What I find truly sad here from reading your posts is that you, in just one or two posts, have done far more basketball analysis than McHale did during the entire season. There is just no way I believe he would have seen things the way you described because he's still operating on the old 1980s Boston Celtics blueprint and I just see him trying to turn Gasol into a version of Kevin McHale. Of course, that's all assuming that Gasol possesses the mentality to BE a Kevin McHale. Judging from what I've seen, that's a big NOPE.
Sorry - I misunderstood the point of your post. A very valid point, but everyone wants to roll the dice - heck some even want to roll the dice on a 1 year rental of Howard, a position that is almost repugnant to me - and here is a chance to completely change the team without giving up un-replaceable assets. I believe that if we obtained Gasol, handled his transition with optimism and grace and understanding and promise, he would come here and be a good citizen. He is a much better player than he showed in the Lakers circus.
Boy, do we EVER agree about Howard. Oh for sure, Gasol is much better than what he showed during the playoffs but I just watched the Mavericks do exactly what you posted - handle Lamar Odum exactly the way you proposed and it ended up a big poop bomb that detonated in their faces. Nothing about the way Gasol handled himself this year leads me to believe that the experience with him will be any different. And you touch upon what I believe to be the number one problem with the Rockets' organization: gambling. Far too may times over past 12 years, they have gambled only to have it not work out. This time, I'd rather see them do the smart thing for a change.
And what exactly are you basing that statement on? It looks like just a spurious mind fart to me. Oh by the way here are Gasol's stats since you obviously did not bother to look them up yourself. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gasolpa01.html
I have spent time looking at the Rocket's options and I just can't find one with a better risk/reward ratio than that move.
That lineup might net us the 7th seed instead of the 9th seed. Do you really think that lineup would compete with the spurs or thunder? Gasol doesn't want to end his career here. Martin is still sulking about the original Gasol non-trade. Parsons/Bud are still learning. D-Mo has yet to play an NBA game. Camby is 38 years old. It's time to hit reboot on this team. Get rid of everyone over the age of 30, pile up draft picks/young players and start over.
Actually yes I could see that lineup competing for a spot in the WCF next year. Of course I have predicted that the Spurs are just going to spank OKC this year. I have laid out my reasoning in 6 or so detailed posts this morning. What are your reasons besides gut instinct?
The 2nd paragraph of the post you just quoted. We need to think less about next year and more about the next 10 years. Gasol doesn't help with that at all.
I have decided to start ridiculing posts that are emotional mind farts with no rigorous factual backing. Those posters deserve no less. If you can't bring critical basketball analysis to your posts please stay home. Or just say IMHO. Don't make statements that are not tenable without advertising them as opinion.
Pau is a couple of months YOUNGER than Scola. This is the most valid argument against the "concept" of trading for Gasol, IMO. However, this presupposes that the Rockets do not have any other moves lined up if they do, in fact, pull the trigger on a Gasol trade. Exactly. I don't think the Rockets would give up the same value for Gasol now that they were willing to give up last December, especially since (a) Gasol is another season older, (b) Pau didn't exactly have a phenomenal year and (c) the Rockets could actually have MEANINGFUL cap room this summer as opposed to only a modicum of cap room last December. I expect any offer for Gasol to be like buying a value stock. Get it on the cheap, as opposed to a growth stock with a high multiple for which investors will "pay up".
Fair enough. I will counter that in the 6 games this year before Martin got injured he put up monster numbers. IMHO he had trouble adjusting to a new system and the NBA rule changes. Post injury does not need an explanation. People just tend to say that Gasol = Lamar Odom. Well it simply is not true. Lamar has always been a head case. Gasol has been a good citizen his entire career. Taking remarks he made during the immediate shock of the trade news as gospel and an indicator of his future performance is turning a mole hill into a mountain. He has been a consummate pro his entire career. And last but not least Gasol is going to be fleeing LA at full speed after this disastrous season. Right now he would probably view the Wiz as preferable to the Lakers.
and i have decided, after this little gem, that i will start ridiculing every post you make from here on.
Why not think of next year. Where was my 9:55 analysis of the effect of adding Pau incorrect? There is a lot to chew on in that post. Certainly you can find something.
I can't BE my A game. I can BRING my A game, though. But I can't bring it. And my guess is that you didn't literally laugh out loud. Just my guess, though.
Just to be clear, I don't hate Gasol or his game as much as others in this thread. FWIW, he once said Hakeem was his favorite player growing up, so he's obviously a smart guy! I guess where we differ is on team philosophy. You think we should add a piece or 2 and try to make a run next year. I don't think there is a deal out there - short of adding a superstar in his prime - that allows us to do that. Pau Gasol is not a superstar in his prime.
Well you are right. But it did bring a smile to my face. And having been around this sight enough, I do know that you have basketball knowledge and a head on your shoulders. And you probably have better things to do than correct my dictum.
We're sitting here, and we're supposed to be talking bout a franchise player, and we're talking about Gasol. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about Gasol, not a franchise player, not a franchise player, not a franchise player, but we're talking about Gasol. Not the franchise player that we should be going out there and dying for and playing every game like it's our last but we're talking about Gasol man. How silly is that? .... Now I know that I'm supposed to lead by example and all that but I'm not shoving that aside like it don't mean anything. I know it's important, I honestly do but we're talking about Gasol. We're talking about Gasol man. We're talking about Gasol. We're talking about Gasol. We're not talking about the franchise player. We're talking about Gasol. When you come to the arena, and you see the Rockets play, you've seen the Rockets play right, you've seen the Rockets give everything I've got, but we're talking about Gasol right now. ... Hey I hear you, it's funny to me too, hey it's strange to me too but we're talking about Gasol man, we're not even talking about the franchise player, where it actually matters, we're talking about Gasol ... How the hell can we make this team better by going after Gasol? -Allen Iverson
