Denver Nuggets suspend guard Andre Miller for two games
By Andrew Dill
Nov 7, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw (left) speaks with guard Andre Miller (24) during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
According to Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets have suspended guard Andre Miller for two games due to Conduct Detrimental to the Team as general manager Tim Connelly announced. It all started in last night’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers as Andre Miller reportedly had to be restrained on the Denver bench after feeling disrespected by head coach Brian Shaw after being a healthy-scratch, snapping his 239 consecutive appearance streak.
Here is some quotes from Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post:
"Miller yelled about the disrespect he felt he was being shown by sitting. And if he was being disrespected, he’d do the same to the Nuggets’ first-year head coach.“There’s a time and place for everything,” Shaw said. “In the middle of the arena in front of everyone … I just tried to calm it down.”Asked if Miller understood the reasons for his one-game seat on the bench, Shaw said, “You’ll have to ask him.”"
There is a lot of question marks surrounding this Denver Nuggets team right now, and the frustration is showing, this from the Denver Post:
"It is the team’s longest slide since dropping eight straight to end the 2002-03 season. It is also the Nuggets’ fifth consecutive home loss. And this one came with an increasingly agitated fan base that peppered the team with boos at the end of the half and in the third quarter, and then flat-out started leaving en masse with 5:33 left in the fourth and the team down 104-89."
Here is an interesting stat-line from Andre Miller’s minutes coming from John Schuhmann:
"Andre Miller not happy that he’s been cut from the rotation: DEN is 11-5 when Miller plays 19+ min. 3-12 when he doesn’t."
Andre Miller’s suspension will begin Friday when the team hosts the Memphis Grizzlies, looking to snap an eight-game losing streak. Miller will not travel with the team to Los Angeles when the team takes on the Lakers. Andre Miller’s assists would see a boost if center JaVale McGee was in the line-up but has played sparingly, as the 37-year-old is averaging 19 minutes per game with 5.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds.