Maybe if you would have bothered reading the rest of the post, you'd know what point I was making. But quote whatever you need to make your point
The haters have nothing to hate on Steve and Cat anymore since so they continue to claim they play streetball...All I heard last season was that Steve and cat can't run a break, they are too "stupid" to run one. Everytime I watch Sportscenter, they have 2-3 highlights of Steve and Cat running the break PERFECTLY, maybe it's the supporting cast we have had who are too stupid to run. Grant Hill and Dwight Howard seem to be doing pretty good running with Steve and Cat. Get off these guys already, be happy for them and I can't wait til they go deep in the playoffs, I hope we can say the same about our Rockets cause it would be sad if we don't even make the playoffs!
True But pgabs fully supported the deal for McGrady. Was adamant against a Francis-for-Allen swap. Ironically he used to discredit Allen's past success because it was in the East and Francis was in the West. Seriously, that's funny. Speaking as bluntly and honestly as I know how to, I don't have all the answers as to why the Rockets are struggling. I feel a lot of that blame goes to Van Gundy, a lot goes to management for a terrible supporting cast and a lot goes to Yao and to a lesser degree McGrady for playing like flowers. But how much that begins and ends with Van Gundy (the play of his stars and the management decisions) I don't know. But with all due respect to Francis, Mobley and Cato -- all very good players having an impact on Orlando -- I don't look back on that trade one iota. I think we got a younger, more talented star in McGrady and a lot smarter of a player. We definitely depleted our depth for it and are paying the price right now, but I absolutely look forward from this move - not backwards.
It's funny because I couldn't have scripted what we're seeing unfold this season with the fans any better. Although I didn't think we'd be quite this bad, most rational fans agreed that the Rockets would struggle this year and that the Magic would be pretty good in the East. Lo and behold, it's played out exactly to script, and we have half the board screaming that we were robbed. What the merry band of Francis fans (led by pgabriel) seem to forget is that Orlando has built itself a very nice team around our old team. Grant Hill is the point forward and calming influence that makes our old backcourt's erratic play possible. Dwight Howard is the athletic, rebounding power forward that doesn't need touches that we never had. Cato and Battie are more big men to rebound and defend. Garrity and Turkoglu are the shooters to spread the floor. Weisbrod has done an excellent job building up that team so that Mobley and Francis can focus on what they do best - take their men off the dribble and create/score. The three guys we gave up were good players and it's no fluke they're doing so well this year. But the way we were headed, I don't think we were headed towards a championship with the makeup of that team we had. Grant Hills don't grow on trees and Steve as the primary decision maker won't cut it on a championship team. I don't regret that trade one bit. Sure we suck, but we got a vastly superior player in McGrady. Now it's up to management to build a decent team around these guys and to Van Gundy to adapt over the next few years. Do I have confidence that this will be done? Given Dawson's track record, that's a different story. But I am happy with the peice that we DID get. Like I said at the time of the trade, this is a long term project.
you are right grant hill don't grow on trees, but when glen rice was hitting threes the rockets was a realy good team. with a good small foward, francis and mobley will always llook better.
If we had a healthy Grant Hill on our team, I guarantee you that we wouldn't be 8-11 even with Gumby coaching the team. I would even argue that Hill is the best player the Magic has - a guy who was an all-star when he was healthy. Outside of TMac and Yao, do we have anybody who comes close to resembling Hill? Too bad we won't ever know how bad (or good) the Magic would be without Grant this season....
Long-term project? McGrady is in his 8th season and has already led the league in scoring and been a multiple All-NBA first team selection (multiple 2nd team selection as well). And he was brought in to be a sidekick. A long-term project is drafting a high-schooler to be the cornerstone of your team. This is not a long-term project.
thacabbage and clutch, than you. I could't have said it better. If I had to do this trade 10 more times I will. Who in his right mind wouldn't?
but the line-up around him and Yao is dismal, that is the what needs some time to change something that won't happen with the contracts they have Btw nice post Clutch and Cab, as disappointing as it was to lose Cat and also Cato's defense and rebounding to cover Yao, adding TMac is very worth it
I was very sad when Francis was traded simply bcos he is my favourite player in Rockets.... even now, I still find it funny to not see him in a Rockets games... probably bcos when I start getting constant access to NBA games, Francis is with the Rockets...... having said that, I am glad that Tmac is in Houston now.... we gave up a lot... but we haven't get the correct pieces to fit in yet... which is y this season is really hard to watch.... thank god that Magic is doing so well, and with Francis and Hill (my fav player b4 he got injured), I have another team to root for..... its all up to CD now.... Magic got the correct pieces to fit in with Francis which CD couldn't get the correct pieces to fit in with.... I dun see that coming this season though.... or even next season.... just too much salary space being held up by our PFs......
I think the big thing for me was the INTENSE HATRED of SF and CAT [led by Fegwu] that this board gives them NO RESPECT . . NO CREDIT and nothing but blame Take Francis and Cat off that team . .are they anywhere near as good Honestly JVG has nuetralized TMAc so much . . i can hardly tell he is on the floor most nites. Rocket River I think the Rockets gave up TOO MUCH
This "wait til we get better role players" argument makes me laugh. Uh, every freaking bad team in the league would get better if they had good role players. Sure the supporting cast isn't great, but that's not the biggest problem we face. Our biggest problem right now is that our 2 best players don't seem the least bit interested in maximizing their talents. When T-Mac starts acting like a leader and Yao starts playing like a 7' 6" center, we'll win more games. Those 2 guys alone are enough to guarantee at least a winning record.
Exactly. There's this blatant hypocrisy that gets on my nerves as well. Those who say "yeah, they are only doing good because Hill covers up their deficiencies" are also the same people who don't blame Yao and T-Mac for our struggles, instead they say "wait til we get a player who can rebound (One of Yao's weaknesses) and a leader in the locker room (T-Mac's weakness)." So we hear that the team we had last year wasn't going to go anywhere as if that team was supposed to stand pat with it's roster, but for this team, after Francis and Cat are gone, they say "oh, we can get better players for other positions." Why couldn't we use that logic for last years team? Seriously, am I the only one who notices this?
Steve and Cat were great! When they come to town I'm gonna give them a standing ovation! but when they score...the boos will rain down
