Dear Les, It would be prudent to have your legal and financial team review this. Brand and Piatkowki are restricted FA's this coming summer and resigning both at their expected market value will mean paying the Luxury Tax which you are on record as stating you don't want to do. May I further remind you that regardless of whether these players are on the Clippers or Rockets roster next summer, market value for these players will make a Sign and Trade impossible without a third under the cap team as both players (surely Brand) will become Base Year Compensation players. Thanks, A Concerned but Informed CC.net Member
I'm glad someone pointed this out. Cuttino's defense really isn't that bad. In fact, against the top 3-5 SG's in the league I think he is holding them well below their averages(according to the Jazz announcers).
Thanks, Gater, Will Do... now can I interest you in a Tofu burger and some carrot fries? When is it again that I will have "the best team ever assembled"? Rudy promissed me I did, but I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Oops...know what they say, it's lonely at the top. Best Regards, Les
Of course CD will say "we love our players." Trades being unlikely, it's best to stroke up the team and put the players at ease. If something happens, CD can say, "Well, we love Cat, but we felt this was a good move...." But you know that. Just mentioning it.
Your damn right he reads it... I hope the CAT does too... He knows he's not up to par right now and hopefully this trade talk will bring out the best...err worst in him...
You're missing my point. My point is that Clutch confirmed that Aldridge did not say "Mobley Being Shopped" like the thread title said. I am trying to remind this thread that Feigen already reported and confirmed that Dawson is answering the phone, and that Griffin was mentioned by name as someone other teams we calling about, and said they were fielding calls on all their young players--not mentioning Mobley by name. That is a far cry from shopping, and given Clutch denies Aldridge said that, I think the thread title is misleading and that Aldridge is merely scooping Jonathan Feigen's artile....where Feigen all but says that we are getting calls about Mobley, but that it is not unusual.
Nikestrad: Holy crap... I didn't realize Mobley's 3pt percentage had declined that much. Since I get to watch the Rockets more these days... I've followed the stats a little less closely than usual. Still, I'd maintain that Mobley has a good 3 point shot... and simply shoots too often when he shouldn't. If you can get him to play within the system and just take the 3's that he's given... I think that % would skyrocket. Concerning Eddie Jones... I'd rather have him than Mobley. But the salaries, on that issue, are prohibitive.
haven, I don't agree. Cuttino really has no excuse to not have a higher 3pt %. He *IS* missing wide open ones. He doesn't seem to be using his legs like he did last year. His success shooting 40% (versus his 36% career) last year was attributed to a noticeable difference in his shot; he would shoot his threes as slow and deliberate as his free throws. I thought it was an identical shot to his FTs with barely a jump. That said, until 3 games ago, his 2pt % was the best of his career, and overall FG% was too, and right there with Steve's. Freeze-framing Cat at these numbers is probably just for bantar (trade bantar, really), as he's too wide open for that to continue. Still, with Yao, he is getting easier shots than anytime since his rookie year, and I'm disappointed that he isn't shooting at least 45%.
I don't think it is an issue of shot selection. Mobley's non-3 shooting is fine and if anything he had to take tougher 3s the last 2 years than he does now. Something either physical (not having legs for the long range bombs) and/or his confidence in shooting it has faultered. Mobley's career 3 average is just as good as Steve's--something else is up for why Mobley is as far off this year as he is.
I agree, in a sense, with this part of your statement. I think Posey would be more comfortable at the 2 in Houston, but I'm not sure that he'd be a better fit than Cat in that position. It seems Posey's not your prototypical Rockets 3. And I think he'd fair pretty well against most 2's in the league. However, if Glen Rice were ever to come back, I think he'd fit the 3 mold quite well. If Rice could ever play again, I wouldn't mind seeing Rice take the 3, Posey start at the 2, and Mobley becomming the best 6th man in the league. But then again, Posey might be a better 6th man than Mobley.
I am still yet to see why many think Posey is better suited than Cat for starting at the 2. The guy is just not a great shooter, and that is the # 1 reason for our latest miseries. We are in desperate need of shooters, or at least scorers. And that is not Posey's game. I like Posey, but over the Cat at the 2. And honestly, people are going a little too ga ga over Posey's game. He gets no blame for his latest slump that he is in, while Cat gets blastered. Posey has had one decent game in the last 6 i think. His D wasnt even too good against Utah the first game. And its not like Cat doesnt play D or cant run the break. That doesnt mean that Posey is not a good player, cause he is. I love him at the 3. I think he compliments Steve and Cat's game <b> combined </b>, but i dont think he needs to replace one of them. The only way i would start Posey at 2 would be if Cat is part of some huge blockbuster deal(Brand or Grant and Jones).
Posey is a 3. He has stated that he was not used to playing the 2, and I don't think he would make a very good 2. He's a slasher, not a guy who is going to come off picks and hit shots. He is perfect for the small forward role, no sense in moving him!
What did he play in Denver? How of his games have you watched over the years? People forget he did it all for Xavier (inside, outside, spot-up, off-picks, etc.). Even Rudy called him a natural 2-Guard.
I am glad someone brought up this point. I thought I was the only person that noticed a difference in Cat's shot behind the line. He has definitely picked up some bad habits. It doesn't seem like he is trying very hard at it. Reminds me of Brent Berry a little.
What this team needs is consistency. You don't get consistency through trades. I think this team just needs to find themselves. Hopefully they will do that starting tomorrow. With that being said, if the Spurs get jason Kidd in the offseason, would it be possible for the Rockets to get Tony Parker ? I like Parker's game, and I think he could compliment Steve Francis in the backcourt. But I would still rather keep this team as is, let Nachbar develop and see where Steve and Yao can take the Rockets.
Consistency comes from leadership, not redundancy. What we need is a leader who will then demand consistency. Oh, and btw, that leader is not Rudy.
Lets see: According to Rockets-R-Us, Rudy is not consistent. If anybody has seen Ming play, he definitely is not consistent. That leaves Steve, who has been pretty consistent. But oh wait, didnt Rockets-R-Us just completely start a thread bashing Steve and the comments he made also???? Hey, what gives???
Steve has been pretty consistent all year long. He has been amongst the top five in turnovers all year long. He usually makes a bonehead play every quarter. I think you are right?
I thought this was a Mobley [or anti-Mobley thread]. Why bring Rudy into the picture. Ahah! Perhaps trying to build support for your anti-Rudy petition? Now, that's leadership.
