Game 4 is why the Rockets did not invest in a backup C

yao ming isn't going anywhere, he's there cash crop. the nba is a business get over it.

 

I think there were 2 reasons at that time:

1. There was no cap space for a real good backup C.
2. No cheap backup C was better than Deke.

Backup C was obviously needed, that's why they still signed Deke.

 

The Rockets would be fooling themselves if they think they do not need to invest on a back up center. Our Center by committee can not hold the fort for that long. Next season, this should be their priority.

 

If Barry played some role in regular season or playoff, I would buy that theory. Yes, his experience and talk to our young guards are valuable and he's a very good guy. But he does NOT play, that doesn't justify ANYTHING, backup C, PF, Wing, PG, or coaching staff.

Instead of a big backup 4/5, you are saying we spent the money but doesn't let the guy play is a smart decision both in sports and business. I don't get it. Because of one game, all of the sudden, size doesn't matter any more?

 

Adelman spoke about playing Barry in the 4th qtr as a PG when he was first signed. So I assume they had a bigger need and role for Barry that changed when Wafer and Brooks both stepped up.

I still think the Rockets need a bigger/quicker PF/C who can slot in for or next to Yao on the floor. The Rockets lack agressive toughness in their frontcourt. A player who can get under his opponent's skin without being outright dirty like Laimbeer.

I'd like to see them go after Matt Nielsen. He'd also be a low cost pick up that's what the Rockets are limited to.

Nielsen was 7th in shotblocking in the Eurocup:
http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/ul...ctl00_ddlTopics=5&ctl02_ctl00_ddlCategories=7

Surprisingly another name Serhiy Lishchuk AKA Sergei Lishouk a centre who the Rockets own the draft rights on tops the list.

 

I think they also chose not to go for a backup C because they never expected to be minus Yao and Mutombo yet still be in a position to dethrone the reigning WC Champions.

 

Just ignore him. He posts from a Bizarro world where Adelman, Artest, and Brooks are scheming to undermine Yao Ming with their every move.

 

Come on,it was obvious to the naked eye that a 37 year old Barry couldn't do more than a young backup center especially one with length and quickness. If it wasn't for Wafer we would have drowned at the backup 2 spot,despite all of Von's weaknesses.
Les thought he could get away with having Scolandry and Chuck at the 5 without having to pay for Deke. He even said he wouldn't pay the LT for a player until it would put us over the top. Deke was old,but it became obvious that Scolandry and Chuck wouldn't work at the 5. The team was spinning out of control and Les was forced to call up for him after getting rid of Francis.
Just because they got away with it in Game 4 is not the real reason for it at all. I'm surprised that you tend to forget the limitations of our role players despite their enormous hard work and valuable contributions.

 

this ia a NO IQ thread..

 

Only Anderson could be considered better than Deke, and he was a huge risk at that time unlike Deke.

Rockets didn't use up all their full MLE(I could be wrong here) just to avioid going over the limit.

The signing of Barry was before the trade for Artest happened, and Tmac's health concern played a big part in it, SG situation was even worse than backup C since Scola could play C anyway.

We needed both front court and back court help at that time, but Morey had Alexander's order to not go over LT. That's why no backup C was signed.

 

durvasa, the barry thing had nothing to do with wafer. My beef with the barry signing had more to do with his skills that didn't fit what could help the rockets. The 2 reasons why the rocket had trouble in the playoffs vs Utah the last 2 yrs has been very easy to dignose. Lack of a consistent 3rd scorer and lack of a true backup to give yao a break.

I'm just saying 3rd scorer first and quality backup big for a guy that has missed 90 games in 3 yrs. That's not being crazy, that's protecting yourself. Barry didn't make sense when they signed him and he doesn't make sense now.

 

Barry's signing made sense at that time. Tmac just had surgery, Battier just had surgery, Head just once again proved to be worthless in playoffs, and most importantly, Ron Artest was still with Kings.

 

You can make the argument based on his minutes, but we lost some games in which Deke could have played a role. GS plays at a fast pace, but Rick put Deke in that game which resulted in a big win. Deke also played a big role against Portland,we could won by bigger margins against them instead of just squeaking by in Game 3 and 4.It's even possible if he hadn't got hurt, we might have even won Game 2. Deke isn't as quick as the others, but his length,rebounding,shot blocking would have complimented Chuck and Scolandry.

 

Barry made sense only on paper.He was the only available FA willing to join for the LLE. Barry hasn't been much better than Head.