I wish this myth of Adelman not giving playtime to Von Wafer would stop repeating. Von Wafer didn't get much playtime at all with his 4 other teams. Here are his total minutes played for his career. 2005-06 73 min Lakers 2006-07 ..1 min Clippers 2007-08 90 min Nuggets 2007-08 64 min Trailblazers 2005-08 227 min (combined total for Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets and Trailblazers) 2008-09 1225 min Rockets Adelman played Von Wafer about 1000 more minutes than his previous 3 seasons combined for 4 different teams. (Rockets) 1225 min > 227 min(Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets and Trailblazers)
RA played Wafer as a necessity, Tmac was injured and the team didn't have any other backup wing. We can see what he really thought of him when the Rockets didn't even bother giving him a contract (or gave him a garbage contract) after the season ended and promptly got two wings in the draft (JT and C-bud).
The Rockets wanted him to come back, but he was getting $10 mil in Greece! Rockets weren't about to offer more than $10 mil for a bench player. Rockets were still talking to him when he was in Greece. After 2-3 months in Greece, Wafer bought out his $10 mil contract for $1.2 mil to come back to the Rockets. The Rockets signed him to a 2nd contract, but he failed his physical and they went with Mike Harris. Remember when he missed the playoffs, because of his back problems. Von Wafer had back spasms due to a bulging disc. It may have given the Rockets second thoughts on signing him, after a re-examination. Rockets were already dealing with McGrady and Yao's injuries. Just because they didn't want to deal a 3rd player that is likely to be injury prone, doesn't mean Adelman thought poorly of Von Wafer as a player. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=179162 http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/nba/091222-rockets-von-wafer http://www.click2houston.com/sports/19334928/detail.html
Mutombo was being preserved for the stretch run. Rick didn't want to use him unless he had to. There hasn't been a need to play Patterson unless he can help the Rockets defensively. Even if he were NBA ready on day 1, he still wouldn't be helping the Rockets defensively. Adelman is better than 90+% of other coaches, so I find your claim of 99% of coaches acting differently a bit dubious.
Pure BS. Wafer played before McGrady was injured. You think Rick has more say in who gets a contract than Morey? Or is that just another way to bash Adelman?
Ha Ha. Thats some funny stuff. But Rick sure loves his white boys. His mancrush over Chase is just causing me so much pain. The site of Bud on the court gives makes me wanna break things. Man Im just not too sure about these American white wings. Look at Joe Alexander and Adam Morrison. We now have both of their replacements in Gordon Hayworth and Luke Babbitt - these guys are going to suck bum as well. Matt Caroll and Jason Kapono. And then theres Chase. Foreign white wings do a lot better - Klieza, Turk, Casspi, Nocioni, AK47, even guys like Delfino, Galo, Belienelli.
The only one of those white wing doves that can soar above the rim is Bud, and he can outshoot any of them. In comparison, the black wings have little to crow about.
I'm just wondering, didn't we give up a first round draft choice for this guy that hasn't played at all?
One, Cbud has been on fire. Last night he had a season high and almost matched his career high. Heck, against Miami he went 3/3 from 3. Two, as many can attest Adelman's system is not something that can just be adopted over night. Look at the chemistry between Kevin Martin and Brad Miller. They both understand the offense and thrive. Its a big factor why Tracy McGrady didn't work here. He didn't get the system and he didn't want to get the system. In time I could see Twill getting his play. If Houston finally blows a team out (like Minnesota) or if Bud stops hitting his shots there is no doubt in my mind Adelman will bring in Twill...
Who knows? He would tho add another passer to the 2nd unit, another slasher and defender. Really why hold his development back when he's gonna be part of the team's long term plans? With #11 down the future starts this right now. And with the stretch coming up, we could use a good two way player like Williams. Even if he doesn't play well at first, could he really play any worst than Budinger has been this season? I mean, last two games he's picked it up but what if he goes on another cold slump? Guy I know you are a Budinger Zona fan, but Bud has been one of the worst reserves this season in the entire league and that's the truth. Twill, they're gonna have to bring him along and play him at some point. Why wait til lets say, the end of the deadline to play him when teams that are in the hunt, start making there runs for the playoffs? I see it as some do here. The Rockets are probably just trying to raise up whatever stock Budinger has left so they can trade him off by the deadline for another piece. Hopefully a shot blocker...
We took it to the Heat and arguably should have won it against them, and last time I checked they aren't mediocre. At least that's what ESPN wants me to believe. You are also assuming that Twill is a definite upgrade. He is a work in progress and has only potential right now. There's a reason NJ let him go. We have to mold him, game time is not the only way to mold him. Like I said earlier, Bud is on his game and making his shots. Until he isn't, or we aren't winning, Twill belongs on the bench.
So the only game you point out is the one we lost? "Bud is on his game and making his shots. Until he isn't.." Hasn't he been off his game for the first 4 games Twill was over here? NJ let him go because he clashed with Avery who I consider a terrible head coach. Also, we don't need scoring, and even the Toronto game Bud played some pretty terrible defense.
I would love to see him get some of Teflon Don's starting minutes and with him understanding that he needs to play D at a very high level to get those minutes
We were down to Toronto by how much in the first? We needed scoring in that game. In every game we need scoring. We tend to lose games mainly because we have stretches where the offense is stagnant and nobody wants to take the shot. We've lost more games due to our inability to score much more so than our inability to stop teams. As for Avery Johnson, that guy took that Dallas team to the limit, and his firing was somewhat premature and unfounded. NJ let the Twill go because he has attitude problems. Showing up late habitually has nothing to do with the coach. The guy could hate Avery and still show up on time.
