Which players do you not want the Rockets to pick ?

I agree. But don't sweat it too much. At the #3 spot, the Rockets really need to pick someone tradeable this summer. The guy doesn't need to see court time with the Rockets to be successful.

Fizer and Mihm's won't lose value during the summer.

 

How come Fizer is compared to KT and he's going #3 in most mocks? Was last year a steal? partner, didn't you say that fizer's coach said kt was better than fizer?

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That wasn't Fizer's coach. It was a college scout who is from Ames, and loves Iowa St.

I've known him for quite a long time; (he's retired now). He's usually right on when it comes to judging talent.

For instance, he told me in Sept to not expect much from Cato. While he IS 7 feet tall, this is what Lon said:

"He's the type of guy who is likely to sky for a rebound and then travel or fumble the ball away on the outlet."

"Terrible hands."

"Always looking for the spectacular block."

"He is not that good."


As much as I want to ignore those statements about Cato; they are right on. For all those people who want to give Cato "time to develop", he has never been a star. His current flaws have always been with him.

But he IS 7 feet tall

 

I seriously doubt whoever we draft at the #3 would be traded... but even if that's the plan, we shouldn't bank on it. I'm terrified of drafting Mihm or Fizer-I think Mihm would be a slight up-grade on Cato... oh joy! Fizer... I see as a Gary Trent type player-nice enough, but certainly not worth the #3. I think Chris Porter will be nearly as productive, and can be had much later.




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hmmmmm,

I dont want a useless big man. I want a playmaker. The Rocks can trade for a useless big man.

I dont want someone who sucks, I dont want a Briyce Dicey Drew pick. Uhm, in other words, I wnat a playmaker with some skills. Dont want Fat Fizer.

Capish?

Cappish?

Stop stealing my damn sig.

-the Crisco one

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Cato is 7 feet tall.

 

I think that Mihm is going to be a good NBA center. If he could just have had Muoneke's tenacity then he would have been a lottery pick last year. If develops an attitude then I could see him being a poor mans Duncan (he is so fundamentaly sound). Fizer is going to have problems adjusting to the NBA, he is going to be a solid forward but not worthy of the 3rd pick.

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You all have no idea what you are talking about. Have any of you watched him play or do you guys just say the same things some college analyst says? Marcus Fizer is a solid player and he will be a great player in the league. He can handle the rock very well for a man his size. He also hit around 15 three's last year. He averaged over 30 points a game in his last 8 games. He also shot 60 percent for the year. How can you guys say he isnt good? He also led his team to the sweet 16. You are hearing it here, He will be the rookie of the year.

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i've seen Fizer play and I don't think he will be the greatest of players. He might of dominated at the college level but so did Marcus Camby among other top picks that did not pan out. Anyways Fizer is undersized even at the 4 spot. His ofensive repetoire is not that spectacular. A little bit of banging and a drop step is not going to make him a stud. He won't be bigger than everybody at the pro level and while a drop step is not bad, he will need to develop alot more to be successful. Not to mention his conditioning is not the best. While I will not call him fat he is not a solid block of muscle. He has the chance to blimp up the NBA or maybe he won't but I wouldn't waste a pick on him.

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I'll take those numbers. That's better than LaFrentz (12/8), Ratliff (11/8), Campbell (13/8), Olowokandi (10/8), or Camby (10/8)

I think Mihm will be okay. He's not a stiff.

 

Mihm would be a bust. Too slow, not enough bulk.

Fizer ain't so bad - a strong scorer and rebounder, maybe a little unfocused.

But what we really need is someone who can block... (a Hakeem replacement)

Shudder to think...

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A 14/9 guy for the center position may be a dream come true for most NBA teams. If he can average that for Houston, Rudy would probably be doing backflips. FYI, there were only 4 true centers that averaged even 12 points and 9 rebounds : Ewing, Mourning, O'Neal, and Robinson.

(Original post corrected. See Haven's catch later in thread)
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?

[This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited May 06, 2000).]

 

Yes, those #s are good for a mid round pick, but for a 1st to 4th pick???
Just because there aren't too many good centers out there, we should settle for this? Wait for one in another year or too. We still need a SF and possibly a PF right now, so why not draft for those positions?
IF a center is the only thing we need, then I may hesitate to argue. But why would a team settle for these #s for a top 4 pick is beyond my comprehension.
I will be pissed if the Rockets do draft Mihm with the #4 pick (if we get that pick), I do wish the other 3 teams above us take him though.

 

Dr of Dunk:

Are you sure that information is correct? Mutombo seems to be a true C, and averages more than 12pts, as does Rik Smits, and Sabonis averages 11.8 on an incredibly deep team...

I'd consider both of those players to be "pure centers," and if you add a couple other players, who split time between PF and C, the list grows.

I agree with you that the C position isn't scoring much right now-but the situation isn't quite as bad as you put it.

I think some people might be arguing for comparative worth here-that is, that a 14/9 center is worth more than a 20/8 SF because of his relative talent at his position. I disagree. If centers are only scoring 14 and boarding 9, and that's good, then the center position is becoming less important for some teams. I'm not sure how much more useful a 14/9 guy is over a 10/8 guy. I'd rather take the 10/8 at a lower pick, and end up w/the superior small forward.

Conclusion: don't go for a marginally better player at a top pick, when you can pick up a 7 foot stiff elsewhere, AND get a talented player at a different position.

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[This message has been edited by haven (edited May 06, 2000).]

 

gr8-1:
there were quite a few players averaging 14/9 from the 5 spot. Hakeem, ewing, robinson, mourning, shaq , rik smits, mutombo (?), maybe divac was close ?

Does that list tell you how special those stats are? Maybe there were 7-10 guys in the whole league that got those stats per game. Uh, that is not a lot.

People, you need to stop dreaming of non-superstar big men who grab 9-10 rebs a game. They practically don't exist. Go check your regular season stats to see how many people in the entire leauge grabbed 10 rebounds a game. Then see how many got 9. Out of those, count how many are franchise players:

Dikembe Mutombo, Atl 14.1
Shaquille Oneal, Lal 13.7
Tim Duncan, Sas 12.4
Kevin Garnett, Min 11.8
Chris Webber, Sac 10.5
Shareef Abdur-rahim, Van 10.1
Elton Brand, Chi 10.0
Donyell Marshall, Gsw 9.9
Dale Davis, Ind 9.9
Patrick Ewing, Nyk 9.7
David Robinson, Sas 9.6
Jerome Williams, Det 9.6
Alonzo Mourning, Mia 9.5
Karl Malone, Uth 9.5
Jamie Feick, Njn 9.3
Tyrone Hill, Phi 9.2

A whopping seven players that grab over 10 rebs. And every last one is a franchise player. And nine players who grabbed between 9 and 10. Of those nine, we have, Malone, Zo, Robinson, Ewing and Davis.

Donyell Marshall, Jerome Williams, Jamie Feick, and Tyrone Hill are the only non-superstar players in the entire league that grabbed more than 9 rebounds a game this regular season.



[This message has been edited by Nolen (edited May 06, 2000).]

 

I count 16 players on your list, meaning that a slight majority of teams have one. In fact, 11 of those players are on PLAYOFF teams... , and no team has more than 1 of them. Only 5 playof teams do NOT have one of those players. Do you see the correllation between having an excellent rebounder and making the playoffs?

So yes, I'd say we *do* need a good rebounder to expect to succeed in the league. I don't see Cato or Thomas doing this (I'd actually say Thomas has the better chance of doing so) next year. Hence, he need someone else in our front court.


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Assumptions

1) Mihm can shoot ball away from basket. Check FT% and 3pt% if you didn't see him play or saw him play and are delusional in thinking he doesn't have a mid range shot.

2) Isn't a defensive liability. Has problems playing against much quicker players, but I am not sayinmg he will be on the All D team.

3) Needs more muscle on defense

4) NBA player can hit shots whereas UT players couldn't hit the mid range to 3pt shot consistently.

5) IN college, it took numbers to defend him. In the NBA, he won't see triple teams.

6) Soft hands. When he gets the ball down low, bucket. Great at using the backboard to prevent shot from being blocked. Scored at will against Woods, who I rate as the second best college center.

7) Needs to work at protecting basketball after he rebounds it, but still pulls down a lot of rebounds.

8) Not a fast break specialist, but doesn't get beat down court by opposing center, often. Scores well when he beats opposing center down court.

9) Knows when to stay on floor, when to go for block. Keeps him from putting up great block shot #s, but helps the team rebound and gets players trapped when they jump looking for pass.

Mihm is worth a top three pick if the rockets had one.

reasoning

1) Opposing centers have to come out to guard him leaving the middle open for Francis and SA.

2) Will be able to pull down lots of offensive boards and have a lot of put backs when other center unwisely goes for block.

3) Good for a post up every now and then since other team won't have d set against him. 1 on 1 down low will be money for Mihm in the NBA since he will be able to shot over opposing centers (The tall 7-2+ centers don't count since they suck and can be manipulated in other ways)

4) Will be able to block 1.5 to 2 shots a game in the NBA.

5) Won't get toasted by most NBA centers.

6) I expect him to be around a 13/9.5 guy. A pt/FGA of about 1.4 since he won't get many attempts, but they will be good ones and he can make FT.

7) Doesn't throw up the ball if hwe doesn't have a shot.

8) Will have better D than Tagy when he picks up 15 pounds. Plus his activiness on offense will tire out opposing centers.


In Conclusion, if you want a playmaker. Go get someone else. If you think Francis and Mobley are great and good playmakers, draft a guy that can finish-Mihm.

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"You've got 6 fouls, use them well" -Derrick Coleman