http://msnbc.com/news/934573.asp MSNBC.COM Van Gundy’s coaching formula, which is taken from his mentor, Pat Riley, may be unappealing to many NBA fans, but it happens to be the best way to win in the league. It includes keeping possessions down, running when possible, utilizing a big man by punching the ball in and then playing off him and making sure to get back in transition defense. All these things result in keeping the scoring down, but that’s a solid way to pick up a win. Van Gundy is a tireless worker and an intense competitor. From what I’m hearing, Van Gundy would prefer to add a more additional point guard and move Steve Francis into a role where he can shoot a lot and score points. I think that would be a wise decision. It would leave shooting guard Cuttino Mobley coming off the bench or, if he won’t accept that, with another team. The Rockets must also settle on a power forward, an especially important role since there are so many outstanding players at that position in the Western Conference. I can’t see third-year pro Eddie Griffin lasting very long with Van Gundy given his attitude, demeanor and type of game. I’m not saying Griffin’s game can’t change because I think it can, but certainly he needs to show more spark. With the retirement of John Stockton from the Jazz, Utah could be the team from last year’s Western Conference playoff field that doesn’t make it back to the postseason next spring. That opens the door for Houston to make the playoffs.
Hmm...what "more traditional point guard" is available by trade? Can't think of many. Jason Williams - Memphis wants to unload max contract Earl Watson - resigned by Memphis - move in larger deal? Eric Snow - rumored every year Alvin Williams - ? actually, I can't see why they'd move him Troy Hudson - Cassell in, Hudson law trouble ? Naw. Jeff McInnis - maybe part of bigger deal to clean Portland ? Damon Stodemire - yeah, they want him gone. Travis Best - FA, Miami deal? Rod Strickland - see above? Mark Jackson - FA not much there. I can't see how that speculation works. There aren't very many pgs out there with any value, and we can't get them. Better off leaving that alone.
The only one who fits the Rockets would be Alvin Williams. But the Raptors are not planning on giving him up.... I don't want Eric Snow.. The rest of them are too small to play with Steve.. WE COULD become a very good team. I think our defense will be great and will hopefully shut down teams. But I'm kinda worried about our offense...
I don't understand why Van Gundy's teams are supposed to be boring. I loved watching the Knicks during Van Gundy's tenure.
Mark Jackson would be the perfect addition to this team. Vetran, won't take a lot of minutes away from anybody, gone next year, and knows how to get the ball to people.
We need to get our hands on Jeff McInnis or Eric Snow. Even if it's as a backup role, we need one of these guys to have a different look at PG. We should try for Snow, but their team is TOO well balanced. I mean, there's no position where they may want to change, except C, where they JUST re-signed Coleman, so that's out of the picture. Unless they're interested in acquiring an expiring contract and Mobley for Snow and McKie?
Sane - I also like Snow and McInnis but.... The Sixers have almost $7m more in salaries than the Rockets for the next two seasons (primary diff is KT's contract). They have little to no need for an expiring contract as it would not put them below the cap to bid for FA's. My hunch is that the Blazers will try to move Stoudamire as he has two more seasons and make McInnis the starter. To the right team, Stoudamire could have some value at the Feb trade deadline. I am not aware of McInnis ever being in Mo Cheeks' doghouse.
Actually, I agree Gater. Snow is probably impossible to get. As for McInnis, I mean, he's not untouchable, but like you said, he's definitely not on the block. Especially not now that Daniels and Pippen are both gone. Maybe in a package deal for Patterson? One negative thing I DID hear abotu McInnis is that he's not the best teammate in the lockerroom for Portland. I don't know if that's true or not, but it's what I heard. If Portland are trying to cut salary, maybe they'd consider Patterson (around 4.5M) and McInnis (around 3M) for Rice? I mean, now that we have Pike, and we plan on giving Boki some playing time, maybe we can lose Rice? I think this trade would also allow us to sign one more FA< despite already having 12 players, and that player could be Steve Smith maybe? All I know is, we NEED someone pass-first and with a GREAT asst:to ratio on this team at the point.
I like that proposal a lot, but I doubt Portland is trying to cut salary so much that they actually do it.
Sane - I heard that about McInnis also. But since both Taylor and Piatkowki played with him on the Clipps, it would be easy to verify. IMO, the contract (other than Stoudamire's) that Portland would most like to move is Derek Anderson's. Anderson's remaining contract is nearly identical to Taylor's 4 years/ ~$35m. I don't see a use for Derek unless Mobley is shipped out. The more I think about it, the more attractive 1 year of Mark Jackson sounds.
Chicago trades: SF Eddie Robinson (5.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.0 apg in 21.2 minutes) PG Jamal Crawford (10.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.2 apg in 24.9 minutes) Chicago receives: SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 16.8 minutes) Change in team outlook: +5.4 ppg, +0.7 rpg, and +0.1 apg. Houston trades: SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) PG Moochie Norris (4.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 16.8 minutes) Houston receives: SF Eddie Robinson (5.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.0 apg in 64 games) PG Jamal Crawford (10.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.2 apg in 80 games) Change in team outlook: -5.4 ppg, -0.7 rpg, and -0.1 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED
I never understood the love affair with Eric Snow, he's a solid player that's it. People talk about how the Rockets offense is boring and slow, well Philadelphia's is WORSE. If not for being the East they wouldn't be any better, probably worse, then the Rockets. Besides why would Philadelphia trade Snow when they need a PG? Trading for Mobley would give them two 2-Guards in the backcourt.
Re : po land I can't see any way to get McInnis. Why would they give him up? Most of the bloat has 2 years to run.(Sabonis, D. Davis, Stodemire) Wallace only this year. They can let them all walk. Then they'd need a center and another point behind McInnis. All signs are McInnis in, Stodemire out. DA is promoted heavily as a good-guy star for the team. If they trade him, it would need to be a sweet deal for them. Something Better than Cat, I'd think. ON the other hand ... DA has 4 years at 7.5 rising. Still don't see him moving.
The reason I think we can get McInnis is because there is NO WAY they move Stoudamire. They've been trying for 2 seasons and 2 offseasons now. I thought Derek Anderson was on a contract that he signed based on the MLE? Wow, if he's making MoT money, maybe we should go for him? He averaged around 5 ASSISTS PER GAME, from the SG and SF position. Mobley Rice for Patterson Derek Anderson McInnis Would they look at something like that? Were giving them 2 GREAT contracts, while taking a bad one, a decent one, and a great one, but obviously, they're giving up more talent than we are. Those are the reprecussions of having players with baggage though, their value goes down in trade. Yao/Cato Griffin/MoT Patterson/Griffin/Boki Anderson/Pike Francis/McInnis/Moochie Patterson, A Griffin and Jeff McInnis add enough TOUGHNESS and hard work to the team so that I would be comfy with a slightly soft PF rotation of MoT and Griffin. Wow, those 3 are truly JVG type players too. How I'd love to see that happen. I'd probably even send them a draft pick. Such a HARDWORKING and talented roster.
