http://www.nypost.com/seven/10282008/sports/moresports/hornets_better_than_lakers_135595.htm?page=2 ROCKETS: If Yao Ming stays on his feet for a whole season . . . if injuries don't force Tracy McGrady to sit out more dances than not . . . if Ron Artest is able to control himself . . . if Rafer Alston's fights with the law continue to result in wins . . . if Shane Battier comes back strong from injury . . . if a decent backup center (Dikembe Mutombo?) or at least another big man (they're shopping Luther Head for one) is added to the mix . . . and if Steve Francis' ligaments and filaments can re-learn how to work . . . they're still third at best. Gee, whatta shame. Vecsey is not on the bandwagon. Let's disinvite him to the June Parade!
healthy healthy unhealthy healthy healthy unhealthy.... and healthy and unhealthy. Good enough for a pay cheque, cause I'm naming the obvious and unoriginal.
LAKERS: Phil Jackson's re-invented, rehabilitated team also is defending harder and smarter and in greater numbers. It can be easily explained by Andrew Bynum availability to spread his length to rebound and block shots and coalesce with Pau Gasol from the git-go, Trevor Ariza's athletic prowling on the perimeter and Jordan Farmer's glaring improvement
come on guys, stop being homer. we haven't prove anything on court yet. He's saying we are at most 3rd best NBA team, which I think that is a good start. Given that we haven't even play one single reg season game. You guys think we are better than Celtics and Lakers? Those two teams has proven their stats which we haven't.
In 15 years of watching the NBA, I don't remember him ever being good, much less the best. I think the criticism has more to do with Vecsey being an idiot than that he said the Rockets were no better than 3rd best. If he did say the Rockets were the best in the league, I'd still be calling him an idiot.
Jerome Solomon said this in the "Head Case" article... ...and then there's this quote from Luther in the "Head Case" article... My reasoning tells me that Vescey isn't exactly reaching with his statement.
the celtics did not prove anything before last year started but everyone was saying that they would win it all, so that excuse is nothing to me... Also Bynum has nice upside he hasn't done it for a whole year yet, do I think he can do it for a year? From what I have seen yes, my point is the Rockets are always the team that has to prove them to everyone before they get any respect. Remember the first championship no SI cover at first..........
I started with Vecsey I'll bet more than 30 years ago. He was good then, and for quite a while. Then, worse than the rag his Tab became post-Murdock.
The analysis was lazy but being (at best) 3rd in the league is pretty generous IMO. That said, I still like the Rockets' chances against any team in the league. Yao/Tmac/Artest match up against any "Big 3" you can think of. The Rockets may not have the talent from players 1 - 10 like the Lakers have but it's damn close. One thing this team does have that LA does not is a roster full of guys who will get dirty and rough and not shut down.
I honestly think they're neck and neck in terms of talent, and that's even going 11 guys deep. Yao Scola Artest McGrady Alston Brooks Barry Hayes Battier Head Landry Bynum Gasol Odom Bryant Fisher Radmanovich Ariza Walton Vujacic Farmar Mihm
I think Luther's response was probably prompted by the question asked (I hate that we can't see what the question was to get the context of the answer), though he doesn't sound positive about his position here either. Of course, how can he be? He was situational last year and he has to have concerns with another player, Barry, ahead of him again this year. But I doubt seriously that they "Were doing everything but sending out career highlight reels" and I would bet that Vecsey got his "(shopping luther head for one)" directly from Solomon's article.
We've seriously been looking to trade him. Probably for a 2nd rounder/cash I assume. I wonder what's taking so long.
I thought he was entertaining for a few years. I used to enjoy his on air fights with Barkley who destroyed him.
You and I might think that they are trying to trade him (which is likely) but I doubt with Luther's history Morey is going to give him away. Which is why it's taking so long. I just hate supposition by writers treated as fact.
