Wahad and Avery Johnson are playing behind All-Stars and were not recently signed by the Mavs. The Mavs didn't even want them, they were garbage thrown in to get Nick Van Exel out of Denver. In the scenario we're talking about, Taylor would be playing behind Gooden and Griffin. Two guys who haven't even proven they are good NBA players yet. I don't think that comparison works very well. Taylor hasn't even played yet since signing a big contract, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. Yes, he's ALLEGEDLY 70 lbs overweight, but that doesn't mean anything. We have to wait and see how he does actually playing basketball. So, of course, in the beginning Rudy is going to give him a chance to play and give him the benefit of the doubt over a rookie or Griffin. If we just bench Taylor we have a guy who just sits on the bench taking up valuable cap space while not improving his trade value one iota. Obviously, if Taylor is a total bust and Griffin or Gooden prove that they are both better, and Taylor doesn't seem to be improving, then yes, Rudy eventually will have to bench Taylor. But Gooden's not going to be very effective next season just like 90% of rookies. He's way too skinny. And Eddie will have to show quite a bit of improvement next season. I don't see Taylor being benched in the near future.
Yes, if Rudy has sense he will play the most deserving player, but it's only going to happen over time. Its not like Rudy's going to see Eddie play a better game than Taylor and then quickly throw in the towel and move Taylor to the bench. He must give Taylor a fair shot to prove what he can do. And by a fair shot, I mean at least a full season of playing time. The Rockets spent too much money on him to put him on the bench.
inSane as usual your argument is, I dunno, let's say not right. For one thing you put to much emphasis on position. Its more about match ups than what this player or that player wants. Cato is the only center worthy of playing time on this team so Mo or EG will be spending time playing center. I'm sure there will be times when KT, Mo and EG are all on the floor at once. How many good players in the NBA actually only play one position? I don’t care if you call them a 3,4 or 5 this team needs more big athletic players if it wants to compete in the west. There just aren’t many real centers around any more. I would rather have another good PF than another Collier. About KT....Are you telling me that if he develops a consistent outside shot he wouldn’t be a good SF? If he improves as much this summer as he did last summer he will be a very important player for this team.
Our biggest need is at center and we may not pick this high again over the next five years. With two picks in the top 15 and the depth at SF, I would take Curits Borchardt. First he is a 7footer, blocks shots, has low post moves, has range on his jump shot and is active. He has consistently held that top 7 position. We had three centers on our roster last year and I cannot see why he cannot be our third this year. It is not like he is a Jason Jennings and he is much better than Jason Collins and Jason Collier. It would be great if Cato comes back like a monster but if not then we will need a more productive center, also notwithstanding the fact that EG and MoT could play the five spot. When I look at next year draft, I do not see centers. To address the SF need at #15, Bachnar or Jefferies should be available. Yes they may not be Dunleavy or Woods but they are expected to be very good in this league. Remember folks they are coming to an already very talented team.
http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/bostjannachbar.htm Remember guys we have all kinds of people who can play SF on our team, so it cannot hurt adding a guy like this at #15.
How does Borchardt compare to Chris Mihm? For some reason they seem similar to me, except Mihm was considered much more of a prospect than Borchardt. If the best he can do for us is give the same production that Mihm does for the Cavs, he is nowhere near the fifth pick. And is it true that Borchardt only weighs 230 pounds? Yikes!!! The prospect of taking Borchardt with the fifth pick doesn't excite me at all, and here's why: Reeves, Mihm, Ostertag, Pryzbilla, Doleac, Parks, Bradley, Montross, Longley. Most of these guys were lottery picks over the last decade. What does Borchardt have that these other failures don't? In fact, Borchardt wasn't even as good as most of those players in college. Here's a question. Name one caucasian center drafted within the last twelve years who you would say is even worth a top ten pick, much less a top five? I can think of two possibles: Brad Miller and Raef Lafrentz. And I'm not saying that Curtis is going to suck just because he's white. I just don't see any difference between him and all the other busts, who just so happend to also be white centers.
It's funny you mention that Gooden's skinny- so is Pau Gasol and he made quite an impact last year. A frontcourt of Griffen and Gooden would definitely grow into a good combination. I'm not suggesting either is ready to start yet, and that's why Kenny is still important. But I don't know why you want to pass on a potential superstar just because you paid a guy who averages 5.5 rebs $48 million.
Yeah, but the Grizzlies didn't have three quality soft/skinny/undersized power forwards already when they drafted Pau. But about Maurice's contract, that's not why I want to pass on Gooden. The main reason I want to pass on him is because we have a more pressing need at small forward. You know, a lot of people think Woods, Butler, and Dunleavy could be stars too. I might be a little more receptive to him if he was a strong, powerful big man, but he's not. How many finesse big men do we get before it starts to become redundant? I would be okay with another power forward if it was an animal like Chris Wilcox, but not Gooden. Lastly, I don't foresee Gooden being very succesful as a center in the NBA. I mean if people are debating whether a player should be a small forward or a center, I think that's a problem. That mean's they don't think either position is really right for him.
Drew Gooden is not a SF or a C, he is a power forward. He is a hard working fundamentaly sound player with a frame that can handle 30 to 40 more pounds easily. He likes to play under the basket and is a demon on the glass. For the record Wilcox didn't dominate Gooden, Maryland used several players against Gooden. Marylands primary defensive goal was to stop Gooden, and he was double teamed regularly. Gooden posted double doubles almost every game all season. How many double doubles did Wilcox have? The Big 12 conference was much more competitive than the ACC last season and Gooden dominated. Wilcox might be better than Gooden some day but he is NOT better now.
Exactly! We need a SF and a Center, not another power forward. Yes, this is true. But I distinctly remember when Gooden tried to post up Wilcox he was not effective. In fact, he even got it sent back a couple times. If nothing else, I think Wilcox is a better defender than Gooden, which is one of the Rocket's most pressing needs. I believe Wilcox will be one of the best defenders in the NBA.
It was my impression that Gooden can play both forward positions, like a Robert Horry. I saw the guy in Austin, and I came away very impressed. He pretty much had his way with Big XII 2nd teamer, James Thomas, who is a beast in his own right.
I wonder if teams are souring on Yao now that this whole problem with Wang came to the forefront. Apparently , due to a problem with the Chinese gov't, Wang is leaving and may not come back to the US. The same thing could certainly happen with Yao I would imagine
I am not saying that we should draft Gooden but it would not be a bad thing. Wilcox certainly has game and would be a good pick as well. But I would not say that Wilcox is the better defender either based on that one game. Look at the season as a whole because their stats in the Tournament matchup are to close to call.
Jeez, this is like a loop I'm in. I agree, nowadays the "ideal center" is almost a myth. There's not much difference between a center and a power forward. But when you have people debating whether someone is a power forward, center, OR a small forward, that's when it starts sounding a little bit strange. I think there are two types of big men. Power and finesse. I think Gooden falls under finesse. Try to name one player on the Rockets that is a powerful player? Who was the best you could come up with? Cato? How sad is that. Don't you think the Rockets could use a big man with power more than another big man who plays the finesse game?
While Ming has his own issues, I think Wang and Ming's situations are pretty different. Wang is Red Army. That's a lifetime commitment. Ming is not. I think once the money issues with Ming and the various Chinese agencies is worked out, he will be okay. Well, at least contract wise. I'm still not convinced he is the second coming and all. --Drof
DC, if I thought Curtis was like any of those stiffs, I would not be recommending him. You have to remember that: 1. they are not going to abolish the center position in the NBA; 2. We are faced with Cato and Collier; 3. There are no Shaqs this year or next year, while there are endless 6-8 phenoms; 4. we may finally have a 5 who can score, the only offensively challenged position we have; and 5. we cannot leave this draft without size and or bulk.
NAME GMS MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%PPS Drew Gooden 37 30.3 19.8 11.4 2.0 2.9 1/1.5 1.7 1.4 2.5 .504 .755 .278 1.30
I watch the Big 12 and Gooden is not a finesse player. Actually this is the only thing that worries me about Gooden, to play the same game he did in college he may need to gain some weight. Although the dominant PF's right now in the West are really not that big weight wise, just tall and versitile. Not too many Malones and Barkleys out there any more. Now days you need to be tall and quick with enough strength to hold your position.
Yeah, you say that now after seeing those guys fail in the NBA. But in college, a lot of those guys seemed pretty similar to Borchardt. I mean what is really so different about Curtis compared to Chris Mihm in college?
