Both of these power forwards were available through trade this past offseason. There were many threads created discussing the pros and cons of acquiring these two guys. I know hindsight is 20/20, but wouldn't either one of these rebounders look good in the Rockets lineup? I thought so! Here are Fortson's numbers so far this season: 15.8 pts/gm, 15.4 reb/gm. Huge numbers out of Fortson, he is a rebounding monster. Here are William's numbers: 8.3 pts/gm, 9.7 reb/gm. Not outstanding numbers, but better than what Mo is putting up. So far this season, Taylor is averaging only 3.6 reb/gm and 11.6 pts/gm. Now, I know Taylor is capable of putting up better numbers than he has shown early this season, but I still can't see why the Rockets didn't try to acquire either Fortson or Williams. Fortson is just plain awesome. Now, I know I am not the only one on this BBS who takes this same stance. What are your thoughts??? ------------------
Ummmm It's not all about numbers...... Mo fits better then either of those two guys, primarily because he can shoot, which forces his man to guard him and opens the lanes. ------------------
ccrow - Didn't think Fortson would be doing that well as he is a little undersized (6'8") for a WConf PF. Prior to the start of the season, he didn't look like anything more than another Kenny Thomas. JYD Williams is another story. I was one of the many posters who felt Williams was a good fit because he didn't need plays run for him to be effective. He got his in the flow of the game. If the Pistons sign Joe Smith, maybe we still have hope!!!! ------------------ GATER
Fortsan is EXACTLY the kind of PF this team needs, someone to go get the ball. We need a banger that can get rebounds and pick up easy baskets on putbacks. Too bad we did not get Fortson. I know it is early, but right now, I would have to let Mo go, he can score alright, but his Defense is terrible, and so is his rebounding. Perhaps in time.... DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from Monkeys and Apes, then why are there still Monkeys and apes?
That's nice to compare Fortson and Williams to Mo, but that begs the question: How do you know that we didn't try to get those guys, but just couldn't? Remember, we aquired Mo without giving up anything. Williams make a little under $3 mil this year and Fortson makes a little under $4 mil, so who would we have had to sacrifice not only to make this work under the cap, but also to make a fair trade for the other teams? ------------------
Damn right we should have went after Jerome. I've been saying all along that he's the perfect type of player for this team. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.
Have you been watching Fortson this year? MAN, he is 1st in the league in rebounds per with 16.3. He has had a double-double in each of his six games so far, and is averaging 16.7 points to boot. He is also shooting a phenomenal 58% from the field. I think all he needed was the right system. Is Houston it? Not sure. If Danny is undersized....then he sure as hell does not play like it. I think he has found his niche with GS. They desperately needed him too! I am not saying I would rather have him than MO right now. I want to give Mo a fair shot. But Fortson is dominating the glass so far. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." [This message has been edited by HOOP-T (edited November 13, 2000).]
Fortson did NOT need "the right system" -- he just needed minutes at his natural position, PF. (Remember, he was behind McDyess in DEN and Antoine Walker in BOS, so he was forced to play C or not at all.) As a firsthand observer, I am sad to report that so far, GS does not have a system. Too many new players/coaches, too many injured PGs. Fortson, though, has flourished because what he does best doesn't depend on who his coaches or teammates are. He gets rebounds, takes the ball back up & gets fouled, and makes his free throws. You could put him on the Rockets tomorrow and he'd do the same thing. ------------------
My opinion all along has been that the Rockets need a player like this IN ADDITION to Mo. This is why I am not that big on the Mo/KT combo. I would ideally want something like a Mo Taylor/Jerome Williams combo. Fortson and Williams just do not fit the offensive system as well as Mo but would be welcome in stretches to provide energy off the bench. The Rockets needed an inside/outside player at the 4 spot and got that in Mo. However, KT's rebounding effort is way too inconsistent for my liking which is why I feel they need a more rough and rugged backup to Mo. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Swopa, I feel for you. I was watching some of the Warriors-Magic game on League Pass last night and was horrified by what I saw. Did you see in the first half where the Magic were pressing full court and the entire Warriors team (Mookie Blaylock included) just left Jamison by himself to attempt to dribble through the press. They did this THREE straight times and turned it over all three times. I thought the Warriors would be improved this yr, but the coaching staff is doing a pitiful job from what I have seen. This is why I am trying to get the point across to Rockets fans that we are in a good re-building situation and there is WAY too much overreacting going on. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
MManal ... trust me, it looked worse from Sec. 217, Row 1. But I wouldn't suggest overreacting to that any more than you would to the Rockets' ups and downs. This is what rebuilding means: teams and players using regular-season games to learn things they haven't mastered. Which means mistakes, and also losses. Yeah, both Antawn and Cowens have decided he's going to learn to be a ballhandler. Looks ugly so far, but last year everyone said he couldn't shoot from outside, and this year he's done that quite well. Cowens' biggest mistake was spending so much preseason time trying to install a fast-break offense and full-court press (both of which have mostly vanished now) rather than working on half-court execution. So the half-court offense & defense are still in training camp mode. But take a look at the NBA Dish thread on "Is Jamison unhappy?" and you'll see that a week ago, they hadn't even put in any plays for Antawn. So progress is being made. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Swopa (edited November 13, 2000).]
I'll pass on Jerome Williams, because he does not appear to be strong enough to assert his presence against legit starting power forwards. Fortson is another story. I've seen a bit of him on my newly acquired League Pass, and like I've said before, he's playing like a man among boys. There's not a power forward in these league he can't impress his will upon in the paint. Only thing is his O doesn't provide the spacing the Rockets' current offense requires from one of its post players. We already have Cato in the frontcourt, so Fortson would hinder Francis and Mobley's drives. I honestly don't know if there is a perfect fit for the Rockets at the 4 outside of a Dreamcasted Webber. If Mo T can just step up and average the 8 rebounds a game the Rockets need from him, I should be happy with him as our power forward. ------------------
I wanted Fortson all along and I knew he would be among the top rebounders.He can provide something we really need thats 2nd chance points on offense exactly what Charles gave us!He may not be the tallest PF but he is among the strongest and he can hold his own believe me. I still think we havent seen the best from Mo,he has been in foul trouble all year long. He will get more rebounds and we all know he can score because that hasent been a problem! Give him a chance!!!Start complaining if his rebounding average is this low by the all-star break! ------------------
