Ok, let me clarify: I know some people were Glen Rice haters from the get-go. I myself was rather ambivalent (lukewarm, or so-so for the 'Great Unwashed') about his presence on the team. When he was on, when his shot was falling, then yeah it was great to have him on the team. Now I don't know if it was just me, but it seemed fairly clear to me last year that Rice could shoot 'lights-out' as long as he was shooting from 'his spots'. You know what I mean, if you have played any basketball yourself. There are just certain positions on the floor from which you are simply better at making a shot than other spots. Of course, some players can light it up from anywhere, and that's fine, but most players have developed and perfected a 'comfortable' spot from which to shoot, and from which the shot seems to become almost 'automatic'. Rice was like that. As long as he was out there shooting from the top of the arc, almost straight away, that 3 pointer was going in more often than not. The thing that irritated the HECK out of me was, he himself didn't seem to know it. He wanted to shoot from all over the floor.. 3-point shots from the baseline, from three-quarters, all over the place. Bricks. But from his 'sweet spot', he was money. Either he knew it but was too prideful to lean on his good spots as a crutch, or he was coached to stray from his spots, or he genuinely didn't know. In any case, that's all history now, BUT.. Now we come to Boki. I have been impressed with how Nachbar has handled the increased responsibilities of this season so far, especially with how much more comfortable he looks out there with his shot. He is still hovering around 50% on his 3's, which is really really good, and much praise in his direction. However, I am beginning to notice that he has some spots where his shot goes, and some where they just clang and look horrible. As long as he is around about the middle third of the arc, he seems to have a really good feel for the shot. The others, ick. But it almost looks like there is some hesitation to spot up in his good spots, and it definitely looks like, to me anyway, that his teammates are still not aware of where his good spots are yet, so that a lot of the time, when he is on the floor, he is open, and should be getting more looks than he is, but is not getting the pass when he is open, and then getting it when he is not in good position.. So am I seeing things? Is it the coaching, everyone still trying to fit into the system, and still not feeling flexible yet? Or does he just need to develop a bit more assertiveness, a la Yao Ming's same need, and simply start demanding the ball? It just seems to me, as well as he has started the season shooting, and with what appears to be ever-increasing confidence, that he should be getting more shots when he is in the game, maybe even getting some plays called for him, instead of just trying to eke out some shots when the opportunity presents itself. Might even make things a little easier on Cat and Steve and Yao too.. Cuz I bet that when Pike finally gets in there, we will see some plays actually called with HIS name on them.. sorry for the ramblification - I need some caffiene..
Rice was a bad fit because he makes Camby look indestructible. He was old when he came to the Rox, out of shape, played matador D, and acted as if he were still the vintage Glen Rice. I didn't feel he had any 'spots' left. When he got some lift he made his shots. Just because he and Boki may have 'spots' on the floor, and I agree with that, it seems to me that Boki is feeling his way around the league and when he catches and shoots, while open, in rhythm, that ball is going in. He needs more NBA maturation. Pike is likely to take all his time, I expect.
I imagine most players know where they're comfortable shooting from. And I'm sure JVG and staff spot such things. I agree that more should be done to get players shots where they're comfortable scoring. I don't necessarily agree that Boki or Pike should/will get more than one, two plays called for them, if any. Their job is to play team ball and feed off Steve and Yao. They have to be able to make open jumpers wherever they manifest. Period. I know Boki doesn't think of himself as a shooter, but I hope he continues to work on his perimeter shot. When he has a consistent perimeter game going, then he can expand himself in other ways.
Rice used to be able to hit from all over the floor, in his Miami and Allstar days. He was even the Allstar MVP one year. Maybe he was in denial that he still couldn't score like his former self.
Nero A very good post and points of view. I realy disliked the Rockets deciussion to have Rice on the Team, he was expensive[circa $9 mil/yr.], old and well past his prime. His decline in performance was well known and it illustrated another poor Rockets Roster decission. Nachbar does have his better shooting spots as do most great 3 point shooters. The Guards neeed to realise this and stop ignoring hime when he sets up.I hope that JVG will use him and Pike in tandum, more often than he uses the three Guard system.
To be fair to Boki, he only increased his range to the NBA 3 THIS YEAR. So basically, it's still a work in progress, and as he keeps working on getting comfortable from 5 extra feet out (is that right?), we'll see him become mroe and more consistent from all over the floor. It does seem that he has a few sweet spots, but all great shooters do. What really excites me about him is that he's not limited in that he can get to the basket with a few long strides, he rebounds, he works hard, and his jumper is very pretty. Once he gets more comfortable, he'll be a commodity, and just his presence, along with Pike's, will make the game MUCH easier on Yao, and in turn MUCH easier on Francis.
I see him being a possible future at the 3... he's a hardwork defender. Also, I've never seen the rockets pull so many charges from their opponents. JVG is teaching a good defensive scheme, and even Boki (knocked for his lack defense) is showing a hardworking ethic. boki's a great player...give him a few years..and he could be the next peja.
First things first, I'm not convinced like most of you who believe that Nachbar is a good player. He's not. He had to sit all of last year on the bench and I thought that he would come out this year and show all of us why he should be playing consistently. But the stat's, 3pt fg% aside, show that he should stay on the bench unless it's garbage time.Maybe then he will realise that this is the NBA and you will not last long with the numbers he's putting up. As for his defence it's practicaly non existant. I don't what is wrong with him, maybe it's his confidence but he has to be more aggressive. Now I'm not calling for him to be traded or let go, but to play with more confidence and aggressiveness so hopefully he can prove me wrong. And if he does I will personally apologise to him at the Phoenix game on Feb. 4th 2004 "though you say I'm unkind I'm being as nice as I can" Elvis Costello
His one on one D is actually better than what little we saw from him last year. He has really worked on that part of his game. He plays very good team defense and as noted by Elie#17 has taken a lot of charges so far this year.
I like Boki's rebounding ability, and he can even get up and block a few shots. Also, he's decent at taking charges as well. However, these things are just bonuses if he's knocking down half his 3's. If he can do that, he really helps the team.
I thought, and I heard, and read that he was not one of those typical euros that can spot up and shoot. I read, and heard that he was a slasher, and always drove it in, instead of spotting up.
jump start the offense??? Nachbar??? he played 17min. versus Philly and was 1-5 fg (1-4 3pt). maybe you are confusing Nachbar with T Braggs who played 16 min. and was 3-4 fg in the same game.
Let's not turn this into a Braggs v. Nachbar thing. I like Braggs too. But w/ Boki, I think he deserves alot of credit for those who can see the potential in his game. He seems to get better every game. His rebounding ability is quite good. A good mixed lineup (not the starting lineup) but the mix I like is: Yao Braggs Nachbar JJ Cat Braggs is a hustler, JJ, nachbar, and Cat can all shoot. Yao attracts the double team..or scores on his man 1-on-1 Cat brings the same dimension w/ this 1-on-1 ability..but keeps the defense honest by passing out to the shooters/slashers. gotta love it. too bad cat dribbles the ball too much sometimes..
Boki gives his all. I think he may become a player in this league. It will probably be another year. I bet if he is exposed to Charlotte he is selected by Charlotte.
Are you actually WATCHING the games, or are you just reading the box scores after the games? If all you are doing is looking at stats, then I could see how one could make the mistake you are making. But if you are actually watching the games, then I think you are not watching the same games I am watching.
I do watch the games. I watched as he blew a wide open lay up against chicago and I watched as the man he was defending dribbled right past him last night against philly. And tell me, I know stat's don't tell the whole story but are you saying they don't tell a good part of it. how long before the box scores add up or in Nachbar's case don't add up (yes I know that was cheap) are we supposed to take notice.they are there for a reason. And are all of you telling me he is out there playing with fire,confidence, and aggressiveness?? If he is I don't see it and yes maybe I should check to see if I'm going blind but I don't think so. like I said earlier if he proves me wrong I will be there to apologise to him. "though you say I'm unkind I'm being as nice as I can" Elvis Costello
WE ARE ONLY TEN GAMES INTO THE SEASON!!!!!! Anyone who watches or has ever played ball knows that a backup small forward isn't supposed to come in and take over a game; just hustle and knock down a couple of shots. His good plays don't show up in the box score, which is the only thing I think you saw from the game. If he comes in and makes just one more of those (1-4 3pt) then he is back at 50% where he has been most of the season. I think you are wrong to assume that this is his 2nd year, because it's not. This is his rookie year and he is doing a fine job. And no, I'm not confusing Boki with Torraye. I have watched every game this year, not just read every box score. By the way, in case you didn't notice, everyone for the Rockets shot like crap last night, to hold it over Boki's head isn't very fair. They have played 4 games in 5 nights, their flight was delayed f/ Toronto, and they were all a little tired. I think Boki has been great this year, since his expectation bar shouldn't have been very high going into the season.
Boki is hustling, playing D, hitting most of his open shots. After a summer and preseason where it appeared Boki could be flat-out cut it appears to me he is on track to be a rotation contributor in this league. I doubt we'll see much of Boki once first Pike then AG get on the court.
Nero, Rice-itis? The Rice of the Heat and Hornets was quite different than the Rice of the Rockets. He was overweight and injured most of the time (nagging injuries). When healthy, his shot was spot on. So, Boki, although not a 3-point shooter like Rice... is young and has a good future ahead of him. Most of Rice's career was excellent. He just happen to come to the Rox with old legs. Oh, and like KeepKenny said. Boki's ability to rebound is awesome! What we have is a small-forward that can shoot the 3, run the floor, pass, rebound, and he's getting better at D. Not bad for a young'in.
