I am sure many of you saw the Rox/Celtic game on NBA-TV where they used the Boston announcers Tom Heinsohn and Bob Cousy. Bob Cousy was taken with Stromile Swift. He asked Heinsohn what he thought of SS and Heinsohn said SS did a lot of damage when he was with the Grizz anytime they played the Celtics. At the end of the game SS made a running layup and Cousy said "Well if the guy isn't a serial killer, Boston ought to discuss trading for him. I thought I was watching a different game because I didn't see what Cousy saw that he was so taken with. But if Bob Cousy said the kid has talent who I am to argue, maybe we should start the kid, because I can't stand the team the way they are playing.
Aside from rebounding, that was a pretty good game from Swift. Swift isn't just some guy who can jump out the gym with long arms. He actually has good ball skills, a soft touch, he made a pass in the lane that was really nice, as well as those vicious dunks. I mean the guy isn't just some athletic freak. The problem is consistency.
That was my thought. Cousy and Heinshon were such mentally tough disciplined players that even just that remark really floors me.
Cousy also said that he liked Swift more than Yao, which is an argument in favor of senility in my book. But the fact is that Stromile was the ONLY Rocket to put forth any consistent effort. He had steals, he had rebounds, he had dunks. And he did all that with a flourish. In fact, I was beginning to wonder during the second half why we were freezing out Swift. Just like last year with Yao, there were many instances where we could (and should) have passed it to Stromile in the post. But we didn't. We need to find a role for him in the offense, and it's easier to do that with him starting (although I love what JHo brings to the team in the way of an outside shot, rebounding effort, and knowing how to play within the system). Too often Stromile is just floating around. I wonder if that's because he doesn't pay attention in practice to figure out what he's supposed to be doing at any given point in time, or I wonder if it's because Van Gundy doesn't draw up any plays for him.
I can't believe anybody is taking what Cousy says seriously. Not sure if he is that great of an evaluator of talent. Cousy has got to qualify as one of the worst homer announcers ever. stromile is talented and I won't deny that, but I wouldn't get excited about a comment from Cousy. Sort of like getting excited about trade rumors from Chad Ford...
The tempo of yesterday’s game was definitely more suited to Swift’s game than the previous 5. The offense was more free flowing and not quite as rigid. With Yao on the bench for most of the game, the paint was not as congested as it usually is. Swift’s the type of player that needs good spacing. He needs open lanes, since offensive attack primarily involves him using his quickness to blow by defenders and get to the basket. There are very few big men in the league that he can’t drive past.
Unlike Chad Ford, Cousy is a bona fide legend of the game and he has done everything there is to be done in the game. Hall of Fame, college coach, pro coach, broadcaster, recruiter and scout. He is a homer and he does bleed Celtic green but I have take it seriously when he says something nice about opposing teams players.
I think Swift had a dominant game last year against the Celtics and both of them had that in the back of their mind. MemphisX, help me out.
Chad Ford may have been a little extreme... But, I know Cousy was a great player and has accomplished many things, but after yesterday broadcasting does not seem to be one of his specialties and his analysis of players leaves much to be desired. Maybe at one time he could and maybe he still can, but after yesterday's peformance, I don't see it. If you followed the game yesterday for a good while there, Cousy thought that Stromile was just another one of those slow bigs. He didn't start gushing until he realized that Stromile had quickness and hops. I think the revelation that Stromile wasn't slow changed his opinion about him more than anything. Constantly he was taking apart our player's games showing what he thought were weaknesses when they were actually player's strengths. For the first time ever I heard Yao being described as playing a physical game -- boy, do I wish he did. Just because someone is respected, or has done things in the past, it does not mean their opinion is valid. Michael Jordan was a great player, but he never was a great evaluator of talent.
They lay into Yao every time we play, and lay into most of the rockets, but kudo Swift. It was strange. Cause swift played well, but not exceptional.
Those two announcers are morons. They don't watch Rockets games enough and then they make stupid comments on us. They kept saying Rox was too slow, but the fact is their crazy 3-pters won them the game. To these announcers you have to say "shut your hole unless you know what you are talking about".
Those two guys KNOW basketball; if anyone knows basketball, they do. Swift is a conundrum. He has MAD athletic skills, boat loads of potential, and when you see the few flashes of brillance he shows you per game, you can't help but get excited about him. His lostness, his inconsistency, his slow reactions at time (he almost freezes), are inexplicable. I think he needs a sports psychologist before we do.
Bob Cousy is a senile old fart with brain structure resembling that of Jello. Either that or he isnt doing his homework and earning a free paycheck. I noticed him complaining about Yao's speed and athleticsm. This coming from a guy who played in an era when Air Jordan would have have meant taking a DC-7 to Jordan. Cmon Cousy! You, of all people should appreciate Yao's fundamentally sound, team oriented, and old skool game. Very few minutes later he starts comparing Yao to Wilt. Talk about conflicting opinions.
It is so easy to talk about someone that you have never seen play; he was the "Michael Jordan" of his era, a Hall of Famer, a member of the legendary Boston team that at the time almost no one could beat. If he was senile I doubt he would be on the broadcast team. You may not agree with him, but that is no basis to disrespect him as a person.
