Frankly speaking, YES Dirk. MJ is a shoot-first energizer off the bench, whereas Damon is a distributor as well as a shooter. Damon's assists weren't as high as they were in Toronto, mainly because Portland's low-post weapon, Zach Randolph would shoot only and VERY reluctantly kick back out to him for another opportunity. I like MJ's game and all, but as evidenced in the playoffs, his style of play wore thin on our own players even though he did manage to hit big shots when we sorely needed offense. With Damon, we'd have an immensely more cohesive offense on the floor, which is an absolute necessity to go far in the playoffs.
Depends on how much money. You can't honestly tell me that if Stoudamire decided to sign for the minimum, you wouldn't be happy about it. Despite the fact that he's older, he's a much better point guard than either Sura or James. Sura is tough and hustles but doesn't really have the skillset to create good shots for his teammates. Furthermore, he's plays injured all the time. James generally looks to create shots for himself first. As much as I like both those guys, players like that are best suited for coming off the bench to provide energy or instant offense. The point guard's job is to set up the offense and create for your teammates. Damon Stoudamire is better suited for such a role.
Exactly my concern if we sit pat on a PG this offseason. I love Sura's game, but I feel like he's going to break down at some point in the season, and I would not like to see MJ as our starting PG. We have to have someone who can help establish the flow of the game for our entire offense, not just score.
The scary part of all this is putting Stoudomire 5'11" next to Wesley 6'1". A back court that averages 6 feet tall. When you are looking at SG like Kobe who are 6'6" etc. Who goes to guard Kobe? McGrady, then who picks up the SF, Wesley and get the size difference up a notch! I like either Wesley or Stoudomire on the starting role, but not both starting together for the Rockets.
If i could get Miles or Patterson to get Damon i would do it. as long as Barry is the backup, the 3pt shot isn't a issue. With Patterson or Miles playing the 2/3 then Barry comes in , you still have a creator when Tracy goes out and still have the kick out 3 guy in Barry. This team needs to get a slasher who can get to the line. The Rox were 25th in ft att, and 22 in ft md. They need guys who can get their own shots when teams aren't doubling mcGrady or Ming. Something SA nor Det does.
Bobby Sura, damit I love you man, Why'd you have get so old and busted up? It's like shootin Old Yeller.
Sura matches up better against most SGs than he does against most PGs. Sura also matches up better against bigger SGs than does Wesley. Playing SG is where Sura got his reputation as a good defender, not playing the PGs who are the quickest players in the league. DS is pretty quick--quicker than Sura or Wesley for that matter, and would play the quicker 1s. I don't think DS would take an LLE. Even if he did, we have a glut of guards then who are under 6'4" (with Barry an honorary member because he can't guard guys his height). I'd rather give Glover a chance at the back-up 3 before trading for Ruben or DA with their contracts and me-1st attitudes. Yeah, Miles is a pipe dream for expiring contracts alone. It was one darned play and James was a big part of the reason we pushed the series to 7. Lots of guys were frustrated as the whole team, including Tmac, had some very poor stretches in game 7. I agree Damon is a better PG. DS has been a league starter for 10 years, James has never been more than a weak starter or very solid back-up. I don't think anyone is suggesting James should start. But James was the back-up on the Pistons championship team, and they missed him this year (Arroyo could not give them the same defense, shooting or intensity). James becomes of very valuable back-up when you need defensive and physicality (say Stoudamire is having trouble with a physical 2), or when the 2nd unit with guys like Deke and whoever is our back-up 3 needs someone to score. Yes, they would be too small. Sura next to DS makes a lot more sense. Sura for most of his career has been an SG, we had no choice but to play him as our PG because until James arrived none of our PGs deserved to be in the NBA. Also, if DS and BS are struggling defensively, James and Head are very athletic alternatives. Looking at this group (secondary roles): PG: DS, MJ (Head) SG: BS, DW, JB, Head, (Glover) SF: Tmac, Glover, (Sura) I could well live with this going into this season. Could always make a move at the trade deadline with expiring contracts if needed (say Head is not ready for any of the big stage, Sura breaks down), but I think they have a much better balance of quickness, size and shooting than what we had last year. I still think the DW(plus pick)-Stoud deal makes a lot of sense, both in terms of getting DS a market contract (start at a little over 4 mil) and freeing up a roster spot for us, and for Portland they get a solid vet 2 with an expiring contract plus a middle pick. Also, when you take Wesley out from above (more minutes split among JB, Head and Glover at SG) I don't think it much impacts the overall production or flexibility. DW did well for us most of last year, but I see DW as the odd man out in our move to get more athletic, quicker, and bigger.I certainly don't mind if we keep him though.
I agree with almost all of your analysis but am concerned about the backup 3. Is Glover/Bowen an effective combination? What are our alternatives with our unused LLE (assuming we make a DW and pick for DS trade)?
I like Mike James, but he isn't in the same ball park as Damon Stoudamire when it comes to being a PG and running an offense.
Didn't I hear someone say Greg Buckner has been talking with us? He'd be a decent bargain-basement pickup to provide tough D and smarts behind McGrady, and he could also slide over to guard big Shooting Guards that Wesley can't handle. Bigs - Yao, Swift, JHo, Deke, Padgett Wings - Tmac, Wesley, Barry, Buckner Points - Damon, Sura, James, Head Seems like every conceivable matchup is covered with this many quality, versatile pieces to fit in on the court around Yao and Tmac. I mean honestly, if Damon comes as well (even if it costs Sura/Wesley/James), do we not become one of the 2 or 3 deepest teams in the league? The only two I can think of that have a 10-deep rotation that can compare with ours are Dallas and Memphis. And neither of those teams are built around TWO young, established Superstars like Tmac and Yao. I think, if this summer works out as it looks like it will, we have officially rejoined the ranks of the elite, year-in-year-out franchises...a place we have not been since the days of Hakeem, Clyde and Charles. For the first time in years, I honestly feel our team takes a back seat to no one and will legitimately contend for a Title next year. Thank you Houston Rockets. Now if you could just find a Right Fielder for the Stros..............
For those of you that want Damon Stoudamire: would he be our starter or the backup? The way I see it Mike James is 4 inches taller, a much better defender, 2 years younger, same shooting, same ball handling. Damon is a better passer but that is about it. Instead of throwing all this money at DS, why not just resign Mike James when he opts out next year? I'm really afraid of Damon's complete lack of defense. If we bring him in I think our team defense will suffer alot unless he is coming off the bench. I'm not opposed to MJ being our starter and DS being our backup.
You guys are crazy to not want D.S with the Rockets. Remember all those games he single handedly almost beat us during the reg season games? Not to mention when he gets hot, he can shoot for 40pts/nite.
I don't think having 4 players (T-Mac, Yao, Swift, Damon) who demand ball to shoot is good though. This will be the case of Dallas Mavericks before.
Wouldn't you say passing is the whole point of getting him if he's available for cheap? It's the POINT GUARD position. Passing is easily the most important skill for a point guard to have. Not only is Stoudamire a significantly better passer, but he also has much better court vision. I'll concede the fact that Stoudamire is a huge liability on defense. I'l also admit that our chances of landing Stoudamire for the LLE is close to zero. Nonetheless, as good as Mike James is at creating his own shot, he's not very good at setting anything up for his teammates. Seeing as how he's supposed to be a point guard, that's a huge liability in itself.
Mike James can't run an offense or a get us into our sets quickly. He just can't. Get Damon. Better yet, get Damon & Derek Anderson.
wow... now imagine fast break with Miles and Tmac on the wings, Stromile trailing and DM running it. Someone is getting dunked on.
I think is DS signs with us for the LLE which isn't completely a bad idea. This hasn't been a very good money year for free agents. he could probably find more on the open market next. He can make close to 2 million and have a player option for a second year for slightly more. IF he does do it. I think its implied he wants to win and understands that this was a team before him and he will be a 3rd option at best. It also opens the door for him to have another 8-10 assist season like he did early in his career.
I really wish people would stop talking positively about acquiring Darius Miles. You're making my head hurt.
Yeah this team has really good chemestry and a guy like Miles can really mess that up. Besides he has absolutely no jump shot and would not be happy playing 7-10 mins behind T-mac.
