ClutchFans Game Thread: Bucks @ Rockets 10/18/2006 (PRESEASON)

for the hate? from who, you pretty much described most of the boards feelings for him. d-league is a bit harsh but i wouldn't be mad if juwan's biggest role this season is as locker-room captain. i actually think he's a bit underrated in the chemistry he brings to this team and that may be valuable in the future.

 

It's like I'm at the theater and finally seeing that film that's been in the works for two years. This is the team that fans of the run n' gun mid 90's Rockets have been waiting to see.

My bladder is now the size of an offical non-leather Spalding basketball because I refuse to leave my seat in fear that I'll miss another new-wave Rocket fast break. Vspan with another steal...once again using every ounce of energy in his body to fight his way down the court and finish with yet another x-ray pass to a trailing teammate for the lay in.

Novak: Well...Bill, Glide and Bullard have repeatedly filled in the details about the guy. I have as big of a man crush as the next dude, but I'm glad that the opposing defense isn't swooning over him yet. Please...stay open all season long!

Jacobsen: Hang out with Padgett more playing VR Offensive Rebounding v 2.0...and spend a little less time highlighting your hair.

Luth: The confidence looks good on you

Little Lucas: Relax...pass the ball like you did in the summer league.

I'm not saying that our boys are ready...but the team on paper is finally morphing into a flip-book that's animating itself and taking over the court.

I won't be able to sleep comfortably until Sunday versus the Spurs.

 

Rafer said it best during the post-game interview:

"Steve Novak. Once he parks his car, he's in shooting range."

 

i'm concerned that Yao just stopped rebounding in the 3rd quarter. We needed him to step up after Bucks kept getting those offensive rebounds, but he didn't. But i was impressed with how Yao's man Skinner only had 1 rebound in 22 and a half minutes.

 

Congrats on the TV! Totally agree about not getting James being our luck.

This is when I have a DD moment, and probably end up in one of those little boxes that Clutch puts at the bottom of the page to humiliate members that put their foot solidly in their mouth...




This guy is going to end up being huge for the Rockets, long term, and maybe even this season. He will be far more than a role player, and eventually will end up with a very, very nice contract. I don't expect it to be for the max, but he's going to be able to feed his family. Really well.

 

Get real dude. They weren't playing all their guys either, and it's the Bucks.

on another note:

VSpan.....dude, you can't throw Juwan lobs. LOL. You can tell he is still learning his teammates. But it is obvious he is a great handler, penetrator, and passer and he Ds up. He is growing by leaps and bounds right before our eyes.

Juwan.....told ya. Backup Center. He will not excel anywhere else. I actually thought he did okay, everything considering. And I think he fits with the 2nd unit when Bonzi gets in there and bears the brunt of the post ups. And I hate to say it, but I think Rafer actually may fit better with the 2nd unit than any other pg. Obviously with Bonzi posting up, we need the best possible shooters out there. But you gotta have somebody that can handle also. And....Rafer is probably our best PG that can handle it and shoot it. VSpan...he's not a shooter at this stage. Head.....best shooter but not sure about the handle.

Novak.....it should be obvious that he and Lil Chuckie are going to split minutes backing up the 4 depending on matchups. If he starts getting abused defensively, he's out and Hayes is in. But by the same token, if he is lighting it up on the perimeter, Chuckie will have to get some minutes behind Yao.

Snyder....I think he is our starting SG. Although, if he was supposed to be checking Redd tonight, he did a very poor job. But I loved the way he took Ruben Patterson to task. The And 1 on one end and the offensive foul on the other. I think he starts but on some occasions when the opponents put up a weaker starting 4 and more difficult 2/3 matchups, I could see JVG swapping him out in favor for Novak at the 4 and TMac and Shane at the 2/3.

Luther.....Man, I wished he could handle better. He's got everything else.

Bonzi....Man, I'm worried he could work his way into the doghouse quickly on this team. These guys ain't waiting around. He needs to be out there working.

JLIII....situational only player. He will only be used when we are bogged down and we are looking to go extreme uptempo against some slog of a team. Can't think of too many of them right now.

Azubuike....wished we could see more of him. I'd like to see him make the roster. I think he can be an excellent perimeter defender. And if CJ isn't gonna shoot any better, why not KA?

CJ.....looks to me like if the shot ain't falling, he's worthless.

Padgett....he showed he's got something left in the tank. Do you carry an extra shooter at shooting guard (CJ) or an extra shooter at PF (Scottie) or an extra athlete/defender slasher that has potential to shoot well (Azubuike)?

Haryasz....he's got more range than I thought he did. He looked very competitive out there. If we didn't have Juwan's contract, he would look like a decent fit as a 4th big. Just no spot for him unfortunately

Yao....had a very mediocre (bad) game....and he put up what???? Can you just imagine when he finally gets back his explosion in the block?

 

When Yao gets his wind we should be OK. 3 more preseason games to get ready for the Jazz, exactly two weeks from today.

 

Knowing that Dallas drafted him puts a smile on my face, considering the Rockets draft history.

That being said, I am so excited for this season.

 

It was a pre-negoiated deal. We just gave them some money to draft Spanoulis ahead of us to make sure someone doesn't steal him. We drafted the guy Dallas wanted for them and then proceeded to swap players.

 

Steve novak is the best thing i've seen for a long while. man i love this kid. he can shoot, put the ball on the floor, rebound and is a underrated passer.he might just be the best pure shooter in the draft. including reddick.

 

is that kid doing the "up yours" gesture?

 

was the Richard Jefferson deal a pre-negotiated deal also?

 

I get excited pretty much before every season, but this time, I think it's for real...

 

Like you said, Snyder was on Patterson. Luther was on Redd at the start of the game, and unfortunately he doesn't really have the length to bother Redd's shot. I bet Snyder would have had more success on him. He's really been impressing me with the defense. T-mac and Snyder at the wings is going to be straight up nasty defensively.

 

yes it was.

 

V-Span, Snyder, T-Mac, Battier and Yao will be one hell of a defensive unit...plus they should be a damn good offensive unit as well...but their defense should be out of this world.

 

No reason to feel stupid, but now you've gone and changed the front page. I thought my advice on the matter was crystal clear. Oh well. I don't always get it my way.

And to think, we won with only 2/5 projected starters. (unless Bonzi plays from the bench and Snyder starts.)

 

Thanks for the updates, everyone. I couldn't watch the game and was just going by the box.

What immediately stuck out to me were Spanoulis' assists. A knock against him in Greece was the lack of passing instincts, but the Dallas game and the boxes from this were encouraging. He clearly is a tough sucker who doesn't back down from contact. He defends, he gets to the rim, and he seems to be seeing passing lanes develop pretty well. Now, if we could just get that shot to start going down...

We at least know the first eleven on this team: T-Mac, Yao, Battier, Alston, Wells, Snyder, Head, Howard, Hayes, Spanoulis, and Mutombo. All will play and play well. Novak and Lucas need some time, but there is upside. After that, I have no idea what we do with the final two spots. I'd bet Padgett and Haryaz (sp?), but I do wonder of we want another guard back there.

 

you mean .... http://www.monobrow.com/