Eg was terrible with the ball. He'd get a ton of shots early, and brick 8-10 in the first quarter. Then he'd get the hook. If he'd concentrate on the boards to get warmed up, , he'd increase his production on rebounds, putbacks, and blocking out. He needs to work on setting bigger picks. That said, our guards are terrible at the pick and roll. They ignore Yao, Mo, Eddie - I think they'd ignore Karl Malone. They only guy that's working the p&r is Taylor, and he gets a crap short circuit dump catch high, then hesitates and goes across the free throw line for the hook. the guards just don't seem inclined to hit a big man rolling toward the basket - maybe they think the bigs are just big blocking dummies. Cato does get the oop. Steve seems to like that toss from outside. Maybe we should tell Yao to stick his hands up and jump at the hole.
When did EG say this stuff? It didn't happen to be MEDIA DAY did it? I think the kid does have potential, as has been said, but I also think he is a season and a half away from Scrubsylvania.
why . . .exactly? I mean what REASON have they given you to worry? Rocket River This is shapingup to be a good season . . . . don't temper our excitement with negativity!!!
hopefully JVG can get Eggie to rebound like he did at Seaton Hall DaDak - check you bbs email address
Eddie is the key. The Rockets will have a very good team next year, but if Eddie plays to his potential, he showed flashes of it, or even close to it, this team will be lights out big time. Mo will give us solid outings, about 14 ppg about 6 rpg, but Griffin has the potential to do a lot of the things that Amare Stoudemire does. He is a better defender, when he wants to be, and he is a legit Top 10 shot-blocker. He can also grab 8 to 10 rebounds per game, again when he wants to and when he works hard. I remember games against teams like the Lakers when he completely shut down the lane with his shot-blocking, including blocking a Shaq jam from the weakside. If Eddie comes close to playing to his potential this team will be VERY good.
I agree RocketsMillenium. I think whether or not Yao emerges into a superstar caliber center is obviously the biggest factor determining whether this team takes the next step. You pretty much know what to expect from Francis, Mobley, Taylor, and Cato - they should all be solid. But, whether or not Eddie Griffin takes that next step and goes along the path we all saw him poised to follow after his rookie year is what is in my mind the determining factor between making the Rockets a good team and a "very" good team. Eddie in his rookie season would routinely have games of 5 blocks with 12+ rebounds yet suddenly all of this production vanished mysteriously last season. If Eddie can be for Houston what Camby was for New York, we can go places.
I'm so pleased to hear EG say that. Yes actions speak louder than words but training camp just opened so no one can jump on his back just yet. I like EG and MoT and I believe they could a very good PF combo for us. Mo looks good and EG seems to be getting on board so I'm excited.
A few weeks after the Rockets hired JVG, someone started a thread/poll with a question similar to "What Rockets players' game would improve the most under JVG"? I was one of the few who thought Van Gundy's "tough love" would be the ticket for Eddie Griffin. Hopefully, I will turn out to be correct.
If EG can only transform his game to like J. O'neal's game, Rocks will be the most improved team, because one player has major chnged on his game. And Eddie can focus and improved, I mean, he won't be a top 10 pick in the lottery for noithing! If he can quit that head banger boggie and concentrate on his game, it will be priceless!
I agree whoever mentioned that he is untapped talent. Yes, I agree, his shots sometimes have no arc in them, but i think van gundy not to mention ewing will really help him out with that. His emotionless game face may lead some to think he doesn't have a heart, but it's difficult to show emotion if your team is not going anywhere. Besides if Tim Duncan can win championships without showing too much emotion then why can't eddie? I think the media likes flamboyant personalities and if he was more outspoken francis and cat would get jealous of the attention...i mean geez they already have yao. I've always like EG eversince we've drafted him and haven't changed my mind about him despite the success of jefferson. I know this is a bold prediction but i truly think EG will finally show us THIS year why he was considered a number 1 pick.
ahh i'm glad to see eddie getting some love in a thread for once. i so want this guy to not be traded, if for no reason other than his shotblocking. if he ever learns to hit a short turnaround jumper or hook shot he would be great b/c at 6'11 with long arms it would be nearly impossible to keep him from getting the shot. and if he's the 4th or 5th option if he could just concentrate on offensive boards and putbacks, he'd be murder b/c again 6'11 and long arms is hard to keep away from the ball when you've got so many other weapons to concentrate on. completely agree with thacabbage, yao is the key to the whole thing, but eddie can add a whole nothing level of success if he ever shows up. we've assembled a good squad, now hopefully they all live up to expectations.
If Eddie can play half as well as he does on NBA Live 2003, he'll be a force. Seriously, the sky is the limit for Eddie. The only one holding him back is himself. I would love to see him play with a little attitude this year.
It seems to me a lot of people around here should at least be happy EG said what he did. Bottom line is it's his 3rd year and a hige one for him in everyway. I love Rudy & CD but I still say that getting EG was probably how how they are going to be judged as talent evaluators. Yao was not a distant dream then and they were as effusive about EG as they had been about Francis. Now that he's the sam age as Francis was a rookie we can get a rational basis for comparison. The flop many think he is might still come back to bite us if we let him go after a mediocre season this year. His 23 year-old-body might make all the difference in the world for him in a different uniform. Here I do see having Van Gudy as a definite asset.
