Recap of CD Interview on 740 AM (interesting tidbits)

i just think that's how he talks. he's always boring

i didn't expect any major roster moves other than resigning posey. I think Van Gundy will see what he can do with the roster the way it is. I know a lot of people hate 3/4 of the team but there is some real talent and with the right coach some of these players can live up to their potential.

 

Sweet!

I can see it now....

JVG concocting a magic potion that will somehow motivate unmotivated players and generate a healthy portion of team chemistry.

In other news...... Every other NBA Western Confrence team makes a significant move to improve their team....



I dont know about you guys, but this isnt good news to me. Of course it could be smoke and mirrors of what is really going on.

 

the rockets need an outside shooter or 2, other than that i like what we have

 

Yao, Francis, Mobley, Posey are 4 solid starters and are only going to get better.

 

I believe that JVG will improve the team and will get more out of our players than Rudy did. Still, it seems like moves can be made, but nothing is happening. Well, I suppose if folks like Kevin Ollie can command 3 mil per year for 5 years, I guess standing pat is better than making a bad move.

My best hope is that we somehow swing a Mobley for Odom move, but I really don't see that happening.

 

All set at 3 and 4, I guess he will not go and get Tmo.

 

how about motivating unmotivated GMs? ugh, Rileydog had it right.. it does sound depressing

 

I really don't see the half empty glass....

Francis and Mobley are among the very best guard tandems in the league.

A year older and more developed, Griffin will obviously be better. MT healthy from day one will obviously be better.

Yao Ming with a full season and more rest, with his "rookie" season behind him, will be better. Cato proved that he can be a very capable back up.

Posey will be here. With a healthy from day one Rice as a backup this isn't that bad of a combo either.

Hawkins will be here. Count on the marketable Moochie. Boki will stick. Add your favorite filler league minimum player.

Shake well and trade right before the deadline if necessary.

Welcome to the luxury tax and the haves and have nots...

 

1. Mobley and Francis may be two of the most talented guards in the NBA, but at the same time, their boneheaded nature has proven time and again that they are definetely NOT suited to play together.

2. That may even be the case, but how much better is enough? Unless Griffin suddenly became Stoudemire overnight, we would be overmatched at the 4 almost every night, and most importantly without the bruiser we need to protect Yao, as has been said time and again too... and Mo, who is a soft player, certainly is not the guy, even if healthy. Put him next to Ben Wallace and you have a frontcourt. Mo is not the right guy to play with Yao.

3. The one point we are in agreement.

4. Let's hope he will stay indeed. A healthy Rice? You've got to be kidding me.

5. Hawkins is a suitable backup. The marketable Moochie is just that, a bobblehead and a disaster waiting to happen. Summer league has proven that our expectations about Boki should be lowered.

We don't have a player that can hit an outside shot consistently, and therefore, we fail to take advantage of Yao fully.

We have three basic needs. Denying them is folly.

- An enforcer at the 4: Brian Grant or Kurt Thomas, for example.

- A true PG or at least one who is more confortable with the role: Eric Snow or Jamal Crawford.

- A designated shooter to make defenses pay for double teaming Yao: Pike.

Guess that's just about it...

 

How do you think the Rich get Richer! Thats how business works. The owners of Portland and Dallas dont treat it like a business. They are so wealthy that they just entertain themselves like playing a game or going to Vegas.

 

We've only seen them play together under one coach and his ISO guard oriented offensive "plan". We've seen 3 years where the #1 offensive play is to have 4 players stand around while Steve or Cat tries to take his man (or in some cases MEN) off the dribble.

I'm not totally discounting your point, when it's all said and done you may be right. I'm just saying IMO the jury is still out on Steve and Cat playing together. Let's see what happens now that we have a coach that actually runs a few PLAYS....not to mention a much improved center, what's his name again?

 

Point taken, though my doubts remain.

What about the 4?

 

I reiterate:

1. We lack a true PF who can crash the boards.
2. Moochie Norris sucks as a backup PG.
3. Steve Francis is better suited at the 2.
4. We have a morass at SF.
5. Our SG has never seen a shot he did not like.
6. This team does not listen to instruction well (harp on Rudy all you want but it's not his fault that EG's skull is so thick, or so smoke filled, that instead of crashing the boards as told, he jackas up 3's).
7. CD's bad habit of handing out huge multi-year contracts to marginal talent has hamstrung this team's ability to pursue significant FA talent.

His statement that we're solid at the 3 & 4 is moronic.

CD should have been out w/ Rudy.

 

I don't think this is accurate. The tax for each season is calculated at the end of the season once the revenue numbers are in. Until I see otherwise, the tax number you are reporting only effects 2002-2003 salaries/revenue. Thus, the Rockets did not get tax, since we fell below the number. Thus, the worries of the tax triggering (which it did) effected the signing of Rashard Lewis last year, not Posey this year.

At this point, you can only estimate the tax threshold for 2003-2004 salaries/revenues.

What CD is likely saying is that we will be in tax country should the tax trigger again for 2003-2004....and all indications are that it won't.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty confident of this, despite members of the media reporting that new salaries are immediately taxable.

Look at it this way, the 76ers were not deterred whatsoever by the tax in their signing of Kenny.

 

Rice is just that. He is healthy enough for that 20 minute role behind posey. Posey will be here...

Give Griffin and MT a chance to flank Yao again. They will definitely both be better this year than last. The teamwork between Yao and Griffin seemed to be developing before Yao hit the wall...

Francis and Cat should also get at least until the trade deadline to try it again with Yao and under a new coach and scheme.

 

As far as I know, the rockets are the most tight lipped organization in the league. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a significant trade or FA negociation going on right now right under our noses.
On a side note, w/ Rices expirering contract, hopefully the rockets are gonna stay pat to make a serious move for Kevin Garnett next summer.