Whenever the Sixers were on a scoring drought, he would come down, work his way into the short corner and nail that 15-footer.
Defensively Miller was at his strongest against the bigger point guards in the NBA. He completely forced Chauncey Billups out of his post offense by not allowing him to easily back Andre down. Many people have criticized his perimeter defense against quick guards like Tony Parker, Chris Paul, etc. Guess what, people, no one in the NBA has proven they can keep those types of point guards in front. I find myself yelling at the TV every time I watch a game for defenders to keep guys in front. So to judge him on the basis of keeping the fastest players in the league in front is a bit unfair. He knows his limitations and gives space to these guys and contests their shots when they pull up. Andre Miller is quite adequate at the point of the 76ers’ defense in my eyes.
Offensively what can you say about this guy? He understands how to get the shots he is comfortable with and capable of making. He is a poor three-point shooter, but he knows that evidenced by him taking only 34 all season. He has a solid post-up game when smaller guards play him and uses his herky jerky ball-handling to get by the bigger defenders. When your point guards shoots 49% (6th among NBA point guards), can you really complain that much?
Grade: A+
What Andre Miller Should Improve
Not exactly sure what more you can expect from a 32-year-old, nine year NBA veteran. But for the sake of being consistent with this series of posts, I came up with something.
Some may say improve his 3-point shooting, and sure that would be great. But I don’t think he has that shot in his game at all. His form and shot trajectory doesn’t lend itself at all for long-range shooting. At this stage of his career there is no sense messing with a 49% shooter.
Another statement I have heard a lot was that this was the best season of his career. I disagree. He increased his offensive numbers, but from a pure point guard standpoint the ‘01-’02 season was undeniably his best. And that is the Andre Miller I want to see for the remainder of his career.
A high assist, solid mid-range shooting point guard whose main purpose is to facilitate offense for the rest of his team. 6.9 assists per game is low for a guy I consider to have great court vision and pass-making ability. More on this in the “Ideal Role Section.”
Should Miller Be on the Roster Next Season?
If he isn’t, the Philadelphia 76ers will have regressed. I will continue to preach my assertion that the center then point guard positions are the most difficult to fill with a better than average player. And we have a top 10 NBA point guard right now. Not only that, but he fits perfect with the up-tempo style of play and inexperienced roster we currently have.
Now if you tell me we can move Miller for O.J. Mayo or Jarryd Bayless in the draft or Rajon Rondo as a player currently in the NBA then we are talking.
Ideal Role for Andre Miller on the 2008 Team
This one is easy because I don’t think Miller’s role changes all that much. He still should be the silent leader that he was last season. But I would like for him to be more of a passer than the scorer he was in ‘08. There is obviously a caveat to that statement. If the Sixers don’t do anything to upgrade the roster on the offensive end (i.e. a shooter and/or scoring post player) Andre Miller will have no choice but shoulder more of a scoring role.
I read some nonsense a while ago in the Deep Sixer comments about Andre Miller not being a drive-and-kick type of passer and that Andre Iguodala is much better at that. That was one of the dumbest things I read. Look at that ‘01-’02 Cavs team Miller was on. He was surrounded by shooters, most notably Wesley Person (44% 3pt) and Lamond Murry (42% 3pt). Miller as a 25-year-old third year player went on to lead the league in assists on a 23-53 club. Makes you think what he is capable of in the drive-and-kick game when provided with adequate shooters!
Next - Louis Williams
See all players reviewed in the Evaluating the ‘07-’08 76ers Series
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9 comments ↓
[...] Andre Miller [...]
so Miller is your MVP, same thought here Dannie, nice
I completely agree with everything you said, and I also think that adding a couple of real shooters will make his assists averages go up and his shots go down
I think it’s wonderful what he did this year in such a offensive limited team, with basically no low post presence and no outside shooters
I also think we should keep him and start to think about extending him…
DANNIE: On the mark again. There are three things that really impress me about Miller. One is how smart he is on the floor. When guys were going well he would run the offense and look to distribute. When the team struggled, he would step up and score. He has a great sense of when either one was needed. The second is how patient he is. He will continue to run the offense and stay with the play with his head up looking for his teammates. He doesn’t give up on the play too soon. The third is how calm he is. He is always in control. You can’t tell how much time is left on the shot clock by looking at him. There could be 4 seconds on the clock and he’s still calmly looking for a teammate.
Many people feel that Lou is our PG of the future. I do not. The difference between Miller and Williams is clear. Lou looks for his shot first. Usually he will only look to pass after he is unable to break his man down one on one. Miller looks to run the offense and pass first. He always has his head up. He only looks to score as a second option.
I couldn’t believe all the “trade Miller” talk on Deep Sixer back in Jan/Feb. A lot of people were pointing out what he doesn’t do, meanwhile they are totally oblivious to what he brings to the team every night. Also, no thought is given to how we could replace it. Without Miller, no doubt we would have been the 20-25 win team everyone expected us to be.
I have been a big proponent of extending Miller. I feel it’s the best move for the franchise. He has been very durable and the type of game he plays would lead you to believe he can play at the same level for a few more years. If we can keep him for a few more years we can continue with our progress.
I’m hoping we can move up and draft our PG of the future now. We can’t do much better than Mo and Miller as examples and teachers. Keeping Miller for a few years gives us the time we need to groom a replacement so we don’t regress.
I feel I must put up a general post. I can’t understand why there aren’t more posts about Miller. He has probably been one of the most divisive member of the team from the fan’s perspective. There are lots of strong, differing opinions. I mean loads of people were calling for the Sixers to move him at the deadline. Those same people still think we should move him now or at least at next year’s deadline. Others, myself included, think the Sixers should not only keep him next year but extend him as well. Still others think the Sixers should only keep him through next year and let him walk. That would give us his 10 million to be a player in next year’s free agent market. Some think he’s too old or too limited(no 3pt shot) to keep him. Loads of opinions but no comments here. Very puzzling.
Man he was awesome this past year. We never would have made the playoffs, or won any games there if it wasnt for him. That said I dont think that he wants to or will be here long term. If Lou progresses as I think next season, I see Miller moved at the deadline next season.
Kevin, whether or not you get rid of Miller depends on what the Sixers expect. If they think they have a shot at the title within the next 3 years, you gotta keep Miller, unless you trade him for another really experienced veteran. In the playoffs, the Celtics’ older guys contributed more than their younger ones (not saying the young guys didn’t contribute, but collectively they did less than the older guys). There have been very, very few young championship teams that were really young in the 4 major sports. I think we need Miller if we’re aiming for a title.
If the Sixers’ goal is to develop their young guys with the goal of being a contender in a couple years’ time, then go ahead and see what kind of young talent you can get for Miller.
BTW, I got these ideas of needing older vets to win from this great interview with Kevin Garnett from, as usual, TrueHoop.
Sorry bro, dont agree with you on this one. I dont think Miller is the key to the title. If you want to use the Celtics for example (which is killing me to acknowledge them winning) they started a young guard in Rondo. Then came with the vets to steady the game is needed. That is a formula that works. For instance if Lou started, you just bring a guy off the bench. Those Sam Cassels, Derek Fischers, Lindsey Hunters, etc are always available.
Kevin, I don’t think it matters where you plug in your really good veterans. Instead of a young PG and an older SG (Rondo and Allen), why not an older PG and a younger SG (Miller and Iggy). And except for game 6 of the finals and a few other stretches, Rondo was pretty bad in the playoffs.
So who would you trade Miller for then? If you got back young guys, we’re not championship-caliber for a couple of years. It sounds like you think you can construct a championship team by surrounding a bunch of really good young guys with role-player veterans, and I disagree with that, historically that rarely happens unless those young guys are lights-out superstars. The young guys who were major cogs of recent past championship teams: Duncan, Prince, Bryant, Wade, Parker - you’re not gonna get one of those type of guys for Miller except for maybe a Tayshaun Prince type.
If we can load up this offseason, ala Boston (KG & Allen) then AM helps us. The problem is I don’t see us taking that step to titletown this year, and I don’t think AM wants to be around past this year. My dream scenario is Igoudala traded for a true SG, such as Corey Maggette or Richard Hamilton. Then you sign a FA such as Brand or Jamison. I know this may be a pipe dream, but hey it’s what fans do. That would give us this lineup next year:
Andre Miller
Maggette/Hamilton
Young
Brand/Jamison
Dalembert
With Lou, Carney, and whatever big man you draft coming off the bench.
If you feel you have a real shot to win the title at the deadline next year, you keep Andre Miller. If not, then you trade him and get what you can.
And honestly I just dont see Andre Miller giving us the production that he gave us this past season, for too many more seasons.
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