It's one thing to be talent, it's another to play fundamental and playing smart basketball. It doesn't matter if you have all the talents in the world, if you don't have high IQ and if you don''t play smart fundamental basketball, you're not as good as people perceive you to be. JVG has stressed this to the Rockets and it does not seem to work. WHY? Like i said, cuz the Rockets just don't have it with the exception of a few players.
Rockets' players like Stevie Francis and Mobley are playing the game using their talents instead of using their brains more. They have to combine both if they're to be a complete players. That's why JVG is all stressed out cuz these players don't seem to fit into what he wants...which is play smart basketball. Look at John Stockton, do you think he has all the talents in the world?? No, by all mean, he can't even lift up and dunk the ball. But he's a smart player and probably the smartest guard in the history of NBA. He's able to use this to take advantage of his opponents, instead of talents. Sure he has talents too, but he puts smarter and fundamental as priority before talents, that's why you hardky see him shoot the ball. He is the prototype that everyone in this league should follow if they want to succeed in this league.
Good point reptilexcq... Actually if you look at the top two assist leaders in history, Stockton and M Jackson, neither one was a gifterd athlete. Both were/are slow, could hardly jump, or were that physical, but both excelled just being good, smart basketball players.
Thats what we really need, guys who, no matter what talent or athletic skill level, just get things done. I think we have some of those type players (Piat, JJ, MJ, Yao, at times Cat), but not quite enough to compliment each other.
Just look at Sacremento....without Webber, their only REAL star player they have the best record in the league...why? Because they play as a team and pass the ball to the open guy. It is why Brad Miller is suddenly playing at an All star level, they play together. Our team...well, they go to the super bowl instead of playing a road game..... Great. DD
yet, the "Dynasty" couldnt pull it together to the worst western conference team, who lost their best player.
You are right. This is why they need to trade for young stars not established max guys. I know that disappoints MB, Raven and a lot of others, but if you bring in TMac, or Kobe or whoever else needs to be a selfish, iso ballhog, you're doomed. Screw tradeable max malcontents. We need guys that can be coached. We need workers. AK47, Hinrich, Troy Murphy - these are guys coaches love, 'cause they listen, play a team game, and work their asses off to improve. We're not going to develop a team if they just make one move and just bring in one new star. That guy will demand his sets and the rest will just stand around watching again. They need to blow it up and build a team that operates with respect. One thing you get from the teammates of the champions you mentioned was respect. Who respects a moron? Nobody. If your "star" has to freeze everyone else out to do his little dance and jack a stupid shot that miraculously goes in more than it should, his teammates won't respect him. They hate him. The Champions earned the respect of their teammates by being the money option, delivering under pressure, and by making them look good. A champion has to lift his teammates hearts, not crush their spirit. A champion makes his team bold and deadly, not erratic and mistrustful. I can't really think of a "get" that will make the team a team. I see more division and unrest going that direction. I don't want someone who's got his max. I want someone hungry. Someone smart. Someone coachable. No guts, no glory. Bringing in a malcontent hoping he will transform into the leagues best player and carry the new team to the cup is foolhardy. It's trying to pad your bets. Be bold. Make the bigger bet. Make the bigger committment. Win the right way, with real champions.
too harsh on steve he has defered . . . ALOT I see ALOT of shots . . OPEN SHOT he passes up to get the ball around the horn . . . . like most things he gets no credit for anything he does and gets too much critizism for the things he doesn't Rocket River
Lakers - SHAQ. The three championships they have won were under the clear Shaq era. A bunch of good role players in Fox, Fisher, etc. You noticed that they haven't sniffed a ring since Kobe has taken on a bigger role. Who's team is it now? Kobe is definetely a superstar in the league.
I'm not denying Kobe's stature as a great player in this day in age of the NBA, I'm just saying is that they won 3 rings being hands down Shaq's team. Kobe was an extremely good role player. Shaq = Batman Kobe = Robin
