Griffin is truely a young talent with loads of potential, but we may be hyping him up too much expecting too much too soon. He has been playing good D, but he has been really struggling on offense. This is not a good sign, considering that the average talent is equal to NBA scrubs or less. I have a feeling that Griffin might be a project and may need to fine tune his game before he really makes an impact on the team. ------------------ "I would like to live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were ever supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever." -Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss Universe contest
From most accounts, the shots Griffin has been missing are open 20 footers and things like that. The degree of competition has little to do with making open looks from the outside, and the point guard's ability to distribute the ball in the right places. What we need from Griffin is his defense and rebounding, and he is already showing a lot there. The shots should start to fall pretty soon. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
If Griffin is the defensive player that we've heard thus far, I am happy. The Rockets really don't need more scorers. Anything that Griff brings to the table on the offensive side of the ball is icing on the cake. We desperately need his rebounding and quickness defensively if we are going to go to the next level. ------------------ Anger is a weed. Hate is a tree.
dane, i have a feeling that your feeling is wrong. We already have enough scorers as other posters have said, and only in the last game did eddie start to become comfortable. We shouldnt expect him to go crazy like kg, but i think he could seriously come close to averaging a double double if he starts...maybe 10 and 10. probably 2 blocks per also. give him some time...he ONLY played 3 games watch tonight...i bet he'll start stepping it up since the la game ------------------
Dane..>BINGO !!! He is 19 years old, and is not the 2nd coming that everyone says he is, why do you think that everyone was saying this is a deep draft, but that there was no consensus number 1 pick? Because, none of them were ready to be a SERIOUS player in the NBA, this is a draft about the future of the Rockets not the now. That is the point I have been trying to make, don't expect him to play more then 15 minutes or so a game. ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
That is the point I have been trying to make, don't expect him to play more then 15 minutes or so a game. We all know you want to win the bet, but that's almost insane. Griffin 15 minutes per game or under? Come on. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
I'm with Cat on this. I think you can pencil in EG for at least 30 mins a game based on his defense, shot blocking and rebounding alone. If Dream is gone as is being reported by rH then Eddie contributions on the boards and with shot blocking are extreamly important. ------------------
Griffin shows to have serious rebounding and shot blocking in him- I wouldn't put that kind of talent on the bench on a Rocket team that has a point guard as its leading rebounder and the only shot blocker is injured alot and now reportedly leaving. Please don't count Cato as a shot blocker. ------------------
I am talking about the beginning of the year. Rudy is really slow to integrate new players, especially 19 year old rookies. Don't expect him to start right away. This, IMHO, is who I think Rudy will have as starters in game one. PG -Francis SG - Mobley SF - Walt PF - Mo T C -Dream or Cato I think Langhi is the first off the bench as 6th man, and I think Griffen comes off as PF/SF for 15-20 minutes a night. I just don't see a 19 year old kid coming in and contributing MAJOR minutes right away. He isn't ready. BahDakota ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
ummmm...rudy is slow to integrate rookies?? well...i'm thinking sam cassell and robert horry got some good minutes!! I'm thinking Michael Dickerson got some good minutes!! Rudy is slow to play rookies who don't deserve much playing time. That's not the case with Griffin. If you go in the top 10 and you're not starting, something's wrong. Griffin was tabbed as the #1 pick as soon as two weeks before the draft. The Rocks would certainly have picked him #1 if they had the #1 pick. Griffin will get LOTS of playing time...he's their best defensive man in the post, already. If he's not in the starting lineup on opening night I'll be very surprised ------------------
I wouldn't necessarily say we're overhyping him. It's the offseason and we're bored. The Rockets acquired a highly talented guy and we're all drooling at the chance to see him play and shine. ------------------
I also remember a rookie two years ago that we gave the point guard and team reigns to- The Franchise.. a year before that Mobley and Dickerson were in the starting lineup with a Drew backing them up. Rudy will play players who he thinks is ready. Griffin will be ready soon. ------------------ Stevierebel
Summer League is all well and good, but I'm waiting to see what Griffin does in preseason games, that will be key. I know people will say "if he's struggling in the Summer League, what makes you think he'll do better in the NBA preseason against pros", but that is different. Maybe Griffin isn't overly concerned right now and is feeling his way through. It's natural to take a real NBA game, or preseason game more seriously then a Summer League game. And this is the first time Griffin has played basketball since March, and it was against better competition, so it'll take FAR more then 3 games for him to get his timing down. I seriously doubt that he was a great scorer in college and suddenly can't hit an open outside shot because it's the Summer League. ------------------ "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another." - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air
*cough*Cato ------------------ "I'll tell you this, the older I get, the less I trust people. It's true. It's damn true." -- gr8-1 going through some growing pains.
Ok, I really hate it when people talk but really don't know their facts. Griffin is a lottery selection, yes, but Mad Max says if you are drafted in the top 10 you should be starting or something is wrong. What is wrong is your argument.... Last years lottery draft. New Jersey Kenyon Martin Cincinnati -Starter Vancouver Stromile Swift LSU -BENCH L.A. Clippers Darius Miles St. Louis Bench Chicago Marcus Fizer Iowa State -Bench Orlando Mike Miller Florida -Bench Atlanta DerMarr Johnson Cincinnati -Bench Chicago Chris Mihm Texas -Bench Cleveland Jamal Crawford Michigan -Bench Houston Joel Przybilla Minnesota -Bench Orlando Keyon Dooling Missouri -Bench Now Miles and Mihm did get some starts, but they were mostly on the bench. Every NBA draft differs, but when it is as young as this one is, you are drafting for the future. I hate to bring reality to you all, but Griffin will NOT be starting for at least the first half of the year. He is NOT a Francis caliber player, yet. BahDakota ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
Griffin may have been a "great scorer" in college, but he only shot 42.9% from the field. For a big man, that stinks. To expect him to have a good outside shot already is very unrealistic. Also, what does it say about him if he's not taking these games as seriously as he should and doesn't appear "overly concerned" right now? Boy, color me impressed already. ------------------
Grummett, Did you actually watch his games? Just because someone doesn't have a high shooting percentage doesn't mean he can't shoot. He almost had to carry that Seton Hall team by himself, and with that responsibility comes the need to take a lot of tough shots. Griffin has a nice stroke from the perimeter. And who said he wasn't taking it serious? That's just people on this board trying to make excuses for the guy. He's struggling with his outside jumper. So? Has any shooter been hot their entire career? And if he doesn't appear overly concerned, wouldn't that be a judgement based on looks? You don't have to go out and scream to be a successful basketball player. Duncan doesn't become frustrated either, but it doesn't mean he doesn't care or have concerns... ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 16, 2001).]
Considering he's always been known to have a sullen, disinterested look on his face when playing, I wouldn't make too much of it. From what I've heard, he's the first one to congratulate his teammates after a good play. The Rockets didn't draft him for his outside shot. They drafted him for his rebounding and shotblocking. All of us should be patient with his offensive development, but to assume that a player won't be able to effectively contribute defensively, which is something that can be accomplished through sheer effort, makes no sense. New Jersey Kenyon Martin Cincinnati -Starter Vancouver Stromile Swift LSU -BENCH L.A. Clippers Darius Miles St. Louis Bench Chicago Marcus Fizer Iowa State -Bench Orlando Mike Miller Florida -Bench Atlanta DerMarr Johnson Cincinnati -Bench Chicago Chris Mihm Texas -Bench Cleveland Jamal Crawford Michigan -Bench Houston Joel Przybilla Minnesota -Bench Orlando Keyon Dooling Missouri -Bench Most of the players you listed were either raw or had a logjam of players ahead of them at a certain position. I still don't understand why any of you would want him to be our future power forward. At what position do you think he is going to have more physical advantages? Without question, small forward, and if he develops a face up game, he'll be lethal. How exactly are we going to miss Shandon? The only reason you sign Shandon is for depth purposes. Even with the uncertainty offensively of our rookies, I think they can manage to somehow score the 8-10 points that Shandon was responsible for. I don't have anything against Shandon, but it would be better for the Rockets if he left. He would eventually be a 12-15 minutes player getting paid over 4 million per season I think the best small forward in training camp deserves to start the first game. I don't want to see Walt, and his godlike lateral quickness defensively, starting. ------------------ Endtroduction.......... [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited July 16, 2001).]
TPL, This draft was even YOUNGER and more raw....Heck, Griffin is RAW !!!! That is my point, I don't care where he plays, but everyone here is already saying he will be the next superstar. He is only 19....don't expect too much, especially early on in his rookie year. By the way for those who mention Dickerson, Cuttino, Cassell contributing, they were all over 22 years old in their rookie seasons and it is easier for guards to make the jump to the NBA then forwards. BahDakota ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
Just because someone doesn't have a high shooting percentage doesn't mean he can't shoot? Only in your world, Cat. ------------------
