Kobe missed 8 of 12 shots in game 7, 16 of 27 shots in game 6, and 10 of 17 shots in game 4, 17 of 28 shots in game 3. Even though Kobe missed most of his shots in games 4 and 6, the Lakers won both of those games. Ariza, Gasol, Odom were too much for the Rockets, after the loss of Yao and Deke and the lack of big men. We had interior presence, after we lost both 7 ft+ centers in the playoffs.
All these bigs showing up for a shot at our training camp, and hence our roster..... So, a look at the bigs currently on the roster: Anderson, Scola, Landry, Hayes, Dorsey, Pops (maybe) Now we have Swift and two other dudes vying for a spot as well. Can't help but wonder if Landry's a goner next week when he reaches that one-year anniversary of signing his offer sheet, especially given how many minutes Scola will play this year at center and how Anderson will have to burn through six fouls a game as he acclimates to the NBA game.
He held kobe to his average and was a no show on the other end. Did Detroit or Boston have the kobe stopper? No. My point is, Ariza can do a good enough job on the kobes of the world that having battier coming off the bench at 7m really doesn't make sense. Roslo and I were talking scenrios in which the rockets can get a good young player in the last yr of his contract. The team isn't winning a title for at least 2 yrs to which shane will be 33 and he's already declining. That was my point. Outlaw off the bench for 30mins a 4m expiring makes more sense than shane in those same mins making 7m.
Especially if somehow, in the same deal, we could wind up with Fernandez. But yes, these days you'd have to think Shane's value is more for his leadership and steadying influence. It's tough to attach a bar code on that, although $7,000,000 is a little steep. And yet I can see how a team like Portland would want that.
Morey could incite a bidding war for Battier if he informed both Portland and Cleveland that Battier was available.........especially if Battier was packaged with Landry. Cleveland would be very interested as Battier is the ideal player to package alongside Lebron, the guy that does all the dirty work defensively on the top 2/3 of the opponent and then stands in the corner and spreads the floor for Lebron's flights to the hoop. Same thing in Portland. Battier is the ideal candidate to team up with Brandon Roy, the guy that doesn't need the bball, that will do the dirty work and create more floor space for Roy to operate offensively.
Jopatmc, the only problem with that is cleveland signed Barnes,moon,and parker and all those guys will do the same dirty work and defend also. I expect lebron to see more time at the 4 against a team likee orlando with moon,barnes,and those other guys on the roster. Also, who do you want off cleveland anyway? I guess hickson because he's young and have up side, but who else? Portland has players, but when you try to get teams in a bidding war, it takes 2 to tango. Also portland isn't going to give up the ship especially since they have a guy like miller who will make sure everyone gets the ball where they need to and really be a settling influence on such a young team. In all honesty, portland can just roll with their team and their core is young enough that they can take steps and still be a powerhouse. Now they cojuld be similar to the old blazers when they had to trade Petro and because of positional overload O'neal, but they're a couple of years away frrom that. If they can get 13ppg 10 rebs out of Oden, which I think is likely and bayless can continue to learn under miller for the next 2 yrs, its a wrap for the league.
The return of Stromile.......umm no thanks. He seemed to be lost all the time. Every once in a while he'd do something spectacular, on the offense end of the court, and we'd all cheer. He was only good for the occasional highlight. Vote "HELL NO" to the second coming of the man named Stromile.
At this stage, its looking more and more unlikely that we can get Fernandez in any type of Shane Battier deal. Fernandez is still very much a luxury and thus a surplus to the Blazers right now with Brandon Roy holding down the SG fort for all the play time available there...but I don't think the Blazers would be satisfied with only Shane Battier for him......UNLESS we include Carl Landry of course they might do some sort of Rudy for Shane deal, but with the huge shortage of quality big men we have right now Morey aint gonna do that deal anytime soon... I'd LOVE this as an alternative though: Shane Battier for Travis Outlaw, Jarryd Bayless, 2010 1st Rounder (what looks to be a deep draft)
Travis Outlaw doesn't bring the ball up and can break down the defense with dribble penetration though.
The Blazers like Shane, but there is no way that they will do that. They want experience, but even unfulfilled potential is something that they are likely to hold on to.
If you replace Bayless with Webster, i think they might go for it given that their loaded at the 2 guard pos. and fairly thin at the Point guard position.....
I think this might be stromile's last chance to make NBA team this season, so hopefully he has some fight in him so in training camp he can prove his worth taking a chance on, so lets see how he does, i sure wouldn't mind an athletic big with SIZE to run with this young team PS- I don't think they would laugh if we added Landry to the mix , they currently have 2 backup rookie Power Forward, and that isn't going to cut it if your going to contend in the West....Maybe if we try Battier Landry Budinger for Outlaw Fernandez Cunningham 2010 First round pick -rocketblaze
