okay, a lot of people talking like they're experts on Piatkowski...maybe, maybe not. first of all, how expert could most of you be he played for the friggin clippers for the past 8 years!!! honestly, how many clipper games have any of you really sat through? (i hope for your sakes, not many ). so...going on the assumption that the only times you saw pike play were when he played the rockets and the few times he was on sportscenter...i will give you his m/o. first of all, you don't know what it's like playing on the clippers. a lot of people are acting like that was a good thing for him, like he could do whatever he wanted because they were so bad and the games didn't matter. quite the contrary, every game was like 5th grade recess -- playing with 4 ball hogs and he's the one guy who never got the ball. for his entire career he played with selfish point guards. last year was supposed to be a big breakthrough for him b/c he was playing with andre miller, but apparently miller came down with clipperitis and decided to drive to the cup every time and never, ever kick it out. Pike the player okay, the comparisons to Matt Bullard, Dell Curry are laughable. actually, they're insulting to Pike. seriously, it'll take 1 reg. season game before you laugh at that Matt Bullard comparison. Pike has a complete offensive game, he doesn't just shoot. Pike drives to the hoop a lot, he gets a ton of 3 pt plays. in fact i rate him well above Glen Rice, b/c from what I've seen of GR, he only stands at the perimeter at this stage of his career. not to mention pike's a much better team player (no attitude). anyway, pike has an assortment of skills: best 3 pt shooter in the league, best FT shooter in the league, above average passer, above average ball handler (for his size, 6'7''), above average rebounder (for a 2 guard). i will say that the criticism of pike's defense is fair, to an extent. but just think: if he was that awful at defense, he wouldn't be in the league anymore. there's a reason he's still around, and there's a reason the Rocket's picked him up. thanks for the vine...good luck this season. late
One more thing. Apparently, he posts on this bbs in 3rd person. ima_drummer2k hates it when people do that. BTW, welcome to Houston, pike.
Any deficiencies Pike might have on defense will hopefully be masked by JVG's new Rockets TEAM defense. I think Pike will thrive as a spark off the bench for the Rockets. Don't be surprised if Pike is the guy throwing passes into the post to Yao with Pike available for the 3ptr if his man doubles down.
LGA! That's a great report for a 1st post. However if you've raised our hopes for the up coming season to the rafters only to be dashed because you're wrong, you will be deader than Q & U Hussein!!
wow, you guys take no prisoners on this board ... listen, Kobe Bryant he is not, i just think it's so funny that everyone thinks Piatkowski is this slow white dude that just stands on the 3 pt line all day. players like that don't survive in this league anymore, if you hadn't noticed. pike is a very complete player with an assortment of offensive abilities. and with the right coach (hopefully, will be Montgomery Burns aka JVG), he can kill the opposition by exploiting defensive vulnerabilities: e.g. (1.) when defense collapses on Yao and (2.) when stevie f beats his man off dribble and draws help defense. 3 things Pike has NEVER had in his career: 1. a good point guard. 2. a center who drew consistent double teams. 3. a coach who had a clue. here's hoping he has all three with the Rockets...
Thanks for the heads-up, pike. I've wanted him for a long time... I was one of those who hoped he would be part of a Brand trade. (what a fantasy that was!) Welcome to the BBS.
if you really are pike, i would like to give you some advice: shave your head before you loose even more hair
Heh, get used to that. A lot of people here are mad because we haven't found a way to bring in Duncan, Garnett and TMac and are predicting an 0-82 season next year. IMO, Pike is the zone-buster this team needs to keep the defense honest and make teams think twice about doubling Yao. I have visions of Yao recognizing the double team and whipping the rock out to a wide open Pike many many times.
J, if you think JVG is going to stand for SF not doing as he's told...you're delusional. Francis has shown towards the end of last season that he can change his style of play...and I will almost guarantee that it will change more this year. pike... thanks for the info...feel free to stick around and enjoy the board...it isnt always as bad as it looks right now.. now thats what a noob should post like...
If you want us to not form our opinions on a few games we have seen of Pike against the Rockets, then perhaps you shouldn't give us your opinion on Rice based on a few games you have watched. I can tell you that Rice does much more than stand at the three point line. He is probably our 3rd best post player behind Mo Taylor and Yao Ming. He has excellent post moves.
Pike is not 6'7", he is listed at 6'6" by the NBA but is closer to 6'4". He is primarily a shooter, but is also very good at getting the defense off balance. He is a poor passer, and is not a great finisher. He is a very smart player and will play hard.
Thanks for the report Pike and welcome to the board. One of your first lessons...when you use the above phrase in here, it should be: maybe, maybe no. Thanks for signing with the Rockets and please remind our guards to "pass it to the really tall guy" and tell Mooch there's no 30 dribble requirement before initiating a play.
Actually, one of the things (hey, actually the only thing) that has impressed me about Glen Rice is his attitude, which has been good. He hasn't looked to shirk responsibility, and has apparently been good in the dressing room.
