Rotation with Posey...minus Posey

Mobely is hurting chemisty by taking minutes from BOki
So ANY starter actually HURTS chemisty

Lot of folx threw money at mobely too . . . .and he stayed
I think KT would have too.

The justifications are just getting silly now

Rocket River

 

First of all, KT was the starting PF <b>last year</b>. This year there was no true starter, at least not yet. Kenny was the easiest to trade because he has a friendly contract, and he doesn't fit in with Yao and the rest of the offense at all. He forced up way too many shots that were out of his range, and when he goes to the hole there is no way he is going to pass it. Every player the Rockets get from now on will have to fit in with Yao, or they won't last long at all. Kenny is in a much better situation now, and the Rockets are set at pretty much every position.

 

If Posey shows he's better than TMo, then they should keep him. I don't know why you think Morris has a future with this team, yet Posey doesn't. Morris hasn't shown me anything to make me believe he'll ever be any better than Posey is now.

 

I think Poseys role is primarily as a starting 3 . Why start him? We already have a sf who can play D and shoot 37% so what can he add...transition offense. That was Mario Ellies primary offensive role when he first came to the Rockets, so pushing the ball has always been a priority with RudyT. I know Rudy wouldnt have brought this guy in for no reason...I expect him to start soon, with the Rockets putting more emphasis on running the ball.
It could be added. a player as young as Posey wouldnt likely re=sign with any team in a pure back-up role. Besides his talents can better be used as a starter.
This guy brings the same game that Mario came with, and hes much, much more explosive, I see RudyT using him the same way.

 

Here's about everything I have to say on Posey...

I agree with those that think Posey figures into the future. KT/Posey have equal contract situations. The Rockets would have taken a scrub and a pick (like what Denver got...Long/Bryant and future 1st and 2nd) if they just wanted to relieve the logjam.

I also think he'll be MUCH easier to resign than KT. Why?
1.) According to Cato, KT was ticked about the minutes situation.
2.) Posey works out in Houston, likes the facilities, and likes the guys on the team.

krosfyah- I don't agree with your assessment of Morris getting minutes over Posey at all. Long and Bryant are 12th men types that would have cleared KT's minutes for Mo and EG plus a first rounder to boot if that's all Rudy/CD had in mind.

As for the people who worry about Posey's shooting numbers...here are some much more promising signs of what I'm going to call "the 02-03 Nuggets effect".

First of note: Chris Whitney, PG.
Last year in Washington, he got 26.5 minutes per game. He managed to shoot 41.8% from the field, plus 40.6% from 3-point land, 88% FT%. He also managed a fairly spectacular 3.65 AST/TO ratio.

This year, his minutes are more or less the same, 26.7 per game. Now he's shooting 37.6% from the field, and 37.3% from 3 point land- both significantly down. Even stranger, is his FT% falling to 75%. His AST/TO ratio is a more pedestrian 2.32.

Next of note: Juwan Howard, PF.
For his career, he's shot a solid 47.4% from the field. Very solid. The first half season he spent in Dallas after being traded at the break, he shot 48.8%, the next half, he shot 46.2%, close to his career averages.

Last half season (when the team still had at least a partial Antonio McDyess for most of the games he played in), he shot 45.7%-the lowest of his career to that point. Why to that point? Now he's shooting a pretty below average. 40.7%

Seeing as those are the only 2 players who have been regular rotation players in their careers that have played for the Nuggets, that brings us to James Posey (who happens to be one of only 2 wings with a triple double this year...the other being Kobe. Eat your heart out, T-Mac )

Posey averaged 42.9% from the field, and 37.3% from 3-point land his rookie year. Respectable for a young wing (turns 26 in less than a month), especially one who came into the league as a defensive specialist. Both of those numbers have dropped every year. You'd expect that from a guy who doesn't work hard every summer...except Posey has gone to Westside, and worked hard. It's the Nugget effect-less and less players each year since Posey joined the team, trading the veterans for teenage sensations that won't scratch the surface of their potential until at least next year, bumping him up higher and higher. This year he and Howard are shooting about the same amount-he was basically the Nuggets' #1 option on offense, and the stopper on defense.

Now he slides into about the #4 option, behind Francis, Ming, and Mobley. Do we really need to compare the drive and dish opportunities created by Francis or Mobley vs. those of Chris Whitney and Junior Harrington? Or the passing ability and ability to draw double teams of Juwan Howard vs. Yao Ming?

Denver is DEAD LAST in ppg at 79.9, but #3 in points allowed at only 88.7. Denver is also dead last in FG% and 3P%. The Rockets rebound much better, which leads to transition games and fast breaks which Posey excels in. Remember all those Yao passes to one of the cutting wings like Hawkins that unfortunately end in a missed layup? Don't expect to see many of those from Posey-he's probably got the best size/explosiveness combination out of the wings, and finishes well.

I expect Posey to come off the bench at least in the beginning-but don't be surprised if he's finishing games before long. If Rice hits a cold spell, or gets injured, I would suspect Posey could take over the 3 slot for good.

 

Nice post.

 

It seems to me that when we got Clyde he started the next game ahead of our four or five year starter Maxwell. Rudy didn't punish him for playing elsewhere by giving minutes that Clyde deserved because of his talent to Mad Max. I am not saying that Posey is Clyde or anywhere near the ballplayer the Glide was, but I am saying that Posey is hands down the best wing we have on this team and there is no way his minutes go to Terrence Morris (sorry bud I have been pulling for you) or Hawkins other than the first couple of weeks. Once Posey gets acclimated to playing here with our squad he is the starter with Rice giving 20 mins off the pine. There is something wrong with Boki, I dont know what it is but there has to be a reason he gets NO pt. If his D is that atrocious then we may as well give up wanting him to play this year with Posey putting the lock down on 3s/bigger 2s.

 

Gotta agree with the UTBaller...

I can't fathom how Posey can't beat out TMo. The Rockets know they can make an impact this year and you don't trade for someone who can't beat out your 11th or 12th man. I mean, Posey could have the flu, a sprained ankle, and his pinkie cut off and I'd still expect him to beat out TMo.

Posey does need to shoot the 3 better to be the most effective small forward but he will still end games, I'd say as soon as the all star break. We already have capable 3-point shooters in Francis and Mobley. Posey will be used as our defensive stopper. I'm hoping he develops into a Bruce Bowen, Mario Elie type...tough D but can hit the clutch 3 because defenses just lay off them.