The point that AB-apologists keep making is that there was no way to know Lowry would develop a 3pt shot. This disregards two points of why they were wrong then: 1) Lowry has always run the offense much better than AB. That's the main role of PG. 2) Lowry has always been a bulldog on defense. AB is a waif who is simply too weak and small to check anyone in the L. Plus: 3) I remember an interview where AB or someone said that in practice Lowry was the most dead-on 3pt shooter. Which would indicate that there's some chance that he could translate that into real games. I don't think anyone, myself included, would have predicted his developing a 3pt shot, but I bet the Rockets staff figured he had the potential.
Comments from Alvin Gentry I thought this was interesting that a head coach would say this in press release: Gentry said Nash is his best option even with one healthy leg. That is because the backup-point-guard position has not been shored up as well as it was supposed to be when the Suns traded Goran Dragic and a first-round pick to get Aaron Brooks. He shot 1 for 4 from the field in 11 minutes before getting pulled after stepping out of bounds and getting a technical foul with 7:46 to go in Friday's game. http://www.azcentral.com
I feel a little sorry for him watching his next contract shrink by the game and potentially his once promising, but increasingly precarious career. I say "a little sorry" because you reap what you sow--and he shouldn't have sulked as much as he did about his contract and his PT.
I believe it was Martin or Lee actually who said that. I am leaning towards Martin. Either way, AB was viable when we had Yao, T-Mac, and/or Artest. He didn't have to handle the ball much (hides his poor court vision and playmaking decisions), could get away with not defending well (Battier/Artest/Ariza in the wings waiting and Yao/Deke in front of the rim), and had an excuse not to penetrate (Yao/Deke in the middle). One we lost Yao, T-Mac, and Artest, it was stroke of luck/desperation for AB, that he became the starter in a season where we WERE pathetic enough to turn to him as a primary scoring option. He is a great scorer, but people had severely overrated him.
09/10 Off Eff - 18th Def Eff - 17th Point Differential = -0.4 10/11 Off Eff = 8th Def Eff = 19th Point Differential = +1.7 Our record may be similar to last years, but we are FAR from being "where we were last year". Our offense has SIGNIFICANTLY improved and our defense has only taken a minor hit. On average we are outscoring our opponents which we failed to do last year. Finally, what people are missing is that even if Brooks and Lowry were performing the same as the 09/10 season, Lowry STILL would deserve the starting spot. Even before Kyle's jumper started to fall this season, he was doing more for us to win than Brooks was on a per minute basis.
Just forget it. The two parties did not agree before about Lowrry and Brooks, why would they agree now. Brooks is gone so there is no point in beating the rotting pony corpse.
I can't believe there's still an argument about this. It's over. Lowry clearly stepped up as the better player with a bigger impact on the game. End of story.
If brooks would of accepted his role on the bench, he would of excelled tremendously like a J.R Smith or Jason Terry type player. That's why Lowry was always the better option at starting bc most starting PG's on good teams, ala Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, and Tony Parker, are passing PG's first. IM*Humble*O :grin:
I think the better thread would be - would Lowry even get the starting nod, to be able to develop to this level at PG, if Brooks hadn't been injured? My guess is that this thread may not exist if that were the case. But guaranteed, the argument of who should start would rage on. With that said, fate has a funny way of making things right sometimes, and to our great revelation, or prediction if you will, Lowry is living up to his potential and more, so it makes this thread plausible.
Anyone remember that Bleacher Report article in January of last season that said Lowry would be a top 10 PG soon? And everyone made fun of it?
This is amazing. Lowry just wins. It is unbelievable Morey only traded Rafer for him and then was able to sign him to a cheap contract last year.
Brooks got suspended a game for throwing the ball at the ref. The wheels have simply come off for him this season. He's not that bad.
I've seen a lot of people in this thread use this very arguement... which isn't an arguement at all. The whole point is the fact that many believed that his value would meet/exceed the contract he was signed to, and many didn't. Saying "No one could know," is plain wrong, because apparently, quite a few people did know. The quotes are evidence of that fact that they knew, and that the rest of us didn't have a clue what we were talking about. I'm not quoted at any point is this thread, but I didn't think he was worth the contract we gave him. I'll admit that.
I laugh at all these posts about fans having a short memory. So using this logic - Mike James, Jason Kapono and all the other one hit wonders deseve to start for the rest of their careers because they just had one good season or two. Mike James - Jason Kapono are the perfect examples for Brooks. They fluked one good season or two then they were never able to live up to the same level ever again.
