http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/013608.html In case you didn't catch it, Doc was being facetious... I find it very sad that that this is the kind of mentality that a lot of people have adopted over the past few years when they think about what it takes to be successful in the NBA today. "WE NEED STARS!!!" they say. Screw chemistry, bring in the guys with the big numbers, and he'll bring you to the promised land. Right. What Can "Stars" Do? The question remains, what can big name stars do to really help a team? Well, draw a lot of attention for sure. Can't you still hear it ringing in your ears? "Next on NBC, Scottie Pippen and the Rockets battle Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers..." But how 'bout substance? At what point does adding a star cease to be the missing link (a la Clyde Drexler), and suddenly become just another underacheiver... (see Portland Trailblazers) The difference is chemistry, timing, and TIME. That's what Doc's talking about... Chemistry Let's face it, whether you can accept it or not, chemistry matters. Examples are all over the place. Look at Allen Iverson and the Sixers. A couple years ago, he couldn't pass the ball, couldn't get along with coach, and the Sixers were in the lottery. Now they're one of the tightest teams in the league, and in my opinion, overacheived in the Finals against the monsterous Lakers... Look at the Charlotte Hornets... same thing. Look at the '94 Houston Rockets. Hakeem and honestly a bunch of pretty average role players with GREAT chemistry rolled over the NBA all year long. Chemistry means everything. And if you don't think it matters, look no further than the poster children for bad vibes up in Portland. Watch them continue to implode and ask yourself how successful a quick fix can be. Timing Timing is an X-factor when it comes to stars, and it's basically impossible to predict. Vegas makes a lot of money on the X-factor, but most people lose more than they have to give. But one thing is for sure. For every 1 Clyde Drexler, there are 10 Scottie Pippens... Time Time is the ultimate cure-all, and the ultimate disease. With time, the Bulls can go from the unstopable force to the spagetti noodle limp object. It can also take the Dallas Maverick joke from a few years ago, and turn it into a legit playoff team. Look at the L.A. Lakers a few years ago. Remember when Kobe and Shaq were still young, brash, underacheiving babies? Remember the veteran Utah Jazz embarrassing them in the playoff? Remember Kobe's four strait missed 3-pointers? (remember the airballs?) "Screw this kid!" they all said. "Trade him away. WE NEED STARS!" "Shaq can't shoot free throws! He's overpaid!" Jack never lost hope... Don't Underestimate The Rockets Just let them keep growing. Maybe at some point along the line, we'll have to add that proverbial "missing piece." Maybe he'll take us to the promised land, push us over the edge, get us passed the Lakers or whatever. But maybe we should focus on building a strong team with a strong foundation with a strong sense of character and unity and drive, and just maybe that team will exceed the sum of it's parts. Maybe we have all the pieces. "WE HAVE STARS" Maybe we should give them a little time to shine. ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Don't forget the Bulls championship teams-- Michael, Scottie and the role players. Jerry Krause did a good job of putting the right pieces around MJ and Pip. Krause didn't want to field an all-star team. He fielded a team of players who complemented MJ and Pip and helped MJ and Pip be better players. Also, while it is too early for anyone to render judgement on Eddie Griffin, the Rockets appear to feel EG may be "the final piece to the puzzle." Rudy refers to EG as "special," a term he uses sparingly. Eg is an athletic rebounder/shot blocker who can score from all over the court. With those skills EG is the perfect compliment to Steve Francis and may be the second franchise player the Rockets need. Now we fans just need to be patient and let this young team grow. ------------------
Actually I meant we should sign some of the WNBA players from Utah... ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Once again, I re-peat, we don't have one single All Star on our team. And that's a fact. We have a lot of hopefuls. This is just a reality check to everyone who thinks we are star studded and loaded. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Denver, Atlanta, Detroit, New Jersey and Seattle had an All-Star on their team last season. Orlando and Toronto had two. (albeit Grant Hill's presence on the roster was tainted) Are you saying that those teams are better than Houston? The number of All-Stars you have is not necessarily the most accurate barometer for talent on a team. Portland has more stars than anyone in the league, and they only have one All-Star. But if it means so much, chances are very good that Steve Francis will make the squad next year. Maybe Griffin, Mobley, and Taylor never will be All-Stars. That doesn't mean we should jettison them, though... ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Dark Horse - Agree 100% on the "chemistry" issue. I paraphrase a very dated but appropriate quote from "Red" Auerbach about winning NBA championships: "It's takes 2 great players and 3 very, very good players". IMHO, the Rockets currently are at the edge of this condition. I am going to be patient. ------------------ Raef to Rocks...sooner or later! [This message has been edited by GATER (edited June 30, 2001).]
I don't think adding a bunch of Dallas hockey players will make the Rockets any better. ------------------
I couldn't agree more. I would rather get a big man and some defensive-minded role players and beef up the bench. Everybody wants more, and more superstars, everybody wants to dump Mo Taylor and get Webber because they would rather have another superstar. Meanwhile they forget Webber was the only bonafide superstar on the Kings. Team chemistry and good players got them to where they are now. We have three superstars, we need ROLE players, guy who aren't going to demand the ball and guys who aren't going to be lulled out of a game because they have to be a dominant scorer to win. Mo Taylor fits the bill. Marc Jackson, and Antonio Davis, and similar big men fit the bill. Chris Webber DOESN'T fit the bill. He really doesn't fit this team anymore. ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura
