Last year at this point we all tought that the 3 position was cover with nachbar. Most of the users in this forum (I´m included)predicted that boki numbers in his rookie season (what we were thinking) will be arround 10-15 pts and 4-5 rbs. The 2002-03 season passed, and with all the attention on Yao and the fact that we had Posey at 3 we forgot about Boki. Two months ago Posey was our sf for future years. Well, his gone. Morris is gone (Good player but not the starter that the rox need). Nachbar, a "future star" averaged those numbers we predicted, but he did that in a summer league (13pt, 4rb, 1.2as in 31 min) and with terrible shooting (31 % FG, 25% 3pt). Right now we have a 23 year old european player with almost none experience in the nba and no trade value. Two G-F recently signed and the only sf we have is a veteran (who hardly can play a full season in a good level), and for sure they are not the answer. Nachbar have his last chance to prove his game in the October camp, if we can find in him our starting sf i think we have more chances to push for a playoff bert. This not tell very much but in the first season of Peja he averaged only 8 pts, now he is arround 20 points, he is an all star and a fundamental piece in one of the best teams. Another example of a big european is Dirk, in his first season he averaged 8 pts to, now he´s arround 25 pts, he is an all star and the best player for the Mavericks. This is a crucial year for Nachbar, only time would tell us the truth, but i would be happy if he can average 9-10 points and with good defense. Piat and A Griffin are good players, i like them, but you guys know that they are not enough to compite with the elite teams. Rice is to old and we need a future player because we need to think in a long term champioship, for the next 2-3 year only a miracle would take us to the finals. And that miracle could be Boki.
From all the things they say about Boki we can expect good things from him. The fact that they didn't even give him a chance last year really put him in a weird posiition, going from one of the best players if not the best player on his team and being the go to guy to basically just a practice squad player. I really think that under a different coach then Rudy Boki might have got a bit of playing experience in the NBA and would be fine for this year. But now he is basically going to start his rookie season this year so he will have to be patient. I believe he has the talent to be like Peja if given the opportunity to play and make his mistakes on the NBA level, not summer league or practice squad style. At the same time we can't just jump on his bandwagon or beat him up for every time he doesn't shoot well etc. I really want him to succeed, having a 6'9" sf that can handle the ball and shoot and slash is any teams dream as long as he can get the feel for the game.
The worst thing that could have happened to Nachbar was Posey signing a 24 million dollar contract with the Rockets. By the Rockets saying no to Posey, they are truly saying "YES" to Nachbar. Look who they signed Piakowski and Griffin, both good backups for their former teams. Plus, they are true swingmen backups. They can backup SG and SF. The Rockets are setting the table for Nachbar to take the SF spot, and if he fails, the Rockets have 2 solid players that can take some of the stress cased by Boki's inexperience. Go Boki!!!
