Re: Mike Miller Is Entering The Draft

[Joe Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

    Mike Miller fits the Pitino-style and may have the look of a winner
in the Havlicek 6th-man mold. Although his numbers aren't so great, I
guess you can compare his stats to those of Antoine as a college
sophomore, since neither kid got that many minutes per game in similar
systems. Bear in mind that UF (like Pitino's 1996 Kentucky squad) was
packed with former McDonald's All Americans such as Donnell Harvey,
Brett Nelson and Ted Dupay. This is probably the last year that Miller
would have been available outside the top three or five picks in the
draft, since he is better than Gugliotta, Shrempf or Van Horn were at
that age. Whether or not he will last until the tenth pick and wear a
Boston Celtics uniform for many years is questionable since Atlanta and
Houston apparently both want to draft him and he has some of the flash
and marquee qualities of Jason Williams.

    On the other hand, it is possible Miller could be a rookie bust
relative to his high draft position. He could take several years to
become a productive pro (if he doesn't lose confidence/motivation  along
the way). He weighs only 215 pounds and his college three-point shooting
is a lot worse than even that of Chauncey Billups. Also, he might not
help a team defensively as a rookie or even be too weak to get minutes
(like Corey Maggette). In terms of physical maturity, this is a bit like
drafting a highschooler. He's not a "man child" in the Kemp or Antoine
mold. In any case, I haven't seen much more than highlights and short
clips of his game over the past two years, so I'm probably full of bunk.
Anytime you hear about a young player compared to Larry Bird, you can't
help but try to follow his career.

    In general, I do think the Celtics should not limit their choices in
the draft  to shotblockers and backup point guards (unless they are much
more convinced than most fans are that they already have one of the
better NBA small forward starting combos in Cheaney/Griffin). Even if
Griffin works out (I don't see why not) it never hurts to have another
wing forward who can see the court, score and pass.

Mike Miller's stats:
28.6 minutes per game
14.1ppg
6.6rpg
2.5apg
1.24spg
FG% .476
3Pt% .338
FT%  .729

****

Way Of The Ray wrote:

> He should go somewhere between 7 and 12.
> Ray