Many of those games we were buried by 3 pters. We had the worst 3 pt defense in the league. On the other hand, our points in the paint often doubled our opponents'. I think our problem in perimeter defense was obvious. EDIT: In the 10 game period when Cato was out, we had an edge of 9.2 more points in the point
Well besides the fact that we were one of the shortest team in the league, 1-3, the Rocket's defense is designed to stop inside play and make teams beat you from the outside, sometimes teams did just that.
Anyone who says we need a back up center more than a starting PG has obviously never played organized basketball. You will not find during the entire course of the season, a single coach, on any team, sending out a squad of five without a ball handler on the floor. Do you know how easy it is to press a guy who isn't a ball handler? You will however see hundreds of times during the season when a coach will send his players out onto the floor without a true center. Not only do coaches like to go small sometimes, but it really isn't exactly crucial on every play to have two or three more inches when you can make up for it with hustle and speed, case in point Ben Wallace. Now this isn't to say that we shouldn't try to get a back up center, but our PG situation is at this moment the critical issue that the front office is looking to fix. Lue isn't that bad, but he can't play the whole game, and really isn't that great. We need someone at least as good as Lue to share the bringing the ball up the court so we don't lead the league in turnovers. You don't just get to be the point guard because you are the shortest guy on the floor. NBA point guards can dribble circles around the rest of the league.
You're right Mon Ami, But what's left for PGs in free-agency is crap. When Derrick Fisher and Skip To My Lou get big contracts.. That's not good. That's like California wine costing as much as Champagne, non?
Fair enough about the free agents recieving ridiculous contracts. That is why I am glad we didn't get DFish. But I there are some PG's out there who could be had for the TE, or for a second rounder or such. Steve Blake would be my choice. Mike James would be fine. We absolutely must have one more ball handler however on this team.
I don't think anyone here who wants us to get a strong inside player is saying we don't need a good ball handler at the point, we just traded a point guard who could lead the league in turnovers. We do need two point guards who will take care of the ball and get it over the time line, get the offense (Yao and TMac) going before 15 sec are dribbled off the clock, and can hit an open shot. But don't think it isn't just as important to get someone who can give 10-15 minutes in the post, rebound and defend. Cato was a perfect backup center, not a good starting 4 , but a very good back up center. Most of us have played ball and we know what a turnover prone PG does to your offense and what a "finesse" post player does to your interior defense and rebounding. If it was about going small Scott Paggett can be Yao 's back up. (Yikes, I hope that is not the game plan)
Agree. With the exception of Antonio Daniels, I too prefer Blake to any of the point guards being discussed. I also feel that Gaines is an even better choice in the long haul than Blake, and we already have Gaines. However, fans and foes of Gaines must give him at least half a season to become accustomed to what JVG wants and needs in a PG. But, the same can be said for Blake. Daniels, and even James and Jones, at least have experience running the show so they will be a better fix in the very short haul. That said, I would be very happy if we could acquire Blake, who at 6-3 has decent height for PG and has the court savvy to go with it. Regretably, I don't think Washington will part with him.
