Is it just me, or should we have been starting Posey since the day we traded for him? Nothing personal against Rice, but it seems as though every time he has had a wide-open three this season, he misses. Seems like if that was what my game primarily consisted of in the twilight of my career, I'd be hitting those shots when I got them. And not complaining about the team's shot selection to the closest Chronicle beat writer. Again, not to kick the guy in his injured shoulder, but I think he'd be better suited coming off the bench anyways. Posey's younger, more athletic, and a better defender. Not to mention that when the Rockets' second unit hits the floor (i.e. when Steve, Yao, and sometimes Cuttino are ALL not on the floor), the Rox offense tends to become anemic. Rice could give that a shot in the arm (no pun intended). Of course, if he needs season-ending surgery (for the second year in a row), none of this matters. Just my $0.02, though. Again, if you've become nothing but a spot-up three-point shotter, you might want to make the shots you get. How do you think "Air Bullard" stayed around for so long? Al?
I don't think you'll find too many people on here that would want Rice to start over Posey. This team isn't known for great first quarters, and last night with Posey starting we had one of the best starts of the season. I'd be shocked if Rudy starts Rice over Posey when Rice gets back, especially if the team continues to have fast starts. B
As I have posted before, IMO Posey was the better player to start with Rice filling the "Sixth Man Instant Offense" role. I am dismayed about Rice's injury. It is not the way I wanted to see Posey promoted. Now Bostjan Nachbar must become the Rockets' Springtime Rifle for pure instant offense, and T-Mo and the Hawk must answer when we need defense with a little bit of offense. With Collier replacing Rice on the active roster, I hope we use him as a backup PF until Mo-T heals. This may be Collier's chance -- sort of like when Patton comes out of absolute disgrace and tells his trusted staffer that God has placed him in just the right spot at just the right moment in time to make a crucial difference in the war. Well, maybe not to that extent, but it would be fun if it turned out that way. This is a deep, talented team. Go Posey! Go Bostjan! Go T-Mo! Go Hawk! Go-Collier!
Exactly how I feel: I didn't want Posey's promotion to be at the physical expense of Rice. Rice is still a decent player; I just think Posey brings more of an all-around game to the table as a starter to get us off to a good start. Then bring Rice in for instant offense (and no defense), and you've got a SQUAD. As for the whole Patton-Collier analogy...that was just frightening. I think it's safe to say we can give up on Collier. His contract runs out at the end of the year, and after that we can lump him in with the Earl Curetons, Anthony "Pig" Millers, and Thomas "Two-Ham" Hamiltons of seasons past. By the way, I got a milk carton the other day, turned it over, and to my HORR-AH, there it was, staring back at me: a mug shot of Boki. Gawd, can we PLEASE get him some PT?!?!?!?!?
As long as he's nailing his shots, Posey does deserve a starter's spot. I think it was wise to let Rice continue to start, because that's what he was slated to do at the start of the season, and Posey fresh from the trading block wasn't familiar with our team. But now that he's forced to learn the ropes on the fly, as long as he picks it up, sure I'd let him keep that starter's spot.
Why would it so frightening to have another contributing, good player? PF was always Collier's position, but the Rockets needed a backup center sooooo badly that, at 7-0 and 265 lbs., Collier was the man. Now, we need a backup PF and PF is Collier's natural position. He has the size, strength and shooting touch to box out and to protect Ming and Cato. Go Jason! Your hockey mask is waiting at courtside, but they won't allow the axe.
Fair enough. Although if Jason COULD have the axe, along with the mask, that might help with the whole "intimidation" process. Still, he hasn't shown me much in the three years we've had him.
Chicken or egg? Collier has not been playing his true position in all that time. Oh, after most of the games where he had a significant role, the board was singing his praises. Everybody gets down on him because he is the odd man out and goes to the IR. The Cat used to defend him. Now I guess that duty falls to me.
Alright, fine. Collier is THE MAN. Look, if he was that good, Rudy would be putting some other scrub on the IR with a fake injury. Granted, he's now active, but do you seriously think he's going to getting any PT behind Yao Ming and Cato (at center) or Griffin and Mo T (at power forward)? Don't worry, I'm not hating on the guy. I'm just saying he's not going to be around after his contract's up. He's merely another 7-footer who has been kept around because we're paying him, so we might as well. As soon as we're not financially responsible for him, however, he's gonzo. The truth hurts. Hey, he's better than Shawn Bradley!
I know you are not "hating on the guy." As I said in another thread, I like Mo Taylor's game better, but Collier is a decent backup until his tendons heal. Yes, Collier can't break into the Ming - Cato tandem -- nor would I want that. Yes, Collier can't break into the Griffin - Taylor tandem -- nor would I want that. That said, the Rockets don't have to have fearful worries that Griffin is backed up at present by a SF (Morris). He is backed up by a 7-foot, 265-pounder with heart and desire. Collier makes a great 12th man insurance policy at PF and center. That is my point -- and that is why the Rockets will re-sign and keep him.
If you compare both players, I think Posey is more versitile player than Rice, not to mentioned both players can put numbers almost identical, but Posey is a good defensive stopper than Rice. Posey to start at 3!
The problem is that Rice is a better 3 point shooter. If you leave Rice is open he will more likely than not drain the 3. Posey on the other hand is an average outside shooter. He can get on a hot sreak but he will miss a lot. And let's face it, in Rudy's offense the small forwards are supposed to stand at the 3 point line and bomb away. There isn't much slashing or picks set for the small forwards. Remember how poorly Pippen and Shandon did. Horry did well because he could hit the 3 and was content doing nothing else. Horry excelled on defense mostly when he played at the 4. I really like Posey, but Rice is better suited for this offense.
Posey is a pure Athlete like Hawkins but he has a little bit more Exp. I totally agree on benching Rice and Starting Posey and Actually putting the Hawk behind him in rotation, I think we would get alot of Gain out of that. Just my 2 cents. Im feel bad for Rice because i was a big Rice fan going back when he single handed Took Michigan to the Championships. But his legs are gone, If you notice...He has no lift on his jump shot like he use to. Pro Yao MING!!!! Stop Being Selfish MOBLEY!!!
I agree totally that a spot-up three-point shooter fits well in this offense; better, though, I'm not sure. Pippen and Shandon never TRIED to slash to the basket, while Posey's game is pretty much based on that (the last two games notwithstanding). He is a streak shooter, but so was Vernon Maxwell, if you want to split hairs. Also, you mentioned that Horry excelled at defense. Why do you think we primarily traded for Posey??? His offense is a bonus, but his 'D' is what sold the coaching staff, from what I've read. Clearly we had enough offensive-minded players BEFORE that deal. And while Rice might be a better three-point shooter, his legs are going, just as a previous poster mentioned, so what makes you think it's going to get any better from here on out? Even Dream's legs had to go at some point...and I think we all saw how that ended. This team has had enough of "needing to add a piece of the puzzle here and another piece there," then "wait and see." All I'm saying is put that final piece in place NOW, so that all this "gelling" talk can go away and we can start seeing results. In my opinion, the only two things keeping this Rockets team from absolutely ANNHIALATING the competition are 1.) chemistry and 2.) Yao's further development. Bring Rice in off the bench for instant offense, insert Posey in there to bring a healthy dose of 'D' from the START of the game, continue to let Yao and his teammates learn each others' games, and then sit back and watch the banners pile up.
Unfortunately I think the last 2 games are indicative of what his role will be. They had an interview with him at halftime and he said the hardest thing so far has been finding his niche on offense. Yes Horry was great at D, moreso at power though, when he guarded Malone and Grant. But Posey should be able to guard the top shooters on the other team. I also like the fact that Rice bosses Steve and Cuttino a little bit, telling them to get other people involved. He won't be around much longer though anyways. I agree about the chemistry. They've shown flashes here and there, it seems like they are about to put it all together.
Glen Rice is nothing more than an overpaid, washed-up piece of garbage. He has zero trade value, and brings absolutely nothing to the table. He plays atrocious defense, and can't even make wide-open threes anymore. His conditioning sucks, which is why he's always getting injured.
Um, WOW. Apparently there is some anger built up, there, Baqui99. Listen, I don't think the guy's "garbage." He IS overpaid (relatively speaking), but he does bring veteran leadership by staying on the young pups, and can still contribute something positive to this team (I feel) on a nightly basis. His defense is (and has always been) lacking, but that was the trade-in for the offense he provided (and still does, from time to time). All I'm saying is that we go ahead and move forward with the definitive move of permanently starting James Posey. That's not to say Rice "sucks" or is "garbage," but that with a reduced yet calculated role, this team can improve. Just an opinion, man. No reason to have to check into an anger management class or anything. EEEEEEEEASY, tiger.
