He was not a "scrub." He was waiting in the wings....He was a BACKUP to John Stockton. He got the minutes because Stockton retired. And now he's a young player that has shown promise with more responsibility. And if you've seen him play, you'll understand how good he is and how good he will become. He only had 28 minutes because Sloan was trying to figure out if he could run the team. He shared minutes with Lopez. Both of them getting more responsibility as the season went on. He'll have more minute next year, and he will improve. Because he's smart and knows what to expect.
Well, since we are talking about Barry and Arroyo...I see "smart passer(s) who can prey on double teams." Both are great picks. It also depends on how we are to use McGrady/Yao. I hope that it's not just a bunch of star ISOs like Rudy used to do with Francis/Yao/MoT. That's a waste of time. We need some ball movement and activity. We need PLAYERS MOVING without the ball. We need Yao/Mcgrady and Howard to set picks for our PG and SF. This type of play is perfect for either player. "True PG" seems like a "narrow" term considering that we're talking about Arroyo and Barry. Both are very good passers coming off picks and both can spot the open man. It's not like we are compromising because they happen to have "true PG" skills. That's what we want. I think it's been too long since the Rockets had a PG that had "true PG" skills (Lucas, Cassell). You will be surprised how much a benefit it will be. Forget about just having a PG that is a "sudo-spotup shooter" only. We don't need that. We need the complete PG. What's frustrating, is that I want Barry for now (age)...but Arroyo (or Hinrich) later (youth). Grrrrr....
In my mind though, if we need a playmaker we go with Eric Snow. He can hit midrange jumpers off of screens and is a better passer or defender than either Barry or Arroyo. We could have him without giving up the TE or the MLE. But when I say we don't need a playmaker, I mean we don't need someone to run the offense, when the offense is running through Yao and Tracy. We just need someone that can hit the shots that those two create, and move without the ball. If we need a player than can move the ball without making mistakes, while hitting open threes with consistency, we go with Barry. It would be nice to have a PG who can score, dish, and D up, and that may be Arroyo. But Barry's a proven commodity and it looks like we have the better chance of signing him.
Well, that's what frustrating. Barry seems to have the total package right NOW (he's experienced, can shoot the lights out, can PASS creatively). But he's older. Not sure how many more years (2-3) he has. Arroyo is young and improving. So, his FG% from outside should increase (smart players usually do). Plus he has the same type of passing skills that Barry has; very accurate and creative. It's a question of now or later...heh. I guess the best pick (likely) would be Barry. Because Houston seem to have the best offer on the table right now. Arroyo is up in the air. Not sure where he wants to go. It would be a another story if we had offered him the most money. But Barry seem to be the front runner. I'll tell you what. Lets get Barry for 1-2 years, and then try for Hinrich in 2006!
Just my humble opinion, but we've already got the later. Keep an eye on Gaines. Same height as Barry and also a combo style Guard like Barry.
WELL NOW hes not a scrub, what difference does it makes, if hes really playing well now, and also look for hes minutes too.
Someone has to get them the ball in the right place at the right time. Wouldn't that be the definition of a playmaker? Someone who can make plays with smart passes and can hit the open shot?
That happens at the begining of the season. Please check the minutes that he logged in at the end of the season when Jazz tried to push for a playoff spot. Carlos has never been Jerry Solan's favorite.
Read carefully - I said until last year, trouble is he still hasn't 'broken out' and is a risky proposition. He might turn out great, he also might not. Sloan did not even play him as the clear starter with just 28 minutes last season. We are lucky to have some known starters out there for the taking.
It doesn't take a playmaker to do that. It just takes someone who knows how to pass without turning the ball over and is willing to be the third option on offense. In my mind, a playmaker is someone who creates shots for others. We don't need someone to do that with Yao and T-Mac, IMO. They should be the ones doing most of the creating.
You guys aren't following me. The ball is brought up court and immediately swung around the perimeter and dumped into Yao, or given to Tracy in an isolation. Once the ball gets to one of those guys, they create the plays. Barry, JJ, and Howard or Mo finish the plays by hitting open jumpers that were created for them by the stars, or by getting layups off of a cut to the basket. We don't need another player to attract a double team and kick it out to the open man. We already have two. We need someone to be that open man that the ball is kicked out to.
Well, in defense of the "young prospect"... We're not after "great." That's what McGrady and Yao are for. What we do need is a player that has all the necessary tools, intelligence and fundamentals to perform in a 3rd tier role: a solid PG that can run the team. That also could be BARRY. Not just Arroyo. As far 28 minutes. So, you don't think he can play 30 next year and 35 the following year? That's what strength and conditioning training is for. I wish you would just watch him play. Because it's obvious you've seen little of his game. That, or you can't see what we see. I mean, we can say "risky proposition" about any player for that matter. The "risk proposition" you talk about should be in relation to a soild starter, not a "make-or-break" super-star player like McGrady. We'll have options later in the FA market. So, the "risk" you talk about has to be on par to the position/role we are trying to fill. I mean, I'm not sure what you are trying to suggest. That we should "never" pick up a player that is young, shows promise, but hasn't achieved greatness yet? What? Should we wait 5 more years, THEN PICK HIM UP? That's picking up a player, AFTER THE FACT. That's why we have scouts. They analyze players BEFORE they become good/great basedon current assessments. Because if you wait until after they are good/great. Then they become *too hot a commodity* and you can't afford them because of their progression and timing of the trade. Think of it like this. A Scouts job is to find those "diamonds in the rough."
Here is the big problem with choosing Carlos Arroyo. He's a restricted free agent. That means if you sign him to a mid level exception, you might have to wait 15 days to see if the Jazz decides to keep him. By that time, there might not be any quality free agent point guards left. Brent Barry on the other hand is an outright free agent. Whoever made the point about Arroyo being Stockton's backup in 2002-2003 is wrong. Mark Jackson was the backup. Arroyo only appeared in 44 games and averaged 6.5 MPG. This year was his one and only successful season with playing time. But once again, the big problem lies with Arroyo being a restricted free agent, and the Jazz having plent of money to spend.
Ooops! I stand corrected. But that besides the point... My reply was in reference that Arroyo was some kind of "scrub" and didn't get playing time becaue he "sucked" or something. Not true. In relation to the Jazz, he never had a chance to play because he was behind two HOFers. Not because he didn't know how to play. Just a note. He was not drafted by the NBA. He played in Spain 2001-2002. He was playing garbage minutes in Toronto and Denver on 10-day contracts. He was finally signed to a one-year contract in late 2002 by the Jazz. The following year he signed another one-year contract w/the Jazz (behind Stockton/Jackson). It wasn't until 2003-04 that he got a chance to get substantial minutes.
I reading a little more about Arroyo. I don't know if I want him on our team. Besides the biggest issue of him being a restricted free agent, he might be carry a lot of baggage. Flunking out of school and punching out a team manager....Sounds like Eddie Griffin redux. I'm voting to stay away from bad character guys.
