In this edition of the NBA PM: Nate McMillan could be switching point guards…Nick Young given a shot at starting…Tyrus Thomas needs surgery after weight room forearm fracture…Kevin Martin having surgery too…HOOPSWORLD chats.
Dre Starting? Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan is mulling over a lineup switch at point guard and may start Andre Miller tonight against the San Antonio Spurs instead of Steve Blake. McMillan hasn't confirmed this, but he also didn't deny it either today at the team's shootaround.
"You'll see, we'll see tonight. I've got 'til 7:30 tonight to make that decision," McMillan told Brian Smith of the Columbian.
While that doesn't sound like much, it's a strong statement from McMillan. Previously his responses about his point guards have been more emphatic in his intentions to keep Blake as the starter. For McMillan to give the response he did shows he not only is thinking about it but that some part of him seems to already realize it's the best idea.
Part of it is deferment to his start player, Brandon Roy, who has said from the beginning he feels more comfortable with Blake. Of course, when you are shooting 40% from the field after five games like Roy and your team is struggling a bit, perhaps it's time for the coach do his job. Let the coach do his job.
Let's look at the numbers this season for Blake and Miller.
Blake
6.4 points, 3.4 assists, 1.6 turnovers, 0.8 steals, 34.4 FG%, 38.9 3FG%, 26.0 minutes
Miller
8.2 points, 5.0 assists, 1.0 turnovers, 0.2 steals, 31.6 FG%, 20.0 3FG%, 25.0 minutes
The shooting for both players has been generally bad (the entire team is only at 42.2%) except for Blake when he gets beyond the arc. Miller seems to have been a more effective passer in less minutes, turning the ball over less, than Blake. Miller also turned in 11 dimes and no turnovers in the last outing, a home loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
With the Blazers sitting at only 2-3 on the season it might just be time for Coach McMillan to give in to what everyone figured was inevitable anyway – making Miller the starter.
Nick Young is Back: First he was the next thing, then Washington Wizards guard Nick Young got buried in the rotation. Tonight? Young is a starter and it's because he has been playing well in practice, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
Of course, injuries also help. The Wizards have been down Antawn Jamison, have dealt with missing Caron Butler, and now Mike Miller is out about a week with a sprained shoulder. Perhaps it's not so much what Young has done as it is about having healthy bodies on the floor.
"It's another opportunity," Coach Flip Saunders said. "I'm giving him a shot to see what he can do.
"When you're on a team where there is a lot of competition at those spots, what you need to do is take advantage of any opportunity you can get. Usually good players, that's what they do."
Is it just me, or does that sound a bit like an ultimatum for Young?
Tyrus Thomas Out 4-6 Weeks: Is it just me or are these weight room injuries happening more and more? Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas hurt his arm today in the weight room, according to Nick Friedel of ESPN Chicago.
"Tyrus hurt himself in the weight room a little bit, so he's going to get an x-ray," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Hopefully everything's fine. I'm not even exactly sure how he got hurt yet. He kind of tweaked his arm a little bit and he's getting an x-ray. He's pretty sore. Hopefully, he's fine.
"I think he was doing some type of pull-up or whatever," Del Negro said. "He kind of injured his arm a little bit. It's just unfortunate."
The Bulls followed up with this press release, and it's not good news for Thomas:
Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas suffered a fractured radius of his left forearm during a weight training session this morning at practice. X-rays confirmed the injury and he will undergo surgery tomorrow. The surgery will be performed at Rush, by team physicians Dr. Brian Cole and Dr. John Fernandez, and assisted by Dr. Mark Cohen.
Thomas is expected to be out four to six weeks. In four games (three starts) this season, the Louisiana State product has averaged 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.75 blocks in 21.0 minutes per game.
Look for rookie Taj Gibson to get even more playing time with Thomas out for a while.
Good luck to Thomas on his recovery.
Update on Kevin Martin: Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin will have surgery on Monday for the hairline fracture in his left wrist according to Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee.
Martin was told playing through the injury was not an option, but it should be made clear he wanted to if he could. Martin has taken some heat from fans, unfairly, about playing through injuries.
He'll likely be out 6-8 weeks for sure. Martin is averaging 30.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in five games.
With Martin out Kings head coach Paul Westphal indicated point guard Beno Udrih would move into the starting lineup, at least initially, but rookie Tyreke Evans would still be the lead guard.
Good luck to Martin on his recovery.
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