Mo T is actually only 1.8 b less than B. Grant and 2.5 more points in less time. Moreover, Grant's contract make Mo T feels like he can get some government assisted housing.
Exactly. I have always enjoyed reading Sherlock's posts as I feel that he is one of the best GARM posters here; however, the post in this thread threatens to change my opinion about him. As Sam mentioned, what did Eddie ever do while he was here? Nothing except quit on his team. Yet we have people who until the end of time will be and continue to be fascinated with him. There comes a time where you admit that you made a mistake and cut your losses and move on. I know that many feel that we should bring him back because we gave up so much for him in the first place, but what has he done to earn an invite back to play with us? Is it because of his unlimited potential? Sorry, but I would rather have hard-working, dependable guys who won't quit on their team than some great potential guy who is a loser. Sorry to be so harsh, but many of you need to face reality - Eddie isn't coming back, just let it go - please.
Only a freshman this past year, Taft may make the jump to the NBA next year, but he could very well stay another year as he needs much improvement on the offensive end. I think Jawad Williams at small forward would be a better selection. 6'10, tough (playing through injuries such as a broken nose this past year *he was the masked man in the ACC tournament that was wreaking havoc hitting clutch shots offensively and shutting down opponents defensively despite sometimes being in foul trouble), hardworking (as shown by his steady improvement from year to year) extremely athletic, plays very physical, has an NBA body, ACC tested (for what will be four years), one of the top man to man defenders in the NCAA (he reminds me of a Ron Artest defensively but less brute strength and more peskiness), and has the ability to hit the bigtime shot. He is a consumate team player that is displayed by his unselfishness on the court. Jawad in a nice passer and excels in transition where he finishes nicely. His weaknesses, I believe, could be helped with a demanding coach, such as a Jeff Van Gundy, who puts great emphasis on perfection (he is in good hands with a demanding coach in Roy Williams). There is a possibility that Jawad may go in the lottery if he puts up a solid senior season, but with the number of international players that took their names out of this years draft looking at next year, combined with so many potential based selections, Williams could fall. Jawad may not be an immediate big contributor offensively right away at the NBA level, but he will definately make and impact in spot situations and defensively instantly. He would be a huge pickup for the Rockets, and in my opinion, exemplifies a Van Gundy type of player.
Hey, Manny, thanks for the kudos ... ... but, just so that I don't appear crazy myself, let me explain in greater detail why I would support Griffin, and what the issues are here. For 25 years, I lived with someone who faced depression. She also suffered from manic depression as well, so I know the extremes. I studied over 50 medical textbooks on the subject, and as a counselor/consultant, have helped hundreds with the disease, empowering and coaching many to success, from CEO's of fortune 500 companies to every day people who had lost careers, families and friends, due to their crazy behavior while under its power. I am not talking about this in a clueless manner. The Rockets did the absolute right thing to cut Eddie, and not let him back until he solved the problems he faced. Eddie had to hit bottom, and come to a point where he took responsibility for his behavior, and make the choice to change and cope. The Rockets had to make the compassionate sacrifice, and let go of their investment, which had turned sour, not just for Eddie's good, but to stop the distraction to the team, and stop the embarrassment to the franchise, fans and our great city. They knew, that if they kept him in the lineup, while he suffered from this, it was selfish on their part. That had to be a very hard decision. But, they did it. He was addicted to various things, which he used to self-medicate the depression, and these addictions caused him to have an overblown view of what he could or couldn't do. They caused him to have bad work habits, to fall short of his potential in a big way. He was deluded. Everything in his world hurt. Depression is a wound, but you can't see it. Everything in life hurts. I call it "sitting too close to the loudspeakers of life." What is beautiful music in a concert in a sweet spot, is painful next to the loudspeakers. Life felt totally magnified and exaggerated to him, which led to extreme reactions we've all heard about. Depression comes about from the loss of seratonin, a brain neuro-chemical which gives us a sense of well-being. It facilitates the transfer of neural communication between the analytical and creative sides of the brain. When this "brain oil" is dry, everything feels agitated. (Like someone jumping on your bed, when you have a bad case of the flu) Situational depression, which Griffin probably experienced, comes about when we stuff our feelings, and don't process our thoughts. As a result, they churn in our sub-conscious brain, and use up the "brain oil" (seratonin). So, the first thing that doctors do to treat this, is to give a seratonin re-uptake inhibitor, which causes the brain not to absorb seratonin so quickly, allowing the brain to come back to normal levels of seratonin within a few weeks. This is not a permanent solution, but a temporary fix, although many keep taking the medication until they have solved what causes the problem. To fix the problem, you have to spend time in therapy, and learn how to feel your feelings, so they are brought out of your sub-conscious and into your conscious mind and released, and to bring unprocessed thoughts into your conscious mind, and deal with them, rather than avoid them. From what I've gathered in the press, Eddie Griffin's best friend died. He didn't have time to grieve his loss. He had some other major losses at the same time, had to adjust to the NBA way of life in a rather shocking way, and then had a group of people who claimed to be his friends harrass him and take advantage of him on all sorts of levels. He had to play at a professional level, and didn't feel he had time to deal with these things. In addition, he had never really learned how to deal with his emotions healthily in his past. He stayed quiet, while these things churned inside. Well, it all came to a boil, and we all saw the results. So, when the Rockets cut him, he dropped all the way to the bottom. It took doing very stupid things and getting caught at it, to cause him to stop the craziness, and get help. He has humbled himself, taken the appropriate temporary medications, gotten the therapy to change the way he handles his thoughts and emotions, and gotten good advice from someone who had been there, but worked his way back to the top ... John Lucas. Eddie has been working out, and getting back into tip top shape. Once he's learned to think properly, he's totally NORMAL, just like you and I (at least if we're normal ... lol). Not crazy. What he did when he suffered from depression was CRAZY. He has done what is necessary to be NORMAL. Those of you who throw stones, because of what he did, do so without understanding. If he has made the changes, he now can fulfill his potential, as long as he has good work habits and continues to follow good advice. If he fulfills his potential, we will all be sorry we didn't allow him to do it with our team. This isn't the same thing as Mad Max or Wiggins. Maxwell never got the help he needed. Griffin has gotten the treatment, therapy, and support he needed, and will now be able to do what we all hoped he would do at the beginning. So, some of you may think I am crazy, myself, for wanting Eddie back, for fear we will go through more of his crazy behavior, and be embarrassed for giving him a second chance, when he's already had previous chances he blew, but if you understood the issues that were involved, you would want him to play for us too. What's the worse thing that can happen? Get depressed again? Now that everyone knows what he has, the warning signs will be easy to tell way before they were before ... way before he get's to a crazy point, and he can take some medication ... and worse case, they can cut him loose again, if needed, and then we're done. But, if he learns from this, we could have a star on our hands, able to be as successful as any other lottery pick. You guys don't realize how many stars and well-known, successful people suffer from this. But, they get help earlier than Griffin did. Now Griffin has help. He should be able to succeed just as many others all over our country. Once again, my hat is off to John Lucas, who suffered from various addictions, but turned his life around, not only for his own success, but for the success of others, which is true success.
Misplaced optimism and impaired judgement. Another side effect of hunger. Will someone please get Sherlock a Snickers bar?
Everybody on your roster can't be to young, you need veterans on your team. The Rockets don't need a "great" PF, you just need a solid, dependable PF, how many star players do you need? I mean, Chucky Brown was a "decent" player, but he knew his role, and Davis could play the PF and Center spot. Davis is a banger on the paint who knows his role, gives up his body on defense, rebounds, is physical and doesn't need the ball to be successful. THOSE are the guys you need around Yao, enforcers not "pretty" players.
Totally agree Millenium. Howard will fill the bill if we don't get a great offer. I don't think we should waste resources on PF players, a Howard, MoT, Spoon rotation ain't too bad. A backup center is second on the list of needs right after a starting PG. Too bad we can't pick up that Cato guy from Orlando.
Excellent, excellent post, Sherlock. One of my best friends has been dealing with this for years and he's 47. He's got an MBA from Harvard and has been to the top of the business world and he's faced bankruptcy... largely because of his illness. He's doing pretty well now, living on Long Island and being CFO of an international company. Don't stop making great, insightful posts. Some of us appreciate it.
Sherlock, thanks for sharing your thoughts on depression. It has given me something to think about concerning my father, who is currently in the pscyh hospital for the first time and taking those serontonin inhibitors due todepression over his alzheimers. You make a convincing case that Eddie should be forgiven for his actions, if he has faced his problems. Eddie should then be treated for who he is-- a player the age of a college Junior or Senior who has shown flashes of great potential. He can run the court, has great length, shot blocking ability, above average rebounding ability, good hands and the ability to shoot from three point land. He can definitely be an a good NBA role player. If he can overcome some weaknesses in his game, like the ability to put the ball on the floor he will become an average to good starting NBA forward or rotation player. As one poster, whose name escapes me, kept saying he has the potential to be a Donyell Marshal. That being said, can anyone think of another case of an NBA player who has overcome probems of a similar magnitude to have a successful career? It may be that the stress of the NBA lifestyle is not for someone recovering from this condition. With Rudy, Cuttino, Kato and Francis probably gone, as a fan, I'm especially keen to see one of the few of the old Rocket faces back in the lineup.
Sherlock, That was a good post and I appreciate you taking the time to compose it. However, I still disagree with you about bringing him back. It is unfortunate that Eddie suffers from depression, but at least he has taken the right step in getting help. But let me ask you a question: you remember Leon Smith? How many times do you think the Mavericks tried to rehabilitate him? When do you think they just finally gave up for good on him? I am asking this because I honestly don't know the answers.
The Mavs really didn't do anything to rehabilitate Smith - they just cut him. Once Smith got his life together he played very well in the CBA and later was signed by the Sonics. The thing with Smith was that he really wasn't a very good player. Eddie has shown he can play in the league. I wouldn't be completely opposed to giving him another chance to do that.
Very legitimate question, Manny. The problem comes when you don't know what the problem is, or don't take personal responsibility for it, or don't develop new habits that are effective coping methods. We all have weaknesses, but those who succeed, learn to cope. In fact, some weaknesses correspond with our strengths. I've had a separated shoulder, just like Rashard Lewis has. If I didn't found out what my injury was, get professional help, and then workout in physical therapy, it would always be weak and get injured and re-injured. But, someone like Rashard Lewis is able to play at a top pro level, because he takes it into account, and constantly builds his muscles around it to compensate. If he quit, then he'd be injury prone, just like those who get separated shoulders who never do the physical therapy. I'm not saying he'll succeed, because as you know, it takes a lot more than being mentally healthy to succeed in the pros. But, if he's truly learned about his condition, taken the medication, done the therapy, and continues to build a support system around him that faciliitates his success, he CAN be a superstar WITH it (if that's his true potential). I can't name names, but I know of star players who suffer from it, but cope, using expert support, and when they see warning flags, take proper precautions. Eddie didn't know what he had, so he didn't take appropriate steps to address it, and ended up getting to an extreme point. I doubt he'll get to that spot again. People like Jordan and Barkley got counseling and therapy, so they understood themselves, determined what it would take to reach maximum success, and push themselves to the top. But, Griffin can do the same. Perhaps it'll even enable him to reach greater success BECAUSE of this happening, since he'll get expertise he never had, or thought he needed. Of course, if he goes back to thinking he doesn't need any help or support, then, yes, he could end up like Mad Max, but it won't be because he had depression, it'll be because he didn't learn how to cope and adapt or utilize expert help. John Lucas himself is a very good example of someone who went to the bottom with drugs and things like depression, and came back to the top. He learned, got help, took responsibility, did what it took, and then has helped others succeed similarily. I hope Griffin stays close to Lucas for a long time to come.
Sherlock: That was an amazing post. Makes you think about things past basketball. I for one fully advocate bringing Griffin back if for no other reason than to save face. What really is there to lose? He'de be playing for the minimum and there wouldn't be much pressure on him. He'de be playing spot backup minutes. I don't really know why I'de bring him back. Maybe it's just remembering the feeling of excitement I felt that draft night what seems so many years ago. Maybe it's that stretch during his rookie season when it felt like he had atleast 5 blocks every game. Maybe it's because he had 25 games during his rookie season in which he blocked atleast 3 shots. I'll be honest when I say that Eddie Griffin didn't have many basketball skills. But he is simply one of the best natural shotblockers I have ever witnessed and that is no exaggeration. I once said he would break Hakeem Olajuwon's block record. His ability to chase shots without having his feet planted was uncanny. He'll never become the All-Star power forward that we all envisioned that dreary draft night. However, I think for his shot blocking alone, he should be given a chance. What really is there to lose? We only stand to gain.
The Rockets need a starting point guard, and a big man to come off the bench. I'd prefer both to be in their 20s, so YM, TM, BN, and the new guys can all peak around the same time. My only real hope is that the Rockets get a PG that isn't short. I know 6' to 6'3" is the normal height for most point guards, but passing to YM would be sooo much easier with a taller PG. Barry would be perfect, except he's thirty three years old, and wants a four year deal.
I like most of the ideas, Sherlock, EXCEPT signing Brian Grant. I'd hate if the Rockets get a guy like Grant on the team who is OLDER, has a HUGE contract, and has had injury problems. It's kind of like Boselli, and we all know how that worked out. Grant isn't even that great offensively; if we trade more depth and TE for someone, least let him have some skills.
Personally, I think we should look at filling positions with this priority ranking: 1. PG - obvious, we will really only have a backup in Lue and need more. 2. SG/SF - We need someone to take pressure off of Jackson as I fear too much extended play will wear him down faster. I am not confident with Boki just yet so I would like to see some kind of competent backup brought in that could swing to either position. Or, if we could somehow land a starting SF, then Jackson could be this backup, which is ideal for him. 3. C - This needs to be someone who can rebound and defend. Does not need to be great, just capable of putting in a good 8-10 minutes a game, with the occasional heavier duty due to Yao Ming's foul or stamina problems. I have no problem with our PF rotation. This would change, of course, if Mo or Spoon was shipped out in some kind of trade, depending on who we got back.
