Here are some paraphrased answers that I jotted down for y'all at work. On his "Allan Houston Rule" waiver: Getting paid by Portland over a four year span. You’d think someone would want to get more, double dip, but this situation in Houston gives me a chance to win championships. On fitting in on the team: Fitting in is easy. I’m a basketball player. You want a challenge, you want to work, and if someone thinks they're better than you it's going to make the team better. It’s all about winning a championship, and that’s what I want. Depth/teammates: I want to win, it's not about anything else. At this point you want to find stability. I've played with Sura, James before, at this point in our careers everybody’s good and has a little money, now let’s play basketball. On Portland: They want to go young and that's why the vets are leaving. On what position he'll play: I can play anywhere, 1,2, sometimes 3, that’s not an issue. On getting a high shooting percentage without being a go-to guy: You’ve got a team now, with less shots you have to make shots count. When you look at end of game situations when shots count, I’ve made those. Now you've got two guys in Tracy and Yao who make the game easier. On whether playing for JVG was a factor in his decision to come: I knew he was a disciplinarian, you need that to win in this league. He doesn’t care about getting fired or anything, he wants to win, and that’s what you need to win. JVG’s fine for calling out refs: Enhanced his rep around the NBA with players? You need that. When he does that, he’s taking up for his team. Make sure players aren’t frustrated so that it affects the way they play, but he doesn't do it to much, either. And that's it!
I didn't catch the interview until after it had already started. Here's what I got of the interview: click here to download the interview I don't know why it was so muffled this time. Will try to fix it.
I must say DA knows how to deliver an interview... paraphrasing his classic, honest comments: Injuries from last year: - I didn't have any injuries last year, they just wanted to go young About getting money from Portland (belittling the fact that he took less here): - Doesn't matter how much money you're making if you have an opportunity to double dip you do it, but I want to win now His shooting percentage: - If you watch my games, I made the meaningful shots but you take/miss meaningless shots when there's less talent and no continuity with the rotation and the shots you get Being a journeyman: - Disagreed...said cleveland moved him as a contract extension issue, said San Antonio was his desired destination but another contract problem led to Portland...Portland was never a desired destination so now he's here....basically said when you remove the business side of NBA he's not a journeyman as a basketball player
You know, I wondered if he was actually hurt last season. They didn't really need to give him minutes....especially if he came across with a 'tude on them. Of course, you're not a Trailblazer if you don't have an attitude. (And a bag of ganja?)
OMG Charlie Ward is so gone lol. For those who missed it, CD was asked what he would do about the 8 guards on the roster and he goes "I only count 7". They then listed the guards for him and he was basically like "oh...well, we hope Charlie can come back and be healthy", etc. He didn't even count him lol.
"I counted 7 guards....wait 8..." lol CD you crack me up. Way to let someone go, by forgetting about them.
CD said some interesting things. A couple items that stuck out for me: He basically acknowledged that CWard is done. This is the first summer Yao has got some rest and Rockets staff has been there working with him. He expects to see a different Yao this season. Said that DA was one of the most underrated passers in the league.
Ha ha, it was hilarious that he completely forgot about Ward. I'd say it's a pretty safe assumption that Charlie Ward ain't gonna see any playing time this year. I think CD said Thibideau is flying over to China every two weeks to monitor Yao's progress. CD said that Yao is getting the chance to "work on some things he's never had a chance to work on before" and that he expected to see "a different Yao Ming" this season because of it. Don't we all, pal! In any case, the Rockets certainly don't seem to have simply waved Yao goodbye for the summer and hoped for the best. They're completely active in what he's doing back home right now. He also gave quick updates on Howard and Sura's health. Howard has been cleared to start working back into shape recently. Apparently he had been wearing a heart monitor all offseason and hadn't been allowed to get his heart rate over 140 bpm or so. CD said it appears that Sura's knee is going well and that he's rehabbing it "the right way," but acknowledged that it's difficult to guage how hurt Sura is because he never shows pain and simply plays harder than anyone thought possible. CD mentioned that everyone was stunned Sura was able to even walk on to the court during the playoffs last season, but that Bob is so tough that he generally plays 20% above health-based predicitions.
Clutch, put this picture in the front page. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/photo?photoId=849588&team=hou
it's funny that JVG and CD weren't even counting Vin Baker and Ward at a time when we're talking about 2 for 1's ... i guess it's a matter of who we'll get in return lol also kinda said that CD didn't know how the NBDL is run ... it reminded me of an article by rosenbaum where he discusses how teams with statisticians and intelligent guys doing peripheral tasks (researching the cap, the NBDL, overseas talent, etc.) have developed an upper hand since trades are no longer about talent for talent (probably 20% of the trades are "talent for talent" now ... most are for future positioning, sign and trade, accomodating salaries, avoiding taxes, etc) ... an important topic that warrants its own thread ...
Click here to listen to the CD interview Unfortunately, there is a spot of silence because of buffering, but I don't think I missed much. I was unable to capture the JVG interview.
lol. I feel bad CD had er... a little mental lapse there, but it is funny. I liked the fact that he mentioned DA's passing skills are underrated, because clearly that's a weakness on our team. Regarding Yao it sounds like all the reports are favorable. "A whole new Yao Ming" is something the entire league doesn't even want to think about. If that happens we're as good as anyone, and SA had better get ready to sweat through an entire season they way they haven't in years. Oh, and those of us who have maintained that another move is coming for the last couple of days might want to take a premature bow.
