Hakeem clearly implies he'll play elsewhere next year

Bob* is right. Hakeem is right. The problem is just not with Hakeem, but Mo and Kenny as well.

What I would like the Rockets to do is first establish a low post presence early in the game and then move to the guard play. Or vice versa, get the guards hitting the outside shots, and then let Hakeem and Co. maul the opposition inside. Small game plans such as these, will make it only easier for the guards to walk it in to the rim, and open them up for plays.

This is not a problem with Hakeem, but with the system. Even if we had Chris Webber or Rasheed Wallace come here, we will have the same problem. Even though I have bashed MoT and still do, part of the blame lies with our guard play, that leaves him uninvolved in the offense.

I look at the play of the top teams in the NBA today, like Sacramento, Portland and the Lakers, its not hard to miss that their guard play and inside game complements each other. Its not quite obvious that when either of these three teams set up their offense, whether it would be an inside move or a guard play - and thats I think the recipe for success.

With Houston, and Philly for that matter, we know where the ball is coming from, and it is almost a guarantee that if the opposition can play tough perimeter defense and make them miss the outside shot, the rockets/sixers are going to lose. I even see Seattle making much of the same mistakes that we are griping about, and we know where that team is.

With the Rockets, its more like the ball is dropped to Hakeem and Co. when Francis and Mobley need a break.

But with saying the above, let me also add that Hakeem needs to realise he is not the Hakeem of old, and moving to another team, would only expose him further, as it has with Ewing. I want Hakeem to stay here for years to come, even if it just 15 mpg...I love the guy, his game and everything. Keep him I say!!!



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I think Hakeem really wants to do what is best for the Rockets. He obviously thinks that him being more involved in the offense would be better for the team. Whether that's true or not is still in question...we haven't really seen enough of him being involved to make an educated judgment on this. Now, if the Rockets don't agree that Hakeem being more involved would help, then Hakeem seems to be all for going to another team (either via trade or free agency). Then the Rockets could perhaps get some player(s) that would fit better into this scheme and Hakeem would be able to go someplace where he feels he is actually contributing. It's a win-win, right?

Personally, I think we should keep Dream and also involve him more in the offense. However, if we choose not to involve him more, then we need to go ahead and trade him (as much as it pains me to say that). Otherwise we'd be hurting the team and Hakeem.

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So, do you really think Vancouver will trade Swift as long as we take Reeves off their hands.

Answer to the cap question: You can never purge contracted years of salary...you can swap them in trades. You can release players, but you cannot release salaries.

Thus, we would be stuck with Reeves salary throughout its contract years.

 

Wasn't this board filled with "All we do is dump it down to the post" posts not so long ago?

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

Thanks HP I figured as much,as for Vancouver's willingness to part with Swift if we took Big Country's Contract who knows but it depends on whether or not they think he can handle Bigger stronger power forwards I personally think he could in college but not in the pros where I think he's better suited for Small Forward and with SAR in Vancouver that ain't gonna happen.Let us not forget they would be gaining 16 million in cap space next year,the inclusion of a pick by us could be the difference.As for Hakeem resigning with them next year for the vet's minimum or a little more I'd say the chances are pretty good which case they would still gain 6 to 8 million.

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Mitch Meluskey...The real Slim Shady

 

I think Jeff brings up an interesting point when he points out that there used to be a lot of posts complaining about how all we do is throw the ball into Hakeem. Now there's a lot of the opposite reaction: all we do is iso and don't give the ball to Hakeem enough. Shouldn't there be some sort of happy median? Is it that hard to incorporate a low post offense with everything else we're trying to do offensively? I'm pretty sure that other teams have accomplished this and I don't see any good reason why the Rockets can't.

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the "happy medium" is a motion offense that we are seeing rolled out in phases.

If Hakeem cannot make that adjustment to more high post and to pick n pass, and he truly is complaining, then I defer to Will's statement above....here's the door.

Jeff's statement is so true. What else is true is we Rockets fans have trouble envisioning a "happy medium", because we've never seen one for over a decade. They exist. But, can Hakeem exist in one is the question.

[This message has been edited by heypartner (edited December 05, 2000).]

 

It sounds as if Dream's comments were totally a joke... so his comments don't make me furious, just interested. When you also recognize that Dream has to put up w/ a punk pg that gets 4tos a game, I also give him the benefit of the doubt. I stood by Chuck when he was frustrated w/ Steve last year, and I'll certainly be patient w/ Dream as well.

Which of you guys wants to watch Dream going out like the retiring teacher this last year vs. going out like a beast? Imagine Dream dominating the eastern conference. Screw the Rockets right now. Just imagine Dream going to any po team in the East. That team is automatically in the eastern conference finals. I'll bet cash on it. I also want to watch it... Dream deserves it.

Now back to the Rockets...

Dream to the Knicks? Houston comes to his team namesake? Is Camby quick enough for the 4 spot? Pardon me while I drool.

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Senior GOP strategists say privately that a key reason the Bush campaign did not ask for a statewide recount was it feared that Gore would pick up more votes than Bush, because of the high rate of ballot spoilage in black precincts. - MSNBC.

 

Well, I've just finished watching the game against the Mavs. Not once in the entire 4th quarter did I see Hakeem in there,even with Bullard with 4,then 5 fouls. Whats up with that??
Was he really affected by the "bronchitis"?

While I do believe the comments made by Dream are with tongue firmly planted in cheek, I can see how he could get a little frustrated by not being in during CrunchTime..He was playing pretty good during the rest of the game. I definitely DONT want to see him playing in any other uni!!!

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Give It To Moochie!

[This message has been edited by Rockets2K (edited December 05, 2000).]

 

Ewing was a 7-foot jump-shooter on a team that was optimized for uptempo play. He still thought of himself as 'the man'... is he now, one trade later?
For good or for bad, the only element missing is CB4 telling him to quit crying the last time he complained about not getting looks to the press. Oh, and let's not forget 'tree-weasel 22' to go to the press and crack on CB4 for telling Dream to can it.
One thing is for sure- the team in its current iteration is all sizzle and no steak. Guard play is not the key to success unless you're unguardable and wear 23. We all b****ed on high for years b/c the rocks lacked a true point- crying with loaves of bread tucked securely under our arms. But nobody else had anybody that could hold Dream's jock. Now there's a true point but the big fella has no arch on his shot and doesn't move well enough without the ball these days to take advantage of the quick reflexes and instincts of Mr. Francis (or Buh-wheat Norris, for that matter) The best hope for that lies with Kelvin Boardhands, that is, if he can soften his grip a bit to handle the quick pass.
In short, Dream will have to go elsewhere to get the touches he's looking for because he will still get mugged by the doubleteam at the end of the game, with no call... I think the organization is fully aware of that. They'll continue to take their chances out on the perimeter.

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It takes a lot of brains to enjoy satire, humor and wit- but none to be offended by them.

 

Will: Simply outstanding as usual!

The thing I kept thinking when I first read the story was, "How in the hell could you gripe?" All this summer when everyone was discussing Hakeem's health, the Rockets said, "We just want him to be healthy. Whenever he wants to retire is fine by us. No pressure."

This in the face of a HUGE contract and mostly young players on the roster that really didn't fit Olajuwon's game. They could've asked him to retire. They could have cut him or forced him out. They could have traded him. But, instead, they chose to pay him the respect he was due.

The least he could do is the same. Really, the least he could do is live up to his statement that Rudy could play him any way he saw fit.

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

I don't think sticking to your contract is something that can be called loyal, it is something all players and teams do, so don't say crap like:

"This in the face of a HUGE contract and mostly young players on the roster that really didn't fit Olajuwon's game. They could've asked him to retire. They could have cut him or forced him out. They could have traded him. But, instead, they chose to pay him the respect he was due."

because honoring a contract doen't mean a thing. If the Rockets told Hakeem to retire they would lose the respect of the rest of the NBA so they wouldn't do that either. They didn't do anything special for Hakeem. In fact they treated him badly by not trading him and instead having him sit on the bench when the game is on the line and giving him the touches he deserves.

Its amazing how many people can go from loving a guy to hating so quickly. You all loved him in 95, you all loved him last year even though he was injured and didn't play as well as expected, but when the man opens his mouth to say he just wants to do what best for the team and that he wants the ball more so he can contribute you hate him all of a sudden. I guess we all know who the real Hakeem fans are. You never really respected the man but now you on't respect the game either.

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I've got another wild idea. If the team doctors think he has or will recover fully, we trade Dream to Miami for Mourning & throw in whatever pieces it takes to make it work. That way, Miami can make a title run this year & go after Webber next year. We get ZO & have answered our younger center questions.

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i can't believe no one has mentioned this trade senerio...if they have, i have not seen it. i just checked it out on realgm and it was accepted after dec 15th. Olajuwan and mo-tay for Garnett straight up! yes it was accepted on realgm. if Hakeem wants out for real...i would not hesistate for a second, but only if he really wants out, period. we still have Collier/Cato/Rodgers Garrnett/KT and so forth... any thoughts???



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cynthia don't go!!! i miss you already

 

Betrayed is when your girlfriend cheats on you. Disappointed is when you fail an exam. So maybe y'all should back off on the emotion a little. It's his job, his life and only our entertainment.

I personally wouldn't be happy with the situation if Dream went elsewhere, but I'd still root for him (unless it's against the rockets).

Too many of y'all have this Barlkliesh kind of attitude when it comes to the dealings of basketball that there is only one right way to handle yourself for every situation. In a sense, that is admirable, but on the other hand it isn't always true. So Dream went to the press. I know, I know, he shouldn't of done that. So what? Big freakin deal. It just gave something interesting to read. I'm calling it now that this "ordeal" will be forgotten about in a month. I think he was just venting.

And just in case I'm wrong, here's a little something i cooked up during my I don't want to study for finals so I'll waste time on realgm time:

NY gets: Dream, Webber, Nick Anderson
Sac gets: Allan Houston, Mo Tay, Luc Longley
Atl gets: Camby, Cato, Childs
Hou gets: Rice, Mutombo

Trade approved after 12/15, and boy what a big one this would be. Common, talk it out to yourself. This thing would be beneficial for all involved more or less, if the right things fall into place. Maybe Web will hire Faulk as his agent.

Also, I'm not in the school of thought that you need a good offensive PF to neutralize your opponents good PF. I think you need a good defensive PF to neutralize the other PF, and simply collectively score more points as a team to win. Unless the Rocks get Webber this off season (which they won't), then they will always have a dissadvantage offensively at the PF in relation to any other playoff team in the west. So I say to hell with Mo and make that trade if there is one going to be made. Mt Tumbo will definetly help ignite fast breaks and when Rice is on, he's a damn good asset to a team.

 

intersting trade senerio, but,...i'm pretty sure Rudy wants no part of a Glen Rice trade with houston. we already turned that down a million times when he was with LA.



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cynthia don't go!!! i miss you already