jeez actually you're wrong. a team with batman, superman, thundercats, he-man, transformers. no wait, they dont play in the NBA.
I mentioned the Dream Team because in your first post you said that the current Rockets with Shaq would be the BEST TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL!!!! But since you narrowed it down: There are soooo many teams who are arguably the best team ever (in the NBA). 80's Celtics, 80's Lakers, 60's Celtics, that 72-game-winning Bulls team, etc. Everybody has debated about these teams (and many other teams) and has not come up with a definitive answer. Yes, the Shaq-Francis-Mobley-Griffin is strong on paper. Hell, it could be one of the top 10 teams of all time, but surely if you ask any expert it can't be the best team ever. Here's another thing: If there were two Shaqs, one with the Rockets (without Ming) and one with the Kings (without Divac), which team would the critics call the greater team (on paper, cuz none of these scenarios would ever happen)? We shouldn't be arguing about this. It's all subjective anyway.
Yeah, trading a guy who could potentially be a dominant force in the league for 12 years for someone who quite possibly will only play 2 or 3 more years. Boy, that's really such an easy decision. If you ask me, I think New York Knicks fans who have nothing better to do than hang around a Houston Rockets forum should be banned.
Remember what Shaq said....he will never play for another coach, only for Phil Jackson...so we would have to fire Rudy-T, and hire Phil Jackson. Urrrrr....no thanks.
Victory is sweeter when you do it yourself. We would change from the Rockets to "the team that Shaq won championships for". Keep Ming and enjoy the next 7-10 years. Shaq will leave the league in three because he'll be tired of winning and worried about his kidneys from taking too many anti-inflammatory drugs.
Like the 'team that Hakeem won championships for?' I'll take that anyday. I really like Ming and his potential, but c'mon. And how is our current team, which was built on trades (Franchise, Griffin, Rice et al) 'doing it youself' anymore than trading for Shaq would be?
I freakin hate thread! Hmm....yes......mmm..uh-huh......I got it. After minutes of thinking I would probably stick with Ming. Shaq has toe problems and wants to retire soon. Not to mention the coach thing. Plus, I don't like his attitude. Ming has a chance to dominate. Maybe not as much as Shaq, but he can. (or maybe more. ) Plus, his attitude looks good and other stuff like that. This is a hard one, btw. I mainly pick Ming because I really, really, really do not like Shaq. JMO.
Most definitelyNO The Rox want to win it all with their own team,winning with Shaq would not give any satisfaction.We want to beat a Shaq team not use him! We beat him once and we will do it again. In Three years Shaq will be 400lbs., Smoking cigars and checking on his investments in the City. After we beat them(LA) 04/05, he will do a farewell tour then retire. I say keep the gorilla in its Cage in LA. We will become the greatest Shot blocking team in the history of the NBA,beside all the Trophies we will win.
I would trade Francis and Ming for Shaq. Shaq is the best player in the NBA and one of only two players that automatically make any team a contender ( The other being Duncan). I would be sad to make the trade but I would do it in a heart beat.
Then I volunteer to be banned. Shaq is another version of instant gratification...plus there is something about Shaq that makes it hard for me to root for him. I'll wait for Ming to develop and enjoy it soooo much more. Closing comments: 1) Shaq makes about as much as KG and it would gut the Rockets to realistically obtain him. 2) Shaq may "only" be 30, but he's a high-mileage 30.
What other team has Francis, Mobley, Griffin, Ming, Thomas, Bostjan played for? That is building it yourself. If everyone wants to give West credit for being so smart getting Kobe, then CD and Rudy deserve the credit for building what we have on this team.
1. Rice is not and has not been a contributor to our team so who cares. 2. Eddie Griffin was a draft day trade. No different than trading picks in January and then drafting him ourselves in July. 3. Steve was not a draft day trade but the Rockets are the only team he has ever played for. While his situation is a little different than that of Eddies he is still a career Rocket. The core of our team are all career Rockets: Ming Griffin Boki Cat Wink Not one of those players had proven themselves with other NBA teams. Yes that is doing it ourselves. Does everyone know how rare it would be for this line up to win it all with out one single starter having played a single minute for another NBA team? I have never seen it unless it was Seattle in the late seventies. That is most definitely doing it ourselves.
Here is a run down of some previous NBA champs with starting players that started their career with other teams. LAL - Shaq started with Orlando Spurs - Avery Johnson started his career as a Rocket Bulls - Rodman was a Piston and Pippen was a Sonic Rockets - Drexler, Max, Thorpe, Smith all started their careers somewhere else. Bulls - Cartright started in New York and Pippen in Seattle Pistons - Rick Mahorn started out with the Washington Bullets Lakers - Kareem started out with the Bucks Celtics - Denis Johnson won a championship with the Supersonics and Parish started his career as a Clipper. Lakers - Kareem won a championship as a Buck 76ers - Moses was a Rocket and also played for Buffalo Lakers - Kareem Celtics - DJ was a sonic Supersonics - ? Bullets - Elvin Hayes started out a Rocket If our current core group of players can win a championship it will be truly special.
