It seems like everyone wants the moon to go with the sun and the stars the Rockets already have in Yao and T-Mac. But, let's look at the reality here. Free agency has been sick. If we paid Derek Fisher $37 million for 6 years or gave Barry $24 million over 4, that would mean these guys would be clearing $14 million (or thereabouts) when they are 30-freaking-seven! I mean, if you guys think Mo Taylor is getting too much, what the hell would you say about a 37-year-old broken down point guard getting probably twenty percent of the salary cap? You also have to remember that this is the last year of the collective bargaining agreement and we are less than two years away from the end of the NBA's tv deal with ABC/ESPN. No one has a clue what is going to happen next offseason. Hunter is telling the union to prepare for a lockout. The television deal is expected to DECREASE meaning revenues are going to go down which directly effect salary cap numbers. The less revenue, the lower the cap number. Most importantly, we are all assuming that Yao and T-Mac aren't enough. Shaq and Kobe with no real power forward, an average three and a solid if unspectacular point guard dominated the NBA for several years. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen weren't exactly surrounded by All-Stars. The Spurs routinely go into the season with a lack of depth, particularly on the offensive end. If not for Ginobili (who came out of nowhere), they would have had almost no offense last year and STILL managed to contend because of Duncan, Parker and fierce defense. The freakin' PISTONS beat the Lakers this year without a superstar on the roster. We've got two guys in their early 20's - one of whom is already arguably in the top 5 in the league among ALL players and another who is already the second best center in the game. We've got probably 10 years of these guys working together. I mean, I know that this is the age of complete and total impatience, but you guys seriously need to chill. I'm not real thrilled going into the season with Lue and possibly Charlie Ward as our point guards, but better that than an overpriced Barry or Fisher who will probably be seriously slowing down right about the time this team is ready to really contend for a title. And, with the complete and total lack of centers out west, I really don't have a problem going into the season with our backup 5 being a combination of Taylor, Howard and Weatherspoon. Yeah, they're undersized, but who the hell isn't? This is a league loaded with fours masquerading as fives and we've got one of the best fives on the planet. If his backup is a power forward, big deal. Giving Howard and/or Taylor 15 minutes at the center spot every night isn't the end of the world. I just think, at times, the Rockets are damned if they do, damned if they don't. They just went out and made one of the biggest deals of the summer (the biggest in any other offseason) and acquired one of the best players in the league to pair with Yao and all we can worry about is not signing Carlos Arroyo? Pardon me if I don't freak out.
I know we shouldn't expect to get a great PG, but Ward? It better be for the minimum, no longer than 2 years.
I agree to a point. Yao? Love him. He's #2. There is a great gulf, bigger than the GoM, between him and Shaq. Miami is even money to come out of the East -- due to Shaq. There are no FA deals which have upset me that the Rox missed. There are trade possibilities that excite me. Chicago with 1 year of experience between Hinrich/Gordon? If Duhon makes the team that's three guys with one total year of league experience. Get Hinrich. Or Crawford. They are gettable. Maloofs want to slash payroll? Get me Bibby. NJ Rats are slashing and toppling a fine team? Get me Kidd. Sure, those are pipe dream guys but there are deals out there and they result in better choices than Charlie 'In with the New and out with the Old Testament' Ward. He might be redeemable if he had game, but at his best he was a marginal baller. Eight teams in the West are pretenders for home court. Spurs a lock. A couple more teams are lurking. FA spending has been 'wild' due, in part, to competitive balance. This Rox team may not need another All Star, or even star, but it needs upgrades at the 1, starting 4, and back up 5(s). It needs roster 'balancing'. TMc is yesterday's news. This team needs some 'today' news, too.
I am glad that he's a classy guy and you know he's going to work hard. Anyone have an opinion on Ward's defense?
Jeff, this is obviously the voice of reason. But it's the offseason, what the heck else are we going to do?
ward is not that bad. EVERYONE IS JUST SAYING THAT CAUSE HE SAT IN SA. He could of not fit in the system for all we know. HIs stats are not that bad. Oh well live with it.
have no problem playing the waiting game either. I just hope that the guys can gel and have some chemistry coming out of the block. Whoever is at the point will need to fit and not blow up the flow and chemistry of the offense. Lue - the verdict is still out on this guy. He may blossom, he may not, he should at least be given a chance seeing that he played with T-Mac this past year and undestands where he likes to get the ball. This team is slowly shaping into form. WIP (we just need a little patience)
I guess, as long as Yao can play more minutes than he did in the past and be more dominant then we will be right. I mean, nobody can compete with Shaq, it doesnt matter who is on the team he is going to dominate, so you kind of expect that from the lakers because of him. If all it comes down to Tmac, than how can we expect any more than what happened to Magic the last couple of seasons??
Amen. I just can't handle the GARM in the offseason...let alone during the season too. (for the past couple of years). I do stumble in here though hoping to find a good read.
All I need to know about Charlie Ward.... 2003-04 playoff minutes: Jason Hart....62 Ward....13 And Popovic's inside-out offense is radically different from Van Gundy's in which ways?
I don't mean to call you out xiki, but I keep hear people repeat the dogma that we need a better starting 4 than Howard. Name seven non-max power forwards that are better than Juwon Howard. Now cross out anybody on a rookie contract, coming off a big injury, or over the age of 35, and ask yourself who the heck is really available? Howard is a HUGE upgrade at PF over Cato. We'll miss Cato's minutes at C, but that can be replaced. The grass is always greener guys. This isn't fantasy basketball, it's the NBA.
like i said above maybe he didnt fit in their system. Tell me why u think he is bad besides judging him on minutes played. Half the bbs think boki is the sh@t yet he plays hardly. And no im not saying charlie ward is a damn good point, i just dont see how yall think he is garbage.
