Does anyone else here think that the Rockets should actually try and run some plays for Glen Rice? The guy is getting fewer shots than Willis off the bench, and the ones he is taking are rushed shots at the end of shot clocks. Now that is pathetic. He has not been allowed to get into any sort of flow at all. I think the Rocks should actually run some plays for him just to see if he can come around and actually contribute b/c we have no need for an aging, relatively slow player to play 30 minutes a night. Someone else can be getting those minutes like our rookies. Don't get me wrong, I want Rice to play, but only if he has a chance to contribute.
I agree with you somewhat, although I strongly believe that Rice is getting great shots. It doesn't matter what plays they run for Rice because he is a shooter with bad knees. And a shooter with bad knees, feet, etc is a streaky shooter at best. I am tired of explaining this to my friends. Everyone is waiting for Rice to bust out and become a consistent 15-18 point scorer. Well it ain't gonna happen. He has struggled for the last 2 years with his game because he has little left. And the bad thing is he and many fans around think he still has it. He doesn't. What is worse is that he thinks he still has it and when he isn't scoring in the hi teens he will start griping and then will demand a trade. I predicted this to my friends as soon as the trade went down and it will happen. I met a New Yorker last week while I was out of town and he actually thanked the Rockets for taking Rice. He said it was very obvious that Rice was not playing hard last year mainly because his scoring average and shots were down. Don't get me wrong I am a Houston Rocket fan and I still believe that they have a good team and a good shot to make the playoffs if they continue to play this way. But, Rice is not the solution to making this team better.
They tried to run some plays for him in the Dallas game early but he missed his shots, he plays just like Walt Williams, inconsistent and slow. I think they will continue running plays for him until he can hit his shots more consistently or until they realize he is over the hill like LA, and NY did. Glen needs to be more involved in practice. I heard he isn't really practicing with the team, that could be a problem. I don't trust Rudy T with handleing old star players out of their prime ie Barkley, Pippen, Dream, and now Rice. IMO Our team would be better if we had a younger more athletic SF even if he can't shoot 3's as good as Rice and Williams but could rebound and run better.
WHile I agree with you, he is getting more minutes this year and has enough shots to average what he got last year, around 12 ppg. The problem, which I do hope will change, is just bad shooting. He's shooting 38% from the field and a pathetic 22% from the 3-pt line. If those improve to close to 45% and 40% respectively, then I will be very happy with the acquisition. If not...well then let him gripe all he wants about a trade and maybe we can get one done.
Glen Rice, Shandon Anderson min-- 30.5, 23.7 pts-- 8.4, 7.9 reb-- 2.3, 3.4 asst-- 1.4, 1.1 stl-- .8, 1.1 FG-- 39%, 49% FT-- 79%, 71% 3p-- 22%, 31%
<i>I am tired of explaining this to my friends. Everyone is waiting for Rice to bust out and become a consistent 15-18 point scorer. Well it ain't gonna happen. He has struggled for the last 2 years with his game because he has little left. And the bad thing is he and many fans around think he still has it. He doesn't. What is worse is that he thinks he still has it and when he isn't scoring in the hi teens he will start griping and then will demand a trade. I predicted this to my friends as soon as the trade went down and it will happen. </i> I've gotta disagree here. Parts of his game may slip, but shooters can always shoot. I can't think of any great shooters that all of a sudden couldn't hit an open jumper any more. That's why guys like Dale Ellis, Dell Curry and Eddie Johnson can play so long. Dale Ellis lost his post up ability and slowed down alot, but he could always stick the outside shot. Rice might be in a shooting slump right now, but I don't believe that he won't snap out of it and if he starts hitting outside shots, then he'll be of great value to the Rockets. They're not looking for him to carry the offense. All they are looking for him to do is to stick the outside shot when he's open. Am I missing an obvious example of a great shooter that lost the ability to hit an open shot? I can't come up with any.
I think Rice is having the same problem Walt Williams had. I've got a clue as to why, but it's no more than a guess. Is it possible that Rice is struggling because he's used to getting more shots? After all, most great shooters will talk a great deal about establishing a shooting rhythm. Well, rhythms are pretty hard to establish when you're not getting the ball often. Then when Rice does get the ball, he's perhaps less likely to make a smart decision, since he's worried that he might not get it back. Rice is a veteran, but he's got something to prove now. Maybe he's simply feeling a little rushed, a little pressured, and is forcing his shots. In the past, Rockets shooters have benefited from having a great center that can dish them the ball when they're open. Well, now Houston operates with two guards who really like to score. Shooters just aren't going to get a lot of shots, since whatever Steve and Cuttino AREN'T doing is going to be channeled through our relatively weak post game. After all, we need to maintain some sort of threat. So shooters serve as a safety valve for the Rockets offense. They need to be there to keep the lanes open, or get the open shot after a dish from our Absurdly Talented Passing PF, KT. But they're not a featured part of the offense. maybe, instead of getting a premier former star, it would have been better to get a 3pt specialist who doesn't need the ball as much.
Well at least Rice is happy to be here. Shandon Anderson always complained about the offense etc.. The Rockets improved in team morale at the least.
Rice might be in a shooting slump right now, but I don't believe that he won't snap out of it and if he starts hitting outside shots, then he'll be of great value to the Rockets. Parts of his game may slip, but shooters can always shoot. I can't think of any great shooters that all of a sudden couldn't hit an open jumper any more. I agree with you that usually shooters can always shoot. But what about injury prone players like Dan Majerle and players who have shooting in their blood but their bodies just won't allow them to do it anymore on a consistent basis. Rice is aged and his body will not allow him to get the lift he was used to as a shooter. This is why he will not be the shooter he was before his 1 trade a year career. As far as you saying Rice is in a shooting slump. All I have to do is laugh because he is the same player right now that he has been in New York and LA for the past 2 years. If a player can't shoot for 2 and 1/4 years then it is not a shooting slump but a permanent part of the players game. Also, In the past, Rockets shooters have benefited from having a great center that can dish them the ball when they're open. Well, now Houston operates with two guards who really like to score. Shooters just aren't going to get a lot of shots, I think Rice's time in LA with the best center in the game today(Shaq) drawing triple teams and Rice still not good enough to average more than 10-12 points should refute this being the cause of Rice's problem.
So, as I said at the top, would everyone rather have our rookies getting more minutes instead of Rice or do the Rockets give him a little longer to get used to the system? By the way, for those that are jumping on Rice for complaining about minutes and demanding trades, he has done not of that and I don't think we should criticize him for that until he does.
I'll tell you one thing: I was at the game 90 minutes early to take my nephew to a celebration for boy scouts. Rice did not take the court once. So, does he shoot earlier in the day to warm up? Does he shoot in private? Reggie Miller and Bird would shoot jumpers for 2 hours before each game. Maybe Rice is doing it in private. Or maybe he is getting pregame foot treatment, so he doesn't shoot now? I don't know, but I thought it was odd.
I think Rice's time in LA with the best center in the game today(Shaq) drawing triple teams and Rice still not good enough to average more than 10-12 points should refute this being the cause of Rice's problem. To have Glen be able to score 12 points a night with Kobe and Shaq one-upping each other during the course of the season is, in my opinion, an indicator that he is, in fact, the scorer that he was and can be in Charlotte. Teelo you are correct in my opinion that he will not be the scorer that he once was. However, it's not due to his knees, (has he had knee problems? My recollection may have failed me) but because he was the elite scorer on his first two teams, whereas he was relegated to a complimentary role with the Lakers, Knicks, and now our Rockets. He's getting less than ten shots a game. Figure he hits four of them and there's his output. We have Steve and Cuttino getting the gist of our shots. If we are going to complain about Rice's contributions, we should damn sure know why we are complaining. My only concerns are his shooting percentages. He should be getting more shots, which in turn, should enable him to get more into the flow. However, if our "go-to" guys are getting the bulk of the looks and shooting them, are we confusing our purpose for Glen Rice? He's here to COMPLIMENT our two guards and help keep the lanes open. If teams start solely focusing on Steve's and Cuttino's penetration, I believe, IMO, that Glen's stats (for those of you concerned) will become easier on the eye.
Rice played 37 minutes against the Mavs and was one for five! That seems really weird to me for a shooter/scorer to play that many minutes in a blowout game, yet and get off only 5 official attempts.
Okay first of all, you aint got no friends biatch. I dont think Rice is going to start whinning any time soon. Actually I dont think he is going to whine period. He has been saying the right things so far. I dont expect him to become a 20 + ppg scorer again. I dont think anyone does. All he has to do is shoot wide open threes. Shooting has been down for the entire league this year. Granted Rice is not even making most of his open shots, but I think we should give him a little more then 10 games? Also tell that NY'r thanks for taking Shandon off of our hands. I rather have Rice for three years 30 mill then Shandon for 7 yr 42 mill. Nothing personal against Shandon, but he cant shoot worth a ****. He doesnt fit our system and I dont think NY has a system, so he fits perfectly over there
Yo mama is my friend. As a matter of fact so is your daddy. And your brother. And your girl. But you ain't.
hehe, teeloo This reminds me of a Soprano's reference from episode 2 2nd season. One guy goes, "Shut the f*** up, you white ass mother******!." Mobster, "Well, if you could keep your mother off the streets, I wouldn't be ****ing her." sorry...that one made me laugh.
I think the only way he'll want to get those shots is to give him a reason to want them. I say we let him run the floor have some fun. If he really thinks he has it give it to him.... We did that with dream the later half of the season and he improved. Let's see if Rice really has what he says he has. Give it to him and see if he brings it on!!!
