Ahh, the ol' "intangible" line. Yeah, this is usually used when trying to defenda crappy player getting -- or in this case, not getting -- PT. How is Collier's heart and hustle going to translate into wins for the Rockets? BTW -- in what way has Collier shown "heart?" b****ing to the press about not getting minutes over guys who are BETTER than you gets no love in my book. But on the court I haven't seen this "heart" of Collier's. Also, you guys ever notice how we (the fans, media, etc) always say bench-warmers when they do play "hustle?" It's like that the one common link players that hardly get playing time have...."Mark Madsen...man, I love it the way that guy 'hustles'" *lol* THink it may have something to do with the fact that it's one of the few times they're actually ON THE COURT?
We USED to be one of those teams. All those names are perfect examples, they all contributed a lot despite serious lack of God given talent. Could it have something to do with the departure of CD and/or Bill Berry? Or maybe it had more to do with Dream. You know what they say about great players making other players better.
Gater & the Rice sig...nice. As for Collier, he is not a star player, but he could be a nice role player who spells teams PF and Centers. Heck, he does not have to guard Garnett et all, play a freaking zone with him on one fo the wings.....3 7 footers on the back line.....nah, that would take innovation, something this rockets staff is incapable of. Collier was hurt all last year, and this year, he is finally healthy and has looked decent when he played. He is shooting 47%, and rebounding decently well for his limited minutes. Why haven't the Rocks played him? EG has been HORRIBLE, I would rather sit his scrawny, no hustling A$$ on the bench then JC. What are you teaching EG, that mediocraty is acceptable, that playing crappy is ok? Ridiculous and a waste of a fans time. DD
STATS per 48 minutes. Collier would be the 3rd best rebounder on the Rockets, just behind Ming and ahead of EG. DD
I'd object to his assertion that he isn't given a chance. From everything I've read about the Rockets, playing time is earned on the practice court. It isn't as if the coaches never see what he can do. They see it and choose not to use it. Of course, Collier has a better vantage point than I do and probably knows more about it; but I get the feeling he isn't being fair. I don't doubt though that he'll be in the league next season. If Dan Langhi can stick around after his miserable 2 years in Houston, Collier definitely can. And, teams are always looking for competent big men. He is that.
This is very well said....and pretty damn convincing. *lol* Especially the second (about the Rockets lack of an innovative scheme) and fifth parts (about EG).
Don't believe in intangibles. How about: Najera, Madsen, Pollard, Malik Rose, Tyrone Hill, Scalabrine (Sp?? guy from the Nets), Mehmet Okur, etc., etc. Most of those guys do have more talent then Jason, but maybe not all of them. Is it surprising that most good teams have that one player who brings the intangibles? The Rockets certainly had it when they won. This is the first time I've ever heard Collier seriously complain...after nearly three years and with only ten games left as a Rocket. I remember Langhi complaining much more. Tito Maddux doesn't even show up for a game. On the court, more of the same. When they call his name (infrequently) he is ready to go, doesn't miss assignments and plays to the best of his abilities (which can be argued) - sounds like heart to me. That's exactly what it is. But what you're easily overlooking is all the players over the decade who you haven't heard of because they are teh bench warmers who DIDN'T hustle whne they got in the game. Keep in mind, I'm not saying Jason Coller is the answer, just that he is what he is, I guess, which isn;t as bad as some are making out.
If he is, indeed 'that', then the Rox should benefit. On a night like Monday when the team leaves nothing on the court, like sweat or effort, a guy like Collier should be able to bring some minutes of intensity to shake things up. Scallabrine is better? That butt was playing flat out dirty, taking swings during rebounds etc, but since he wasn't getted called he kept intimidating the Rox. And make no mistake, that night the Rox were intimidated. I'll be sorry when JC leaves and develops into a competent NBAer.
I hate Collier because that extra draft pick we got from Milwaukee helped us get Griffin. I'd much rather have Pryzbilla and Jefferson right now.
Then you my friend will never be sorry repeat The guy isn't an NBA talent. He had his chance last year, I don't remember a big drive to keep him on this team after his spectacular hustle.
What? Jason's statements are a disruption, and Steve's arent? And you would rather have Boki in when he has not played any minutes in a meaningful game? Boki hasn't shown us anything at all and should be left off the playoff roster, if we make it. Jason can play. He plays hard atleast and I think we could have used his fouls in the Laker game. I am not sure if you have ever seen him play in person. He plays hard, scraps, gets rebounds and is aggressive. He could get some minutes to rest up someone or play at center for a few minutes. Collier is not a superstar at all, but will end up being a contributor for someone's team in the future.
PGabrial, How can YOU ignore the stats that say he is a competent NBA player? He is not starter material, but he is most assuradley a bench contributor. DD
Actually, I would have rather drafted Jamal Magliore and then traded Cato (and his huge K) to the Suns for Shawn Marion (if my memory serves, Phoenix actually made this offer back in 2000). Of course, we might not have gotten Ming with that lineup. Collier has great fundamentals but is too slow to compete on a borderline playoff team. He'd probably be serviceable on a team that can afford to put scrubs in the lineup (i.e. Sacramento) at the end of games.
That's all I'm saying, his stats are okay for the playing time, but from what I remember, he was constantly outrebounded by guys 3 inches shorter. He's simply not athletic enough, and his basketball skills don't make up for the lack of athleticism.
I think he is competent, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's any benefit to the Rockets. It isn't just a matter, as Dada seems to think, of plugging in a guy and adding his statistics to everyone else's. He has to contribute to the game plan and help make the team greater than the sum of its parts. If he doesn't fit the team well, he shouldn't play. I think it is obvious that the coaches don't think whatever he does bring can be utilized with our guys. With a different set of players, his fortunes may have been different. To revert to sum-of-its-parts thinking for a moment, I would add that, even with heart, he is simply not as good as Cato, Yao, Griffin, and Taylor. Besides that, I don't think he can play any position other than center. So, even if we lost a PF to injury, I'd think Terence Morris would get the PT over Collier. Also, I don't mean to say he'll be a rotation player on his next team. He might be, but teams sign big men to have just in case. I think that will be his lot -- playing garbage minutes waiting for someone to get injured.
Well, it happened around January. Clutch and The Cat had a disagreement (can't remember what it was about) in the Hangout. The Cat, who never backs down from anybody (which that can be a good thing and a bad thing), was not happy when Clutch changed his title from "Senior Member" to "Member on Crack". He (The Cat) then said that he would just post in the fantasy forum only, not thinking that Clutch could really do that...ban him from all the other forums except for the fantasy, but Clutch could do that and he did.
He is right...Eveyone knows about the fake injuries to move around the roster... I hope being the #15 pick isn't a curse...(e.g. Boki not playing)... I wouldn't mind seeing him play, but for the minutes he has played, he's sucked... He's going to be riding the bench wherever he goes...
