Just got home; heard the interview in the car. I'm sure someone will have a better recap. CD is really really pumped about Swift. He gushed over him repeatedly. On the injury front: JH was cleared recently for full basketball workouts. Sura has been working out in Houston. Wesley had surgery, I forgot what kind (knee scope?) Wesley told CD his shot will "return" next year because of it. He said Head has the makeup to be successful. Doesn't know if he will be able to contribute next year or the year after. Sounded like he didn't expect much this year. When asked point blank if he would be comfortable with the roster as is, CD avoided the question. His evasive reply said very clearly (to me) he is definitely not satifisfied and wants to upgrade the backcourt. That was the key question/answer for me. Very good interview by Matt & Adam. Those two are growing on me. John Granato should take notes from them on how not to sound like a total clueless goofball when interviewing someone about the Rockets. Matt and Adam showed you can have a friendly, very humorous interview and ask direct questions at the same time. That's all I can remember. Sorry
Thanks for the recap. Seems like Head hasn't really been impressing CD/JVG, using the words "can be successful" isn't very encouraging, saying he doesn't think he can contribute this season or even the following makes it worst. I hope we make one more move to upgrade our backcourt, but I could see CD waiting til' before the deadline. There will be atleast 1 or 2 teams wanting to rebuild and can use expiring contracts.
remember two things: Van Gundy doesn't like to rely on rookies in the first place, and when they drafted head, they felt that he would be able to contribute in 24 months. Last time I checked, 24 months was the equivalent of two years. As fans, we wanted an immediate impact from the draft, but that just isn't what they were looking at.
I'm not saying he was a bad pick or anything and I understand that JVG doesn't rely on rooks like you said. But saying things like "he has the makeup to be successful" isn't the best compliment you could give someone. Like you said, they felt Head could contribute in 2 years, I don't remember them saying it, but I'll take your word. CD is now saying he doesn't know if he'll be able to do that in 2 years. I'm probably taking his words too literally, but if we're waiting on a rookie to contribute 2 years down the line, we should have just gone with a high risk, high return prospect like Stoudamire, Miles, or Monta Ellis.
I wouldn't take his words too literally. CD may have been downplaying fan expectations. He added that Head is a rookie and "you never know with them". Neither CD nor JVG knows what to expect out of Head because everybody is different. Even the preseason won't tell the story. Let's hold out hope Head will crack the rotation by merit (not injury) by the end of the season. One other thing I left out was CD's repeated mention of last year's team chemistry, both on and off the court. He said it was better than even the championship years. They wanted that to continue it wouldn't stop them from adding a better player.
Our current team will be good as it is: we didn't have Mike James or Jon Barry at the beginning of last season. If this team is healthy to start the season and it should be I think the Rockets will get off to a fast start. Relying on so many older vetrans means one of them is bound to be injured some time during the season. Lets just hope the injuries are minor and the Rockets don't have to go into the playoffs lacking a major piece due to injury again. It would be nice if we could trade for an impact player, but a small tweak to the backcourt like adding NVE will probably do for now. They could make a bigger splash like they did last year with trades during the season that way you don't disrupt the team chemistry and you get a chance to see how much Stromile is going to add to the current Rocket team.
I think expecting a number 24 pick to crack the eight man rotation in the first year is overly optimistic. For example, do you expect Francisco Garcia and Johan Petro to be rotation players for Sacto and Seattle. They were the players taken immediaetly befor and after Head. And we are better and deeper than both of those teams.
I didn't hear the whole interview, but CD emphasized that while they were always looking to upgrade, they were also comfortable with the roster given the extremely good team chemistry and the fact that last year's roster was put together on the fly and would improve just by having more time together. Of other import, in the trade department CD said they were looking to make a "two for one deal" (confirming what Doc Rocket hears), "like the Mike James trade last year." Does this mean combining a player with picks?
I am right there with you. I am perfectly comfortable keeping the basic chemistry the same as it was last year to start this one. During the season, we can evaluate our position, our strengths, and our weaknesses and then get the most bang possible for our expiring contracts. If we are already clicking well going towards the all-star break, we can add a nice backup that won't disturb the flow. If we are struggling, we should have a clearer picture of where we need to improve. I say, go it with the guys we have, or maybe with a signing from the waived pool.
I would have agreed this morning, but have you seen the schedule? We should start 3-0 and then the next stretch is murderous. I was really thinking that a fast start is just what we need this year, but if we're two games above .500 after November I'll be happy now.