One piece away from a championship - and shot clock trouble explained

Linas Kleiza

 

and i really think this is a "duh" post to be honest with you, i definitely agree, but this team is already a contender if healthy, it doesn't seem that way to you because you're assuming tmac will never be the same, he may never be, but i think it's still very possible he can be that guy you're looking for. It's not really about a guy above 6'8, it's just another guy who can take it to the rim, who can create his own scoring opportunities within the offense without resorting to forcing up shots or drives. We've been needing that for a while now, doesn't even need to be a star, it could just be a role player like courtney lee, or two of them.

 

and i realize Kleiza isn't exactly what you meant, but i think he's still a guy that can be one of those role players i mentioned. He's tall, has a jumper you have to respect, and still quick enough to pump fake and drive.

 

I think in a round about way you are saying that the Rockets need a wing player on the perimeter that teams need to worry about more than they worry about Yao. I totally agree with this. It really is too bad we don't have TMac from the 04-05 season.

 

LOL, no one in the league can guard Kobe. Try again. Artest mediocre... maybe a little overrated in the sense that some things shane can do better but mediocle when players like Ariza are considered good is just stupid.

 

My problem isn't the fact that he can't guard Kobe, its the ease with which Kobe was beating him off the dribble. Time and time again, Ron would body up on Kobe and then Kobe would dribble right around him, then the defense would be forced to collapse on Kobe leaving the shooters/big men open.

I definitely exaggerated my point by calling Ron mediocre, but he is not an elite defensive player anymore. Ron's inability to adjust his tactics on Kobe just made it that much more painful to watch. Every time Kobe had the ball and Ron was switched onto him, you knew that Kobe would get around him and would get into the lane. I don't remember Ron forcing Kobe to shoot a jump shot more than 1 or 2 times in the whole conference semifinal series.

 

I say yes to having a driving wing player, and the analysis of what this can do to fronting is spot on, but I think the OP oversimplifies our situation just a bit.
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We really crave consistent guard play from both positions. I don't think we are "one piece" away at all, especially with all the confusion about Yao (not to derail, but as much as I love him, he is a very confusing piece, from a pragmatic perspective.)

 

or something more realistic in the near future.... VINCE CARTER He's like the better version of tmac. Certainly has a better 3pt percentage and can drive to the hoop with some KA-razy dunks. Hint's the vinsanity nickname

 

No Corey Maggette. He's a selfish player. He's nothing more then an above average player on a bad team. GS would kill to get rid of him

 

Battier is the tougher defender on Kobe, Ron is a tougher defender on Carmello Anthony when strength is a an issue, Ron is a tougher defender on Lebron when strength is an issue. Its all about matchups. The lakers would kill to have Artest covering Carmello at this point, Carmello is too strong for Kobe.

 

I agree with the OP in that we need a good driving wing ('05 tmac)

But we need Ron Artest because of the intangibles he brings.

This team could be deadly as it stands now if McGrady can come back strong and surprises everyone. When he says that he'll be ready maybe on opening night, I get a good feeling about his commitment to this championship caliber team.

 

Sooner or later, people will realize it's not Yao's teammates that are the problem. It's Yao.

 

how any of you wants to have a player like Maggette (REGRETTE) is beyond me.

this team has enough injury problems and somehow he keeps coming up?

find another love interest. magette is a terrible idea.

 

People need to get over corey maggette. He's like t-mac except he is worse in ability and is MORE injury prone.

Why would you trade t-mac for a player that's everything you hate about t-mac and yet less talented????

People are so weird.

T-mac shots a lot precentage because he's the guy bailing the team out taking those buzzer beaters or putting up a shot when the offense can't find anything better.

Imagine with this team, when t-mac does his thing only with the shot clock at 10 seconds or less. Imagine he doesn't have to hold the ball early in the shot clock. That the rockets run their offense and if it's not there, or if the D is interferring, you have t-mac to help out.

I sure would rather T-mac taking the shot then Ron Artest.

 

50% of the payroll was on the bench. That is our biggest problem.

 

It's really just ONE poster that brings up his name. But I can understand why it seems like it's a bunch of people claiming for him, because this one poster continues to bring up his name over and over again, due to his extremely repetitive nature.

 

I disagree about him needing his athleticism to be good. He needs good health to be good. I doubt he will be back, but tracy allows you to do a lot offennsively if he's healthy. A team could basically play 2 shooters in the backsourt and tracy basically play pg. He's a smarter player because of his athletic decline than most are willing to give him credit for.

I think this is a good statement,but they've been 1 piece for awhile. You're 1 piece when u can have 2 guys play at a all star level and another that's pushing or a couple of guys that's just really good. The rox are in the worse place you want to be and that's in between going for the ring and trying to keep building. I think the clock is running out on this team despite what people think about passing the first rd. Passing the first rd is cool for portland or someone young, but this team should be focused on the ring.

 

I agree with whoever said duh. We have been a piece away since we got TMac. And every year we bring in what we think is the missing piece, and find ourselves STILL a piece away.

Everyone could use an extra piece to put them over the top. Its kind of the obvious.

 

Really? If by Yao being a problem you mean him getting injured, I agree. If not, please elaborate.(This should be interesting!)