OK. My mistake. I thought Yao went down during the Golden State game but it was the Jazz gamae which Yao actually played 8 minutes. But the point is still the same. The guy can still score when asked to score and he does it reasonalby efficient. He has more than just 15 foot jump shot.
It's not those numbers that are the problem. After all, when Yao and TMac are out, somebody has to get some shots up and score some points. The problem is that Howard's +/- and the team's +/- numbers with him on the court with Yao are TERRIBLE. Howard is the only teammate playing significant minutes that has a negative +/- set in combination with Yao. Every other player has a positive +/- in combination with Yao. The reason is obvious: 1. Howard CANNOT guard anybody and let's all sorts of penetration get into Yao and forces Yao into foul trouble. 2. Howard is not an offensive threat except from 17 feet away. When he is in the game, every team in the NBA is going to double off him and onto Yao with the PF, therefore Yao is working against two big men, wearing him down quicker, and getting him far less touches, while Juwan fires away with that 43% clothesline missle jump shot that bounces out long when he is off and simply IGNITES the opposing team's fast break. 3. Howard cannot rebound or keep his man off the glass. Therefore, the board war turns in favor of the opponent when he is playing alongside Yao. And the possession differential climbs in the opponents favor. Fewer possessions, fewer shots, fewer points, while allowing the opponents more opportunities. 4. Howard cannot move around to defend out to the 3 point line. Teams notoriously go small against us because they know if they drag both Howard and Yao outside the block, they can run circles around them like bees in a beehive. They bring their center out high and then they spot up their 4 man at the arc. The backdoor is left wide open constantly for cutters/slashers and there is no way for anybody to help Yao on smalls. Yao gets exposed as the opponents run at him with 6 foot midgets. And the second Howard starts cheating, because he has to cheat, he's too slow to do anything else, they have their pick of the 3 ball or the dribble drive/back door cut. What Howard's statistics are when Yao and TMac are out of the game is totally meaningless. Because obviously we are just running up and down hoping and praying that somehow our opponent screws up and gives us a shot at a W and doesn't run us out the gym. You wanna pay a dude $6 million + to be such a negative on the floor with Yao and Tracy that he turns the whole team's +/- numbers negative? If we keep running him out there 30+ mpg, we might as well go ahead and trade Yao at least. Trade Yao for Iverson and Iguodala and let Howard play center. Because center is the only speed that Juwan can play at and have any effectiveness. What do you think he is playing most of the time when Yao and McGrady are out? Once again, Juwan on the floor with Yao is simply TERRIBLE.
I live in indiana now, Stephen jackson is a cancer in the locker room. All i hear on the sports radio that stephen jackson and jamal tinsley are bad locker room guys. just say no to stephen jackson. He also makes too many mistakes and likes to hog the ball
I am not sure if this was suggested but this is how I Would finish the roster. Two things; definitely trade Howard and waive Ryan Bowen, there is absolutley no justification. Luther Head is expendable- but I will do it only if it makes sense. Here is what I think would help and is REALISTIC. Sure I would love Bonzi- but I know that is a pipe dream unless we get the TE out of Atlanta- and frankly I dont see Les Alexander stomaching that! Here is a more realistic solution Get Jeff Foster from the pacers ( I am not sure how the TE stuff works but I think if we add cash we should get him). Foster is pretty quick for a big man- he will serve mutiple roles- as PF or Center, when Deke Retires- he just has a 3 year contract. We get younger! We then trade Juwan For Darius Miles- I know, I know- but get me Bonzi or any other contributer in Basket Ball terms! Sign Jumain Jones ( from what is left of MLE) IF we trade Luther- I think we should- let us get Pat Carrol in for a 2-3 year low cost deal or Let us get a Shooter like Frahm. If you look at Foster- He brings good rebounding- close to 10 rebounds with 25 minutes playing time. If minutes increase( and he only takes 5 shots now)- he will increase offensive output. So what was once a glaring weakness- now is plugged nicely- Battier, Foster and Hayes and if it comes to guarding Dirk like talent- we use Miles or Tmac for size. We also add two more offensive weapons. This will give us amazing depth, defensive capacity and shooting. Sure I understand Darius Miles- has issues- but in an environment where we have JVG ( he tamed Latrell!) , Tracy, Shane- it will be hard for him to screw up. Hope you guys remember Rasheed when he was a Blazer! Say what you want, he is a good player, with size- let him compete with Snyder, these days SF's and SG's are interchangeable!
You know how many blocked shots he had in the months of: Nov-2 Dec-1 Jan-3 Feb-2 April-0 May-0 Thats pathetic. His feet are glued to the ground. With the combination of Howard and Yao the rockets automatically have the slowest frontline in basketball.
This may be totally off subject...do you think the we could gain any positives from a Hedo-Juwan trade. He may not be able guard the bulkier PF's in the league but is quick enough to guard the smaller PF's, unlike Juwan wh ocan't do either. Hedo shoots 39% from the 3-point line and would help space the floor. Orlando has him at the SF spot ahead of Hill and Ariza, they may be interested in moving him. The only thing is can we convince them of a 4 spot of Howard and Howard. I know it's unlikely, but i just want an opinion...
For comparison, Battier's blocks per month: Nov-21 Dec-22 Jan-18 Feb-21 April-16 Much beter. Shane in, Juwan out.
