Newly acquired veteran point guard Andre Miller said Tuesday he expects to start for the Portland Trail Blazers during the team’s upcoming 2009-10 season.The battle between Miller and incumbent starter Steve Blake for the team’s starting point guard position has yet to officially begin — training camp starts Sept. 29.
Miller said Blake is a “great player,” and stated that he wants to do what is best for the Blazers.But Miller, 33, also said he believes he’s earned the right to be an NBA starter based off a consistent, productive 10-year career. The Los Angeles native averaged 14.6 points, 7.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds during a decade-long stretch in which he has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.
“I’m going in there as the starting point guard — there’s nothing else to it,” Miller said. “I look at it as a challenge. Nothing is handed to you. So I have to go in there with the right attitude, knowing that, this is a point guard spot that is going to have to be battled for.”
