Are you serious? Dampier, for all his faults (and they are numerous indeed), at least could play the center position. His problem is that he's slow and has no true offensive game. Miller is (yet) another version of Matt Bullard or David Andersen - a soft jumpshooting PF. If Adelman is thinking about playing him at the high post with Yao, you will them have 2 big men on the floor who cannot defend the pick-and-roll. I can see CP3 now dunking on the both of them. Yes, he sucks, he's slow as well and going downhill fast but the reality (there's that word again) of their (Rox) situation was that he was basically what was available on the scrap heap and Adelman was familiar with him so he gets the nod over Dampier. However, if next season, he's playing more than 10-12 minutes a game, then they aren't going anywhere but back to the NBA lotto.
But that's been Uncle Les' plan all along: blame the coach for your organization's mistakes. If this team falls flat next season or winds back up in the NBA lotto, it will be Adelman who will pay the price just like JVG and Rudy T did before him.
I hope you're not trying to criticize Les for this? And Rudy left for health reasons - I know that was the PR line, but when he could only finish half a season with the Lakers a few years later, it became pretty obvious it was more than just PR.
Miller is better than Dampier. Miller is a hard worker, plays tough, and is a very good FT shooter. He can also space the floor very well and can play from the high post. Lowry should really benefit from Miller's presence on the floor, as it frees up the lane for him. Dampier will only serve to get in the way when trying to keep up with the 2nd unit. He is also a dismal FT shooter. I think of Dampier as a rich man's Dorsey.
I believe that Rudy T basically fell on his sword for the Rockets' front office miscues (SF3, Moochie, Mo T & EG). Rather than address the problems in the front office, Les shoots the head coach. Then, he hires JVG - a coach who runs a defense-first, slow-it-down, half court offense but neither Les nor anyone else in the organization appear to know this as they didn't look at any film on his NYK teams. So when JVG attempts to implement his "uglyball" system here with the mish-mash roster put together by CD, it doesn't work (what a surprise) and Les shows him the door because he had made the Houston Rockets a boring team to watch. And now, it's RA's turn on the hot seat (or the frying pan whichever methaphor you choose). I think Adelman had better get them to the 2nd round of the playoffs or else he's a goner as well.
If you are relying on your backup center to make the difference, then yes, back to the lotto. Of course, the team is relying on Yao being healthy. DD
Here's my take: Miller is clearly on the downhill leg of his career. Dampier is all that you say and less but he at least is a center in how he plays. I see Miller as more of a 4 and a soft one at that but compared to Dampier, he at least can put the ball in the hole. Both players are slow and pretty bad at rebounding for guys their size. And both are suspect at defending the PnR due to their lack of speed and lateral movement. Miller works harder than Dampier (who clearly gives up as the game goes on) but that in an of itself, doesn't necessarily make him more effective. Clearly, the nod went to Miller because Adelman knows and likes him and I can understand that but this move was one to address a mistake made by Morey last season when he didn't address the backup center position. Miller can step in and spell Yao as they try to ease him back into the grind so this move makes sense in that respect but the money they gave him was way too much.
Don't know who JVA is, but Van Gundy lost to Utah despite having the best 2 players on the floor and Rudy T's teams missed the playoffs like 5 straight seasons. I loved them both as coaches, but sometimes it's time to shake things up. Les Alexander has been an unbelievably great owner for the Rockets, but I suppose you're free to call him "Uncle Les" if you want.
There's nothing soft about Brad Miller. He may not be the best defender, but he gets inside and mixes it up, and he plays a little dirty.
This is ridiculous. Have you ever actually watched Brad Miller play or are you just projecting your theory of what he is based on his skin color and the fact that he played in Sacramento? Miller is a tough player. Any area of his game that is lacking is due to talent, not effort or willpower. He plays hard and he grinds on the court. He was popular in Indiana and Sacramento during his time there because of his effort level. He is also an able defender.
Not to mention Rudy T was the guy who discovered Miller, when he put him on the National team that finished 3rd in the Worlds with a collection of former college players and other amatuers. It jump started Miller's pro career, so it is only natural that Miller end up a Rocket. DD
Trust me Hill, by the end of the season you will be love this move. By acquiring Miller, this team won't miss a beat when the season starts. It will take other teams a little while to work in their new acquisitions. Basically, this was one of the Rockets best moves in recent years. Besides, how many 20+ point games does Dampier have?
If Rudy fell on his sword, why was he unable to coach a full season two years later? It got repeated here a lot that Rudy was forced out and perfectly healthy.. and then a few years down the road he couldn't even make it half a season with the Lakers. I think it's time for us to stop blaming Les for "forcing" Rudy out -- he's clearly had some major health issues. JVG was let go because he repeatedly failed to get out of the first round. I doubt Les cares if it's boring as long as it wins. It's not like we had a successful coach who just had boring teams so we fired him -- JVG failed to get the job done, plain and simple. I'm not sure what you're expecting of Les -- fire the owner? That's not an option and I'd never want someone else to run our organization. Les has consistently not been afraid to swing for the fences in trades and as a fan I appreciate that. After 3-5 years of mediocrity, you would have kept JVG as your head coach? I thought JVG was a fine coach.. but I think Adelman is a better one. I have no problem with the Rockets letting go of JVG as long as they got Adelman. I love Rick and I hope he works out a longer extension -- I think he's a great coach and one of those coaches who should almost never be fired. Rick has done the best job with what he's had to work with, even getting us into the 2nd round without McGrady. Maybe you're right and suddenly he will become on the hot seat -- but I'm hoping Morey & Alexander are smarter than that.
My posts may have given the impression that I preferred Dampier. That is far from the truth - I mean I watched Mav games just to snicker at Dampier stealing Mark Cuban's money. I actually have lukewarm feelings for both. The Miller signing was understandable given his relationship with Adelman but do I for one second believe that this makes them competitive with the likes of LA? Absolutely not. Actually I think this Miller signing says more about Jordan Hill's viability as a backup center than anything about Dampier.
Now that is a stupid thing to say. Please show where in my posts I have referenced Miller's skin color as a means of disliking him. His signing may not excite me but that's not because he's white but rather because I am simply not fond of him as a player or of his game nor do I believe that his signing doesn't do much to improve their (Rockets') fortunes in the West.
Other then wishing for an unrealistic trade to get a young cheap stud center like Marc Gasol, this was the best option out there IMO. Yeah Miller is a bit overpaid, but we had a glaring hole to fill. There were no magic trick Morey could have pulled out of the hat for the backup C spot, just bite the bullet and hope Miller has 2 good years left in him.
