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Chuck's comments on what it will take for Rockets to get back to the top

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Sherlock, Mar 13, 2000.

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  1. Sherlock

    Sherlock Member

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    I know that others have posted some of this information, but I thought it was interesting to string together a couple of his quotes in the last few days about the Rockets future.

    BobFinn pointed us to Chuck's new <a href="http://www.athletenow.com/charles_barkley_journ1.shtml">Athletenow.com journal</a>, in which Barkley said:

    I've been keeping close tabs on the Rockets. That organization has treated me just phenomenally. They've got a real good building block in Steve Francis. They've also got some good, young role players in Cuttino Mobley and Kenny Thomas. But they're going to need more than that to go forward, especially when Hakeem retires. You look at teams like the Celtics when Larry retired, and the Lakers when Magic left, and they went through some rough times. You need more than one superstar to get back. But I really like Steve. He's a great kid, and I spent a lot of time with him. He's willing to learn, and that's a good sign in a young player.

    And then <a href="http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005861.html">4Chuckie's quote</a> of what Barkley said during the halftime of the Minnesota game ...

    During halftime of last nights game they asked Charles about the future of the Rockets and as a brief recap he said the cornerstones of the team were Stevie & Mobley. He also said KT may be the answer at PF. He cut to the chase on Cato and said he was a good shot-blocker but until he could score he wasn't too sure about him, only that he is making alot of money!

    Conclusions from these 2 quotes:

    (1) Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobely, and Kenny Thomas are the building blocks of the future.
    (2) Steve Francis will be a superstar.
    (3) Cuttino will be a role player starter, which means he'll probably get signed this summer.
    (4) Thomas might be a role player starter, but needs to develop.
    (5) The biggest challenge is replacing Dream at center when he leaves, and Cato could be a backup, but not the starter.
    (6) We need another superstar, I assume at either small forward or center.
    (7) Anderson and Rogers aren't our building blocks for our future.

    I assume we will focus on getting a 3 in this year's draft, and hopefully Morris comes out and we can get him somehow. Otherwise, I assume we'll try to get the "best athlete" available, like Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, Chris Porter, or Dermarr Johnson.

    But that doesn't solve our center problem, which I think will have to be solved via trade (using our exception, Drew, TMass and Williams) instead of the draft. Does anyone else wish that the Dream had a chance to mentor Olowakandi? If he was properly groomed and had the right attitude in a different environment, he could be that other building block, with Cato to back him up. Who else could we get? We've been real spoiled with the Dream.

    [This message has been edited by Sherlock (edited March 13, 2000).]
     
    #1 Sherlock, Mar 13, 2000
  2. Will

    Will Clutch Crew
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    One thing I have learned the hard way from admiring Chuck and respecting his opinions all these years: His comments are almost never considered. He has no problem changing his mind. In fact, he's surprised he ever said any such thing. He just laughs it off.

    His flip-flop about Francis' coachability is the latest glaring example.

    But hey, if Bill Walton can make a broadcasting career out of not making or taking his own comments seriously, why can't Barkley?
     
    #2 Will, Mar 13, 2000
  3. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    Sherlock, I get the feeling that you may be inferring more from Barkley's comments than is warranted, and that you are perhaps projecting some of your desires into the Barkley quotes. For example, your point #3 says that Mobley will be a starter while Barkley only used the term role-player. Or, you assume Cato can't be our next center when Barkley essentially said the jury is still out on him.

    I don't know to what extent you can trust what Barkley says as a true expression of what he believes, as Will has pointed out. It also does not necessarily reflect the thinking of the Rockets' organization. And third, just because Barkley thinks something does not make it wise. Maybe Barkley does think that Anderson is not a building block for the future -- but I still think it's crazy to let Anderson go.
     
    #3 JuanValdez, Mar 13, 2000
  4. 4chuckie

    4chuckie Member

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    I don't think Charles is too far of, plus Charles has the insight of Rudy (which I assume none of us do).
    Charles mentioning Mobley as a future cornerstone can be partially attributable to Chuck liking him personally, but I think Chuck sees his potential as well as seeing he is a good fit with both Francis & Rudy.
    I further think Charles is correct about Cato. Many of us are concerned about his long term contract that came about mainly because of his 11 block game in the pre-season vs. Cleveland. Cato is a good defensive center, who does not possess much of an offensive game. This can be said of most centers in the NBA. Big bodies who intimidate and either block shots or rebound. Only a few centers can score (Ewing, Dream, Mourning) and Cato may someday become an offensive threat, but frankly it worries me having him signed to such a long term contract.
    Also he said on Stevie's coachability that he was tough on him because Rudy wasn't a get in your face type of coach, and that's what Chuck though he needed. Wouldn't you be a little more critical of others play if it was your last year and especially after seeing all the TOs in the preseason.
    I believe our nucleuos is Cat/Francis/KT/Anderson. Maybe Cato, but he needs to have a great off season & prove something next year.
     
    #4 4chuckie, Mar 13, 2000
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