I was doing some thinking(which is rare) over breakfast this morning and realized something. The Rox have argueably 2 of the best players that have came out of college in the last three years. Seriously. Francis was by far the best player in his draft and should have won ROY without having to share it. He is the most dynamic player, with more highlights than any of his peers, although Shawn Marion isn't that bad. EG was also tearing it up at Seton Hall and was getting noticed quite often. I never thought we'd get him. I was being more realistic and hoping for Joe Johnson (poor man's EG) . I was stunned, but didn't really realize our teams potential until last night. EG is kinda like Kenyan Martin, only an inch taller and without the bad leg. Seriously. He's got some reach to go with some touch. Some of those goaltending calls were really blocks. He's like having a sleeper, if you will, on the team. Everyone knows Cato can swap almost any shot, but they really don't worry about EG when he's in there. Thats why I think EG could have more blocks than Cato this year. He'll also spread the floor for our guards. He played well with a bunch of pseudo-Rockets on the floor last night. It will really be something when Wink, Cat, Rice, and Cato/Willis are on the floor with him. I hope he gets just as much time as K9 gets, if not more. Did anyone notice Kenny was throwing up alot of airballs from 3 point range. He should stay in the post more often, where he's more effective. You know, now that I think about it, stay out there.
Two things I wanted to see last night but didn't. 1) to see Griffin and Cato in the game at the same time. 2) to see Griffin do some post up. Kenyon Martin is a post player. Think about this defensive lineup for shot blocking & keeping leads: C - Cato PF - Griffin SF - Thomas SG - Mobley PG - Francis
I like the line up, only I'd swap Thomas for Rice. Eddie says he's a 4, so it's just a matter of time before he gets used to bangin in the paint. I remember he had a nice turn and fade move from the summer.
What about TMo with the other shot blockers. Steve Cat TMo EG Cato That would be a scary bunch a trees to drive through! TMo, EG, and Cato would be like a giant 6 armed shot-blocking monster. We could give it a name like Pittsburgs "Steel Curtain" instead it could be, idunno, "the black forest". Anyone?
I'm glad Steve got some rest yesterday,he has gotten a lot of minutes in the pre-season,but was he kept out yesterday because of bilateral knee tendonitis? I hope that doesn't become a problem in the regular season and cause him to start missing games.
I like Rice in there as well. I don't think Thomas at the 3 works. Rice can hit the three (obviously), and he can also post up. When Rice does post up, Eddie can play outside and still hit shots.
AstroRocket, it must be syncronicity at work. Hopefully Rudy T is scribbling the same thing onto a Taco Cabana napkin at this very moment.
Glen Rice on a Rockets "All Defensive" Team.......I'm not sure whether to break out laughing or shed a tear that it's even a consideration on a board with such sophisticated posters.
I'm not saying anything about you, but you might want to call the line up the "red woods" or "great sequias" or something because "the black forest" just sounds like your pointing out that they happen to be tall and black instead of pointing out that their tall and can block shots
I read somewhere that Flip Saunders over in Minnesota is causing some problems for other teams by using a frontcourt of Garnett(7-0), Joe Smith(6-11) and Loren Woods(7-1). I know it's only preseason but they are 4-1. But if this finds away to work for Flip during the regular season, then Rudy -- with guys like Griffin, Cato, and Morris -- will also have this luxury.
To clarify, the main reason I thought the "black forest", and I DON'T even think its a good name, is because they are all tall with long arms, black is their skin color, and because there is actually a Black Forest. All kinds of reasons. I was just throwing in the first thing, and only thing at the time, that popped into my head. As far as I know there is nothing innately negative about the color black or the Black Forest. Perhaps in some countries the Black Forst means something really evil but in my mind it's just a forest I've heard mentioned in stories and the name of some kind of chocolate cake. Maybe thats why its not a good name because it would make people think of something soft and sweet like chocolate cake.
