Promitheas Patras guard Ian Miller, who has made a successful adjustment to playing in the 7DAYS EuroCup, scored 27 points in Round 3. Miller is this week's EuroCup interview.
Ian Miller, Patras: 'We are playing better'
Interviews
9 mins read
After reaching the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals last season, Promitheas Patras made a lot of changes to its roster over the summer. No one has adjusted to his new surroundings better than combo guard Ian Miller, who had a fantastic game in leading Promitheas to its first won of the season last week, in which it rallied from an early double-digit deficit to defeat Frutti Extra Bursaspor 84-93. Miller finished the game with 27 points, including 10-of-10 free-throw shooting, plus 3 rebounds and 3 assists for a PIR of 25. Miller is averaging 19.3 points in three games and leads the competition in free throws made (16 for 16). A EuroCup newcomer, Miller spoke to EuroCupBasketball.com about the thrill of playing in a new competition, his friendship with the late Michael Ojo and how good can Promitheas be with the new players that recently came to this family-oriented organization. "They are really professional. I like the respect level that they have for their players," Miller told said. "Everything here is like a family, you know? They really treat everybody like family and care about your personal life."
Hello, Ian. Congratulations on the big win against Bursaspor. You had a bad start, but recovered and grabbed your first win. What allowed you to bounce back?
"Thanks. We were focused, but you know, in the first 6 minutes, we were trying to get ourselves together, find our flow, find our rhythm in the game. I missed a few easy shots that I usually make, too. But defensively, we were focused right after the beginning. We got our stuff together and found a way to get stops on defense, which led to our offense."
How much did you need that win, especially after a heavy road loss in Trento?
"It was important for us to get this win because, in Trento, we struggled to find our rhythm, to find like a rotation. We were tired. And it feels good to get this win on because now we have a rotation. We are playing better. We are playing together, but it's important because we want to stay alive in the EuroCup and now, we give ourselves a chance."
"For our team right now, I have to score."
Promitheas signed a couple of experienced playmakers in Vangelis Mantzaris and Nikola Radicevic. How important is this move?
"It's very important to have them because they understand moments of the game. They understand how to play the game, they won on big levels, you know? So they can help lead the team and teach a lot of us something, and the young guys, help them along the way to grow up a little faster. But I like the way they control the pace of the game. I let them do their job. I don't really have to say anything to them. I like the leadership that they bring to the table and the control of the game."
Do you feel more comfortable playing point guard or shooting guard?
"I am comfortable in whatever position my coach needs me to play, but for our team right now, I have to score. I mean, I just generate offense, whether it is scoring or creating a hockey pass or a hockey assist to another teammate... It is just creating open shots for us and creating good looks for us on offense. So whether it is at the point guard or at '2' I just look at myself as a guard. I don't look at myself as a point guard or a shooting guard, I just look at myself as somebody that creates and generates offense. But when I am at the point, it is more so in the big decisions of the game, you know, when it's time to close up: if I have a close out a quarter or at the end of the game, so I don't give teams a chance to set up a defense or do anything like that."
This is your first EuroCup season. How do you like the competition so far?
The EuroCup competition is cool to me. I mean, if you look at my track record when I have been on other teams and I have played against EuroCup and EuroLeague teams, these stats aren't anything new. Beating EuroCup teams isn't anything new either. So I sort of know how to play and I feel like I can play on any level of basketball. That's where my confidence has been since I was young and it will remain that way. It's just now I'm in a great situation with a great coach that is putting me on the stage. But basically everything. And to be a part of a program where we are trying to build something here."
You played in five countries before playing in the EuroCup. Does that make you appreciate this opportunity even more?
"Yes, it's all about earning your respect. You got to see me once a week, now you get to see me twice a week and this is what everybody talks about. They say this is some of the best basketball stuff and it is something I want to be a part of. My road to get here was great, you know? I took advantage of every opportunity. It was just about the perfect time in the perfect situations. I have had teams that showed interest before this season, but it just wasn't the right situation. So, you know, I took advantage of this one, and I am going to keep taking advantage of it and keep working to better myself, to better my teammates."
"We can be a scary team."
Promitheas is on the rise, a well-organized club with up-and-coming talents and great facilities. How does it feel to be part of a club that is growing?
"It is one of the most professional clubs I have been a part of in Europe, by far. From the home living to the payments, just being organized and telling us ahead of time what we need to do and expect, and stuff like that. They are really professional. I like the respect level that they have for their players. Everything here is like a family, you know? They really treat everybody like family, and care about your personal life."
You are a great free throw shooter, reaching close to 90% most seasons. You are 16 of 16 in the EuroCup now. What does it take to be such a reliable free throw shooter?
"Stepping up to the line knowing that you are not supposed to miss these. In EuroCup games, you can be up 12-13 points and at the end of the game, you maybe lose by 1 or 2, or winning by 1 or 2. So every time I get a free opportunity to strike, I'm going to strike and that's just my mindset. That's just how I think because you practice it so much and it means so much in the game to where I just want to make sure I don't leave anything on the floor."
You played with the late Michael Ojo at Florida State for two years. How close were you and how difficult was to hear the terrible news?
"It was unexpected and definitely terrible. It still shocks me to this day. It was sad news because you meet people like Michael Ojo once in a lifetime, do you know what I am saying? You don't get everybody that has a great heart like him, a positive mindset, always wants everybody to win. You meet some people who say they love you, but they're really jealous. But Michael Ojo, he was a guy I never sensed any negativity. It was always love. He checked on my family. He asked about my mom all the time. My dad passed and he was one of the first people to reach out to me, my rookie season. So he was definitely an important person. He was a little brother to me, you know? His first day on a college campus, he came out and we laughed and joked all day. He was getting better at English, but he still was sort of hesitant with speaking it and stuff like that. He touched many people and I was just privileged and thankful that I had the privilege to have him a part of my life. And I just wish he was still here, for sure. I wrote his name on one of my shoes, long live 50, because his spirit is going to be with me forever. And I always try to treat people how he treated people with the utmost respect and love and care. So that's what I learned from him."
A final basketball question: the new players, including Mo Faye, have adjusted to the team very well. How dangerous can Promitheas be from now on?
"I feel like we can be one of the better teams. Faye is a great player. He understands high-level basketball and is an unselfish player. He works hard and does all the little things that we were missing. His communication is great because he is used to playing at a higher level, so he understands that talking is key in basketball. I am excited; he is going to find his game rhythm soon and then we can be a scary team after that."