Grow up. You're funny. I want Stro to do well because I want the Rockets to succeed. As long as he plays for us, I wish Stro the best. I salivated some during the preseason when he showed flashes of ability, but I was crushed when he spaced out after the regular season started. The last 2 games are fine and if he keeps improving, great. Let's see a couple of 20/10s (or maybe just 1) or a string of 8 good games out of 10 before getting too excited. I would be delighted if Stro developed into a reliable player for us and finally became the player people have been waiting for the last 5 years.
I sure hope he's turned a corner because we really need him. IMO the thing, other than injuries, that's holding us back is lack of athleticism among the supporting players. If Stro can play smart and with energy it will take a lot of pressure off of Yao down low.
If this is "turning the corner," Stro has turned bout 50 corners in his NBA careers. Wait until he puts together, say, 30 games together where he looks good. Swift's improvement, should it come, will be gradual. Hopefully, at some point, he'll mature into the athletic PF we need. Right now, any good game is a portent for optimism - but any talk of him turning the corner is premature.
First of all, I have been very down on Swift. I have been putting him in as "filler" in many trade scenarios. I just got to the point where I didn't think he could help this team. However, I must admit I've been rather impressed the last couple of games. He seems more calm, he seems like he's more comfortable with the players around him, he's been in better position on defense (hasn't put himself in bad situations by jumping at every pumpfake), and most of all he has looked like he actually cares. I think for the time being, he should come off the bench. That's how he's been helping, and Juwan hasn't been doing BAD, so I wouldn't change the rotation just yet.
i'm surprised at Swift's ability to string two 'good' games in a row, and i sincerely hope that this trend continues. is anyone else kinda curious about Baxter? i haven't been able to watch more than 3 or 4 full games this year, so i haven't been able to watch him when JVG actually puts him in. honestly, i'd like to see baxter get some quality minutes for once, and see if he can rebound like a hoss. he has the big body and the chip on his shoulder - i'm sure that whatever talent he's giving up to Stro, he certainly makes it up w/ his drive/energy. he reminds me of a bigger Othella. it's good to see Stro picking up his game, and i'm sure i have no idea what goes in practice, but, nevertheless, i'd still like to see what Lonny can do w/ bigtime minutes in a real game. maybe i should've started a new thread for this...
knowing JVG, he will not start swift. So forget about him starting anytime soon. It looks like swift is improving on his rebounding skills. I saw him box out and out jump his opponent for the rebound. One thing i would like for Stro to improve on is finishing those jump hooks. It looks like he always rushes the shot up. If he can make those 4-5 feet shots away from the basket then he can be a 20 pt scorer.
It was reported that SS has been taking extra practices with Ewing so JVG has probably taken note of the guys effort and rewarded him with more playing time, he has been working on that baby jump hook shot that should be money for a guy that can jump out of the building like he can. He has played better the past 2 games in all facets of the game so he may be getting there. Like a lot of people I was discouraged by his play and I was wondering why CD wanted him so badly, maybe just maybe he is showing that ability now.
Well, as far as I am concerned, I just look at the points in the last three games when the Rockets 'won' the games. In other words, who was on the floor and what was happening at the point in those games in which the Rox got over the hump, put the game away, beat-down the opponents. I have been noticing lately that Stro has been more and more a part of the group on the floor during those moments. So it's not just Stro as such, but the group that seems to be meshing fairly well includes him in it. It's looking to me like the group of Head, DA, TMac, Stro and Yao comprise our strongest unit lately. Would the team be better served by having that group starting the game? Perhaps not. JHO, DW, (and JB, Sura and Alston when they come back) all will be contributors. One thing we have noticed with JVG teams is that the team that starts the year for him rarely resembles the team that finishes the season. So who knows what's gonna happen? But, over the last three games at least, it has been pretty clear that Stro has begun to play more effectively. If he continues that trend, then it is likely that Stro will take over the starting 4 spot eventually. But no, it probably should not be rushed just yet.
The learning curve for Sto on JVG's defense clearly is steep. He is getting better by the game though. To me what I have noticed is 1) he isnt getting out of position defensively nearly as much and 2) is taking less bad shots/turning it over. Because of this, he is playing more minutes and being more of a factor. Stro still has a ways to go, but he is playing better "team" basketball right now which is complimenting the other players. Right now I think JVG has a nice "bench" rotation of Head/Anderson/Swift and likes those guys coming off the bench. I am sure he will stick with that while it is working.
I think Van Gundy has turned the corner moreso than Swift. He’s finally letting Swift play through his mistakes. I think he’s starting to realize what strengths Swift brings to the team and starting to accept what weaknesses he’ll always have. He’s always going to be mistake prone, but as long as he brings energy and athleticism (which he has all season), he’s an asset to the team. Van Gundy is the type of coach that has preferred the more laid back, conservative players that don’t take risks and don’t make mistakes (Howard, Wesley, etc.). But I think he’s starting to realize, with the absence of Sura, how important having energy players on the floor like Swift, Head, and Bowen are. Swift may do a lot of boneheaded things on the floor, Head may make a lot of rookie mistakes, and Bowen may shoot a lot of airballs. But at least they are all active and always making something happen, good or bad.
I think that's a great point. When the Rox turned things around last year it had a lot to do with JVG letting go of his ball control slow it down offense. So unlike widely held view JVG isn't as stubborn as he thinks. This might be a matter of him just getting used to and having a sense of what his players can and can't do. Maybe he's figured out that Stro will be occasionally boneheaded but he can work around it.
Stro got more minutes than Howard - and got to close the game out - because Yao fouled out. Deke did play some center, but so did Stro. I think a good number of Stro's minutes were as back-up center and not PF.
No...You have it all wrong! Stro wasn`t the problem! JVG was the problem and JVG is the one that turned the corner.
I think Stro will be starting by the middle of the season. The chemistry between Stro and Yao looks very good especially since Yao is so slow. The two things I really like about Stro is his ability to block shots and his ability to play the 4 and the 5. I know Stro has had a slow start but at the same time how did Howard start last year and how did he finish. I am going to be patient when it comes to evaluting Stro right now.
