This is a great point, do the Rockets have any great athletes? Maybe Twill and Hill....but I think the rest of them are all in the average to above average athleticism range. Unless I am forgetting someone.... DD
Have to agree with you, I was really pumped to hear an expert say Bud is improving. I really liked him in college and his rookie year. I was glad to see him snap out of his funk at the end of the season, and I hope he can continue to improve and become a decent starter. Man is fun to watch ball.
I'm not sure if you're trolling DD but I would certainly say that Chase Budinger is an above average athlete. He's got hops no white-boy should ever posses and more than enough strength to finish around the rim through contact.
I consider Chase a good athlete but not a really great one due to his lack of lateral quickness. I am talking about guys that are uber athletic....no weaknesses in athleticism. TWill, Hill and C. Lee would be my picks for best athletes on the team. DD
The thing is, if those are measurable effects, then they can be statistically measured and analyzed. People talk a lot about intangibles, but the fact is, if those "intangibles" manifest themselves as recordable events, then they can be statistically measured and analyzed.
I think Hollinger's analysis of Courtney Lee was spot on. I wish he'd improve on those weaknesses. In particular, I always noticed him beat his man off the dribble only to pull up for a long-to-mid-range jumper. However, I've also seen him take it to the cup in similar fashion, and its a sight to behold -- almost like Derrick Rose's body control. But he rarely goes all the way, and he should. He'd be great if he changed that. He wouldn't only be a defensive stopper, and shooter.
I'm shocked that Hollinger thinks Westbrook being considered a better defender than Lowry is "indefensible". Westbrook is a pretty damn good defender.
I don't think any of us know how good Morris will be. Except for that poster right around draft time who predicted he would be the next Paul Pierce. I think it's like anything else: right now all we have to go on is the fact that Morey picked him, and the only other player that's been picked that high by this administration has been PatPat. It speaks well for Morris' chances to excel at a position that has been our weakest on the team since...well, I wasn't a Rocket fan yet when SF wasn't a huge liability. Battier? Ariza? Old Walt Williams? Old Glen Rice? Jim Jackson? Apathetic Scottie? Eddie Johnson? Mario Elie? Yeah. So while we have no idea what Morris will turn out as, the bar has been set low, and all he has to do is beat out Budinger to earn a starting spot on our team. I hope he can do it, but I know that his value can only increase by getting playing time in the NBA. Even if he's not a star immediately, just like rookies in the NFL, he is a piece, and among all other players on our team he has the highest potential.
He was athletic. And he played through some pain according to reports so we will probably see some improvement in the leaping department
WHy hate on kevin martin at least he's our scorer...thats what we need , we NEED A CENTER REBOUND AND everyone to score..he's the top scoring...Kobe Defense isnt the best either...lol
I kid We all know what we get from Kevin, with that being said, he will be money playing with a couple of allstars instead of being fool's gold as a no 1 option
Rick Adelman, and a group of guys who bought into his offense, finally getting it. A group of players who's collective basketball IQ trumped their collective basketball ability. And it is why Clutch may be right in thinking that this is a season to write off with regard to the team's record. A season to play the young guys, nab a high lottery pick, prepare for the next free agent class, the next off-season, and hope to shorten the time rebuilding a team without an undeniable star, much less superstar talent. It goes against the grain for me to concede that yet, but Adelman isn't here to insure a record better than we ought to have. This season, mediocre may become the new buzzword, "next year" the new mantra. I hope not.