Miller on Clippers head coach Doc Rivers push to cover up the Lakers championship banners during home games at the Staples Center: “I love it! It’s about time. You cannot tell me that any Clippers coaches before have not thought about that and gone to management and actually said something. It took Doc Rivers to come in here. You play in the same building, how could you not cover them up? I think it’s a brilliant move. You are telling your team: ‘We’re taking over L.A., and we respect the banners…but this is our time.”
Kerr on what will be the biggest obstacle for the Miami Heat to get back to the NBA finals: “Injuries obviously play a role every single year, but to me it would be the emotional fatigue of trying to get back to the Finals for the fourth straight year. It hasn’t been done since the mid-80s with the Celtics. Teams have been scheming and planning for Miami now for three years, trying to figure out how to beat them. There is a lot of stress that comes with that kind of a run that Miami has been on. If they are able to three-peat, it will be an incredible accomplishment. It will surpass everything that they’ve already done.”
Kerr on how far LeBron James has come in the last two years: “The story is how far LeBron has come in the last two years on every level. Where he was three years ago with “The Decision”, his play in the Finals against Dallas, the way he handled the post-game interview after Game 6 and the comments he made. He was really at a low point. What he has done the last two years is remarkable. He handles himself with grace and class. He’s elevated his name. He is now a champion, he carries himself like one. I think it’s fantastic to see the resilience, particularly in modern society with what he faces. I love what LeBron has done and I have a ton of respect for him. He’s on his way. He’s already top 10 [all-time]. Beyond that, we’ll see where he goes.”
Miller on Chicago Bulls’ point guard Derrick Rose’s return from injury: “He took enough time off. Don’t you think he should have come back in MVP form? I’ve always told people the one player I would open my wallet and pay to see is Derrick Rose. I’m so happy to see him back to his MVP form. The question is: Is he going to be able to sustain this? Is his coach going to think about resting him on some of those back-to-back nights? We all know it’s a long season. We know how tough and ferocious he is when he attacks the paint, but he’s going to have a bull’s-eye on his back. I hope the durability is there in the long haul.”
Miller on Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony’s potential foray into free agency: “Everyone wants to be wooed and go through that process. What I would say to Carmelo is, ‘be careful what you ask for.’ We saw what happened with LeBron. Right now you play in the number one media market in the world in terms of professional basketball. What better place to be successful and try to win a championship than in New York. It would be hard to imagine him leaving there. The grass isn’t always greener. The grass was greener for LeBron and he’s won back-to-back [championships], but what he went through to get there was such a firestorm.”
Miller on the challenges facing the Heat as they try to win a third straight championship: “The Heat were assembled under such a firestorm. Everything they said or did was scrutinized for good or bad. I think they’ve gotten used to that, winning back-to-back championships. Each and every night, to get up and play at your best, it can be challenging. With the other teams [in the Eastern Conference] getting better, it could be a long haul. As long as you have the best player on the planet, you can never discount the Heat. They always have the ultimate trump card in LeBron James.”
Miller if there is any lingering resentment in Chicago surrounding Derrick Rose and how long it took him to come back from his injury: “If he stays healthy and they win, the fans won’t even second guess his decision to miss all of last season. At the end of the day, all players are the CEO of their own companies. Derrick had to do what is right for him. People considered him the best point guard in the game. To come back possibly in February or March for 15 games and a possible playoff run not knowing if he’s 100% healthy, if you’re not sure and you’ve got to shut it down, you’re running this ship. If he stays relatively healthy and they win, the fans will let it go. The bottom line, it’s all about winning and being healthy.”
Kerr on if fans in Chicago will forgive Derrick Rose for missing the entire season in 2012-13: “Derrick built up a lot of trust with the Chicago fan base before last year. He’s always carried himself so well. He’s a modest guy, soft-spoken and plays so hard. Even though there was frustration last year and a lot of people called him out on-air, including me, I think all that goes out the window. I think the fans will be so excited to see him back. I think he and the Bulls could have handled it a little differently. The right thing to do would be to announce that he was out before the playoffs started. For whatever reason, he didn’t want to make that announcement. I think that was a mistake, but I don’t think it was that big of a deal to where it hurts his reputation. Everyone is going to be excited to see him back. That overrides everything else.”
Miller on the Bulls staying healthy: “My only concern with the Chicago Bulls getting Derrick Rose back healthy is if they can make it to the finish line healthy. When Derrick Rose comes out and says the Heat are their only real competition, no…their health is. Health is the only thing that is holding them back.”
Miller on how he measures the gap between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers: “For us to be talking about the Clippers as if they are the Lakers in the second coming is astonishing. Right now it is Clipper nation in Los Angeles. Without Kobe [Bryant] starting the season and not knowing when he’s going to be back, there is a lot of people jumping off the Laker bandwagon and getting on the Clippers bandwagon. I think [the Lakers] will be competitive, I don’t think they make the playoffs. But it will be interesting with all the changes for the Clippers to see if this team is ready to take the next step. For them to take the next step they have to compete for a championship. The Lakers pride themselves on championships. It’s all about those banners. That’s what separates the two. It’s about the mindset. I think Doc Rivers is bringing that championship mindset to a team that has underachieved for the last 20 or 30 years. We’ll see when the bright lights are on and you have to go out and beat the Spurs, Thunder and Warriors on a nightly basis, let’s see if this team can bring it like we know the Lakers have.”
Kerr on the offseason moves of the New York Knicks and where they fit in the Eastern Conference: “I like the [Andrea] Bargnani move more than most people. This could be a good spot for him. He’s very capable of being a good weapon offensively for the Knicks. They’re a significant step below the four teams ahead of them: Miami, Chicago, Indiana and Brooklyn. They’re going to miss Jason Kidd, the leadership and the ball movement. I’ve watched them a few times in preseason and the ball really sticks in New York. I want to see that ball start to move so they can still get those open three-point looks. That’s going to be the challenge offensively for [Knicks head coach] Mike Woodson. I like their team. I think they’re a playoff team, but I don’t think they’re an elite team in the East.”
Miller on the Knicks chances in the Eastern Conference: I think they’ll be a better team defensively bringing in Metta [World Peace]. If you listen to [Knicks head coach] Mike Woodson, the Knicks took a step back defensively last season, and adding Metta will help toughness-wise and defensively. That’s where this team is going to have to win anywhere from 5-10 ballgames is at the defensive end. Can they do that for an entire season? That remains to be seen. They are probably the fifth best team in the Eastern Conference. It would be great if they could get to that fourth spot, between them and Brooklyn, to get that home court advantage in the playoffs. I never want to count out a proven scorer like Carmelo Anthony. Scoring won’t be an issue, but you’ve got to be able to have a flow in your offense. But right now the flow isn’t there offensively for the Knicks.”
Miller on the challenges Orlando Magic’s rookie Victor Oladipo will face adjusting to point guard during his rookie year: “The only challenging thing for Victor is when you’ve never played that position [point guard] at the highest level, trying to get your teammates involved when you’ve never been in that position before can be very challenging. On top of that, on a very young team there are a lot of guys he’ll be playing with that really don’t know the NBA game. I’m sure he’ll feel frustrated and challenged at times, playing a position he’s not comfortable with, but I think in the big picture, if he’s able to play two positions, it will help his game in the long haul.”
Kerr compares Victor Oladipo to Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook: “I would compare Oladipo to Russell Westbrook. Westbrook never played point guard at UCLA and was kind of thrust into that role. It’s a similar dynamic. [The Orlando Magic] also parallels Oklahoma City’s condition when Westbrook arrived, neither team [was] expected to do much. It’s a chance to grow. Oladipo is in a position if the team doesn’t have to win, he can figure out the NBA and grow with his teammates. Orlando will get to figure out what he really is and there’s no rush on it. Why not give him his chances, figure out what position he really is and let him grow as he goes?”
Kerr on the Thunder’s chances to win the Western Conference: “I like the Thunder to come out of the West. There are a bunch of teams that have the ability to make it out of the West this year. It’s so loaded. I don’t know if anybody stands above the rest. I like the position Oklahoma City is in. They’re a little bit under the radar for the first time in a few years. I think a lot of people are going against them because of the [Russell] Westbrook injury and [James] Harden’s absence, but let’s not forget they had the best record in the West last year without Harden and they’re numbers offensively and defensively were at the top of the league. I still really like this team, and I like that maybe they can sneak out of the spotlight a little this year.”
Miller on his prediction that Oklahoma City will win the Western Conference without having the best regular season record in the West: “I think Oklahoma City is the best team in the West, but at the end of the regular season they won’t have the best record. The reason I’m saying that is with Westbrook missing anywhere from 15-20 games that first month and a half, I don’t think it’s a priority to have the best record. Come playoff time, if you’re a top three or four seed, you have to have the ability to go into someone’s arena and win a road game. With a healthy Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, [the Thunder] certainly can do that…I have the Thunder coming out of the Western Conference.”
Kerr on how LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are handling the buzz surrounding their free agent status in 2014: “The free agent market all depends on what happens in Miami and whether they opt out or if there is movement there. It’s shaping up to be a big time [free agency] market next year. I did notice that LeBron did handle it really well this time and decided not to talk about it. Carmelo was doing really well for a long time and just couldn’t resist. The lesson is the players are best served just saying, ‘no comment.’ You can’t win if you say anything about free agency. I like the way LeBron handled it and said he’s not going to talk about it and he’ll deal with it next year.”
Miller on Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens adjustment to the NBA from his years as a college coach: “I think he’s a wonderful coach, excellent with X’s and O’s and a motivator. This will come down to Rajon Rondo. He’s had a surly disposition at times with his former players and with [former Celtics head coach] Doc Rivers. It’s [about] the relationship between those two, and how they work through that when he comes back. I thought it was a smart move for [Stevens]. I hope it doesn’t end up like a [University of Kentucky head coach] John Calipari or [University of Louisville head coach] Rick Pitino situation. I’m excited to see how this turns out for him.”
Miller on the Golden State Warriors: “They’ve got a bull’s-eye on their back now. There’s no more sneaking up [on anyone] now. This team has arrived along with [head coach] Mark Jackson. My question marks with the Warriors are if they can stay healthy and who is going to be able to supplant Jarrett Jack’s role off the bench.
Kerr on the Warriors acquiring Andre Iguodala: “The last year or two, Golden State has dramatically improved defensively and on the glass [rebounding]. Iguodala only makes them better. Now they have someone who can guard the opponent’s best wing player at a really high level which is exciting.”
Kerr on how the Warriors stack up against the rest of the Western Conference: “I think the Warriors are a legitimate contender to get to the Finals. But there are six teams in the West that can get there which means two of those contenders are done in the first round. So there are a couple of teams that are set up for a big-time failure in the West regardless of how you look at it…The Warriors are in a great spot and the organization has done a nice job of putting them in this position. But now comes the hard part and trying to go from a really good team to a championship contender is the hardest thing to do in the NBA.”
Miller on Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle: “He is a players’ coach and he might be one of the top five coaches in the league. With a veteran team like the Mavericks and all the reshuffling of the roster, he will put his players in the best position to succeed…and he’s going to do whatever the makeup of this team is. I’m curious to see how he approaches [this season] because this is a new-look Mavericks team…I can’t see a Mark Cuban-owned, Rick Carlisle-coached team missing the playoffs two years in a row. He’s too good of a coach and they’ll find a way to get it done and make the playoffs in Dallas.”
Kerr on how new head coach Mike Brown will help the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense: “Mike Brown will be a tremendous addition to their team defensively. They were a disaster last year in terms of stopping people and competing on a nightly basis. That is Brown’s forte, he’ll tighten things up on that [defensive] end and will develop an identity defensively.”
Kerr on Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving: “It’s time to win. When you’re that talented, eventually you’re measured by your team winning. That’s the next step. There are a lot of factors involved and your team has to stay healthy. But it’s time for him to take the next step as a leader and lead his team to the playoffs.”
Miller on the Cavaliers: “Defensively they will be 10 times better because of Mike Brown. Now they just have to stay healthy. They have all the tools to be a successful Eastern Conference first round [playoff] team. Now they have to go out there and believe in themselves. I have them making the playoffs in the seventh or eighth spot.”
Miller on Kyrie Irving: “Kyrie should be a perennial All-Star. He should challenge Chris Paul, Derrick Rose and Deron Williams as the best point guard [in the league]. But he has to become a better leader. He’s going to have to take hold of that locker room and…hold guys accountable. That’s the mark of being the leader. Sometimes he’ll have to show a little tough love.”
Miller on the Minnesota Timberwolves: “They aren’t elite now but possibly so in the years to come. I like the moves that the Wolves have made [in the off-season]. They are a young team and they are one of those teams that will be fighting for that eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.”
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