Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Veteran point guard Andre Miller may be the oldest member of the Denver Nuggets, but he continues to play just as well if not better than some players that are far younger than he is. For that reason Miller is one of the most important players on the Nuggets roster in the postseason.
For years Miller has been one of the most under-appreciated players in the NBA, quietly going out and producing somewhere between 13-17 points per game with somewhere around seven assists or more to go along with it, but as a back up this year he’s averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 26 minutes a game. Miller has never been the quickest or most athletic, but he has always played with a maturity and old-school style that has proven effective for 14 years now.
The Nuggets are generally fast-paced and up and down the court with Ty Lawson running the offense, but when Miller comes in it gives Denver more versatility and a different look offensively that keeps opponents off-balanced. That was evident in the opening game of the Nuggets series against the Golden State Warriors, where Miller scored 28 points on 11-16 shooting in just 27 minutes.
Miller, now 37, signed a three-year deal to remain with the Nuggets through the 2014-2015 season and Denver should be happy that he did. His style of play and veteran leadership has been huge for Denver all season, and should continue to pay dividends throughout the postseason. Miller gives the Nuggets a reserve that can counter Warriors sixth man Jarrett Jack, and the winner of this bench match up could be the deciding factor in the series.
