I think folks think the Rockets don't need a passing point guard since Van Gundy is going down low to Yao a lot. Van Gundy has gone away from that gameplan going with a more mixed play approach in the last few games. How different would this offense look with passing point guard like Raul Lopez? Van Gundy is being forced to use a no motion garbage offense because he has no passing point guard. Steve is no passing point guard, and Moochie is not an NBA-caliber player. This team needs to get a real point guard or else this offense is going to look like garbage. I still think the Rockets-Knicks trade is a viable option. However, I think the Knicks may not give the 1st round draft pick anymore since Steve is playing at such a low level. from the Knicks: Charlie Ward Howard Eisley Clarence Weatherspoon Kurt Thomas Othella Harrington from the Rockets Steve Francis Moochie Maurice It allows Van Gundy to strengthen the power forward position from a defensive standpoint and he gets a competent passing point guard in Charlie Ward who he knows from his days in New York. PG Ward Eisley SG Cuttino Piatkowski SF JJ Weatherspoon PF Kurt Thomas Othella Harrington C Yao Cato Salaries match up for the next year if Charlie Ward signs a 2 year contract for around $4 million/year. All the contracts expire after 2 seasons which allows for financial flexibility if a big free agents comes out after the 2005-2006 season. However, I remember one detail that may not have been looked at before. I think Charlie Ward made some comments about Jewish people back when Van Gundy was the coach of the Knicks. I don't know if Van Gundy cares about that or not.
Has any team in the history of the NBA without a absolute dominant player like MJ, Hakeem, Shaq, or Duncan been able to win the championship without a passing point guard? Are the Rockets trying to change history here? Is this one of those bold experiments to prove that teams don't need passing point guards to win the championship? The Kings don't have any individual player who can just go dominant like Shaq or Duncan, but they play a brand of offense that depends on highly skilled passers. Rockets need to look at that team and emulate it because Shaq and Duncan aren't on the Rockets. This team's offense is the worst looking offense in Rockets history.
This team on offense looks like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. There is absolutely no leadership on the floor when the other teams puts up any bit of defensive pressure.
The question is, when is the last time a team won a championship without an absolute dominant player period.
I think the Kings have as much a chance of winning this year as the Spurs and the Lakers. Peja is a scoring machine, but he's no Shaq or Duncan. Brad Miller is a very good player, but he's no Shaq or Duncan. Kings can win a championship with the kind of ball they are playing now. Mavericks could win, but I think the Kings are better. Mavericks don't have a dominant player even though Nowitzki is close. He's not dominant though like Shaq or Duncan.
I want to know one thing..... Don't we have more scoring talent than the Celtics? How come they score 100ppg regularly?`
honestly i dont think CD is a good GM and proably will leave the team as it its. Just look at the stupid long term contracts he has given.
I think you miss what he meant. He wasnt endorsing or bashing your ideas. just the fact that your reaction is so predictable, and tired. It is so predictable that maybe there should be a stickied "Trade Francis" thread that could be used for everyone that thinks trading Francis is the way to compensate for a loss.
We need to play like what Grizzlies is doing now. Look at them tonight even with Watson as their PG. Thirty-six assist in the game with six players double digit points, shooting 62% and limiting the NJ at 34%. There is no excuse for Rocket apart from the way they run the offence. That transpired Spur's offence as well.
True. Carroll Dawson is in love with Steve and Cuttino. He kept those 5 year failures. He'll never get rid of them. Carroll Dawson also gave Norris, Rice, Taylor and other players fat contracts. What an awful GM.
Why is everybody so high on Charlie Ward all of a sudden? He's a very mediocre point guard *and* a divisive presence in the locker room. I can at least understand the argument when people talk about acquiring Tinsley, but Charlie Friggin' Ward? Give me a break. I'd almost rather have Moochie.
Les Alexander is the guy who should be upset the most. He's the guy actually signing those checks every week. CD better do a hailmary in the offseason to try to unload these contracts if the inability to make the playoffs with this cast of characters comes to life again.
No, the Rocket's of Matt Maloney, Bryce Drew, Mario Elie, Othella Harrington, Brent Price, and Kelvin Cato was the wost offense in this team's history...
Yes, he sounds like a locker room lawyer, but he has played in the Van Gundy system. At least he's been to the Finals. Van Gundy seems to get him to at least play like a decent point guard. The committment to the Knicks players will be at a maximum of two years if the trade doesn't work out. 2 year experiment doesn't work? There's no problem. Just don't resign any of them. The NBA salary cap is $43 million now and the Rockets are at $49 million. This is a horrid situation for a bad team. Rockets need to clean house, and get rid of all the garbage contracts that were signed with the previous regime especially if the playoffs aren't made this year. Some fans actually are satisfied with seeing a lottery-bound team for 5 straight years. I guess I have too high expectations of the Rockets. I want to see a playoff team at least once every five years.
Has that crew ever been the starting 5 on the court for a Rockets game? I thought Barkley and Hakeem were still with the team when Matt Maloney and Elie were here.
When Matt Maloney was starting, he was on the floor with Hakeem, Barkley and Drexler. Brice Drew was never a starter and Elie was with the Rox up until 97-98 (I think). The offense may have be boring and predictable back then but it was much more effective than the offense the Rox are running this year.
charvo resurrects this trade again if any trades goes down, i'm still all for this knicks trade. New York is by far the most legit and reasonable trading partner for both sides. Especially with the rehabilitated mcdyess, kurt thomas is perfect trade potential.
