Those types of players are exactly what we're talking about in terms of upgrading: all-stars or borderline all-stars. We tried for Lowry in the offseason. He would've been amazing here. Dragic is a free agent this offseason and might be available via trade at the deadline considering Phoenix's contracts with Bledsoe and Thomas. He would be amazing here. Bev and Ariza play big defensive roles for us, but to say that we shouldn't even consider upgrading them is silly. Upgrades might not be possible, but Morey's supposed to at least try.
You're responding to something that wasn't my point. Go back and look at DD's post you just replied to. He didn't say anything about jones but your response was all about how he's not contributing to this team winning. Whether that's true or not, heck whether that's what people said about him this year or last isn't the point. It's that you seem to be constantly be on a mission to diminish jones it comes out of no where at times and (at least for me personally) weakens your arguments because it look like your anything but objective now. Personally I'm not really high on Jones. With him starting it was always a (he needs to hold down the fort until he either takes a big step or we find a legit 4). But it's hard to take you seriously when you go on these crusades.
While I agree with you 100% there is a reason Morey let Parsons go. He is always looking for ways to make the team better and if he just allows the team to grow he wouldn't be doing his job. To make the team better even if that leads to him trading solid contributors on the team.
Okay then I think most are in agreement here. Perhaps the only points of difference are 1) the likelihood of these guys becoming available and at what price 2) if it's for a borderline star because then we start getting into the degrees of upgrade between on current guys and the borderline players that might be available. (Rondo, dragic, etc)
Not a fair criticism of DD. He does become infatuated with individual players from time to time but he has also been a very harsh critic of the team when he did not like it's direction. He very clearly stated he likes the direction of the team as well as both DMo and TJones. You are letting your own bias negatively judge him because he prefers one over the other. You are the one that is coming off as unreasonably biased against TJones. You have consistently minimalized TJones offensive ability to try and strengthens your own point about DMo. I would also add that it appears you are trying to bate DD into a debate while is is trying to take the high road. Bad form on your part. Ashamed, because if you get past the part where you minimalized TJones offense and try and bate DD you make some good points.
There is 96 minutes between the 4/5 spot. Both of them will get plenty of minutes especially with Howard pacing himself.
Yes I like Rocket players, yes I like the team as assembled, at some point chemistry needs to happen with your core together for a few years, I contend we have that core now. DD
That's sort of death-knell speak for Houstonians, but with what this team has done thus far I completely agree. Good (and impressive) times so far.
Over simplify? Stats are stats brother. I understand that you may feel like Tjones got the number he did because he started and play along side with Harden and Howard, and Dmo this season is doing this with just Harden. What's funny is I never said Jones was a good jump shooter, I believe his jump shot is just more reliable than Dmo is. Just look at the career three point shooting percentage if you think the overall fg percentage can be deceiving. I agree that Dmo can create his shots because he has a better post game. I've already said that. I'm just saying Jones fit better with the starters and Dmo fit better with the reserves because he can create his own shots. What is funny here is that you happen to link two plays of Dmo great passes this year, and supposedly now he is far superior to Jones who made some incredible passes as well. Also the fact that you think Dmo handles is as good as Jones is even more "laughable at best and downright ignorant at worst". Jones was a guard, if you youtube some of the best crossover by PF, you will see Jones appearing more than a couple of time. But of course that is due to him having more opportunity because he got more playing time... if we haven't seen Dmo's handle, how are you going to argue that it is right up there with Jones? I guess maybe you've been a fan of his since his Euro days. If that's the case, I hope you don't blame me since all I have seen and what I made my judgement from is all of his game with the Rockets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyRMw9Udv_o Anyways, you'll probably respond with some witty comments. I'm pretty much content in seeing how things play out. Good day sir!
Nice post. Rep'd. I was especially impressed with TJones' handles in that clip. 3 in a row. Very impressive. Another point that impressed me was Andre Blatche. What happened to him? He plays in China right? Now, I know he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's a versatile 7 footer with the ability to play the 4 or the 5. I'm sure he could be had for the right price (which isn't much I'm assuming). Thoughts?
Yep, agreement here also. This team can compete with any in the NBA. DM's skills assembled it...and I don't see him destroying it by making foolish moves.
To clarify, it's pretty obvious to me that DMo is the better of the 2. He commands more respect because of his post play, ability to make the right pass, defend, be in the right position at the right time. Now, TJones is a great player in his own right. He's probably got the best handles of any big outside of Griffin. But replace TJones with another similar player a la Darrell Arthur, Ed Davis, John Henson... Would we be better? I think so. Now replace those guys for DMo, would we be better? I don't think so. My point is DMo is legit. He does everything well except shooting perimeter shots.
I also agree. We have more talent than the Spurs, given their age etc... You have to cook this talent into a championship brew, the way San Antonio has done for years... The proof is in the pudding, though, and 18-5 is not enough proof. Another first round exit and I think you have to scramble the pot again, making anyone available outside H&H. For this year, though, i think only minor trades, upgrades on the fringe of the rotation; or in the unlikely case a KD or another top 10 player becomes available. Otherwise, stay put and let the team develop. To give an example, if this trade becomes available: D-Mo/K-Pap/JEt/NO pick for Bledsoe, I will probably pass. The trade is fair and plausible: Suns have the logjam at PG but lack good big men. And sure, Bledsoe is a superstar talent, and is paid like one, however, he is still not one. Why take another plunge into potential-land and not continue developing the team you have?
A big man who plays excellent defense is valuable, a big man who has a legit post game is very rare, and extremely valuable. We have a player that does both. The Jones vs D-mo discussion is over. The amount of players that can do what D-Mo does, you can probably count on one hand. The question now is just how valuable is Jones. Because if he hasn't made a significant jump defensively I'm simply not comfortable going with him as part of a 3 man rotation up front. This injury is frustrating in many ways, because we can't find out if Jones has improved his game or not. If he has learned better defensive principles he could be very valuable. As for trading D-Mo, unless we are getting an elite player, we're not trading him. He is simply too valuable.
lol If it ain't broke don't fix it. With the team as assembled and healthy can beat any team in the NBA.
Keep Lowry and we wouldn't have Harden. That is a very easy 20/20 hindsight decision to make. Agreed that at the time, it sucked losing Lowry for what felt like very little, but if we kept him and kept our 2 young PFs, we would continue to have the 14th pick.
We don't need Lowry on this team, Beverly is a better 3pt shooter, and a better defender - Lowry would make this team worse....even though he is a better overall individual player. Beverly fits better, same thing as Parsons. DD
This makes about as much sense as the people who kept saying last year that Parsons was the most important player on the team because we lost when he didn't play and we had a good record when Harden was out. Also, our record this year without Howard is strong just as it was strong last year minus Harden. So by your logic, Howard and Harden are easily replaced since the Rockets have shown the ability to consistently win without them. :grin:
