Will Mike Miller Rise (and Shoot) Again?

One of the more bizarre on-court storylines of 2008-09 was the "death" of Mike Miller.

Long one of the NBA's great shooters, Miller's single season in Minnesota reeked of miscast talent. The great Britt Robson of Secrets of the City called Miller's Timberwolf season "one of the most perverse, distasteful wastes of player's tailor-made role on a ballclub" he's ever witnessed. It is incredibly difficult to disagree.

What happened to Miller last season, when he averaged single digits (9.9 points per game) for the only time in his career? And can it be reversed in Washington? Let's find out.

In short, Miller stopped shooting last year. This is a problem, because (one would assume) Minnesota traded for Miller to provide some shooting help. Miller rates as the No. 24 most efficient shooter of all time, and the No. 56 most efficient scorer ever. His career three-point shooting percentage rates in the top 30 in NBA history. Only 33 players in NBA history have made more threes.

Since the exile of Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, Minnesota has had a set of pretty awful guards. Miller and fellow new Wizard Randy Foye were supposed to change that. Instead, Miller turned into a timid shooter more willing to set up his (usually bad) teammates than to pull the trigger.


Miller went from 12 field goal attempts per 36 minutes in his final Memphis season to just over eight in Minnesota. He lopped off a full quarter of his attempts ... to get Sebastian Telfair more looks? Sure, he became a bit of a Renaissance Man in the process, boosting his rebound and assist frequency to their highest career levels. Something tells me it was not worth it.

If in order to be a better rebounder and passer Miller needs to abandon his jumper, Miller needs to stop trying to be a better rebounder and passer. That extra rebound and extra assist ain't worth the six or so points M.M. gives up. Minnesota traded for a Ray Allen but got an awful version of John Salmons.

Washington needs the Ray Allen version. Leave the rebounding to Brendan Haywood and Antawn Jamison. Leave the passing to Gilbert Arenas. Just shoot, baby, and everything will be right in the House of Miller again.