Notebook: Roy out; Miller on 52 and Roy; McMillan on Webster and Brown
PORTLAND — The Trail Blazers will play at least one more game without All-Star guard Brandon Roy. And the number will likely rise to two, Portland coach Nate McMillan said.
Roy, who is recovering from a strained right hamstring, was held out of Monday’s contest against Charlotte at the Rose Garden.
“He feels better,” McMillan said. “But he still feels it.”
The Blazers announced prior to tipoff Roy will also miss Wednesday’s road game against Utah. He will then be re-evaluated before a home contest Thursday against San Antonio.
McMillan acknowledged Roy is unlikely to play against the Spurs, though, since he will probably not practice with Portland before Thursday’s matchup.
But McMillan will consult with lead athletic trainer Jay Jensen and team doctors before making a decision.
“We’ll have to see what he is doing with his rehab,” said McMillan, who added that Roy has been running but not “doing anything live.”
Should Roy not be cleared to play versus the Spurs, the earliest he could take the court is Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Big night
Andre Miller’s 52-point game was still making waves Monday.
Miller scored a career-high 52 during an overtime road victory over Dallas last Saturday. The 11-year NBA veteran shot 70.9 percent (22 of 31) from the field, and his 22 made baskets set a new franchise record.
Miller said his scoring outburst was “fun,” mainly because his godfather, Ben Furnace
, was in attendance.
Meanwhile, McMillan marveled over two key facts. The first being that none of Miller’s 22 makes came off assists. The second that out of Miller’s 52 points, only three were via a 3-pointer — and it was the lone 3 Miller hoisted the entire game.
“It had to be a really great performance, because I didn’t feel that he was that hot,” McMillan said. “It wasn’t forced. It was in the flow of the game.”
McMillan added, though, that Miller’s record performance will not affect his future playing time during the fourth quarter.
Miller, Steve Blake and Jerryd Bayless have all received varying action on the court during the past month in the final 12 minutes. The primary reason being that the Blazers have attempted to address their lack of a center with speed and perimeter shooting. Thus, McMillan has often turned to the point guard with the hottest hand, rather than playing a predetermined rotation.
“It’s almost a roll of the dice sometimes,” McMillan said. “You’re trying to get a feel for who may have it and who may not.”
No problem
Miller said there was no truth to the idea that he will have to adapt his game again once Roy returns to the lineup.
Playing with Roy has never been an issue, Miller said.
“Everybody’s pretty much blown it up,” Miller said. “It’s just simple basketball.”
Miller said he can play with and adjust to any type of player, adding that he understands perfectly well how to deliver the ball to a team’s star player.
“I don’t need the ball in my hand all the time,” Miller said. “My job is to get the team going; get guys in position to score the ball, regardless of who it is.”
Needing more
McMillan said the Blazers need more offensive production from small forward Martell Webster.
Webster is averaging 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds this season, and McMillan said Webster has been one of Portland’s most consistent players.
“We were playing well when he was shooting well,” McMillan said.
But the fifth-year Seattle native is shooting just 25 percent (6 of 24) from the field in his last three games, including a 1-for-10 stretch heading into Monday’s contest against the Bobcats.
“He’s a big part of what we do,” McMillan said. “And his ability to knock down those shots is important.”
Kind words
McMillan had heavy praise for Bobcats coach Larry Brown, who he referred to as one of the most accomplished basketball coaches in the history of the game.
“He’s forgotten a lot more stuff than I know,” McMillan said laughing.
Brown was named NBA Eastern Conference coach of the Month for January, after leading Charlotte to a 12-4 record during the month.
“He’s a coach’s coach. He believes in the fraternity,” McMillan said. “He loves what he does.”
