First of all, you cannot trade Mobley (even though I've heard, he's a whinney, selfish, arrogant player in the off-season, as well) because of the undeniable scoring and defensive abilities that he encompasses. His contract is also very reasonable and he can, plain and simple, put the ball in the basket. Really, a 6-4 left-handed shooting guard with his slashing(finishing) abilities is hard to match, period. Second, please hold on Eddie. Listen up people, he's only 20. He has the physical gifts one could dream of. Question is 'does he have the desire?', hopefully so. I say, let JVG make whatever decisions he wants that fit with HIS vision of a basketball TEAM. I heard tonight that Eric Piatkowski (spelling) is being looked at by the Roxs, as well as one other whose name has slipped my mind. Piatkowski would be a good reserve, IMHO. The more shooters the better. All things considered, bring in Rasheed, as long as you keep Yao, Stevie, Cat and Cato. (oh, yes, most definitely Kelvin) Peace
I just considered all things and I'm not sure how you intend to steal Rasheed from Portland. Perhaps your thinking Eddie and Rice (youth and an expiring contract) for Rasheed? I don't think that there is anyway that you make a deal, especially for someone of Sheed's caliber, without giving up Mobes. Before you rebut, please make note that I did consider all things...
Maybe so, but Terrence Morris, Maurice Taylor (even though, I hate to see him go), Jason Collier and a future pick might be enough. Remember Patterson is the GM.
Terence Morris is currently not a Houston Rocket anymore...and neither is Jason Collier. But maybe Patterson as a GM might influence some decisions...
Bingo! You hit the nail on the head! Cat's driving game was taken away from him when the league allowed zone defenses. Ditto for the "Franchise". These two jokers never realized that fact. This team needs consistent jumpshooters who can hit medium range shots to 3-pointers. At present, Rice is your only true shooter and he's a statue on defense. Their poor shooting ability kills them when the opposing team simply packs down into a zone and dares them to shoot. That's why they struggled to score last year. It's also why I am lukewarm on JVG as coach. I'm afraid he'll run the Knicks/Heat offense which was another scoring challenged offensive scheme. You run that crap in this conference, you might as well get ready to watch the playoffs at home for a 5th straight year.
Has Patterson recently undergone a combination labotomy/exopticum surgical procedure that hasn't hit the papers?
true, true. forgot about collier undermining himself (complaining about playing time), what a joke. anyway, try to land rasheed. If not, we're fairly solid.
imo, there are three types of players wrt trades: 1. the untradeable 2. on the block with a high reserve 3. going to the highest bidder Mobley is not #3. His high reserve will probably not be met by the highest bidder, because his reserve is so much higher than his contract's trade value. Griffin is not #3, either, and he might not be traded because his potential still sets his reserve pretty high. imo, there are also two types of trade rumors, 1. rumors about the #3 type of players, and 2. rumors confusing the high reserve #2 players with a #3 player, as if a very common GM manuever of saying "No, he's not 'untradeable'" means a trade is immenent or must happen. MacBeth, I think your news is of the Type #2 rumors.
Well HP, Moochie and Taylor are untradeable too...not in a good way, though. I guess they'd be "4" , deadweight until contract year
I say to everyone on this board who wishes Cat gone, be careful what you wish for you, you just might get it. Even though I agree he shoots far too much and his decision-making in some (make that a lot) really, really stinks, he is a left-handed guard who by virture of his southpaw orientation makes him a tough cover. Who would you get to replace him who would be an upgrade yet not cost the Rox more money in salary? Most people of his caliber and better are getting bigger paychecks. Life without Cat could be much tougher than life with him on the squad.
I meant #1 as "Untouchable." So, I'd agree with a #4 as "Untradeable" in that their contract imposes such a high reserve that we'd never find a highest bidder that would give us anything but a bunch of worthless contracts back. However, MoT returning to form could make him a #3 pretty quickly for a team with excess of defender/rebounders willing to part with one for a legitimate Corliss Williamson/Rodney Rogers type 6th man scoring big forward.
I for one would not mind seeing Cat or Franchise gone as they are totally selfish, play no D, and make bonehead decisions in critical stages of games. If they're so good, how come the Rockets are only an above average team at best???
Subtract the last paragraph and you've just said what i've been stressing. The PROBLEM IS STEVE!!! And I will break this down from the begining of "The Dynasty". When Yao arrived in Houston via the #1 pick, Francis wanted almost no part of it; and you could see it in the way he acted/reacted towards it all. Instead of embracing his new teammate like a true professional, he found the thought of playing with Yao comical. Which is what I saw as a complete lack of knowledge (about Yao's game), and just plain ignorance! For a greater part of the season, you could see that Steve looked at Yao as an embaressment to him, and somone who he thought would tarnish his persona......errr..............EGO!!! It wasnt untill the memorible moment when Cat hugged Yao on the court (even to Yao's suprise), that Steve began to realize Yao's potential. But even then the chemistry never got through to francis. I'm sure francis felt out of place at that moment due to him not being part of the chemistry. (somthing the number hungy francis knows nothing about) Then the fool "mighty mouse" goes into the all star break stepping on Cat's toes, saying he feels he would be better fitted at the 2. Who's ground is that? And you don't think Mobely was PISSED OFF about that!!!! From that point on, they never seemed to mesh well in the backcourt. And who is Francis anyway? All decked out like a CLOWN, getting advice from Oscar Robinson!!! Like Oscar gives two sh*ts about "mighty mouse"!! Everyone's talking about Cat always jackin up shots, but how about steve's on the court ANTICS!!! First and foremost, overall sloppy play. And how about "mm" trying to take it to the rack against 3 and 4 defenders. Granted, in the early part of the season the refs were giving "mm" the benefit with the foul, but the ladder part of the year they caught on to his "circus act" which to led to him crying to the refs. egn
And that's with YAO!!!! Let me remind you that we were a bottom dweller before the heavens opened up and we were blessed with the #1 pick If you had AI instead of "mighty mouse", throw in some decent role players, and you would have an instant title contender!!! francis = pretender
These are some great observations. Personally, i like Cat. I don't know why people are so hard on him. From what I understand, Cat played most of last season with a bad foot and some weak ankles. My guess is that a healthy Cat would easily get back to more respectable FG%s. And compared to SF, I think Cat is still the better defender. Where Cat has some shortcomings is his 'physical' dimensions. Like SF, Cat is not all that tall (for a guard). Against bigger 2 guards, Cat has some trouble, and often resorts to fouling shooters on the wrist. Unfortunately, height is not something a player can learn. Yet I do think Cat makes more than up for it with his work ethic on defense and his offensive skills. One 'role' I do see Cat excelling at is as a sort of "sixth man" ala Aaron McKie. Let Cat play the point and also shooting guard by rotating minutes back to him. I like seeing Cat bring the ball up, and we all know how good he is in the open floor. theSAGE
Personally, I would like to see the Rockets stand pat and see what JVG can do. Cat is a good player, he just needs to be more selective on his shot selection, something JVG can make him believe. If not, then ship him out before the trading deadline mid-season. I am a firm believer in Eddie becoming more of a force and slashing to the basket ala Camby while Yao is posted up. Yao is still 22 and Eddie is still 20. The potential has yet to be tapped. I would hate to Eddie start to blossom on another team. Time is on our side... I hear that JVG is intrigued by Boki. Hopefully 10-15 minutes a game would help him develop more. The only players I would get rid of is Mo, Moochie and Collier. I was never a huge fan of Mo's, as he is one dimensional. We have plenty of people who can put the ball in the basket. Norris hasn't been the same guy since he got is deal. $4 mil for an average backup PG who played sparingly last year? As for Collier, everyone is always looking for size. Another thing to help some of the average defenders on our team is play a little zone here and there. I don't know if JVG would go for it, but think of the different possibilities. We have 3 shotblockers. It could also help our anemic running game. I would also keep Glen, because he can still shoot the ball, just not as well as before, but after seeing Steve Kerr in the Conference and NBA Finals...you get the point. Plus isn't he in the last year of his big contract? I am looking forward to next year. We are in a murderous conference, but I still believe.
From Matt Goukas's q&A on MSNCB's sports section. I don't know the quality of what Goukas is "hearing around the league", but if JVG wants to give Francis more minutes at the 2, then the Ollie inquiry and Mobley shopping is completely consistent. Matt, Do you feel the Rockets made the right choice in selecting Jeff Van Gundy as their new coach and what do you feel Houston’s major needs are? Thanks from Darrow E. Dodson Beaumont, Texas Darrow, 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 traditional 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.
