Chron: Keeping Rockets Bench Players Happy a Problem

You beat me to it Jeff. This is a major problem the Rockets have with Kenny Thomas. He was whinning last year, and he has already started again this year. He thinks that only starters make a difference on this team. I am so sick of his attitude. As the chronicle pointed out, he is still getting major minutes.

 

Could this be the reason that Nachbar has not played a single minute? Not that Rudy doesn't like him, but he doesn't want to offend the veterans.

Also, I think this is where Steve Francis can step up his leadership. He has to get it into these guys that the goal this year is to make it to the playoffs.

 

I remember Kenny getting pissed last year when he didnt start. What a pain in the azz. Everyone needs to just worry about winning.

 

Come on, guys. However you feel, it's not fair to bash anyone for whining, because NO ONE'S WHINING. Asked point blank how they feel about coming off the bench, Kenny and Mo can't respond that they're thrilled about it, but they don't complain about it either. Would you rather have them LIKE coming off the bench, like Cato? Consider also that Eddie's been sucking it up. Once things get stable, everything should be fine. And of course, winning cures everything.

 

Amusing to see there a couple of people who still use Cato to make their favourite player look better.

This team would improve tremendously is they traded KT. More consistent minutes for MoT and EG would lead to betetr FG%.

At some point Kenny will start whining, and he'll fortunately get traded.

It's just not a good situation for him or us. Tough noogies for him, because we'll be one of the best teams in the league next year, and will be the dark horse of the playoffs this year.

 

Exactly what I was thinking, except he doesn't need to vocalize his whining. Rockets who generate negativity in the lockerroom seem to get one-way tickets out-of-town.

 

There are WE players.......

And there are ME players.

Winning teams have WE players, especially when you are 9-10 deep.

KT is a ME player- his selfish play, attitude and body language speak volumes.

ME players become cancers on teams.

Bye, bye Kenny.


Dallas Rocket

 

I hate to say it cause I like KT..but he doesnt sound happy at all..
combine this interview with the interviews where he spoke about his contract problems..It really is starting to sound like he feels that he muist be a starter no matter what.

btw..that was just my take on things, Im not putting words in his mouth..so dont jump on me.

why cant we have guys that are just happy to help the team win?
He and Mo could be major pieces of the best forward lineup in the league, if they will just recognize that we need all of them at their best to make it..

 

But Kenny Thomas is an all-world defensive player, we must keep him.

Obviously, we can't get rid of Mo T and his contract that is the only thing larger than his rump.

However, KT is probably tradeable for a conditional #1 pick. I personally don't think it would kill us to get rid of him. In fact, I believe it would be case of "addition by subtraction".

We must get rid of potential cancers before we become the Blazers.

 

Exactly what I was thinking,,,,except Kenny doesn't whine,,,This is the second time Feigan has tried to get KT to say something out of line.
The first time KT told him that he wanted to stay with the Rockets and just wanted to get the contract thing behind him..
Now Feigan asks how do you like coming off the bench,,KT answers the same way any good player would, he wants to start,,
RudyT will decide....

 

Yep, we don't want to have to many players on our team. It doesn't seem to be bothering Dallas. The Blazers problem is they have a bunch of degenerates on their team. There's one player on that team that is not an self centered jerk, Sabonis. KT is a very good miss match player. If can can except his role he will be a big part of our success. He hasn't said anything IMO that makes me think he is going to be problem.....Yet. We'll see!

 

Ah, I think it was Taylor who said that. Thomas, on the other hand, pled "the Fifth," which means: "I have very bad things to say. But I am not saying it b/c it will get me into trouble."

Now, either (1) he is joking, (2) he is stupid as to not knowing how to express displeasure in a diplomatic way, (3) he really means to show his displeasure, or (4) Feigen misrepresented what he said.

If it's (2) or (3), he will eventually say something more damaging.

 

The only change I would make in the starting 5 is that I would start MoT over Griff.

MoT and Ming have good chemistry together and MoT is a better scorer then Griff right now.

I would then trade KT to a team that he can be more productive on...preferebly in the Eastern conference.

DaDakota

 

Thomas? Pass the ball?????

 

I was initially against trading KT b/c the Rockets appeared to have no real need and players in the frontcourt were still very questionable in health and/or experience terms. At this stage, the Rockets have a major hole at the third guard spot due to Moochie's continued sucktitde and could utilize KT as bait to acquire a veteran third guard. Personally, I would think the ideal option right now would be Jon Barry from Detroit. KT gets to go to a team that really does not have many scoring options, and he can iso or do whatever else. In Detroit, as long as you sell out to defense you'll get to play. Barry's minutes have been inconsistent this season due to the acquisition of Chauncey Billups; however, when he has played, Barry has been nails. Barry is a very good shooter, ball handler and passer that does not turn it over much. Plus, at 6-5, he has the size to play both guard spots.

 

MManal,

That is a great deal for both teams....can we throw Moochie in and snag Damon Jones back?



DaDakota

 

I have to admit that I now think the Rockets should move Kenny. Unless Rudy can get him to turn his attitude around you just can't mess around when a guy is feeling like that. He's a good player so I don't think the Rockets would have much trouble finding a team to trade him to.

 

I recently defended KT and said we should give him a new contract. I have nothing bad to say about him but I honestly believe T-Mo and Boki could be our future at the 3.

Others have pointed out that having so many ball-hogging...oops, uh, players who need the ball to be effective...on the same team could be detrimental. Steve, Cat, and KT qualify in this regard. Don't even get me started on The Moochinator.

Mo and Yao play well together, and Mo is untradeable. So KT for a draft pick, barring a major trade for another playmaker (*cough* Jalen Rose---no, I'm not counting on it, just fantasizing) would make sense.

 

FA,

In KT's defense, he actually does pass the ball. In fact, I tracked assist opportunities over a 4 game stretch a few games ago and in 3 of those 4 games, Kenny had the most AOs on the team and in all 4, he had more than Steve. KT is actually a good passer and I feel he tries to make things happen with his one on one skills and footwork, but like Steve, just forces things sometimes and comes across as being selfish, even though there are several players on our team ahead of him in that category.