Looks like Boki will stay around, shoot, and lift weight even more by himself http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1735025 "During practice, you try to stay around and shoot more. Lifting weights, you try to lift more," said Hawkins, who had seven points, three assists and two rebounds. "You try and keep yourself active. Because even though you're not getting minutes on the court, off the court, you're improving. Myself, and (rookie Bostjan Nachbar) and Terence -- we've been doing that.
Boki will only be able to get some garbage time despite Rice's injury... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1734827 Time for Nachbar? The injury to starting small forward Glen Rice moved James Posey into the starting lineup. But it also could open some playing time for rookie Bostjan Nachbar. Nachbar has played in just seven games, starting the second game of the season when Rice and Terence Morris were hurt. Before Rice's injury, Nachbar had not played since Dec. 31, and then only after the Rockets' rout of the Bucks had been decided. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said he would try to work Nachbar into favorable situations, rather than expecting him to work his way into the rotation in the toughest matchups, such as against Paul Pierce on Monday or the Suns' Shawn Marion on Wednesday. When Posey picked up two first-quarter fouls on Monday, Juaquin Hawkins became the Rockets' first substitute. "We'll look at situations," Tomjanovich said. "I know he's anxious. We all are to get him some time."
i feel sorry for boki... well as sorry as i could be for a person earning that much money. It's never good to be so close to your dreams, yet miles away at the same time. he's putting in the effort, and rudy loves players that put in teh effort. his time is close. hopefully minutes will not stop him from doing all the extra training tho
I am really rooting for Boki. From the scouting reports, hes a guy that is an offensive threat and supposely is a decent defender (better than Rice I reckon). I hope we get him in before he loses confidence in himself or before its too late.
Great article. Morris and Hawkins played really well last night. I just feel sorry for Boki, because we all know he can play. But he just isn't geting playing time.
Hopefully Rudy and staff (and Dawson) are making extra efforts to communicate with Nachbar to assure him that he has a long-term role with this team. It might be as simple as "need to get you ready for next year since we see you as our #1 draft pick" which may be what Rudy T and CD are thinking. But I would hate to see Nachbar get so down on himself or unclear to his being here that he opts to stay in Europe next year...
It's part of the business. Remember that in the European leagues the senior members get to play the the rookies sit. Here, the Rockets have too much talent in front of Boki for him to get the minutes. Getting Posey ended any hopes of getting minutes for Boki. Kenny Thomas was not good enough to get major minutes at the 3. But Posey is a good 3 and plays defense. I think while Boki would be just fine on the offensive side, he's not yet ready to contribute on the defensive end. Besides, even with Rice out, the rotation of Posey, Hawkins, TMorris is pretty solid for the 3. If MoTaylor is out for a long time and TMorris comes in at the 4 more, then maybe, just maybe some more playing time for Boki.
Right now with Mobley, Yao, Francis and Griffin, there's more than enough firepower. The D is usually a huge factor in wins or losses. I'd much rather have a good all around player with very good defensive skills than an unproving offensive player who may not be able to contribute as well on the defensive end. I like the rotation of Posey, Hawkins, and TMo at the three. It gives constant good defense with decent offense. And with MoT being out I agree that TMo should get some minutes at the 4, although he's not really all that suited for it. I hope the 3 rotation we used in the last game becomes the main rotation in the next few years to come (barring any spectacular trades or drafts).
next season there will be a major decision to make. who will be our back-up 3? posey will be our 3. so we have a defencive minded swingman. we still need a shooter to replace rice (he will surely have another injurie) my vote goes to boki. Tmo will then be left out of the loop. our roster will look like: yao-cato-collier griff-moT-Tmo posey-boki-rice(whenever he can play) cat-hawk steve-mooch with out Tmo, rice, and collier we still have 10 people that desearve PT.
I keep telling you guys and girls that Boki will emerge as the Rockets' Springtime Rifle (Springfield if we were in Ohio ). My prediction is that we will all wonder in March and April why Rudy was hiding him under a blanket, but at this time Boki's fire is only made of kindling. By spring he will be a bonfire ready to scorch all those second stringers who are giving their starters a breather. The next NBA season will Boki's year. He will have had a full camp and no hernia injury with which to contend. In the interim, T-Mo, Hawk and J-Po are skilled players who know how to contribute in ways that equate to, dare I say it, WINS.
In addition to having players ahead of him at the three, Cuttino 1/2/3 and SF at 1/2 play 40+ minutes a game, I think more than any other duo in the league so that also minimizes the chances of him getting playing time.
I know exactly what your're saying but it's tough to get him time. I mean there aint much garbage time to go around. When we play the bad teams they beat us......I means thats where the garbage time should come and we can't blow out the good teams. I feel sorry for the guy but let's hope his time comes.
I have heard reports that Rudy has said publicly "We can all consider Nachbar our 2003-2004 first round draft pick." Meaning, he will not see any minutes this season, but he will be better prepared for next season. He should have fewer jitters, understand the game better, be used to the travel, etc. Since there are other options at his position, I have no problem with grooming him into the 3 for next year. We need a pure shooter on the team, and that will be his role next year. I'm sure that if Rudy has said all this to the media, then he has most certainly talked to Boki about it. He has always been good at communicating with his players, especially the young ones.
I like my sig! They're damn good/funny quotes (for those who like/play cricket and good sledging/trash talk). I've edited/shortened the quotes as much as possible (or at least attempted to) without loosing the "spirit" and "setting" of them. You're the second person to complain about my sig; first the typeset (changed), now the length (edited)
Rudy knows aomething that we dont. I thing offensively he might be able to contribute but defensively he is suspect. They see him in practice all the time so they must see something in his game that he has to improve before he gets minutes...
