Yes, Pat Riley is going to put up with someone who sucks. With Wesley currently injured - yes his hamstring is now confirmed injured, we couldn't possibly use someone who played like DA did until he injured his leg. Remember at the beginning of the season the whole team sucked, and then they started playing better together and some of them began to ge their acts together. But for some reason DA and Barry couldn't even be given the chance to show what they could do. So DA shows us in his first game with the Heat. So the Heat get a guy who steps in when Wade is out and helps them win a game. And we're not even sure he ever practiced with the Heat!!! But he couldn't have possibly helped us. Gundy is a genius. Get rid of any player who does not meet his high standards on defense. For Juwan that is leaving Yao exposed and being beaten by 90% of the PF's in the league. For Bowen that is to imitate The Chicken and have an overblown rep not supported by any real statistic - his or the opponents - 82games.com says he is our worst player hands down.
\ Yes he is sucking for them by making big plays down the stretch and getting the win. No wonder JVG got rid of him. This kind of sucking was just not acceptable to him.
Anderson wins them the game per Wade: http://www.nba.com/games/20060304/ATLMIA/recap.html?nav=scoreboardhome Without Wade, the Heat got off to a slow start and trailed by double digits after first quarter and 48-33 at the half. Miami shot just 31 percent (10-of-32) in the opening half. "I think probably a month ago or two months ago we wouldn't even come close to winning a game like this," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "We were very frustrated in the beginning with some very good defensive tactics on their part. They were just committed to fouling Shaquille (O'Neal) every single time." However, the Heat finally found their game and used a 7-0 run, capped by Derek Anderson's 3-pointer to pull within 86-84 with 4:28 remaining. A little more than two minutes later, Udonis Haslem threw down a dunk to knot the contest at 89-89. The Hawks took a 93-91 lead on two free throws by Al Harrington with 48 seconds left before Anderson hit a fallaway jumper to tie it. Rookie Salim Stoudamire missed a jumper with 19 ticks left for the Hawks, giving the Heat a chance to take the lead. Haslem missed a jumper but Anderson grabbed the rebound and fed Mourning for the go-ahead basket. "Derek (Anderson) made some big plays coming down the stretch and then we got the miracle," Riley said. "I don't know how the ball ended up in Alonzo's hands, but it ended up in his hands and he dunked it." "I knew it was the end of the game and that's what you have to do to win," said Anderson, who was acquired from Houston at last month's trade deadline. "You don't stop playing until there are zeros on the clock. It was an effort play and I know that's a big thing around here." Anderson also drew praise from Wade. "He did great," said Wade, who is day-to-day. "He came in and missed the first couple of shots, but he kept being aggressive. He won us the game today." Stoudamire had his potential game-tying jumper blocked by Jason Williams, giving Miami its ninth straight home win over Atlanta. "It's not a lack of effort, these guys are competing that's all I can say," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "A bad bounce tonight, I thought, cost us (the game). Udonis Haslem shoots a near airball and Stoudamire doesn't block out and (Derek Anderson) gets a hand on it and flips it to Mourning."
what surprised me was that we tried forever to get DA, only to let him play for the majority of his games w/out Tmac or Yao.. then we let him go just like that..
I don't know how old you are but whenever you talk about JVG you come off as being 6. DA was hurt and used it as an excuse to not practice, then wondered why he wasn't playing. That kind of attitude isn't going to take you anywhere -- but you'll b*tch about JVG regardless.
Guy visibly dogs it with the rockets, sucks - people blame the coach. I blame the player. Far greater players than Anderson have been able to play for JVG.
This thread makes me laugh. You people are acting the same way you do with the Rockets...giving over-emotional knee-jerk reactions over one game. There's a reason Derek Andersen hasn't done much since he left San Antonio. That was a contract year, he got paid, and he was satisfied. He left a championship team to go to the freakin Blazers, and sucked it up there when he wasn't hurt. Then he comes to the Rockets, and honestly I don't remember seeing him play one time and thinking, "that was a good signing". Now a ball falls in his lap under the basket and he assists the game winning basket and he's a hero. JVG isn't a perfect coach and CD isn't a perfect GM, but they made the right move on this. He's in the same boat as Barry...there just weren't enough minutes to go around, and in DA's case he wasn't even good enough to play ahead of the guys we have.
The funny thing is that these threads are so predictable. We get rid of substandard players like Anderson, or Jim Jackson and/or Nachbar last year, and since those guys have developed a bit of a following, people act like we just sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Then those guys have one or two flash in the pan moments shortly thereafter and the peanut gallery erupts, eventually the fact that they're just not that productive anymore rings true within a few months and they're consigned to the NBA scrap heap where they belong. The only true mistake that I have down as far as ditching players on JVG/CD is Mike James.
I don't have much problem with trading DA. I do however have problem that they openly stated the intention to trade him and won't play him, thus drilled down his value near zero. And if I remember correctly, CD said DA was the guy Rockets and JVG interested for a long time. You can't have it both ways.
Waiting for the Schadenfreude? We didn't get that, coz he's a "hero" now? But we don't need that. Honestly, I don't care about DA. He's never really a Rockets, just a passenger for a couple of months. He has talents, but he's injury prone and didn't play hard every game he's on the floor. I certainly don't miss him at all.
Wow! I must have missed all of the insider threads where informed people revealed that a) he was hurt and then b) used it as an excuse not to practice. I really don't remember much "insider" info about the injured being shared by anyone. But I do know that sometimes when people are hurt they should not practice but rest until they heal. McGrady did it, Alston, Yao, Barry, Sura, Swift. It is just disappointing to get DA healthy, not give him a chance to play and then see him go off like last night, when warrior Wesley refuses to sit even though his injured hamstring is making him 2 steps slow. But I guess his heart will will us to a win eh? I also agree Gundy did nothing to help us receive more in trade by his comments. Time will tell if DA is an asset with the Heat, and if Fitch is a keeper. That is why people start threads - to discuss. Hey let's not discuss anything on this board and respect each other's opinions while doing it - let's just mindlessly accept everything Gundy says and cheer all the way to the lottery. It should cut down the number of threads. Tim Thomas had a pretty good first game for the Suns! Welcome to the land of free speech, baby!
Trying to find an easier to defend ground by overstating? I guess reasonable middle ground always gets lost on here.
If the Rockets were running with DA at the two guard and Mike James at the point we would be unstoppable... runs quickly ~ far away
Go back and read the comments from JVG. DA didn't know why he wasn't playing -- JVG didn't know why he hasn't been practicing. I don't know how much insiders you need to figure out DA might have a problem with his work ethic. Everyone plays hurt*, DA just doesn't deal with it very well apparently. *except Stromile
When I first saw DA play for us, I was amazed at how small and flabby his arms were... I am swoller than this guy. Shows how much work he puts into his body.
Yao also thinks Bogans can become that outside shooter the Rox need from the 2. I guess he doesn't realize that Keith Bogans' middle name is "Brick". KB is one of the worse players in the NBA, he was the worse last year according to Hollinger's statistics.
A better question is how is DA even in the NBA? He doesn't belong. I suspect the heat will realize this too, soon and they will bench or cut him.
