Hakeem is one of the top centers in the NBA. Granted he is not the Dream of old, but at least defensively he is one of the best in the League. So why isn't he on the floor at the end of the game? We got lucky against Golden State that Jamison couldn't hit a shot, but the Nuggets had nothing but layups down the stretch because our center was Matt Bullard. If we aren't going to use him, trade him to someone who is. There are times when I think Rudy is possibly the greatest coach of all time, and times when I just don't understand. I know Francis had played a huge game tonight, but he was hobbling and Cuttino had just converted on the last possession. Also, it seemed to me like Cuttino should've passed to Walt in the last second instead of shooting, did I see that wrong. When he started that fadeaway I just got so mad, Walt was wide open for a dunk. Oh well, we blew our best chance the possession before. ------------------
sorry i disagree. itz not time to trade hakeem. bullard was in there cuz we were down and he provides offense. i wish hakeem wouldve been in there but he wasnt. get over it. itz not time to trade a legend just cuz of 2 games he didnt play in crunch time. ------------------ --TEX
My point was we need to use him, not we need to trade him. I was just saying why keep him if we're not going to use him. ------------------
NewGuy, in case you haven't been paying attention the past few months, Hakeem is making <font size="6">$16 million dollars</font> $16 million!! A team would have to give up at LEAST three players in order to trade for a 37 year old center making $16 million...Plus, there is still some uncertainty as to whether Hakeem will play after this year There is no way Hakeem is getting traded this year....zero...zilch...nada...mainly because no General Manager is STUPID enough to trade for a player that he'll be able to sign for a lot less after the season is over... wait a minute...stupid Genreal Managers?? Somebody get the bulls on the phone... ------------------ If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!!
Thank you!!!! If we had lost the GS game it would have been Rudy's fault. Up by 15 with 6 minutes to go and who does Rudy bring in Bullard, and Walt along with Mobley, Moochie and KT, i.e. Zero defense. Of course Jamison gets hot because Bullard is "guarding" him and before you know it the score is tied, i mean what the hell is going on, why are our two best defensive players always on the bench late in the fourth quarter. Maybe Hakkem is on the trading block and he doesn't want him to get hurt. ------------------
If only Shandon had been in to guard Van Exel in the fourth quarter. No, that responsibility belonged to the team's worst defenders in Steve and Cuttino. Also, Bullard is hardly a shot-altering presence in the paint. Once again, Rudy's strange 4th quarter lineup killed the Rockets. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
Please read what I'm saying. The point is that we need to use him, I didn't mean we should actually trade him. ------------------
I don't understand why we aren't using Hakeem more. Once he comes out in the second half he usually never goes back in. Defense wins the big games. Not having 5 guys out there who can shoot 3's. It will be fun to see the San Antonio game because we will have to use Hakeem more. Duncan and Robinson would punk Bul and KT.
Don't count on Hakeem being in during the fourth quarter in the Spur game. I'm sure Rudy will still go with the third string lineup he loves so much. Mo, Hakeem, and Anderson will probably have 20 points each after three quarters. The Rockets will probably lead by five after three, and then go on to lose by 15 when Rudy goes with his favorite lineup. Tim Duncan's ppg average is going to go up by about 5 points when he's through with the Rockets. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
And the thing is, it's not like Hakeem clogs up the middle. He can hit that midrange baseline jumper. In fact, if the D's going to collapse anyway, I'd rather have Hakeem shoot a midrange shot than Bullard a 3. And with Bullard, the 3-ball is his only threat. If Dream's man collapses, Hakeem can go to the basket to get a layup or stay out for the jumper. It just makes no sense ------------------
NewGuy: Hakeem doesn't clog the middle if you don't post him very much... which seems to be exactly what he's demanding (doh!). ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
If Rudy asked him whether he'd rather sit on the bench during the fourth quarter or get a couple touches down low but spend most of the time shooting from the baseline on shots Stevie creates, I think I know which he'd choose ------------------
Clog up the middle . I believe it was the Indiana game where Stevie drove to the basket and dished it out to Dream, who hit the jumper to take the game to overtime. I can understand why Dream is pissed and it's probably only a matter of time before Shandon and Mo say something. ------------------
Yeh, if we're not careful, we'll lose Dream, Mo, and Shandon and have only two top twenty #1 picks (ours, Milwaukee) to replace them. Well, it shouldn't be that dire. But Steve and Cat could afford to share their love with others. ------------------
If newguy doesnt want to say it, I have no problem saying we should get something for Hakeem before the deadline. When we had the chance to trade him to Toronto in the 99 Draft, I didn't want to because he has done so much for the Rockets and it was important to him that he play his entire career in a Rockets uniform. But now, there are distracting comments each week about where he wants to play next year. It would be wisest to get something in return if he is only going to end up leaving next year.
It is going to be incredibly difficult to move Hakeem by the trading deadline b/c his salary is so large. The last thing the Rockets want to do is pickup a bunch of cap deadweight. What I think could be possible is Hakeem deciding he wants to play elsewhere and the Rockets signing and trading him in the offseason. This way, he could go to a team he chooses even if they lack cap room as long as the Rockets see a young player they like on that roster to make an exchange. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
