We also might have had one more spot or two higher in the draft. Chuck Hayes still gone anyways and Battier still gone anyways. You got your minutes for them fan favorites, and delayed our progress, got no playoffs doing it, and also got a worse draft pick. Congratulations if you got what you were asking for last year.
He blocked 1 shot, and got 4 fouls in less than 20 minutes. He was doing much on the defensive end as the game warmed up. He was completely lost on the offensive end. You're saying Thabeet had an impressive performance today. I'm sure most people today would disagree with you. Considering all the hype you've been giving him this off-season, I sincerely hope you aren't planning on celebrating his performance every time he puts up a performance like today.
Not for long! We do not have what we need here. Rockets (still) will have to address the center position at some point. When that is? I don't know. Sure, you can send out Patterson, Scola, and Hill but those guys aren't ideal long term options there. So yeah, maybe you can get by with them for a season, if that. On a similar note, while Jordan is taller than Chuck, the same situation is still here. Jordan is a PF playing center because the Rockets have no other options. Jordan still needs to show he can be consistent, and Smith/Thabeet haven't shown much to say they can hold it down, let alone occupy it. To say we're set at center after one preseason game, Spoiler
You've got it all wrong. Tonights performance was just a warmup to the season. In 66 games, i expect him to improve from this point. Also, if you call me expecting him to only avg. 6pts, 8rbds and 2 blocks a game for the season hyping him up, then sure.
It all depends on Hill, if he can play even close to how he did tonight on a consistent basis then we should he fine. Thabeet only looked terrible when he got tired, that 1st stint that he was in he played very well... He just gets way to tired! Not to mention we can play small and run all over people with Pat and Scola out there. Like some have mentioned, the Center position still needs to be adressed but in a time like this where Hill isnt under sized at Center, it can work.
Considering the amount of times that you repeated across the board how Thabeet was our solution, yes I'd say you've been hyping him up. Other than that, if he does end up averaging that amount, depending on what the advanced statistics tell us as well as how he actually played in the game, then I would be impressed as well.
I think the three guys did great today. This is their first time together since may, they did pretty good today. I would give them a B- for right now
In my own defense i would like to say that the majority of that time we still had Chuck on the team. I am still optimistic about our chances with Smith as well, it's just that it would have been better with Chuck on board. I suspect that McHale will give some PT to Samhan Weds., but as far as Smith goes, he did well in the short period of time he had.
I think that the youngsters will just get better with playing time and coaching. You could see McHale is really following the development of these guys. He was constantly talking and encouraging Hill during the game. I am so happy Adelman is gone and now we got a coach that is willing to develop players and also happy that Chuck is not taking minutes from these young players.
One preseason game. For the love of god, they've only played one preseason game. Save your meaningless conjecture for at least the regular season, after we've seen them in significant action.
Hill looked fine, he's always displayed flashes here and there, just not game-to-game consistency or ruggedness in the halfcourt. He's going to struggle when he isn't playing against converted forward centers. Thabeet managed to run out of steam in less than 5 minutes of playing time. In the first preseason game on fresh legs. Against a depleted JV Spurs frontcourt. How's this an encouraging sign for a season in which we're playing 5 games in a week at times? He's still what we knew he was: a pure zone shotblocker that is a tragedy on offense, a turnover and foul machine, and a miserable reminder that cap space was worth more than what we got for Shane.
I say no first off Thabeet will never get it and I don't think that Smith has a chance to earn solid minutes o nthe court. If the rockets sign Dalembert to a decent contract I believe that him and Hill can hold down the 5 for the year and long as Hill plays like he did on a consistent basis.
They are good enough to get the minutes, bad enough to keep us in the lottery...with a lot of balls. Hill/Thabeet = perfect.
whoever we have there will have to hold it down. will it be an advantage for us more often than last year? probably not. good news for the pro-tanking crew ...
We seriously need Hakeem to come work with these guys. I know McHale was a very good PF however I do not recall him ever playing center. We need a real center to come work with them and Dream was the best ever.
Hasheem Thabeet looked like an NBA player last night, which is something we haven't see from him in years. In the first half, he changed about 7-8 shots with his mere presence and activity. I am excited for him. It is all about confidence and intensity with him. He has to continue to work extremely hard. If he does, we could have a super cheap, 7-4 backup C for the next decade...
I can't understnd the love for Thabeet in this thread. He looked lost. He has no idea what to do on offense. Zero understanding of spacing and movement. On defense, he reaches with his arms and upper body instead of movign his feet. I am willing to give him time on the floor, in the hopes that he will help us lose a bunch of games and improve in the process. But my eyes tell me that he is a 7-2 waste of space.
