Why won't Mike Miller shoot?

bballshinobi20 · Post #1 » by **bballshinobi20** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:24 am

T-Wolves fans, shine some light on this topic for me please. Mike Miller has been averaging just 9 shot attempts this year in 33.5 minutes. While brick-layers like Randy Foye (13.1 FGA in 34 mins), McCants (9.4 in 19.4 mins) are throwing it up and role players like Ryan Gomes (9.7 FGA), Kevin Love (7.1 FGA) and Telfair (5.7 FGA) are firing at will too.

What is with this trend? Is Mike Miller so unhappy in Minny that he is trying to destroy your chance of winning by not shooting? He should be your second-leading scorer by far but yet he's not even firing. What is wrong?

shrink · Post #2 » by **shrink** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:30 am

bballshinobi20 wrote:T-Wolves fans, shine some light on this topic for me please. Mike Miller has been averaging just 9 shot attempts this year in 33.5 minutes. While brick-layers like Randy Foye (13.1 FGA in 34 mins), McCants (9.4 in 19.4 mins) are throwing it up and role players like Ryan Gomes (9.7 FGA), Kevin Love (7.1 FGA) and Telfair (5.7 FGA) are firing at will too.

What is with this trend? Is Mike Miller so unhappy in Minny that he is trying to destroy your chance of winning by not shooting? He should be your second-leading scorer by far but yet he's not even firing. What is wrong?

Wow -- get your nose out of the numbers and try to do your homework getting to know the people who play in the NBA.

You sound like the guy who is upset he's in the middle of the pack in his fantasy league, and doesn't understand why.

Zeitgeister · Post #3 » by **Zeitgeister** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:32 am

I don't know if its a confidence issue or what, but Miller just isn't looking for his own shot at all. Not even when he has an open shot.

bballshinobi20 · Post #4 » by **bballshinobi20** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:33 am

Well, that's what you guys are for. TWolves news don't make it to national outlets like ESPN... : P

bballshinobi20 · Post #5 » by **bballshinobi20** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:36 am

shrink wrote:
bballshinobi20 wrote:T-Wolves fans, shine some light on this topic for me please. Mike Miller has been averaging just 9 shot attempts this year in 33.5 minutes. While brick-layers like Randy Foye (13.1 FGA in 34 mins), McCants (9.4 in 19.4 mins) are throwing it up and role players like Ryan Gomes (9.7 FGA), Kevin Love (7.1 FGA) and Telfair (5.7 FGA) are firing at will too.

What is with this trend? Is Mike Miller so unhappy in Minny that he is trying to destroy your chance of winning by not shooting? He should be your second-leading scorer by far but yet he's not even firing. What is wrong?

Wow -- get your nose out of the numbers and try to do your homework getting to know the people who play in the NBA.

You sound like the guy who is upset he's in the middle of the pack in his fantasy league, and doesn't understand why.

Yea I play fantasy basketball and I own MIke MIller. He's one player I draft every year because I like his game, and I am pretty sure I know more about basketball than you do, but that's beside the point.

You sound like you are quite ok with that trend then. If you really are a TWolves fan then shouldn't you want the better shooter to be taking the majority of the shots? Or maybe you actually think those guys are better options than Mike Miller...? I guess you did your homework and know the people who play in the NBA lol

hijacktheparade · Post #6 » by **hijacktheparade** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:15 am

Attempting to sabotage the team seems like a logical reason to me.

shrink · Post #7 » by **shrink** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:19 am

Mike Miller was thrilled to join the Wolves. He grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota, and as a kid, his fondest memories were driving to the Twin cities to watch the Vikings, the Twins, and yes .. the Timberwolves. He has the biggest, stupidest grin I've ever seen from a guy traded to the Wolves, and even when he was injured with a twisted ankle last week, I was happy to see him getting out of his seat in the second row during every time out to join the team huddle in his suit. He definitely is not trying to damage the Wolves because he's angry being here.

Wolves fans wonder about his lower production, and I think you'll see an increase under McHale. If you watch him play, he's certainly active, but the young players don't set great screens. I think he also is trying to help get the other players involved. I'm not worried though -- I think that all signs point to increased offensive production from Miller.

aznkillabeezZz · Post #8 » by **aznkillabeezZz** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:59 am

I don't know but he can't get spacing to get a shot off it seems. He's looks really slow and defenders can lockdown D him pretty well.

RD&KG2 · Post #9 » by **RD&KG2** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:50 am

bballshinobi20 wrote:
shrink wrote:
bballshinobi20 wrote:T-Wolves fans, shine some light on this topic for me please. Mike Miller has been averaging just 9 shot attempts this year in 33.5 minutes. While brick-layers like Randy Foye (13.1 FGA in 34 mins), McCants (9.4 in 19.4 mins) are throwing it up and role players like Ryan Gomes (9.7 FGA), Kevin Love (7.1 FGA) and Telfair (5.7 FGA) are firing at will too.

What is with this trend? Is Mike Miller so unhappy in Minny that he is trying to destroy your chance of winning by not shooting? He should be your second-leading scorer by far but yet he's not even firing. What is wrong?

Wow -- get your nose out of the numbers and try to do your homework getting to know the people who play in the NBA.

You sound like the guy who is upset he's in the middle of the pack in his fantasy league, and doesn't understand why.

Yea I play fantasy basketball and I own MIke MIller. He's one player I draft every year because I like his game, and I am pretty sure I know more about basketball than you do, but that's beside the point.

You sound like you are quite ok with that trend then. If you really are a TWolves fan then shouldn't you want the better shooter to be taking the majority of the shots? Or maybe you actually think those guys are better options than Mike Miller...? I guess you did your homework and know the people who play in the NBA lol

Everyone knows that I know the most about basketball. More than anyone in the world.

GopherIt! · Post #10 » by **GopherIt!** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 12:12 pm

^
I hate to say it, but I know more about basketball than all you guys. Just sayin' n all. I mean I'd never toot my own horn and say I was the best if I didn't already know it. (Why would I say I'm the best if it ain't true?) When you know your the best at something that is the best time to speak out and let everyone else know that, 'hey, this guy says he's the best, if he's for real then he truly is the best.' Some people would say that's not humble but who cares? I'm the best and I know it. So there. Period. End of Story.

john2jer · Post #11 » by **john2jer** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:30 pm

bballshinobi20 wrote:
shrink wrote:
bballshinobi20 wrote:T-Wolves fans, shine some light on this topic for me please. Mike Miller has been averaging just 9 shot attempts this year in 33.5 minutes. While brick-layers like Randy Foye (13.1 FGA in 34 mins), McCants (9.4 in 19.4 mins) are throwing it up and role players like Ryan Gomes (9.7 FGA), Kevin Love (7.1 FGA) and Telfair (5.7 FGA) are firing at will too.

What is with this trend? Is Mike Miller so unhappy in Minny that he is trying to destroy your chance of winning by not shooting? He should be your second-leading scorer by far but yet he's not even firing. What is wrong?

Wow -- get your nose out of the numbers and try to do your homework getting to know the people who play in the NBA.

You sound like the guy who is upset he's in the middle of the pack in his fantasy league, and doesn't understand why.

Yea I play fantasy basketball and I own MIke MIller. He's one player I draft every year because I like his game, and I am pretty sure I know more about basketball than you do, but that's beside the point.

You sound like you are quite ok with that trend then. If you really are a TWolves fan then shouldn't you want the better shooter to be taking the majority of the shots? Or maybe you actually think those guys are better options than Mike Miller...? I guess you did your homework and know the people who play in the NBA lol

Reading a 3 month old fantasy basketball magazine and pulling stats off espn.com doesn't mean you know basketball.

Randy Foye is hardly a bricklayer. Nor is McCants, normally. Both shot 40% from 3pt last year. McCants this year has regressed, likely due to trying to earn a big contract and the pressure that comes with it. Gomes is shooting above 40% from behind the arc as well. Mike Miller brings so much more to the team than just scoring, but I'd say the issues lie more in coaching and system then your stupid notion that Mike Miller is so unhappy playing for his "hometown" team that he's trying to sabotage their chances of winning. That's just idiotic.

Oh and I'd put my money on shrink everyday of the week, except Sundays, he seems off his game on Sundays. ;-)

Post #12 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:09 pm

Miller was injured, but even before that he was not shooting much. This was a trend pre-season also. He does not take stupid shots and that limits his shot attempts. Our style under wittman was more ploting, more methodical. Under Mchale is is chaotic. Not sure how that will effect Miller long-term but it might. If he was to force more shots he would get more attempts, but at the expense of %. He is not a focused/creating scoring option. Rather he is someone that feeds off other players.

btw, he loves it in MN. It is insulting to yourself to call yourself a great basketball mind and then lay an egg like that one.

shrink · Post #13 » by **shrink** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:19 pm

bballshinobi20 wrote: He's one player I draft every year because I like his game, and I am pretty sure I know more about basketball than you do, but that's beside the point.

Really? Did CBS Sportsline see your high scores in their Expert Leagues and personally invite you to play in a league against their writers? Was your play that season written about all year as an example of how to play fantasy basketball? Did you win their league with 92 of 96 points in a roto? Did you turn down a feature writer job with them?

You should be more careful about who you are arrogant with.

Krapinsky · Post #14 » by **Krapinsky** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:57 pm

shrink wrote:
bballshinobi20 wrote: He's one player I draft every year because I like his game, and I am pretty sure I know more about basketball than you do, but that's beside the point.

Really? Did CBS Sportsline see your high scores in their Expert Leagues and personally invite you to play in a league against their writers? Was your play that season written about all year as an example of how to play fantasy basketball? Did you win their league with 92 of 96 points in a roto? Did you turn down a feature writer job with them?

You should be more careful about who you are arrogant with.

All bow down to serve Shrink the fantasy basketball god

shrink · Post #15 » by **shrink** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:01 pm

Drat. I had come back to remove my last post, because it is so arrogant and hypocritical.

Post #16 » by **Calinks** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:03 pm

So shrink ... about thos fantasy tips! Help Meh!

Krapinsky · Post #17 » by **Krapinsky** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:30 pm

Criticizing the OPs arrogance aside, he is right here. Miller's unselfishness is completely frustrating. At half time of the Lakers game he had attempted one shot. One!

I contribute this to several factors:

Our post players, essentially Jefferson and Smith are blackholes on the block. Nothing is coming out.

Foye's (or the coach's?) inability to run an offense.

Miler's lack of motion in the offense, and lastly just being too unselfish.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #18 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:59 pm

Mike Miller has 69 three point attempts this year, Randy Foye also has 69 attempts..... Rashad McCants has 68.....

theGreatRC · Post #19 » by **theGreatRC** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:14 pm

Mike Miller is a spot up shooter.

Every time he gets the ball, it is too late for him to get a clean look; he isn't that kind of player who only needs a string of light to get a shot off, he is an efficient scorer that wants to get the best shot possible.

Just look at the two-man game Jefferson and Mike had in the third quarter. They kept passing it in and out until Mike got a clean look and popped it right away.

We should keep doing that: Post Al on the left block and have Mike on the corner also on the left side, and just keep passing in and out until a defender slips.

Post #20 » by **magee** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:25 pm

The ball doesn't move on the perimeter. I watched a little of the Timberwolves this season and some of them against the Lakers last night. The Lakers sucked on offense, but they played enough off the ball to force dribble drives yet close enough to force kick-outs. Minnesota doesn't have guys that mesh together on the court. Mike Miller is trying to be a playmaker. He usually gets his shots within the flow of the offense, but I have yet to, in my brief viewings of Minnesota, seen him get in a flow of the game. He may be too unselfish, but no one else on the team has been that way at all.

Plus it doesn't help having what, 9 guys that can play the 4? Gomes, Smith, Jefferson, Madsen, Cardinal, Love.... okay, so 6. But when three of those guys are playing at once, it's not helping the team out because they haven't adapted their games enough to warrant being played next to each other. And that trickles down to the guards. Foye is a scorer who has become a better passer. McCants is all scorer, and he's been a letdown as a starter. Definitely a career back-up from here on out. Brewer is a small forward who, before the torn ACL, never looked confident in his offensive game. Telfair goes to the bucket the second he sees an open lane. Miller is an open shooter who has a nice drive.

Miller is playing out of his element. Wouldn't surprise me if he's dealt at the deadline, for his own sake.