If you are a Rockets fan and you want Mike James back, look what Chis Bosh said about Mike James http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2006/05/25/1596667-sun.html Chris Bosh: "I think it's very important to have a pass-first point guard, somebody who can make plays down the stretch of a game," he said. "When (he says) make plays, I don't mean making shots for themselves because I don't think that makes anybody better." sound familiar? When Yao started to dominate the second half of the year, it's because the ball and the offense went through him. Dream had the same complaint of Sam Cassell when Sam would look for his shot first, I think bringing back Mike James will just mean less shot for Yao and T-Mac.
As someone that wants James back (for the right price of course), I'm actually happy about Bosh's quote. This means that he's probably not going to lobby hard to bring James back. Seriously this whole "pass first pg", "T-mac hates James", "James will kill Rocket chemistry" is completely out of control here. If we can get James for the MLE, then we do it. We desperately need people who can put the ball in the basket. James is tough, firey, can shoot, penetrate and finish. This is exactly the kind of player that we need. And if he does turn out to hog the ball too much, then guess what. We just have him come off the bench, and let him take all the shots that he wants. This team is so pathetic outside of Yao and T-mac, it's embarrassing. And there is absolutely room for a gunner off the bench on any team. Just look at the Mavs with Stackhouse. Both the teams in the western finals would run rings around our backcourt. We need to bring in some firepower if we're going to compete. Keep talking Bosh. Please decrease James' value as much as you can.
I personally think with the MLE we can get players that Rox really need. Rox does not need MJ, who is trying to be a superstar and want alot of money. With all the amount we spend on MJ just think about what we can do with all that money. We can get 8th pick(maybe a PF), pick up a decent SG from free agency, sign Spanoulis for decent amount and also make trades to match salaries. Signing MJ does not solve any problems for the Rox, it just creates more holes and another 30 old player gets signed with big salary!! Just not worth it.
Yes also the bench needs help. Signing another big contract to MJ just wont help that situation as well!
I’ve always wondered why it is Mike James always wears out his welcome so quickly. The guy is like the Larry Brown of role players. 6 teams the past 4 seasons, despite playing beyond expectations on every single team and being paid a very low salary. You’d figure Bosh would like to keep someone who can pick up the slack for him offensively, but nope. There has to be more to James that is causing teams/teammates to sour on him so quickly. I know a lot of people want that fiery/pitbull personality on this team, but be careful what you ask for.
Here's the difference between us and Toronto - we have our playmaker at the 3. Down the stretch, I don't want the ball in our point guards hands - I want it with TMac. And what has Chris Bosh won anyway? His Georgia Tech team didn't go to the NCAA tourney, and his Toronto teams have won 33, 33, and 27 games. Put that in perspective - we had a horrible year, and we won 34 games. Umm, talk about a bad example. We won two titles with Cassell in 3 years. None without him. Look at the teams left: Terry is the #2 scorer on Dallas, Billups is #2 on Detroit. Jason Williams averaged a career low in assists this year.
I agree, but don't bash Bosh.. his Tech team nearly made it that year.. he was a freshman after all, and he pretty much carried the team. The kid is getting really, really good.. his Toronto teams have been touted as making the worst GM decisions in all of basketball over the last 5 years or so. Carter for nothing, Araujo, etc.
I doubt it. It would cost James a couple million bucks over a regular MLE contract. And I wouldn't do it anyway. We'd have to give up something in a sign and trade. And I don't want to give up any assets for James, not even a draft pick. Either we sign him with our MLE or we go for someone else.
James takes away Bosh's shot as a starting point guard. But if, a big "IF" James is willing to play the 6th man role on the rockets coming off the bench, I am all for it! He can still get starter minutes with a team going places. -G'day-
Oh, I think he's a terrific player. But he should leave the coaching and GM decisions to the coaches and GMs. In the same article, Bosh doesn't like Bargnani. The guy hasn't won jack - at least Francis and co. were posting winning records and even made the playoffs. And here's what Bosh said a few months ago. http://tsn.ca/nba/teams/news_story/?ID=153428&hubname=nba-raptors
It doesn't surprise me that Bosh is putting in his two cents about Bargnani. He wants them to take his buddy LaMarcus Aldridge.
Alot of teams need a PG that is a PLAYMAKER, the Rockets do not. Simply because McGrady and Yao are playmakers in their own right, with the mismatches they create and attention they draw. In the closing minutes James is just going to act as a spot up shooter and aggressive defender, we already know how much he respects McGrady and Yao's game. The only problem I see that could arise in the future is James' ego getting out of control, but once he gets paid, I doubt it will be an issue.
I'm not the biggest Mike James fan, but anybody who shoots as well as he does and can take it to the hole as well as he does, isn't going to be asked to be a pass first PG. I don't think he's an ideal fit for the Rockets, but I do think he'd make the current roster better. He also averaged 5.8 assists per game last year on a team that doesn't have a whole lot of great offensive weapons. That said when he was a Rocket, it would kill me from time to time when he'd jack up a contested 3 while McGrady or John Barry were wide open. If we could get him for the MLE, which I doubt, and we can't find a better fit. Then sign him. Let him play the 2 while McGrady's back is keeping him out. We need a scorer.
This past season proved we do need more playmakers on the team. Just look at how lost we were when Yao or Mcgrady were out. There’s no way we can head into next season with Mcgrady as the only playmaker on the perimeter. Mcgrady’s role should be similar to Richard Hamilton (shooter that moves without the ball). Ideally, we can get a point guard that can consistently break down the defense and get him some open shots.
will he make us better as a spark off the bench like the season before this one definately, but will he make us a better team when starting as the PG, that is something I am not so sure about, i would like to have both him and rafer here next season (granted that sura cant come back to the league)
I'd like Mike James back, but not as a PG. Play him as a 2 or as a Bobby Jackson off the bench. With the number of teams going to small ball (Wade and Williams, Terry and Harris, Nash and Barbosa, Hinrich and Gordon/Duhon, etc), a James-Alston backcourt wouldn't be horrible. Yes, we need a SG with size, but the only guy on the market that fits that bill is Bonzi Wells. Evan
