McGrady and Yao both need *constructive* criticism and a kick in the [bleep]from a guy that's been there, not thinly veiled insults in the media from JVG. I'm positive that the Clips are gonna lock up SamIam in the offseason, but if they hesitate the Rocks need to pay this guy. http://adandeblog.typepad.com/overtime/2006/05/sound_of_sam.html Sound of Sam We love Sam Cassell, and it's not just because he's unafraid to slip in a "Coming to America" reference while addressing 19,000 people. The guy's a winner. (A winner who closed his thank-you address to the Staples Center fans before the final regular-season game by saying "Sexual Chocolate!") In Cassell's rookie year the Houston Rockets won the first major professional championship in the city's history. The next year, they won the second. In 2000, Cassell was in Milwaukee when the Bucks went to the conference finals for the first time in 14 years. In 2004, his first year in Minnesota, the Timberwolves made it out of the first round - and all the way to the conference finals - for the first time in franchise history. And now he has guided the Clippers to the second round for the first time since the franchise came to California in 1978. Cassell arrives, sets up shop, and the team gets better. It keeps happening. "Ain't that something?" Cassell said. Here's his five-minute explanation, while standing in the middle of the Clipper locker room after the Clips eliminated the Denver Nuggets Monday night. "One thing about me, I need five guys that's willing to give it up, man. To every night take that court and fight hard. If you do that man, I swear, I can't predict the future, but I can tell you one thing: we're going to win some basketball games. We're going to win more than you won last year. "People don't realize, when I went to Milwaukee, Ray Allen was a good player. I made him an all-star. I'm not saying I did it all by myself, but I had a big part in him and Glen Robinson becoming all-stars when I was there. I went to Minnesota, Kevin Garnett was not mentioned for the MVP. He was first team, but was he mentioned for MVP candidate? I make him the MVP. He will make me a second-team all-NBA player and an all-star, but I had a whole lot to do - Sprewell and myself - with his development in becoming an MVP. Know what I'm saying?" What does it take to draw it out of these guys? "Push 'em. Push 'em Elton Brand's an example. I said, 'Elton, if you want to be a top 10 power forward, you've got to be able to hit the 15-foot jumper. Everything else you do is cool, you've got to take your jump shot. Because people only play you inside.' Now he took his game out 15 feet, I said, 'You make six jumpers, that's 12 points. You get 10 points inside, 22. Free throws, now you've got 26.' It's simple. And you shoot uncontested jump shots, because in the pick-and-roll, his guy double-teams me. "Nick Van Exel's my best friend. He said, 'Boy you've got a chance to take that team somewhere that they never in their wildest desire thought they could reach. He said, 'Man, you're what the doctor ordered for those guys.' A guy who won't put up with some (stuff), a guy who won't let us feel sorry. I'm not going to. No, [bleep] that. You know what I'm saying? We walk into an arena, we're not going to walk into an arena and say, 'Okay, we're going to play for 44 minutes and lose in the last four minutes.' [Bleep] that. You walk into an arena, we say, 'We're going to beat these [bleeps].' Cause there's nothing like beating somebody on their court. Makes the plane ride better, know what I'm saying? That's all it's about, man. We're going to represent well here. But on the road? That's where your pride factor is. " Who would have thought that this team would advance in the playoffs? Don't give me the credit for it. I'm just going what I've been doing. I'm just doing what I've been doing my whole [bleeping] career. Elton Brand. Corey Maggette was playing all-star basketball until he [bleeped] is foot up. Cuttino Mobley. When Corey got hurt, I had to become the second scorer. Now I can sit up here and play 24 minutes and see the development of Shaun. I'm well rested. So I know I've got to play big from here on out, or it won't be successful. I'm cool. It's all about winning for me. I've done scored points, I've done had assists. It's all about winning for me. Because I want to coach in this league. "I look at Avery Johnson, what he accomplished, and I want to be that same kind of coach. Here's the job. Do your job. If you can't do your job, somebody else got to come do it. We ain't throwing you away. But for a minute or two - or three or four - somebody else'll step in and do it. "I tell them, do what you do. Everybody on this team. Do what you do."
You know, I never thought of Sam as a coach. But after reading they way he broke down Elton's game, I could maybe see it. He would be perfect for us next year. Just perfect.
that was the rumor before sam went to the clips. remove tmac and yao, no one on the rockets can hit the 15ft jumper.
It would be great to have Sam on the team, sure; and God knows we need that kind of presence. He'd certainly be happy to play for the Rockets (he still owns a home here, I think). And I wouldn't mind seeing him go to another team (preferably in the Leastern Conference) so that he can't help a WC team get into the playoffs. In any case, seems like we're gonna split that MLE on Vasilis and whomever else, so it's nice to dream.
How cool would it be to have him bookend his career by getting two more rings here and then retiring?
I know Sam has been great on the Clippers this year, but he's 36 years old NOW! Is he really going to command a lot of money? I just can't imagine a team spending big bucks on a guy who will be 37 years old by the time he suits up next year. Especially if it's for a contract longer than 2 years. I would think we could entice him with a 2 year contract plus an offer to join the coaching staff when he retires. Personally, I'd have no problem with him being promised that he'll be groomed to take over for JVG. I'd like to see a former Rocket as our coach again.
This guy should be brought back home. The Rockets messed up trading him and Horry for Barkley. Sam has stated he wants to finish his career up in H-Town. I for one want the Rockets to bring him back here and it can be done in a sign and trade.(Rafer or anyone else that can bring him here)
That would be a Dream come true and then he can become coach of the World Champion Rockets and lead them to another title.
I love Sam Cassell, but I do not think that just adding him +V-Span after the draft picks will be enough. He has been a great player, and would be able to split PG with Alston. But he will probably cost too much. No way he would split an MLE. Only two ways to get him would be to promise him an assitant coach spot after he retires (soon), but with the current changing of GM and all that probably won't happen. Other would be sign-and-trade, but the Clippers don't want anyone we have. I've said it before, we cannot make this a championship team in 1 year. It will take at least 2 yrs. We just don't have the options or flexibility this off season to do so, so we have to get the lesser known role players outside the draft and hope they produce. Unless somehow we add Chris Paul to this team, that is the way it will have to be.
Sam's fair market price could cost you whole MLE or more. But considering finish career in hometown,good chance to get a championship(if not the best),chance to get his jersey retired in Toyota center, it's possible to lure Sam playing us for less money. Problem is do we really need him if CD plans to bring V-Span over?
It would be one thing if we were one player away from contending, but we have quite a few holes to fill at this point to be spending money on an aging point guard, no offense to Sam, who I love.
Agreed. Getting Cassell would basically cost us another player because what we'd have to pay him could be split up to go towards 2 helpful players instead. Cassell would be nice, but I'd rather a cheaper pg unless we magically swung a sign and trade with him to free up more money (good luck with that )
