NIKEstrad - Sure, Krause didn't pull anything special with Pippen. I was saying about how good is your GM. You're the ones that paid him $15M per season at age of 32? He won 6 titles for Chicago I think just for 20M total for 10 years as a Bull. What he brought to you, he brought Kelvin Cato. Yes, CD is a genius. As for free agents - We did sign Donyell Marshall well under what was on able for him by Utah ($29M/4). He got a $15M/3, and he will be better this season than anyone of your newcomers. He was a second leading scorer and rebounder for PLAYOFF team last year. MoT signed for Mid-Level but just for 1 year, he end up with $8M a year ... OVERPAID. Shandon Anderson ... PLEASE. Great free agent signing. Everybody who is under 35 in this league is improoving every season, not just Rockets players. Griffin, while a good aquisition he did cost you Przybilla, Dickerson and your lottery pick. Mfclark - I'm from Europe, an I can see things that you can't see on your TV. NBA is shown everywhere in World. Every year , two months before the start of the season I'm hearing from you ... 5th seed, playoffs, 50wins, improoving .... and all you can get is 9th seed (at best), 5th worst in the league, number 1 in turnovers in whole league, lottery pick, etc. Open your eyes. The Rockets might make the playoffs one year sooner than the Bulls, but from now to eternity, the Bulls will win their next title faster than the Rockets. Actualy you won your only two, when THE BULLS an MJ let you to do it, and that is well known across the basketball world.
How did we lose Dickerson for Griff? I thought we just lost Prz, which isn't much. Wasn't Dickerson in the trade just so we could get Francis? edit: also we got the Creampuff man, Jason Collier, with that trade involving Prz. I failed to see this. I believe the Rockets had a winning record against the Bulls. Their only problem was the Sonics. If they could have gotten past them, we would know what would have happend.
First team J.Williams D.Wagner C.Butler D.Gooden Y.Ming Second Team M.Jaric E.Ginobili M.Dunleavy A.Stoudemire N.Hilario
Shandon Anderson WAS a great free agent signing, getting him for 2 years, 4 million was a major coupe considering what other teams were offering him. If you think players usually don't peak until 35, you're sorely mistaken. An NBA players' "prime" is generally regarded as 28-32. The Rockets team is comprised solely of players who have yet to peak, with the lone exception being Glen Rice. History lesson #1: Griffin, Collier, AND Francis cost us Pryzbilla, Dickerson, Harrington and Maclean. (Damn CD is a moron, trading a project center, a SG who would've lost his job to a 2nd rounder within 2 years, an average big man, and a guy who is out of the NBA for Collier, and 2 franchise type players) History lesson #2: We've still had a better record than the Bulls the last 3 years, even with injuries. The Rockets had only the 20th most # of turnovers in the league, with just over 14. Your Terribulls were 6th, with over 15. How will the Bulls win titles faster? Ming/Griffin have every ounce as much talent, if not more as Curry/Chandler. You can only hope Jay Williams becomes as good as Francis, and Rose, and your "great signing", will be over the hill. Just because roydelton is from Europe, it doesn't mean he knows anything about scouting. This was the same person claiming that Dragan Tarlac would take the league by storm, and hailed Krause' genius on the signing. How is he doing back in the Euroleagues?
You know, that's funny and all. I didn't know simply watching games made you an expert on things. And it's funny that you refer to me predicting things about the Rockets when I'm a Magic fan and leave much of the Rockets talk to those who follow the team closely. Even still - the Magic have consistantly beaten your Bulls, your "facts" about the Rockets, Bulls, and NBA are incorrect, and you still haven't proven any points whatsoever.
roydelton, The Bulls record the past 4 years: 98 - 99: 13 wins 37 losses 99 - 00: 17wins 65 losses 00 - 01: 15 wins 67 losses 01 - 02: 21 wins 61 losses The Rockets record the past 4 years: 98 - 99: 31 wins 19 losses 99 - 00: 34 wins 48 losses 00 - 01: 45 wins 37 losses 01 - 02: 28 wins 54 losses The Bulls after 4 years of rebuilding: Center: Eddie Curry future star P. Forward: Tyson Chandler future star S. Forward: Donyel Marshel journeyman player. Is he the this teams future 3? He'll be 30 by the end of the season. S. Guard: Jalen Rose star but will he be over the hill when Curry and Chandler mature? Soon to be 30. P. Guard: Jay Williams future star The Rockets after 3 years of rebuilding: Center: Yao Ming future most dominant player drafted since Shaq. Only 21. P. Forward: Eddie Griffin future star and only 20. S. Forward: Bostjan Nachbar future all star player? Only 22. S. Guard: Cuttino Mobley all star caliber guard just turned 28 and entering his prime P. Guard: Steve Francis star player and only 25 years old. It sure looks to me like the Rockets team is not only a lot closer to contending than the Bulls but have all of the pieces in place for a lot of years with Cat being the lone core player older than 25. The bulls have two starters that will turn 30 during the coming season. The rebuilding process for the Rockets has certainly been shorter and a lot less painful. The Rockets enjoyed a season in which they challenged for the playoffs and another where they won 34 games. In fact the Rockets worst season of their rebuilding is better than the Bulls best season of their rebuilding and we have managed to get all of the pieces for our team in place. The Bulls still need to shore up the 3 spot unless you guys are excited about Donyell. The Rockets should secure a play off spot this years with the addition of Boki, Yao and the growth of shot Eddie Griffin along with the health of Mo Taylor and Steve Francis. We will be legitament contenders in a couple of years if not sooner. I'm thinking that you guys will also and I would love to see the Rockets whip the Bulls ass in a few years in the finals. Just be honest with yourself about who's rebuilding was shorter and less painful. We have all of our pieces, do you?
All signs point to Nickoloz sucking for at least a few years. The Nuggets were in it for the long term when acquiring this guy.
The fact that almost ever NBA Beat Writer who had seen him play said so. The fact that he played off the bench in the Italian league(Only 14 mpg) should speak volumes of just how ready he is. Pau Gasol was at least the leader of his team in his European league. Writers that cover the European leagues also say that he should spend another year in Europe. His coach in Italy suggested the same. Based on what I have read, though, he will also be a heck of a player when he comes into his own. However, I definitely don't see him making enough of an impact to warrant an All-Rookie selection.
crash5179 - I agree with your analysis. However, there are several younger Bulls you've left out, who by staying on the team or through trade can be a factor. Trenton Hassell - 2nd round steal last year, is 6'5, tough defender and rebounder who can guard SG and some SF. Also has diverse offensive game with 3-pt range but doesn't hesitate to take the ball to the basket. Possible future star at SG because of his all-around game. Eddie Robinson - 6'9 swingman with tons of athletic talent, no consistent history of games to judge him by. Is still only 25. Was injured most of last year. Possible future starter at SF or SG. Jamal Crawford - 22 years old, 6'5, tons of talent, great shooter, passer, and handles, questionable defense and toughness. Was also injured most of last season. Right now is more comfortable at PG, but will probably see alot of time at SG with Jay Williams here. If he bulks up, could become star at SG. Marcus Fizer - PF with alot of SF offensive skills. He shown steady improvement over his 2 seasons, and doesn't look like he is going to be the 'bust' some predicted him to be. Could potentially start at SF in the future. Looking only at the younger players, Curry, Chandler, and Fizer would be a massive front line to deal with. PG could be Jay Williams and SG anyone of Hassell/Crawford/E-Rob/Roger Mason Jr. (SG/PG 2nd round pick who is gritty defender and has well rounded offensive game, makes it easier to trade Crawford.) The smart money says at least one of these players will be traded, with Crawford, Fizer, and E-Rob all having 3 years (including options) left on their contracts. Hassell has two more years, and I hope he stays with the Bulls beyond that, he is probably the least likely of the four to get traded anyways. Bottom line, I don't think anyone can reasonably argue that in terms of getting to the playoffs, the Bulls aren't a ways behind the Rockets this season. However, in terms of getting to the Finals, the teams may be the same distance away, around 3 years. Personally, I think the Bulls would have alot of trouble matching up with the Rockets down the road. Ming would be able to slow down Curry with his shotblocking, but Curry wouldn't be able to do the same because of Yao's height. Francis you gotta say is the better PG, and Jay Williams has some of the same kind of questions Elton Brand did when he came out about NBA potential. Chandler may ultimately win the matchup with Griffin, but Griffin will be drawing Chandler out to the perimeter, where we don't want our best help defender.
Hassell is a good 2nd rounder but is not going to be a star player.After picking up Marshall he and Eddie Robinson are going to have their minutes cut as Rose will swing between the 3 and 2 spots and Crawford might get some minutes at the 2 spot as well. This arrangement might work for this year as Robinson is coming off an injury but eventually he will want more minutes.
Which NBA beat writers saw him play? Very few to none I bet. Most writers only report what they have heard. Skita road the bench because it was not his turn to start or so we have been told. Starting in Europe is kind of like starting in College if you have a blue chip player in fron of you. You have to wait your turn of for that player to graduate. Having said that I agree with you, I expect him to take a while to adjust kind of like Dirk took a year or so to get the game down. I was really just razzing you with the "what signs" comment.
Nachbar will be a 2nd team All-rookie and I stand by that. That doesn't mean he'll be an All-Star. He's just more ready than others (Tskitishvilli, J. Jefires) while Dunleavy and Q. Woods will be busts. Plus, Boki will get playing time with Rice's suspect knees. To the virgin Macedonian: 1. Jabba the Krause is either insane or a genius, but all the signs so far lean for the former. 2. Jay is gonna be good, not as good as Ming, but OK. 3. Eddie Curry's career will resemble that of Shawn Kemp on fast forward. He'll go from a high-school talent to an overweight screw-up in about a third of the time it took Kemp. Mark my words, as soon as he gets his post-rookie contract his career will be over.
I think you're dead wrong about Curry following Kemp's career path of trouble. Curry is very grounded and comes from a strong family who is from Chicago. He's talked about how he has some cousins who have made mistakes, and he knows the importance of making smart decisions. Do you have anything at all you are basing your opinon of Curry on?
Well I guess at least a few have seen him play. You're right though...Most is probably based on hearsay. I'm not sure about the Euroleague thing, but Pau Gasol played a large role on his team and was of a comparable age(Like a year or two older). I think that Nickoloz will probably take at least 2-3 years before he shows anything too special. He may be given a Gasol opportunity though, since the Nuggets are bound to be in the lottery.
