Because he's a devil-worshipping, liberal-voting, Kia-driving maniac, that's why!!! Seriously, when I look at Loren Woods, I just can't see him developing the necessary physique to survive in the NBA. His shoulders are just too narrow; in fact, his entire upper body is smaller than his lower body. Unless his skeleton goes through a major metamorphosis, it will be nearly impossible for him to gain enough weight to be a legit inside player. At best, he'll be like Ralph Sampson or Bill Walton - a player with all the right skills but doomed to break down after 2-3 seasons. All this has probably been said before but there are way too many posters here who believe that Loren Woods can put on weight. And I just don't think that's possible. ------------------
I agree with the weight issue, plus he isn't always mentally in the game, which means that I don't want Lauren with any of our picks. ------------------ President of the (the Rockets first pick in the draft) fan club.
Considering the Rockets are picking at 13th, I would take the flyer on Woods b/c he possesses the skills this team needs (excellent shot blocker, runs the floor like a guard, has good shooting range). This team does not need a superstar center, just a player that can block shots, shoot from the perimeter and rebound ok. What I would expect out of Woods is something similar to what Marcus Camby has produced. Camby is a career 12-8 player with 2-3 BPG. Those types of totals could be expected out of Woods with a similar style of play. I realize some posters on this board love to malign Camby, but a player of that ilk fits this ballclub well and is a steal for only the 13th pick. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
MManal, I'm with you on this one. Camby is the man I think of with Woods. I think Woods needs about 15 lbs to get to the point were he's still skinny, but big enough that his height and athletism will even the playing field against most centers. ------------------
The Next Coming of John Salley! ------------------ David Wood and Tree Rollins was the best duo in the NBA!
What? The guy will be like Bill Walton or Ralph Sampson? I'd take either on this team... Hell, I'd take Bill Walton 2001 if it means getting rid of Cato... ------------------ Jazzkiller
I never cared much for Woods after he left Wake Forest. The guy cliamed he couldnt handle the stress of being Tim Duncans' replacement. ------------------
i'm for drafting Woods @13 but, if he can't hanle being Tim Duncan's replacement how is he going to hanlde being dreams replacement? ------------------
I'm with the Woods supporters. He'll be a fine pro, and if he's the best available player at #13 the Rocks should take him. I'm not worried so much with Woods being able to get bigger as much as I'm worried about him getting STRONGER (yes, there is a difference). Every time I hear someone complain about a player's weight, I'm reminded that Rodman, all 6'-7" and 220-225 lbs of him, was able to battle the likes of Shaq and Dream inside because of his STRENGTH and intelligence, not his size. Rodman was small, but he was a fitness freak who constantly worked out and worked at getting stronger. And like Woods, even Garnett, Rodman had a naturally slim physique, also. In fact, with Woods having a naturally slender physique, it would disastrous for him to try and gain weight. His frame won't be able to support the weight and will make him much more susceptible to injury than any type of game action. But I do think he can definitely work on his strength and toughening his body. ------------------
I'll take Bill Walton as long as we don't have to hear him talk. I wouldn't mind taking Woods at 13, but I think we'd be lucky if he was there. I have a feeling Boston might grab him. I think if we get Woods at 13, then Morris is later drafted as our SF. If Woods is not available, then we take Jefferson at 13 and later get Ken Johnson. Either of those scenarios is fine with me, plus we have another pick in which I have no idea of which position we would pick. ------------------ Now saw off...there's nothing to see here.
According to sportsline.com radio , Woods has put on 25 Lbs of muscle after finally being allowed to lift weights by his Doctor. ------------------
Live, When I , and probably others, say we want him to add weight, we're talking about muscle mass. More muscle mass leads to more strength, usually. Also, It takes more force to move a 240 lb obstacle, than a 220 lb obstacle. Keeping your position is a combination of Strength, Inertia, and leverage. Skill too. Rodman is extraordinarily strong for his size, which is how he makes up for being smaller than the elite PFs. I don't want Woods, if he becomes a rocket, to put on too much muscle mass since it will hinder his ability to quickly jump and block the ball....something Rodman doesn't have in his bag of tricks. Woods, whatever you do, don't use Big Macs as a big source of Mass. ------------------
1. Loren Woods like most skinny "big men" would have an enormous task of putting on weight. It is not easy. 2. When (or if) he was able to put the weight on (meaning 15%+ to survive any inside game in the Western Conference) he would likely be open to more injury than his teammates. 3. When comparing Camby and Woods, the comparison stops after we discuss physique. Camby is successful largely due to his attitude while on the court (certainly resurged since Toronto) and having learned to play within his own game. In short, Loren has not displayed any large amount of agressiveness in his college game, nor has he shown the calculated decisiveness of playing within his talent(of course that is common in most NCAA players). 4. All of the above being said, he still would be a good at the bottom of the lottery and before the 18th-20th. At the 18th I would gobble him up. But he will likely be gone by then. At the 13th I would have some tough decisions to make. 5. The attractiveness of him as a first rounder remain however: (a) he has talent AND he has height. Hard to teach height. (b) if a player's potential is predicated on him either having to improve his talent, or having to improve his physical body - I could always live with a talented player who needs body shaping, more than an excellent body shape attempting to learn to play the game. We have far too many guys who are excellent physical specimens but can't carry a ball in a suitcase. (c) if Woods could handle the transition, I would move him from the five to the 3-4 swing spot. That is what Raplh Sampson would be playing if he entered the game today. ------------------
What I would expect out of Woods is something similar to what Marcus Camby has produced. Camby is a career 12-8 player with 2-3 BPG. Those types of totals could be expected out of Woods with a similar style of play. [/B][/QUOTE] The difference between Camby and Woods is Camby was the 2nd overall pick while Woods might be taken after four HIGH School big men. If Woods projected to be as good as Camby, I'm sure someone in the top 10 picks would want him over a high school kid. ------------------
Woods should be avoided because he is soft and has no passion. In comparing him to Camby, Camby is much more athletic and explosive while Woods is slow and weak. I watched Woods being guarded by Battier in the NCAA and no NBA lottery center selection should be slowed down offensively as Woods was by a man 5 inches shorter. Woods also is quite injury prone. He sat out most of a year with a bad back. Why draft a guy who will just be around to cash his paycheck. Haywood is not much better. He is about 50 lbs heavier than Woods but in the tourney he folded faster than Superman on laundry day. If the Rockets draft a big man then wait till 18 and take Johnson who is a defensive force or take a chance with the 6'8" energizer bunny known as Ousmanne Cisse. Rockets, be smart and take Jefferson at 13 or move up to get White. -Ranger11 ------------------
Milos, its not always that cut and dry. Players sometimes underachieve in college and play well in the NBA, and the opposite can happen also. That is why steals and busts exist. Loren Woods no doubt has his question marks, but this team is not picking 1st overall, they are picking at 13. That means 12 guys are gone before they are on the clock. Also, if you re-rank the 1996 draft, you can see that 5 yrs later, it appears Camby was picked way too high. Thats why they say hindsight is 20-20 and drafting is an inexact science. Here are some players picked after Camby: Rahim, Marbury, Allen, A Walker, Kobe, Peja, J O'Neal As you can see, just looking at where they were picked is not the sole determinant of their NBA success, other factors have to be taken into account. Woods has his knocks like any other player, but at 13th, he appears to be the best center on the board, he fits what the Rockets needs, is an 7-1 athletic center that can run the floor, block shots and shoot from the perimeter. If I had my way, I would want Woods, Cisse and Morris out of this draft, but I cant see the Rockets taking a flyer on a HSer. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
One of the biggest mistakes that the Rockets can make is to pick based on need. The TrailBlazers passed on Jordan since they already had Drexler and took Bowie instead. If we get to 13 and Brown or White is there (Even though I will have a heart attack if either of them lasts that long) then take one of them and screw taking a center just because we need a center. If Richardson is there then take him. Be smart Rockets and use the three picks wisely. -Ranger11 ------------------
No way !!! Stevie would choke the life out of Walton while Bill is commentating on the bench !!! ------------------ "norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
I dont think anyone is advocating drafting on need only. At 13, players like Brown or White likely wont be on the board. It will basically come down to players like Murphy, Woods, Bradley, Haywood, Johnson at the big positions and Jefferson, Morris, etc at the wings. The Rockets have a unique draft style which I have come to accept (even though I dont always agree with it). They pick players with experience that fit into their system and rarely deviate from that. Thus, to guess who the Rockets will pick, its better to try and find their specific needs first and that comes from trying to understand the system they want to implement. I would just love for them to one day take a flyer on a raw athlete like Cisse or last yr Harvey, but they just dont and wont. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
why does everyone hate on Woods so much. Darius Miles and Kevin Garnett came into the league pretty skinny and look at them. You know he will gain some weight and be like Camby but with better outside shooting. Anyway he's better than Cato, and the Rockets could use a center with potential like him. ------------------
