Despite Doc Rivers punishing Sam by never letting him play again because he was critical against the Knicks in 1994, I still believe the guy's got game. Benching Sam cause he's on a bad shooting streak? I'd still have him out there shooting the midrange and running the floor than Eddie House (who's a freaking scorer not a point guard). 3 straight DNPs? good grief, he's not Steve Francis. He knows how to pass and shoot good shots. Anyhow. I think its possible we can get him next year: 1. He wants to play for a contender (a healthy Tmac/Yao will do provide us that status) 2. Rick Adelman > Doc Rivers. River's offense is terrible 3. All the Houston connections, he lives here, played with Rafer with the Bucks 4. he'll be on the cheap side on free agency
Okay, you got me laughing pretty good with that one... I wanted Cassell this year! Pre-Bonzi trade. We could have kept Bonzi and added a much needed backup PG. Cassell is confident, cocky, floor leader, who knows exactly what it takes to win it all. He is a vocal leader, he plays passionate, emotional, takes trash, has attitude. He is everything we needed (although Rafer starting showing some of those traits late). Cassell+Healthy Yao+Bonzi would have been a damn scary team. Next year... His acquisition is not as appealing. Hopefully Francis is can provide something, or we make an upgrade via trade. Brooks will also have 1 more yr under his belt. We all know BJax is trade fodder. So yes, Cassell has something to offer. But not as much as he potentially could have this year. If we bring him in I feel he may get lost on the bench. Sam deserves a solid role on a good team. He also deserves the opportunity to be a vocal on court leader, the type of role George Karl offered. Edit: we could just bring in Horry too along with the recently fired Mario Elie and you could implode
Mario Elie would be a good assistant coach! Especially if we lose what's his face to Phoenix. This is sad when Rivers lets Ray Allen shoot as much as he wants, but Sam only gets like 5 to 10 minutes and if he misses some shots, he goes straight to the bench. He came there to play with Ray, Paul and KG, not Big Baby. How QUICKLY Doc Rivers forgot how Sam was the only decent player in Game 1 vs the Cavs. I keep forgetting we have Steve and Bobby Jackson. Cassell is a much better passer than Bobby Jackson, plus Jackson's mid-range game isn't that good.
tru dat! Sam's got a way better mid-range game than BJax. I'd take my chances with Alston/Sammy/ Franchise/ Brooks anyday. That's great depth.
word fellow 99er! Sam and Steve both have the size and talent to play the 2. Steve in his heyday was a better one-on-one player anyways.
I just feel like sam has kinda lost it. Ya he has an incredible mid range game but they guy is in the twilight of his career now. Simple as that. Even Good Players get old and can even turn into a liability out there for their team. Cassell is a liability on defense and is more of a situational player I think at this point in his career and should be used only in certain situations. The thing with house is that he keeps the defense sooo honest it's unbelievable. Not only is he a dead on shooter he has an insanely quick release. That alone opens up soo many things for the other big 3 for Boston.
No doubt. We need someone to challenge McGrady when he settles for jumpers and takes off on defense. Elie would get in his face no question.
Ok nostalgy is always there but tinman this isn't 95'. Sam Casell is old enough to be coach and we need fresh blood.
I really hated when we traded Sam, I just don't think he would be able to play more then 10 minutes a game for an entire season. But for the vet minimum I would take him back just for his experience and expertise. Would be an experience watching Sam, Deke, & Franchise playing and coaching, cheer leading from the bench.
Any members of the Rockets championship teams are always welcome back in my book. That goes for you too, Charles Jones.
Anyone see Cassell's stats from last night's game against the Pistons? DNP - Coach's Decision Yeah, that's what we really need. I understand nostalgia. He was HUGE in helping the Rockets win the 2 titles...almost 15 years ago. I think this team needs to get younger, not much much much older.
shockingly, i don't think the rockets would be interested. speed and athleticism is priority. thats why brooks and landry were surprise picks to the fans.
I would rather them both not have any minutes and not be on our team. No offesnse to Sam I am, but dude's old. Still wear my old school Cassell jersey from the championship days though. Brooks is fast. That's it. I wish we would get rid of him because he seems to have some value.
to me not really. deke is a model citizen and all, and when he plays he's still better than a lot of centers on other teams. but he's too old to effectively fill a backup center's role mainly because he can't play consistent minutes for a full season due to age. god forbid if yao goes down again, we are once again doomed. that said, i think morey made a right decision in asking deke to come back. we have other and bigger needs to address and can't spend too much money on the backup 5 position. the possibility of another yao's injury is just a risk we have to take to do our business for next year. (same goes to mcgrady.) so deke coming back is more of a money-related move rather than a pure basketball decision.
