We're well staffed at PG, SG, and SF. We have several talented PFs, but none is quite tall or heavy enough to defend big men. Our C's are obviously inadequate. Get us a solid C, and we're a playoff team. Get us a really good C, and we're a championship contender. I keep seeing the name of Chris Marcus tossed around as though he's the answer. Is he? Those of us who don't know squat about college players would like the lowdown on him.
Wrong Forum! You D@mn admins! Always flouting your rule-violations in the face of the little guy, just to prove your power.... But I have seen the guy play for a few minutes... enough to have an uninformed opinion, but not enough to really know what I'm talking about. Here's what I saw: First, the report from NBADraft.net: He looks alot thinner than his 285 lbs. He's solid, but not fat, nor pumped up in a weightlifter kinda way. Think naturaly large like the Kandi man, but a bit more svelt. When I here about these big oafs I immediately think of (as stated in the blurb) Bryant Reeves, or Stanley Roberts, or the myriad other worthless piles of flesh drafted in the lottery. He doesn't fall into this category, IMO. He moves well, has soft hands, and seems to run better than most reports give him credit for. With his mass, he'll probably make a pretty good position-D, banging in the middle, with at least a concientious dedication to his duty, if not a slaveish dedication and hustle. That's where the concern comes in... He didn't play any sports in high school, and has stated in the past that he only started playing when a coach convinced him it would help him get a scolarship. While if you said this about most kids, I'd say that it's an indication they have their priorities streight, for a lottery pick, I'd say it's a red flag. In other words, he doesn't have a love for the game, but he's a good kid. Whether that combination makes an NBA player that develops is anybody's guess. My best estimate is, perhaps, an amalgamation of Dampier and Kandi-Man. He'll be at least a good banger on D, unless his foot problems become chronic. The question I have is whether he will be motivated enough[/b] to develop his game past its embryonic state.
Oh.... also, soft enough hands, and enough of an athlete that if he really wanted to, he could eventualy develop into a 'B' list type center, in a Robert Parrish-Brad Daugherty-Artis Gilmore kind of way.
LOL, I thought the exact same thing when I saw that. But then again, this same website also once compared Jason Collier to Vlade Divac...
he's only played in 5 games out of 14 this year due to an foot injury which was supposed to keep him out for 4-6 weeks. Let's hope he heals up ok. Here's an interview from Sporting News
I'm always wary of college players who put up big numbers in mid-major conferences. Case in point, Adonal Foyle , of the mighty Patriot League, who led the nation in blocking while in college. Marcus is clearly a better prospect than Foyle ever was however, and the fact he led the nation in rebounding at 12.4 a game his junior year or led Western Kentucky to victory against a top 10 team in Kentucky at Rupp Arena shouldn't be overlooked. It doesn't hurt that he's 7'1, 285 lbs either. His size alone makes him attractive to the Rockets. The concern about his lack of love for the game is valid, but he did spent this past summer shooting 1000 shots a day, working on his hook shot to the middle of the lane, as well as hitting the weights and working on his flexibility. There's no question that he's the best big man in college basketball, but I wouldn't give up too much to get him. The much easier, and safer route, would be to acquire a semi-established post presence currently in the league, by packaging Walt or KT and the pick, along the lines of a Mihm (ie: a player still on his rookie contract who would be easy to package in a multi-player deal).
I've seen two games with Chris Marcus, and I have to say that I was astonished at his size (the guy is a walking mountain), however I was weary of his play. He is a big, and I mean BIG body on the court, and would fare well to clog the lane on D, but I don't think he is the right fit for the Rockets. Marcus has no atlhetic prowess on the court, he hustles for rebounds, but he doesn't get up and down the floor that well. I'd rather see the Rockets take a look at Drew Gooden of Kansas, but thats another thread.
Rumor has it that Yinka Dare dominated this kid in pick up games at the Lexington YMCA this summer. Keep in mind that Dare wasn't in playing shape and had already made head sqweegee guy at the car wash yet.
Yao Ming can hit the 18 footer. He is the man for us. Too bad we are going to surge towards the playoffs in the second half.
Would you guys do this deal? Houston trades: Maurice Taylor $6,500,000 to Portland Houston trades: Walt Williams $5,000,000 to Portland Houston trades: Kevin Willis $3,000,000 to Portland Houston trades: First Round Pick in 2002 Draft to Portland TOTAL: $14,500,000 Portland trades: Rasheed Wallace $14,400,000 to Houston TOTAL: $14,400,000 TRADE ACCEPTED A frontcourt of KT, EG and RW sounds pretty good to me. Anyone know if Cat and Sheed are friends? Mobley is only sixteen days older than Wallace and they're both from Philly.
I've only seen Marcus in a few highlight reels. He reminds me of Melvin Turpin--- picked ahead of Charles Barkley but the Bullets. Ouch!
Did anyone say "Two Sandwiches" I would still pick him if he was there for us and Dunleavey wasn't. He may be a risk but if he panned out he could give us a solid center for years.
No, 1984 went like this: 1. Akeem (Hou) 2. Bowie (Por) 3. what's-his-name? (Chi) 4. Perkins (Dal) 5. Barkley (Phi) 6. Turpin (Was)
Doesn't Chris Marcus look a lot like Sam Bowie? (I think Marcus would be a good pickup for us if we can't get Ming.) However, I saw Marcus' picture on Draftnet but I couldn't find one on Bowie. Anyone know of one for a comparison?
What about Drew Gooden or Amare Stoudamire, I know they are PFs but height doesn't really matter if you are off about 1 inch. We could use them as a center, plus they have athleticism unlike Marcus. What do yall think?
