well that does coincide well with my "steve, yao, and all the 3 point shooters you can find" strategy of building this team. as for the cat/cato/#1 for miller, aren't we giving up way too much? especially considering the clippers don't seem to be that enamored of mr. miller as it is and we're helping sterling get rid of a big contract. i mean you throw in cato for salary purposes but i don't think the #1 should come from our side. or maybe i'm just crazy. also, i don't want miller on the team anyway, he doesn't seem to be much of a shooter. i want as few shooting liabilities as possible on this team.
Enter TJ Ford....realistically, the chances of drafting him aren't good I know. But for those that have seen him play, he ALWAYS gets the ball in the right hands....he'd feed Yao all day. Francis then moves to 2, Mobley ideally becomes the 6th man. But it's not a perfect world now is it??
Based on that criteria, would you turn down a trade for Jason Kidd? Until this year, he's never been considered much of a shooter either. In fact, Kidd's shooting percentages have been lower than Millers every year, with the exception of this year. His career shooting percentage is 41%, while Miller's (prior to this year) has been just over 45%. Miller has struggled this year, because he's had to learn a new system, is on a team that has a low moral, & hasn't had the same starting lineup for more than 20 games. Rooks has been the starting center for 18 of the last 21 games &, since Brand's injury, they've got Cherokee Parks playing the PF position. Neither Jordan or Magic could win with that lineup. Imo, Miller would be the piece that would take us over the top. The Rockets need a change in their mind set, not just talent. We need a player that is looking to get everyone else involved before looking for his shot. Miller brings that kind of mind set.
1) Calvin Murphy has probably forgotten more bball than I know, but I'm still going on record with my minority opinion that Francis at the SG is not the answer. IMO, SG's are most effective coming off weakside screens and using a "catch and shoot" style. When Steve is at the 2 now, he tends to dominate the ball with 1on1 play. Yes, I know Kobe goes 1on1 alot but he still can use screens to get free. Plus Kobe has a postup game...he's unique. Unless the Rockets find the exact complimentary player (it won't be easy IMO), I'm very skeptical. 2) There are three ways to build a competitive team - draft, player development and FA's. I think we have spent enough time with the first. Whether Steve is the PG or the SG, we need to add player development and some experience to the mix for it to be successful. That's not a knock on Price or TJ...this is already a young team and Rice and Cat are among our most experienced players. Trading them leaves a void in experience. 3) Won't Andre Miller want a big pay increase? Miller is a restricted FA next summer...if he is reborn with success as the Rockets PG, won't he be in big demand in 2004? Can/will the Rocks keep him?
It came up in one of the Rudy T hours on the radio. Rudy literally raved about the guy. He talked about good defensive players being able to shuffle their feet, or "slide" laterally to stay in front of the offensive player. He said a good defender can stay in front for a little while, but Maddox could basically hound our guards the whole way up the court. He also said that Maddox's defense gave our guards a hell of a workout in practices and that the main thing they are working on is consistency in Maddox's shot.
Good to see Francis is realizing he's not a PG. Two problems however are: 1) even as a SG Francis still needs the ball in his hands to be an effective scorer since he's not really an off the ball movement type scoring player, and 2) whoever you get as a PG has to be a big PG that can play the SG on defense. Can you imagine little Parker or little Ford alongside little Stevie Francis trying to guard NBA 1s and 2s.
I really like Steve Blake of Maryland, it is a good idea for Rockets to get him in second round, if possible.
If Sam Cassell can move from the PG to the SG postion, and still put up very good numbers; then Steve surely can.
Griffin, Cato, Rice, Mobley for Payton, Micheal Redd, Anthony Mason Basically, just like for Elton Brand, let them have pretty much anything but Francis and Ming. Can you imagine how good we'd be with Payton at the 1, Francis as the 2, and Ming at the 5? When was the last time Payton had a TRUE low post presence? A SG as good as Steve? Go for Payton. If not Payton, then Eric Snow. If not, then stick with Steve because we won't find a better PG. I'd go for Brand first though.
I personally would prefer Marko Jaric over Andre Miller. He's 6'7, plays 3 positions (Rudy loves versatile players), is a better defender than Miller, is a better shooter than Miller, he knows his role and plays within his limitations, and he's cheap. The only problem is getting the Clippers to give him up.
Isn't Payton going to be a FA? Or were you talking about a S&T? And I doubt the Bucks will give up Redd, since he's basically the reason they felt comfortable trading Ray Allen.
They mentioned during the UT-ou game that TJ said "there is a 110% chance" he will be back at UT next year. And I have to say, I'd rather have him stay at UT than come out, because if he came out, it would only be because he'd be going in the lottery, and we'll be nowhere near there (although our pick might be- but hopefully not).
Ok, I am intrigued with the possibilities. Armstrong sounds like a really good fit to me. I'd love to dump the Mooch in a S&T for Armstrong. Small deal, big results. Cat on the bench - actually ok with me - even as a Cat hata, so long as Rudy has the balls to keep him there in the second unit, which I mistrust. Ok, trade Cat and Fire Rudy... I had to say it. No no no, get a hold of yourself, man! Keep your panties on! Acck! Fan dance, I have the grippe. I'd love Parker, but don't see how, unless SA takes Cato + a good player for him. We don't have Cato and a Popovitch type player ( ie - he wouldn't like Cat's game). Sure, I'd try, but I don't see Pops going for Cat jax. SA needs a three, really. Hey Pops, how'd you like some Boki time? Bet we'd have to get a bad contract back with the Cato deal, but that's ok. I sure wouldn't mind Malik Rose and Parker back for Cato and Boki. That won't happen, though. I think I'd even give up Rice's contract (after they sign JK) for a really good pg like Parker. But.. eh. Rox and Spurs don't trade that way. I'd be ok with Miller for spare parts. No way with Payton. He'd be great. No way. The cheap one is DA, and he's a good fit.
He He True, but if the Rockets get a few more Terps there's no need to install a new offense. They can all just run the Flex they do in College Park
GATER, Couple of things.... I think Steve would work really well at the 2 guard for this team. A lot of folks tend to go to extremes sometimes saying things like the two guard has to completely be a "catch and shoot" player. Steve Francis would not really need to adjust the way he plays a whole lot to work from the 2 spot. This wierd form of thinking has come from HP's skewed view of basketball. Just watch how the Philly plays. Allen Iverson does not catch and shoot EVERY single time as some have insinuated. He does it some, but there are also plenty of plays where he comes off a screen and receives the ball on the right side angle about 20 ft away from the basket. At this stage, he pentrates and makes his move. This is similar to the off the ball play that used to run for Mobley. The off guard in this setting still penetrates and makes a play, but has received the ball from his point guard in a situation where the defense is not stacked. The idea is that a savvy point guard needs to make the correct INITIAL read to either drop into the post or deliever the pass to a Francis off the ball. Francis does not always have to catch and shoot it in one motion. This requires reading the defense and seeing how it is setup. Francis right now makes the INITIAL reads and a lot of the time, they are completely wrong as he will drive into a stacked defense w/o even considering the various other options on the floor. A savvy PG knows WHEN and HOW to deliver the ball to his teammates. In addition, you have to consider the transition game. The Rockets transition game once again is a complete disaster. It drives me nuts every time I see the Rockets have numbers in the open court and watch one of the guards go straight to the basket and cause an offensive foul when a teammate is open on the wing. The Rockets could get many more easy baskets with a true PG. Andre Miller will be FA this summer, thus the Rockets would have to try to do a sign and trade with the Clipps. The Clippers can match any contracts on Brand, Odom and Miller. There is a line of thinking that since Miller has struggled for them, and Jaric is emerging, the Clipps would be willing to sign and trade Miller if they can get cheap contracts of talented players. My guess is that the Clipps would want something like Mobley/Rice as opposed to Mobley/Cato b/c Rice expires in one yr. Mobley would be the ideal player for that team as he is relatively inexpensive and signed long term. This would really enable them to re-sign Odom and build that team around Odom, Mobley and Jaric. It sounds like Brand is stuck there for one more yr and then will leave Clipperland. Thus, there wouldnt be a concern of Miller bolting as he would already be signed to a long term deal and then traded. Also, the numbers would not have to match exactly b/c the Clippers are so far under the cap and will actually have to either acquire some salaries or keep players to even make the MINIMUM. In addition to Andre Miller, I would look at Tony Parker, Jamaal Tinsley, Eric Snow, etc.
One other point.... I agree with the notion of not going after a rookie PG like a TJ Ford. I think Ford will be a very nice player in the NBA, but rookie PGs a lot of times can take 3 yrs before they start reaching their stride in the NBA. The Rockets imo are in the position where if they make the appropriate acquisition this summer (ie. Miller, Parker, Tinsley, etc) they could put together a 50 win season next yr. A change of talent in the backcourt would do wonders for this team next season.
To bad we don't have a number one (going to Memphis - Franchise Deal)... I would trade EG for TP straight up... The Frenchman is only 20 years old and will get better...
