Another Webbeer thread, I know. And my gut says he'll be a Knick, but the Rockets have an uncanny ability to get players you wouldn't expect. That said, is it the "dump-it-in-kick-it-out-bore-the-fans-to-tears" offense all over again? Is it Webber in the post and kick it out to Steve, Cuttino and Bullard for a 3? 40 minutes of that with 8 minutes of "Cuttino-iso-lets-see-how-many-attempts-you-can-get"? ------------------ "We're growling more...I would not say it's a growl. It's not a purr either." -- Rudy T.
I am sure there will be no shortage of "dumping it in." But I also imagine there being much more running and fast break action if we get Webber, since he solidifies the middle, and we won't need our guards to crash the boards as much. I was going to start a new thread for this, but since there is already a Webber thread, I won't clutter up the thread listing. It certainly seems, at this point, like Webber does not expect to stay in Sac-town. If the rumors of him putting his house up for sale, etc are true, then there is a very good chance he is gone after this season. But my question is this, if the Kings get far into the playoffs (say the Western Conf. Finals), do you think that might convince him to stay? If he wants to play for a contender, that would likely be the best situation (aside from Houston, of course ). What if the Kings managed to win the championship? Is there any playoff situation where Webber is convinced to stay? ------------------ "Of course, everything looks bad if you remember it!" Homer Simpson
I would prefer a touch of inside-outside game and a touch of the current offense...I really liked what Rudy has done to revamp the offense to adjust to his best players...it took a little time though...I like it when Rudy mixes up the plays a little...hope we don't go back to the dump it inside kick it out offense 100%, good chance he will cuz c-webb is so dominiating inside...it will limit steve's developement though... ------------------
I think the offense will be what this team is progessing towards, a pick and roll based offense (which Webber fits to a T) with some dump it in mixed in there. Also, Rudy will be able to utilize his sets where he sets the PF up in the high post and utilizes him as a passer from that area. I feel there will be more or less a seamless transition into the offense. The main area this team will get a huge lift in is the defense and rebounding areas which is where it lacks the most. Webber has developed not only into one of the premier one on one defenders at his position but also a good help defender and shot blocker. His defensive improvement along with the addition of Christie is what has made Sacramento into one of the top defensive ballclubs in the NBA. The Rockets with Webber will be able to seal off the middle a whole lot better and have a player up front that is an excellent rebounder and outlet passer. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
One thing to consider is Webber is the best passing PF in the game. You can't look at him as just a PF or C positional player without considering his best position--the pivot area. PF or C doesn't fully describe his skills as well as "Pivot Man" does. He is ideally suited for High Post plays. Since Ralph Sampson's days, us Rocket's fans have never even seen us with a big man who could be a playmaking pivot man. Dream was a waste in the high post; Thorpe couldn't direct a team; Willis can't pass or shoot from there; Othella...hahahaha; and Barkley (well, I would have liked to see him do it, but good luck gettting Drexler and Hakeem to agree to a pivot man offense through Barkley's ego ass). No wonder all we can think of is dump it in or pick in roll when we have a big man who can shoot. Webber is a big man who can PASS!!! (For those who have asked me via email to give more definitions, I have defined pivot man at bottom.) Webber is an excellent dribbler and passer. With him and his knowledge of operating away from the basket, this will give Rudy and the coaches enormous flexibility in infusing a system we've never seen in over a decade, because we never had the right PF or C to do it, since Ralph. This is why I keep on eye on Mo's development. What Webber and Duncan do as pivot men is not a piece of cake to learn. Especially when Mo' did not do it in college or LA. Both Webber and Duncan have logged minutes as pivot men most of their years. Rudy or not, Webber can teach others to play with him out there. That is an enormous luxury for a coach. Keep an eye on Mo', to answer this question of Tb-Cain. Can and will Rudy get him playmaking as a pivot man? By the end of the year, if the answer is yes Mo has done that this year, then we'll know Rudy will be willing to adjust the team to Webber's strength, and we will be able to make the adjustment rather rapidly. Definition of Pivot Man: Best Coach example--John Wooden Best Player example--Bill Walton (no surprise there) The pivot area is pretty much in the top half of the jump ball circle at the free throw line. A pivot man handles the ball in that area, often with his back to the basket. This allows a system where the defense must come out from the basket to guard the big man, and the guards can make varios cuts around the pivot to the low post. Systems that utilize the pivot area are well-suited to talent big men who can pass, because it makes it extremely challenging to double them out there, especially with outstanding guards and SFs who can finish around the basket. Play Example: Well, UCLA invented several. So many so, that they even have a "cut" named after them...the UCLA Cut. A V-cut is like a wide receiver losing his man by faking of the line and coming back for a flair...it is a change of direction cut with no help from a pick. The UCLA Cut is pretty much a V-cut around a pivot man (holding the ball or not). The cutter can fake one side and then cut around the other side of the pivot man to lose his man. It was a devastatingly simple maneuver that UCLA used a lot. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 07, 2001).]
With the CWebb, I think the offense will CONTINUE to evolve along its current course to that of a high-post, pick-and-roll based offense. Remember, CWebb is not a TRUE low post player, but he is a true F with an inside-outside game. As heypartner so eloquently pointed out, he is an UNBELIEVABLE passer and ball-handler, and has progressed beautifully as a pivot man. The key though is that the Rockets will finally have the pieces to evolve from a work-in-progress to a finished product with a clearly defined identity. ------------------ Who's better: Kelvin Cato or Joe Barry Caroll? Take your time!
If we got Webber I hope we'd go back to a post game, whether it be high or low. The way I remember it, our post game in the championship years was not boring at all. For one, our post scorer could really score. For another, the options weren't all 3-pointers: there was ball movement, slashers, picks and sorts of other things going on. In the later years, when we had a lot of player turnover, many of those things went away -- I assume because they didn't have enough time to add those wrinkles back in and practice. But if we added Webber, we would have the post scorer and the supporting personnel and the roster stability to have a sophisticated post-based offensive set. ------------------ RealGM Rockets Draft Obligations Summary Gafford Art Artisan
GREAT POINT!!! In re-reading my post, instead of 'will', it should be 'would'. Keeping my fingers crossed, though. ------------------ Who's better: Kelvin Cato or Joe Barry Caroll? Take your time!
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, guys. We need to worry about getting him here first. ------------------ "Oh No..." -Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater
