Ron didn't work...he was HORRIBLE until Tmac went down...just as I said he would be.... Now, clearly he was better than Donte Green last year, but at the end of the day, I think the team blew it long term by not trading Ron at the deadline. DD
There might not have been any good offers. I know you wanted Mike Miller and he was someone who could space the floor better, but his defense is weak and in my opinion he isn't good enough.
Ron's defense was pretty bad too, he couldn't stay in front of anyone in the playoffs.... He is physical, but that is about it, his footspeed is gone. DD
It's so true. Ron's defense is terrible in many cases. His footspeed is gone. He can't focus as Battier. Thus Battier is better than Ron. But probably Ron's bothered by injure last season.
I don't know what people have against this deal... unless they are really thinking McGrady would come back to elite level. Right now, it seems clear that teams think of him not as "TMac" but "TMac's Expiring Contract." Whatever faults Stoudamire has, they didn't prevent him from being a elite level efficient scoring machine, and at least a halfway decent rebounder, on a winning team.
Artest shut down LeBron really well during our games against Cleveland. Its just that Ron sometimes gambled too much on defense and hence let a few guys drive straight past him when he gambled for the steal. In the playoffs he had a couple of key steals that changed the momentum of the game and put in a solid defensive effort overall. Its just Battier is better against jump shooting types like Kobe while Ron is better against more physical players such as LeBron. Hence Battier did a lot of guarding Kobe. Remember in that OT game in Nov in Portland? Ron came up with that key steal at the end of Regular Time to force OT on Brandon Roy. Ron's defense may not be as good as he was back in 2004 when he was voted DPOY...it is still top-notch...only downside is his inefficient shooting and poor shot selection. Who could we have traded Ron for??? Vince Carter??? I think NJ wanted much more than just Ron. Apparently they wanted Battier too and Morey wasn't willing to pull the trigger. Ron is still a top defender by any standard
It is a good deal for us. What a better one can you get if someone does not like this one? Generally, we just give up Brooks, and get someone to return. We know that Tmac is likely not going to play in Houston again, I do not like to get a rookie by trading Tmac away.
I think the better one is using Tmac's saving salary to pay lux tax and sign Gotart or Resheed to backup Yao.
I would keep Battier and trade TMac and do a sign and trade for Ron..... Or if you keep Ron it has to be at around the MLE level and I doubt he will be happy there...... Regarding Amare, here are my primary issues for it. If it is Tmac and Brooks. 1. We are fairly strong at PF already 2. We are trading our starting PG - who is blossoming 3. Amare moves Scola to bench, and it is a contract year for him, we probably lose him next year. 4. Amare will want a big contract extension - not sure we should give him one 5. It does not address our primary weakness, which is a creating wing. 6. It brings in another prima donna player whom has been whining about his role and doesn't rebound or play defense. Personally, I would rather have Vince Carter, Rip Hamilton, Corey Maggette, or any other wing that can score over a malcontented, injury prone PF, that has attitude problems already. DD
But Ron got us over the hump. He helped us win the first round. His play wasn't great and he's not as good on D as he used to be, but I feel his drive helped push players like Yao and Scola and Brooks. In the past, Tmac would play great in the playoffs and we'd lose. I'd take Ron playing okay and winning. Plus, if we'd traded Ron for Miller then that's likely a loss to the Blazers. Ron played well in game 1 and crushed them in game 6. We lose game 6 and then it's back to Portland in game 7. Ron played great against LA in the first three games, likely being a big contributor to our game 1 win. He fell off a bit after that. I'll trade Artest if it helps our team, but Miller's not the guy.
Agree, Ron is the perfect defender for big stong guys like Lebron and Carmelo, Battier is perfect for Kobe and Roy. DD has become a malcontent in the garm.
LOL - I would build the team differently, that is all.....it is all a matter of opinion, I can't help it if I am right. DD
I have followed the rockets for years. Finally, I saw some hope from the last playoffs. But, sadly, it last so short!
Not too sure why aye....before I really liked DD's ideas and seemed to agree with him on everything...like trading for Corey Maggette and campaigning for a legit PG, to things like trading Rafer and things like that. But, whats up with not wanting to trade Aaron Brooks so much??? He is going to be the next Damon Stoudamire, and thats not that much to lose considering what we can get back. And Amare??? Man how can we get our hands on Amare!!! I think people must be insane to reject Amare!!!
What is your obsession with Corey Maggette? I do agree in general though. Amare is an exceptional talent and I am not against having him, I just don't think he solves the team's problems. Now, if that is only one move we are making and then we move Landry for a 1st round pick that nets us a PG, I'm all for it. But, I'd still think we'd need a wing player to win a title.
