Andre Miller: The League is Soft Now

‘Dre Miller, who was suspended one game for briefly losing his mind the other day, astutely observes that the NBA just isn’t what it used to be in terms of allowing for tough play. I’m sure David Stern will take his comments to heart. From The Columbian: “A day after missing a game for the first time since the 2002-03 season, Portland Trail Blazers point guard Andre Miller chatted about his suspension, his guided-missile attack on Blake Griffin, and how the NBA has changed. And just like that blow to Griffin, he didn’t hold back … His reaction to the suspension: ‘I was surprised. I actually wasn’t even notified. I found out toward the evening when I was sleeping that there would be a suspension. It just shows you how soft the league has gotten, protecting young players. It’s not like it was when I came (into) this league.’  … On whether the suspension was justified: ‘It wasn’t justified at all. If I was a dirty player that was looking to go out and hurt someone then I can understand, ‘OK, this guy has a reputation.’ Back in the day, like John Stockton, tough-minded player, some people thought he was dirty. He never got suspended for anything. The league has changed, they favor the young guys now, and that’s just how it is.'”