Why don't ya'll just say Griffin had a poor game, and try not come to the conclusion that he hasn't improved any this off season. What are you expecting from the FIRST preseason game? It's hard for everyone on a team to have an excellent game, so let's just see what happens later on, down the road (this season). Maybe he was tired from the two-a-days, who knows. Whatever the reason may be, I'm sure that it is not that Griff has failed to improve this off season. In that retrospect, I'm sure, that if you watch, you'll notice he has bulked up, and gained a few pounds, and he has refined his low post offensive game. He's got a few new, good moves. He's also improved his stamina, his strength, and his passing (from what I've heard from camp). This guy will still be an all-star calliber, as well as a well rounded offensive and defensive threat before all is said and done. Just don't put so much emphasis on ONE preseason game. Especially the first one of the year! Oh, by the way.....I think the Griffin/Gooden matchup could be one of the premiere battles in the league, in the near future. Both of these guys will be superstars, mark my words!
I think Griffin played well last night, well at least from a defensive stand point, he has two blocks I think. But coming from an offensive point, I'm not sure if its just me or has his shot gotten uglier because I mean I wasn't too fond of his form last year but when he took those two 3 pointers last night, it was just plain nasty, his form and how he missed the shot. Also Kenny seemed the same to me, except a few pounds lighter, his shot is the same as last year, I didn't see him exerting any confidence in his shot. Cato was quicker to shot than Thomas was. But overall it was a great game for our 1st game.
Preseason games don't mean anything. Some players simply don't bring it until the real season begins. Patient folks.
Ok Qazi we'll use your logic. T-Mo went off for 17 last night, that's more then Eddie so we better start him at PF over Griff. And Cato had a double-double and Yao didn't play, so we better start Cato over Yao. See how silly judging a player on one game is?
I didn't see the game, and I don't know how much they used the new offence, but isn't the premise of the new "motion" offence to read what the defence gives you and react to it? Now could it perhaps be the case that the defence wasn't giving Griff all that much on the offensive end and were not letting him get the ball as much as the Rox wanted? Also the new offence doesn't look at the stat sheet and say "Hey so-and-so has the least number of points, lets start giving him the ball". Eddie will get his at some stage, just like I expect nearly everyone on the team (with the exception of perhaps Cato, who has next to no offensive skills) to havea number of standout games during the season. Give them time.
Eddie, is a shy and unassuming person. He's not going to go in there and just start taking over the game. Not until Rudy gives him the green light (and the starting 4 position), he wont show what he's got. Right now he's a "utility" player coming off the bench. He kinda reminds me of Horry the way he didn't want to "hurt" the team by taking too many shots. It's gonna be nice knowing that Eddie can put up 25 points on a given night. But, it's not needed w/Cat, Francis and soon Yao. Eddie is the real deal! Trust me!
It's not all about who will start and who will be reserve. It's about Eddie. I think he is a player with massive potential. What I'm sayin is Rudy isn't even lookin to him to be an option. How can he bloom if he's just a "utility" player. Now Let's compare to Robert Horry. Horry played on a team full of talent and still valuably contributed. His points per game weren't so high but he would deliver when he was needed. Eddie is in the same situation but Eddie on the other hand is known for not demanding the ball or taking the shot. I've seen him open plenty of times and he'd just pass it away. I think Eddie could be a better player than Horry. BUT Rudy and da Rocs need to get him involved and get him a permanent role on the team.
I'm coming from the same place as Chuck04. I didn't get to see the game, but what I heard encouraged me. It's the first preseason game and some folks are ready to deduce that this guy didn't play, so he's on his way out, that guy didn't do much offensively so he's not going to contribute this season. What's the basis for it? If Rudy reads this board (if he has the time, it wouldn't surprise me) he must be cracking up. By the end of preseason we'll be able to start drawing some real conclusions. Right now their back at camp in Austin. I guess it's sensory overload from lack of Rocketball since the end of The Nightmare Season that we all "fondly remember". We've got our beloved Rockets back. You can tell.
I cant believe we're dissing one of our own after a victory after the 1st preseason game. C'mon guys, none of this talk. We won the game and Eddie did his part. He was not called upon to score 25 points. He played his role in the game.
To me Eddie did seem to put on some bulk. At times I didn't recognize him on the court. He's starting to match his upper body with his lower body (already big). I do agree with some of the people on here, that it was only one game. I did see some new things from Eddie just in that one game though. He did dribble more than last year and he hit the post and seemed somewhat confident in both aspects. Someone mentioned something about Kenny and his shot. It does look the same but I think Bill and Calvin mentioned that he worked out before the game. I'm not sure if they meant that he lifted weights before but if he did I'm sure that had to do with his shot. I know when I lift and try to play it throws my shot off. We won anyway! Woo hoo!
Every team has an offensive and defensive scheme... Every player on the team has to contribute to that scheme... Eddie is one of the stars in our defensive scheme....he's a contributer...I'm sure there are no complaints about his defense...although I'd like a little improvement on his man to man D...he's already one of the best weakside blockshot artists in the league. Offensively, at the very worst he could be like Robert Horry. Anyone who rags on Robert Horry doesn't understand the game...there were Rox fans and critics who would hoot and howl that Horry should do this and that but didn't realize what he was doing was subtle and important...he's a facillitator on offense...he'll feed the post...create space with his shooting potential...tip offensive rebounds...he was probably pound for pound our best performer in '94 against the Knicks... Another thing we need to consider is that there simply aren't enough shots, with the offensive talent we have on our team. There have to be players willing to do the dirty work and set up our high percentage options, which isn't 18-19 footers from our guards with players in their face...if you look at the stats our percentage on that shot is in the low 40s...anyway that's another story.... All in all, Eddie is our best rebounder already, and is a major contributer for our defensive scheme...we don't "need" much from him offensively although it would be exciting if he does explode for 25 every now and then...
When Eddie came here, he didn't have much of an inside game. A lot of people have been complaining that Eddie shouldn't be out at the 3 point line, but moving inside. That's not the way he's really played the game, and it could take him a while to get there. EG does seem to be trying to make that improvement, and to improve his dribble also. But he may take him most of the season to really be comfortable doing those things, or possibly sooner. Either way, I think it's too early to be criticizing him.
