didn't see this posted yet...........and i know how u all feel about chad ford...but here it is anyways.... Doug (RI): Chad, Will we see G. Payton in Green this season? If not does he still have any trade value? Chad Ford: He claims he's going to refuse to report to Boston. The Celtics and Lakers believe him, that's why they altered the trade. Payton still has value. A team like the Heat, Rockets, Pacers or Mavericks could really use him as they make a run at the title. Alfred (Houston, TX): I'm not sure on the Sura, Ward acquisitions helping really. What are our chances of getting Payton (or Kdd by a longshot) here to push us over the hump this season. And does Dikembe come too and if so, does he help? Chad Ford: I think the Rockets did the best they could with what was left. They needed a point guard and Ward is familiar with Van Gundy's system and Sura looked awesome the last six weeks of the season. They'll be in the Payton mix though. They could still use help. I'm not sure if Dikembe has any gas left in the tank. He's an awesome human being, but he's 76 years old. He's got to retire sometime . . . right?
I think Ward and Sura will help this squad. We don't need Payton. If JVG thinks that Ward and Sura are the PGs for this team, so be it. Payton is on his last leg and I don't think he has it in him anymore to run a team.
I think GP has more in the tank than Ward and Sura is more of a backup SG than a PG. Does Sura have any of our PG requirements? good outside shooting/ court vision/ leadership? probably not but he is a good defender that can play a few positions and that makes him valuable in other ways. GP (even now a lil past his prime) should be a better playmaker than both of them. J
One of the reasons LA traded GP was because his game didn't fit well with a center-oriented offence. T-MAC is our playmaker, the PG spot on this team needs to provide direction on the floor, 3-pt shooting and defence. GP will not be satified with that roll and will run his sizable mouth all year long about how he is so mistreated.
Well, he's certainly shown that his game meshes extremely well with a low-post center and dynamic shooting guard. Not to mention that at the age of 56, he epitomizes JVG-style defense. Also a former Supersonic! Yess!
I always liked payton for some ****ed up reason... I like Basketball players that have wierd personalities, and i even fancied him coming to the rockets a while back. But there is no way in h e l l that jvg would want payton. Why would he want an OLD stubborn francis on the squad? He wants JVG robots to man the point. I'm cool with that.
Agreed. GP is still a good player, but seems like too much of a distraction for this team. We already have Yao and TMac, we don't need GP trying to share the spotlight along with them.
I can. I don't think Payton is the type of player that's an immediate and constant cancer wherever he goes. He's a competitor. Let's not kid ourselves here, Payton is an upgrade over Ward, Sura and Lue. He's on the market for next to nothing so if we can get him for cheap, it's well worth the risk. JVG coaches discipline and GP has been in the league long enough to know what's appropriate & what's not, what coaches will tolerate what, etc. IF he ended up in Houston, he would have no leway to try to become a diva in JVG's system. He would have to put up, be effective and play well. If that doesn't happen, we simply don't play him. He's in the last year of his contract so if this blows up in our faces, he's gone....or we could trade him mid-season. He's still one of the top playmakers in the league and although he's lost a step or two defensively, he's still "The Glove."
Keep in mind, we aren't running the rigid triangle offense like LA. Payton wouldn't just be bringing the ball upcourt, passing to the wing, and spotting up. He would be allowed to drive and dish, post up, and run P/Rs all day long. He'd basically be doing what Mobley did last year, only from the PG position. Though he's lost his quickness, he's still such a smart player defensively that in a good defensive system he'd be reasonably effective. With Steve, Cat, and Cato gone, I really think we need some attitude and toughness. Gary could certainly provide both.
I'll put a tenner into the Tip Jar if I'm wrong and he becomes a Rock before November. Anyone want in either way?
He would? You're telling me with TMac and Yao on the floor...with the entire city clamoring for Yao to get the ball more, and TMac getting a lot of the rest (since he's already deferring more than he's used to)...Payton will still be that big a part of the offense? somehow, I doubt it. Please no Payton...he's still serviceable, but not here.. role players only please. Much happier with Ward/Sura/Lue
I'm not saying he'd be a featured part of the offense, but he'd have far more freedom than he had last year with the Lakers. He'd be able to score in the open court when the opportunity presents itself, and I could see him getting very involved in P/Rs with Yao and Juwan. JVG loves to post up his guards, and even with the ball in T-Mac and Yao's hands so often, it helps to have a playmaking guard who can help them indulge in their scoring mentalities. GP is more than serviceable; 14ppg, 4rpg, 5apg, .471 FG%, .333 3PT% That's certainly better than what we should expect from Sura, Lue, or Ward as the starting PG.
Other than his decline skill & quickness, this guy is a headcase for any coach. If he couldn't take a back seat to Shaq & Bryant, how can he do settle behind Yao & TMac? I say, pass!
The problem is the Lakers had Shaq, Kobe & Malone ahead of Payton and he couldn't handle being the 4th option. I'm sure he'd do much better in Houston! (Yao, TMac & Howard)
