Well, just like the JJ vs Brewer debate everyone has their reasons. They should think about this yr and the next 4 yrs. People will always look at Kobe and La, but they had Shaq who was the most dominant player in the league along with Eddie Jones the all star and NVE who also played at a all star level. Kobe took 3 yrs to become a good player, but if Shaq or those other guys weren't there it would matter. I like Gay and think he will be a good player, but if Ming and T-Mac gets hurt like last yr, it doesn't matter. Battier will provide the rox with a lot of things that people will appreciate. I'll tell you something else, in the predraft they have the superman drill. Thats when a player gets the ball and takes no step and dunks the ball. That yr even with all the atheletes in that draft, Battier dunked the ball more than any player including Miles,Martin or whoever else was there. Dont think he's not atheletic because he's not on sportcenter every not. I'm only interested in winning rings, not espy highlight reels.
Battier has above average trade value. Look at the quote I posted earlier in this thread from ESPN today. Many teams have been trying to pry Battier from West for several years. He would of been a main player in brining Iverson to Memphis (according to that ESPN article).
Alot of people on this board also wanted Battier but that still doesn't mean that he was enough of a star to pry 2 of our 4 best assets. Two starting caliber players (#8 pick and Young PF that has not been given a chance to grow) for a role player with high character. It is absolutely ludicrious.
We should've gotten another draft pick or something out of this deal, but I think in the end, we'll see that Battier is a great fit for the Rockets. The time to win is now, and Gay is at least a few years away. Now they need to bring in a third scoring option and some depth.
Are you saying that if Yao or T-Mac gets hurt that we'll be okay because we have Battier? Regarding your example of Battier's athleticism. That was 6 years ago and watching him play now, he's not that athletic. He's an average athlete for an NBA player.
Nothing to do with the trade, I was just rebutting the statment that Battier is untradable or has no value. Does not take a rocket scientist to know we got the short hand of this trade. If we get a 1st rounder out of it, it will be slightly easier to swallow
Don't like this deal at all. A team who wants to be a true contender must be more aggressive than just surrounding its two stars with some passive veterans. If they are too afraid to take the risk, they can still get 1 future first round back or sth. The management of this team is flat stupid on this move.
I think what is good about Battier is that he isn't just a 3pt shooter. He only shot 165 3pt shots so when the kick out does come he can get in a little a hit a 18 fter instead of just a 23ft er. They say what they want, but he is still a good defender and McGrady doesn't get torched by 2's either. This team still has the te and the mle. The te is 4.2 and the mle is 5 so they're quality players tha can be had for those numbers. Bob Sura and the te can get u a sign and trade of anyone from Harrington to Randolph. How dissappointed would anyone be with either Harrington or Randolph T-mac,Yao,Rafer,Battier with a bench of hoard, novak,head,bogans and Deke. When you plan to add pieces, a guy like Battier only helps. I think the rockets have more dealing left. I can see other players being added to the mix to really put this team in the mix. We will talk about Dallas, but Dallas made a good run and flamed out to Wade,Shaq,Posey and Williams.. There also guys like Q.woods who still ahve this incredible upside that can be had for cheap. Its not over.
Well if you want to complain here is your chance. I just got an email thanking me for attending the draft party. Here it is: We'd like to thank you for coming to Toyota Center on Wednesday night and we appreciate your continued support of your team, the Houston Rockets. It was an exciting night here as over 5,000 Rockets fans came to our first ever draft party at Toyota Center! We hope you had an enoyable experience; we are glad you were a part of it and hope you will be back soon! Stay tuned for updates about the 2006-07 season. If you have any other questions, please call 713-627-DUNK or send an e-mail to tixsales@rocketball.com. Now I can get back to reading, it's taken me 2 days, but I'm on page 58 of 62..... Pugs
what i fail to comprehend is how people try to justify this trade. a combination of gay and swift should yield you more than just battier. I would think would at least get someone like rashard lewis, richard jefferson, players of that caliber. they should of shop the trade around to maximize what they could get. battier is a nice player I would love to have on this team but not at the price we paid. swift straight up for battier would be good. and as far as the win now scenario its bs. we are simply not a contending team. Yeah we are a playoff team with everyone healthy but not contending and won't be for 2-4 years. the time everyone expects gay to contribute signicantly. the addition of battier will not put us over the hump. I would consider us contending if we had gay, swift, and battier because then we would have quality coming off the bench. but not the lineup we possess. that said I never disliked van gundy before but this stupid trade wreaks of his smell and I don't like the stench. It may not be long before I start the chants fire van gundy
Save your breath, all these guys want to do is biotch, biotch, biotch. They haven't watched 3 games with UConn or Memphis, they read some nobody's draft report and say oh Gay is going to be a star and Battier stinks. Battier's stats don't tell the whole story for him and these same guys were all singing the praises of the Rox Staff when they traded with NJ for Griffin. And what did that all stud bring us, nothing and most likely the same what Gay will bring to the NBA. At this point the only thing the Rox needs are a couple of role playing subs, the starters are set. Anything the Rox bring in to improve the starters roles will be much better than anything we had last year.
Oh and don't forget Gay the outstanding quick and defensive stud got lit up for 41 points and 16 rebounds by Steve Novak our 2nd round pick, get a life guys this guy isn't the stud your dreaming about.
Did you guys watch the game? Did Novak score on Gay? Definitely. However, Uconn used four different guys that night (Hilton Armstrong, Josh Boone, Gay and Rashad Anderson). You guys act as if Gay was on this kid all night.
I've been watching Uconn basketball for over 15 years. I grew up in CT. I also have had NBA league pass for the last several years. Not many people are saying Gay will be a star. Just like not many people are saying Battier stinks. Most of us are saying the deal was lopsided and we should've gotten a lot more.
I do not like this trade. At first i wished it was not true but a rumour, but after confirming it would be a deal, I could not keep back my tears. I still remember how many efforts the rockets made to get Sto Swift last summer, I like his passion on the court. But JVG and Dawson sent him away without giving him enough opportunity to show his ability. I do not deny that Battie may be a good player, but do not deserving the price of our two potential players (Gay and Swift). I am really very disappointed with the Rockets. Why does it always make me heartbroken? Now I cannot see any hope of the new season!
Gay couldnt stay on Novak so it ended up being Armstrong and Anderson guarding Novak-- or at least trying to. I dont think one game makes a reputation by any stretch, but I say Gay all season long in college, and even though his rep is for D, he seemed to get burned often enough for me to wonder how his defense would translate to the NBA.
