IMO, with the size of the investment the Rockets made in EG plus his age then they certainly should have made every attempt at trying to see what they had in EG. Considering the problems he was having I have a hard time blasting management of JVG for cutting him but it sure seems like the right thing to do was at least give him the 4th year of his contract to see if he could pull himself together since we did trade 3 1st round picks for him.
Yes, it was all their fault Griffin acted like a thug firing his gun at people and getting involved with the wrong crowd.
Deuce, Thats all based on the assumption that EG wanted to come back here. Crash, Honestly, the 4th year extension was hard to give seeing as how EG was AWOL at the time the decision had to be made.
You know, I'm glad we cut the guy. We probably saved his life. Nothing like losing your job to remotivate you.
Codell, HELLOOOOO !!! If we suspend him (Because we have to pay him anyway) we have his rights. Griffin should be a Rocket, but JVG and CD decided to let him go...FOR FRICKEN NOTHING. Yes, he messed up, but we already wasted 3 draft picks on the guy, why not try to get something out of him by helping him with his problems. The Rockets were not set up to draft a 19 year old young man with a tough upbringing. They had no mentor program, nothing...... A professional organization that has millions of dollars at stake would have covered their A$$es a little better. It is sickening to see the EXACT player we need on the Rockets performing well for a conference opponent. EG will be a good solid player in the league for a long time and he is only 22 years old. DD
Incorrect. Eddie REFUSED treatment for his problems even when the team demanded it of him. He even refused treatment when he was on trial for firing shots at a girlfriend. It wasn't until the Nets cut him (also for failing to show up for treatment sessions) that he got his life together. I'm really, really happy for Eddie Griffin. I hope he succeeds and beats his problems. He wasn't going to beat them here. He needed the wake up call he got. I'm sorry it didn't happen here, but I'm glad for him now. You guys are amazing, though. You'll dismiss ANY behavior if the guy can drop 20 and 10. It amazes me that so many people bemoan athletes and how they "get over" and make so much money off us poor fans, but we refuse to hold them accountable if they have talent. That's just sad.
Have any of you considered that letting him out of the city was in an effort to help him? Of course no one here knows, but hell, since everybody else is throwing out opinions as if they're in the know, why not me, too, I guess?
Actually, they did. If you read my other post, you'll see that the guy refused every ounce of help the team offered. EVERYTHING. What the hell do you want them to do, tie him down and force feed him self-help books until he cries? It took TWO teams cutting him, not just one before he sobered up. I mean the guy wouldn't even clean up when he was on freakin' trial for his LIFE and we're wondering why the Rockets cut him loose? Seriously! Arrrgh!!!
D.o.D. Yep, the tough love issue is definitly a factor in how EG has turned it around, also I am sure that being in Minnesota, where the night life is just south of Utah helps as well. I am not blind to the fact that EG might not have succeeded here, I just wish we would have tried a bit harder. He may or may not have panned out here in Houston, but he might have if we tried a little harder. Who is to say he would not have bottomed out in Houston as well? Ah well, DD
You don't know what the team did to help him. Why would you say they didn't try hard enough when you have no clue what they actually tried?
What I want the organization TO DO Jeff is to have a mentor program set up for a 19 year old who is about to become a millionaire. The Rockets themselves admitted they had no experience drafting a young player like EG, and they did not protect their investment very well. EG was in desperate need of a mentor/chaparone, and the Rockets did not have one available to him, they did not protect their own 3 first round pick investment. Is it any surprise that a 20 year old with millions of dollars and no real friends on the Rockets falls in with a tough crowd? Is it? DD
That's what I've decided. He's been a rock solid rebounder and blocker. He even adds 2 assists and 2 steals a night just about. But damn those 3's are tempting. I only have ginobili, tinsley, and mobley hitting 3's for me. I guess that should be enough. This is my team D. Wade S. O'neal B.Miller Yao Ming M. Ginobili C. Mobley G. Hill D. Howard J. Tinsley A. Jamison
Everything I have read has said that they tried to get him help AFTER he had the problems. My point is that they should have anticipated that he MIGHT have a problem and be prepared for it. John Lucas sure helped him a lot, why didn't the Rockets get him to help? DD
Dakota, then read this : http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/rox/2309742 Quote from Carroll Dawson : "Over the years, the meetings I've had with Eddie ... we've tried to deal with it," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "We had his agent come in a number of times. This wasn't a spur of the moment deal. This was over a year-and-a-half period of time. He was in my office many times. We've talked about a lot of things. I tried to help him as did the coaching staff. His intentions were to do the right thing. It just didn't work out that way. Quote from JVG : The notion Friday's move could benefit Griffin was repeated often. Van Gundy cited the team's repeated efforts to help Griffin. "I've never seen an organization go above and beyond for its players like this one does," Van Gundy said. I've given you my "proof", so I'm going to ask you guys - where are you getting the Rockets did not give this guy one, if not several chances to rehab?
you all also need to remember that he is playing in Minny now - its a lot harder to get into trouble there than it is in a major city
D.o.D, You are joking right? A meeting with CD? That is not what I am talking about.....I am talking about the team building a support system for a young player to where he can adjust to : A. Being a millionaire B Being a Man C. Being a Basketball player. It is about protecting your million dollar investment, it is not just saying "Hey Eddie, we are very concerned about the people you are hanging out with" That is a half hearted attempt by an inept manager. DD
Why then did he fail in New Jersey where he has tons of friends and family and is familiar with the surroundings?
God, dadakota, just stop. You have produced no evidence whatsoever in favor of your position, you're just blurting and venting at random with the seemingly impossible combination of selective 20/20 hindsight and selective massive amnesia. Frustrating to read. All available indications are that the Rockets (like his high schools, like Seton Hall, like the New Jersey Nets) bent over backwards to give Eddie Griffin chance after chance. He rewarded them by skipping meetings, skipping practices, skipping games, shooting his girlfriend, smoking weed and getting drunk and driving around. This is the same pattern of behavior he showed in high school and college, and was the same pattern of behavior he showed in New Jersey. It's asinine for you to argue that they didn't give him a chance.
What in God's name are you reading? Are you just seeing what you want to see? They tried to help him. Do you know what the meeting was about? What if the meetings (note plural to indicate over 1.5 years worth of them) was about "hey Eddie, how about we try and get you some help?" or "Hey Eddie, we want to help you out, what can we do?" or "Hey Eddie, how about we have somebody tag along with you as a mentor?" They even went to his agent and still no dice with Eddie. What gets me is that you have no clue what they tried to do, yet you judge them as if you do - all in the name of talent. The reason Eddie is not here is Eddie is Eddie screwed up in Houston. The reason Eddie is not in New Jersey is Eddie screwed up in New Jersey. Lastly where are your posts immediately after Griffin being drafted demanding the Rockets get him a mentor? Were you an inept poster at the time or somethng? Hindsight is 20/20, especially when it's combined with tunnel vision.
