A good idea would be to send Mo Taylor, KT, and Moochie to Cleveland for Tyrone Hill and Bimbo Coles. Forget what Ming needs. This team needs a tough defender / rebounder ANYWAY. Tyrone Hill will be an excellent player to have with Griffin and Yao Ming. Plus, he has just one year on his contract. The combination of his contract expiring next year, and Rice's the following year comes out to about 25M. That would keep us from the luxury tax, while allowing Francis' extension to come in perfectly, and also Griffin's extension to come in nicely. We can lock up our players.
Lakers used Rambis, AC Green, Orlando Woolridge, and Mycheal Thompson. None really an intimidating force. We're ok.
Smeggy, i've never mentioned Etan Thomas. I think Crisco has, though. Are you ribbing him or me?? Crisco, A full-sized, bruising PF/C is probably what Walton is talking about, and I'd definitely listen to offers for our spare PFs or Cato for that, but it does nothing for us in terms of SF. Pretty soon, we will only have Boki. What are your thoughts on K9 as a multi-purpose backup...both SF and PF? Again, let's igore Rice and TMo in this, because they both are not in our playoff rotation future as we go for the title. I'm pretty sure only Rockets fans think TMo has a chance at a career in basketball, much less a part of a 8-9 man rotation for a contender. Imagine us in a 7 games series in the playoffs. Don't Boki and K9 complement each other with different styles for different opponents. I don't see MoT offering that same thing at the SF position because K9 is so much faster. So, MoT loses out once Griffin matures??? ...maybe maybe no.
MoT is defenetly better than Kenny. The reason Kenny has comparable numbers was because the absence of MoT, Steve and Rice. Kenny for many games was forced into the number 1 or 2 option in the offense. These numbers are something that with Taylor and Francis healthy he will never see again. MoT is a much better shooter that Thomas, as well as a bigger body to slam downlow, as Kenny is more of a tweener that would be real important to a team as a third or fourth option. Which he will not be as a Rocket. 1. Francis 2. Mobley 3. MoT or Griff 4. Ming 5. Rice or Boki
hey I think the right man for this position is avalable for the right price too,for veteran leadership and also a enfocer and bodyguard for yao and steve .You guys might not agree ,but his name is Charles Oakley.Feedback Please!
Smegster, I have no idea where the toughness went. I can't think of any young tough blue collar type players who aren't hyped as stars. Where is the Davis boys? the PJ Browns, Oakley, Mason type players? Everyone wants to be like Mihm now. hp, what was it you said before? SF is the least important position to fill or something like that? I'm not concerned with sf at all, esp back-up sf. I think Kenny can do a fine job as a backup sf. I think Eddie can do a fine job at least offensively as a sf(kind of like how Rasheed filled in there when they had Grant). And if they can't hack it there's all the sfs that are floating out there ... look at FAgency this year. Shard, Russell, Donyell, Posey, Ricky Davis, Nailon, Buckner, Harpring all pop to mind. And the draft was filled to the brim with promising sfs. Now if Nachbar doesn't develop into a good starter, then the Rocks might be in trouble, but I'm not too worried about that. And I agree about Mo having more to lose in the rotation than KT when Griff emerges. KT is just more versatile inside/outside imo. Unless the Rocks try to implement some sort of a crazy zone.
Maybe a guy like Derrick Coleman or Fortson could be our enforcer.I think a player like this would be great for Griffin to practice against and get tougher.Maybe DC has too many issues?
Hey given that article by clutch, I think that we made the right move by taking Kenny Thomas. I think that Tim James, Jumaine Jones and Devean George suck. And George really sucks a fat one, potential Scottie Pippen please whatever.
nah, though I think Coleman gets more criticism than he deserves, he HAS worn out his welcome wherever he's been. Fortson's a bit of a malcontent in GS, no?? We don't need that from a fourth option PF (or, I guess, third if we trade KT). KT is a pretty good "enforcer" at the PF. Why add another PF?? We've got three starting caliber ones already. How 'bout a tough, fundamental backup guy at SF or SG?? Aaron McKie (that's me dreaming!) George Lynch Adrian Griffin Chris Mills ??????
Aha!! 100% agreement. Notice I never mentioned us getting another SF. The idea is to use a versatile PF as multi-purpose backup for 2 positions. Somewhat like using Griffin as multi-purpose starting PF and backup center. See, maybe we don't need the Grant/Davis, awesome backup, full-sized PF, if Griffin fills out. If that happens, why not look at backing up the SF and PF position with the same man. Many at cc.net seem to forget that, mathematically, we cannot back up every position in an 8-9 man playoff rotation. Someone has to play two positions. Francis can; Griffin should be able to, and there's a good shot K9 can. The coaches are definitely on record stating interest in K9 or Mo playing two positions....which player is more versatile for that?
Kenny kept getting slammed for jacking up threes, so last season, what happens? He doesn't shoot any. He gets slammed for not playing D, but no less than Duncan gave major props for his defense. People keep saying he's as good as he's going to get, but he's made big strides every season. He carried the team through stretches of games again and again, but we can't find minutes for him? We have a great problem to have, great talent (potentially ) at PF from 3 guys with 3 different types of play. Rudy loves this stuff! He can find the minutes for all three... Griffin, Taylor, and K9. They all give us a change of pace, a different look. When the other team thinks they have a handle on it, they can change positions. Why is that a problem? It's an asset!
heypartner, If Cato does not meet the criteria because of limited shooting range, then the search for this mythical banger/scrapper is going to be difficult. 1) Shooting range to 14' 2) Not afraid to mix it up inside 3) 6'9" or better with weight proportionate 4) Not ego driven (Can tolerate not having many plays & shots called for him) 5) Inexpensive to acquire if traded for 6) Relatively cheap salary wise In regards to Mo filling that role, I have never thought of him as meeting #2 and #4 (of above) and his current salary disqualifies him on #6. KT is not tall enough to meet #3 (above), but seems to be in the running on the other criteria. If somehow a player is found that fills #1 - #5, then he will probably be expensive salary wise and that will likely require moving Mo's contract. I wouldn't complain about that event. Mango
Sane are you crazy or just daft? Two of our Stars and our back up point Guard for two bit players!!! Have you gone bonkers man!
Eh? The stick man? Bang? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH In all seriousness, Clark is a nice player. But he's not what we need. He's more suited to the East. While sacrificing all the depth we have for a crappy PF and a crappy PG. Hill isn't a banger. He's just terrible. He couldn't play the roll of a "good" defensive PF in the terrible Leastern Conference. He'd be eaten alive in the West. As for Bimbo Coles... eeek. What would we use him for... backing up Tierre?
Nothing here on KT vs. MoT that hasn't already been posted ad nauseum. ...We'll just have to see how the season goes... My money's on KT.
HP, I have difficulty with your read on Tmo. I also believe that your outlook on the 8-9 rotation is old-fashioned, and outdated. New Jersey's rotation was 10 with a less deep team than we have. Incidentally they were probably the best fast breaking team in the league. Their acquistion of Childs ensures again that their rotation will at least be 10. Sacramento would do deeper if they had the talent which explains their interest in Clark. As it is right now the following western team will have a 10 man rotation barring injury: Sac, Blazers, Suns, Lal, Clip, GSW, and the Spurs. Dallas would have one if they add Lewis. Why leave us out? Your suggestion of a short rotation does not reflect the talent on this team. The team is likely to go with 14 or 15 player and I do not see them doing that and then limit the rotation to 8 players. It is evident that currently the team has two deep talent at every position and in the case of the 1,3, and 4 spots, there are 3 players deep. Having a player be able to play two postions is a great thing and we have quite a few; but it has nothing to do with the need to have an 8 man rotation. If we are supposed to play more uptempo offense and pressure defense, the lengthening of the rotation would be a good start. Some time ago you explained the high post offense as something that we will feature next year. I feel our focus should be on that and the full complement of pick and rolls, and Isos for our quicker players. Dallas and Sacramento the so called class of the west and the champs have no more power than our team.
So how the minutes will breakdown? With many back to backs and given our need to avoid injuries, the minutes are low which should translate into a high output per minute played. The team should be real strong in the fourth quarter. This should allow for better practices given less game time which in turn should make the team even more efficient. I am fully expecting that we would be in the bottom 3 in the league in terms of shot clock usage, right there with Dallas. Hopefully the key difference will be our defense commitment. Cato - 16...minutes limited by the presence of Ming and EG..he starts each half but that is it. Ming - 18...ease the transition plus consideration for hectic year so far with other commitments Taylor - 22...returning from a dangerous injury..allow for conditioning to return Griffin - 26...minute reflects stature just playing less than Wink and Mobes...will continue to play some at 5...if more time needs to go to Ming, then it will come at the ultimate expense of Torres with Eg playing less 5, which would make KT play more 3 and Rice more 2. Thomas - 26 Rice - 20...returning from injury... should spend time at 2 too Nachbar - 12...transition and rookie Morris - 12...will not be forgotten by Rudy T Francis - 30.....need to force the tempo at all times Moochie - 18...has to maintain up tempo set by Wink Mobley - 30.....need to be sharp each game..another critical part to that uptempo game. Torres - 10...good at uptempo and can drain the open j..good defense. An alternative would be to play Brown instead of Torres and give Francis more time at the 2 spot.
