He has played 20 games since returning from injury (correct me if I got that wrong). In any case plenty of time to get adjusted physically. I think its emotional. When he went down, we still had Yao hopes. We still had deep playoff aspirations. He was the starting PG. He comes back, and has yet to regain his starting job. His team has no Yao. And the Rockets as a playoff contender are becoming more irrelevant every week. I can sorta see how AB's perspective has taken a bad turn south. Not to mention that his payoff contract happens to occur with the CBA expiring and his value down. Its like someone turned a switch while he was healing. The circumstances around him are quite different after 49 games then they were before his injury. OK. He should get over all this and play. Fine. He should. Perhaps he wants to but just cant shake all this stuff inside off. Perhaps im just making excuses for him. But everything has its reasons. And just because they are pointed out, doesnt mean I agree that they should be taking the toll that they obviously are.
I don't think we should brag about losing a game 7 in the smi-finals. If the rockets had gasol right now this team would be a trade away from contending for the championship and we have lowery to run the point more efficient then Brooks.
Sun Yue would have been awesome, that guy should be in the NBA. The Lakers never gave him a chance but he always looks legit with the Chinese national team.
I'm as frustrated as the next guy with AB's performance this year,he's been garbage, but this is ridiculous to even question. I'm not sure if the OP was trying to defend Brooks, or say he was a bad pick. The only other good player drafted behind him was Marc Gasol, and Gasol is hardly some major difference maker. With all of these Memphis players that are so popular on this board, you would figure them to be better than a .500 team. AB was the leading scorer in the only playoff series win in 14 years. So yes it was clearly the right pick.
Everyone keeps saying that without Brooks, the Rockets would not have taken the Lakers to a Game 7. However they forget that if the Rockets drafted Marc Gasol instead, then the Lakers do not get Pau Gasol and they might not have even been in the 2nd round of the playoffs. So sure the Rockets might not have taken the Lakers to a game 7. Instead they might have beaten a different team in the 2nd round.
In 83 I would have drafted Clyde Drexler instead of Rodney McRay! Still bitter about that one. But in 2007 I would have drafted AB with the 1st round draft pick no question. Hindsight is 20/20 but I would have tried to buy another second round pick for Gasol or I would have spent the Landry pick on Gasol.
Brooks was a much better pick than people thought at the time, I'm perfectly fine the Rockets drafted him. Knowing what I know, I'd have to say Gasol. I think it's much more difficult to find a quality big than anything else.
I pick Marc Gasol for two reasons. 1.He is the best player in that list and we need a C like him. 2.Maybe it would affect the Pau-Kwame deal, anything that is bad for LA is a good thing to me.
Hindsight is always 20/20 But I only see 1 or maybe 2 players I would have taken over him (Landry doesn't count since we ended up with him anyway) Splinter (maybe) and Gasol. Thats it. Face it, Brooks was very productive for his draft position regardless of how he is playing now. He is a good player, even though he is now the New McGrady.
The Grizzlies weren't trading for Marc. Marc was a complete unknown at the time. They traded for Kwame, because Memphis is stupid. So that wouldn't have made a difference.
With the current situation, Marc Gasol. With Yao playing, will stick with AB. Paraphrasing the poll question: on hindsight, how many GM do you think will draft AB instead of the 25 early picks instead?
I WOULD HAVE TO ARGUE AARON, GLEN "BIG BABY" DAVIS OR MARC GASOL...BUT BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THIS TEAM OR THIS ORGANIZATION KEEPS THINKING YAO IS STILL GOING TO COME BACK AN AVERAGE AMAZING POINTS WE DIDNT THINK ABOUT GETTING A FUTURE CENTER...I WATCH THE ROCKETS GAMES AND DONT GET ME WRONG I AM A HUGE FAN SO THATS WHY I KILLS ME TO SEE THEM LOOSE CONSTANTLY AND NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT...NOW I DONT KNOW IF ITS MOREY PISSING ME OFF OR ADELMAN BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A CHANGE HAS TO BE MADE SOON ONLY PEOPLE I WOULD MAKE UNTOUCHABLES ON THIS TEAM WOULD BE LOWRY WHO IS PLAYING GREAT, SCOLA OR PATTERSON...EVERYBODY ELSE CAN GO.
Disrespect Hakeem, fine, but don't question any fan here about how they choose to follow the Rockets. You're the biggest hypocrite here...
