funny pictures. anyone hear when Stro is due back? I hope he is not going to miss too many games because of a sprained ankle. I think the Rox should wipe some windex on that ankle of his and get him back on the court. J
I think the thing about both Howard's and Swift's games that compliment Yao the most is their range on their jumper. Both Swift and Howard can hit it from behind the foul line, which clears up a lot of space for Yao to work down low. I think they should just work on Yao becoming a force down there, and if they double/triple him, just kick it out to Howard/Swift and make the other team pay for doubling Yao. If it's done with consistency, it's quite difficult to prevent by any team. This would require our pg, sf, sg, and pf to all be on the perimiter, and be able to knock down the jumpers. If T-Mac and Yao are creating shots, and the rest of the team is hitting them, we should be pretty tough to beat. The thing is, we don't have that consistency yet. I'm just waiting until we do...
Swift kind of grows on you, I would love to see him again. I forgot what he looks like. I don't think he is as "r****ded" as everyone makes him out to be. He sounds intelligent in interviews. I sure hope he doesn't read this board, brutal. I would really like to see him get motivated. Do they drug test NBA players? He seems like a "smoker." Does he know MoT?
Surely you must be joking! Either you have severe amnesia or perhaps just delusions. Yao was greener than green when he came into the NBA as a rookie from the Shanghai Sharks. Stro had 2 years of college bball and has been in the NBA 6 years. How many more years will it take for him to develop? Is Stro such an emotional midget that he needs "encouragement" more than anyone else? Your statement is almost condescending. He's never been a star and never will be. 15/10 for him on a good team is a pipe dream. And, well, if cutting Stro no more slack than any other player makes me a "hater" by someone's definition, then so be it. Like Matt and Adam said on AM610 tonight, our primary offseason target has been a total bust so far. BTW, they did a role-playing parody of LB, Isiah and James Dolan tonight that was pretty funny.
THe thing about it is, I don't know how we are going to trade him for a major upgrade. Who out there at the 4 position that would be better than him? I really think the trade for Swift will involve a swing man or maybe an undersized 3/4 that can score the ball and is smaller/quicker but undersized for the Duncan's of the league. I can see a trade for a player like AL Harrington, possibly Darius Miles, somebody that is athletic. The bottom line is you really have to have 3 very good big men to be able to win it all nowadays. The Pistons bring it with Ben, Rasheed, and McDyess....all 3 different players but effective with a wide range of skills. To beat the Spurs you gotta have somebody that can at least slow Duncan down a little bit, but at the same time, you've got to have a smaller/quicker PF that can stay with players like Marion too. We've got Juwan. He ain't goin nowhere. He is what he is. We couldn't trade him for a sack of quikcrete, so basically he's our big PF. He's the player that we play on the Duncan type PFs. No, he can't stop him, but who are we going to get that can. Then Swift is supposed to be the player that helps us, provides a change of pace, stretches the other team's defense, and defends the smaller more atheltic PFs. If we can move Swift for a Harrington or a Miles, I think we should do it. We don't need to trade him for spare parts. We only got so much salary to work with and we need a primary contibutor if he ain't it.
Here we go again...The abject disdain by Apostolic3 for Stromile Swift...and with Matt and Adam your supreme source of information. Wow am I ever impressed!?? Since you consider yourself so informed about NBA talent as evidenced by your consistently condescending remarks to so many others, you might want to review Hakeem's history and see how long it took him with all of his super immense talent to take his team to a championship. Do you know or were you even watching the Rockets back then? 9 YEARS!!!! It took Hakeem at least 71/2 years and about 3 coaches to even start to become a true team leader. He had the talent and skills in spades, even from the beginning, but he did not granulate all of that together until Rudy T. came along, and even then, not until he came very close to throwing it all away before resolving his issues with Steve Patterson and Charlie Thomas. Stromile was playing very well in his last healthy stretch. Maybe Swift will be a bust and we will all be disappointed, but he might suprise all of us. I, for one, hope he does and I am unashamedly rooting for him, not against him! If, on the other hand, he is a bust, then some of the blame will fall at JVG's feet, who will have to admit his own ineffectiveness at harnessing and honing the athletic ability of a Swift into an NBA player that fulfills his greatest potential. If JVG`s failure in these areas is continually ignored by the Rocket brass, then we will never again have the heart of a champion and will be reduced to being nothing more than mediocre. JVG, rather than collecting bags under his eyes watching game film, should have been studying how to motivate his players. Look how long it has finally taken Yao to truly become a bona fide dominant center. Great players for the most part do not happen overnight. They have some one or some thing pushing and driving them. Hakeem had Guy Lewis, Moses Malone, Rudy T., and others. Jordan had his father, his college coach, and Phil Jackson... (By the way, in case you haven`t noticed, JVG hasn`t done such a stellar job most recently in helping his star player climb out of his deep funk...) You are, once again, very short-sighted in understanding not only what it takes to develop NBA talent and greatness, but the need that we all have...including you... for someone to cheer us on...An "emotional midget" is one who doesn`t recognize this because of his arrogance and pride in thinking he can do it all in his own strength without others, without God...!
Stro should be back next game, Swift gets ready Rockets forward Stromile Swift, who has missed the past four games with a sprained left ankle, said he expects to be ready to return tonight against the 76ers. Swift was hurt in the last minute of the Rockets' game Feb. 16 in Phoenix when he stepped on Suns guard Eddie House's foot. "I thought I was going to be ready (Monday)," Swift said. "I did some running, some cutting, some basketball stuff. "It was still a little sore. But I should be ready Wednesday." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3692535.html
From what i hear, swift has very good work ethics aside from his tardiness to practice. His strengths aren't what the rockets need right now and slowly but surely he will mold his strengths to what that is best for the team.
Interesting. Never said Matt and Adam were my supreme source of info. Where did that come from? Not trying to impress you, just trying to reason with you. Consistently condescending remarks? Whatever! If you read the other threads and (esp) forums here you'd know I admit when I'm wrong. I've eaten humble pie many many times here. On the Stro-lovin, it amazes me to no end. Just like your total post here, rarely is their logic for it. Seems to be mostly blind hope or anti-JVG sentiment. Just MHO. I was a Rockets fan from the Calvin Murphy days and I remember Hakeem very well. Your comparison of Stro to Hakeem is a complete joke and fantasy. Hakeem was a warrior who played hard every game. He had issues in his younger days, but was nothing like Stro at all. Nobody ever applied the term "underacheiver" to Hakeem. Underachiever has been the word on Stro since very early in his career. Explain to me the similarity again. Yes, Hakeem became a leader but he showed leadership potential very very early. On leadership, Stro has shown zippo. Again, no similarity between the players. Before Hakeem reached his peak, he was a better played than Stro will ever be. Every summer, Hakeem developed his skills and came back a better player. Same for Stro? Don't think so. Great players usually show some smidgen of greatness after 6 years. Now, take a look at Hakeem's career, Yao's and Stro's. Which player does not belong? Stro failures are no more JVG's fault than his previous coaches. JVG has had him for the shortest amount of time. Sorry, but most players that haven't improved after 6 years DO NOT develop. It's on the player not his coaches. Stro has been this year what he's always been. Why is that JVG's fault? You can't make orange juice out of lemons. I really don't have much comment on your last paragraph except to say I agree with your comments on pride, arrogance and God. Don't see what in the world that has to do with Stro. Lastly, I want Stro to do well while he's here, but just call him as I see him. We need to ship him out over the summer and get a real starting PF who puts JH on the bench, plays hard every game and fits with Yao.
Downtown, Why are you throwing the God card in there? I am a preacher's son and a believer, but I don't rely on the Big Guy as a crutch during debates, especially about a basketball player. For the record, Stomile is no Hakeem and is not Calvin Murphy. They are Hall of Fame players, who yes took time to develop, but from Day 1 were quality pro players. Stro is a role player and a brittle one at that. Wesley has missed no games this year while Stro misses multiple games from pink eye and a twisted ankle. Either we lower our expectations bc his contract really isnt that bad or dump him.
Not arguing with you, but how do you figure moving Stromile Swift, who you deem garbage, for someone who you label as a starter that puts JH on the bench. I don't see how you get "something" for "nothing." I mean unless you are talking about unloading quite a few other players we have. If you move more than 1-2 players/contracts, you are talking about reestablishing chemistry YET again. Stro' has played well lately. I think he's done well. He seems to fit in just like Wesley, JH, Rafer, etc. Basically, he might be one of the ones to drop 15+ to help with the scoring, i.e. the 3rd option on any given night.
All trades are made because both teams think they will improve. I'm hoping we could package him to get back a better PF or starting SG. Hopefully there are teams out there who like Stro and feel they could still develop him. On the chemistry issue, he has not established much chemistry on this team that I can see. No loss there. We must upgrade at PF and SG during the summer and Stro is best trade bait we have. If we get rid of JH instead of Stro and get a new starting PF, that would work too.
The chemistry issue I'm saying is not if Stro leaves, but I'm assuming you'd have to package a player or two along with him. I wouldn't think many teams would find much value in Stro if he's a flop as some people perceive him. He won't ever live up to his draft pick, in my opinion, but I think he can definitely be a good 2ndary role player for our team. But you are right, he's the best trade bait we have. Man, I just want to get some guys in here and stick with them you know? I really think our inability to beat the better teams right now is b/c of McGrady's slump. I hope he shakes it soon.
Must be true because I have heard the same thing from someone within the organization. My source is under contract so they dont say ANYTHING.....I just ask how each player is doing. And all I get is a OR a "go to hell look". Everytime I ask about Stro I get the , so he must be busting his butt!!
apostolic3 I dont know you too well but you have been quite condesending to people that have a difference of opinion. apostolic3 "Either you have severe amnesia or perhaps just delusions" you can debate a stance without being condesending or rude. I happen to like Stro's game and have been impressed with his last three outings not because of the flashy dunks but his mindset. He was in attack mode spinning, driving to the hoop. If he and Yao continue to attack the rim it will cause all kinds of trouble for the opposing defenses. J
If you will reread the post, you will easily recognize that I was in no way, whatsoever, comparing Olajuwon with Swift as far as talent, skill, intensity, focus, drive, etc. The process in terms of taking time for a player to reach his full development is where any "comparison" between Hakeem and Stromile that I have made begins and ends. You might want to exercise some of that reason and logic you accuse me of lacking in reading these two salient points that I am making. Here they are: 1.) If the very best players up to and including Olajuwon took time to reach the zenith of their abilities, then there is still hope for Stro. Olajuwon, even with the best skill set in the NBA did not and could not win a championship until he became a complete team player and leader. As far as Stro goes, admittedly, I, as one of his supporters, have hoped for more and just recently wrote another post stating that this is not merely the do-or-die point of his tenure with the Rockets, but of his future career. Further, I stated that to achieve what he needs to achieve with the Rockets will require nothing less than playing a key role in their making the play-offs. For my part, I hope he does and will stand with him until he has found his place or is traded. I still like the raw talent he has. I still believe he can get there. If he doesn't, then I want the Rockets to find the best bruising-tough PF that they can find and I hope they scour the globe to do so. 2.) The other point that I am making is that no great NBA player or, for that matter, any great human achievement of any kind, can occur without help and encouragement from others and, yes, without faith in God. The fact is NBA players need to be inspired and motivated as do all of us. Having done some coaching and alot of Motivational Teaching and Directing, this is where I believe JVG is sorely lacking and I believe the evidence of his deficiency shows up most clearly with Stromile Swift in not so much what JVG has done, but what he has not done! Furthermore, for merely mentioning faith in God, I am being challenged not so much by you, but by others. You yourself say you have no disagreement with me in that, yet, ask what that has to do with Stro. In otherwords, where is the relevance? I say it is absolutely relevant as a fundametal and essential principle in all matters of life and if your posting name bears any relevance to its origin and meaning, you should be one of the first to shout its relevance!
I think if JVG can help turn Cato into a serviceable player he can do the same with Stro he just needs more time. How many people gave up on Cato? thought he was a big useless waste of lazy space? JVG at least motivated Cato to be something more.. or maybe Yao motivated him to be more. I remember a Yao quote that said "I want to be strong like Kelvin Cato" All im saying is its too early to give up on Stro he frustrates me sometimes and his health is a concern. But when he was on the court recently I was inspired. J
First of all, God is not a card! HE is the giver and sustainer of all life and of the universe. If you are a preacher`s son and a believer, then it shouldn't bother you with my mentioning God in an elementary, passing sort of way. I make no apology for having done so. Part of the problem on this site is that posters can be crude and lewd and few say anything. I casually mention God and you get upset. We need to recognize that what occurs here is a microcosm of what happens in our country and culture, at large. Under the banner of freedom of speech, we have no issue with people invoking the name and character of God in some of the most grossly offensive and reprehensible ways, but if we invoke His name in reverence, in faith, in prayer, and merely in passing as I did, then people act as if someone cursed their mother. I have been a member since 2002, but have been actively posting for a little over a year, starting after the McGrady Miracle Win. During that time I have posted some 72 times and am sure I have not mentioned God in more than 3 or 4 of those posts at the most, so I am not trying to turn this site into a Sunday School class. However, if I desire to mention God, be it known to all posters and members, then I will do so both by conscience and by the First Amendment. If that gets me banned then so be it, I don`t need to be here. There are some things more important to me than Houston Rockets basketball. Until then, deal with it, it`s your problem, not mine!
room4rentsf, 1 you are correct and I apologize for being condescending. My bad. 2 Most people here don't think JVG can develop players and blame him for Stro's problems. So, by comparing him to Cato you think the opposite about JVG? Downtown, 1 Hakeem's improvement started from Day 1 and was gradual and steady. Stro is basically the same player he was as a rookie. After 6 years, he's probably already reached or is very close to his "zenith" like most players. 2 Yes, God is relevent everywhere, but does Stro have a strong faith in God leading him in his life? That was basically what I was asking you.
