I'm Going to the Rockets/Hawks Game This Saturday, Sitting behind the Rockets Bench!

The Deuce is loose in the ATL!

For Christmas my lovely wife gave me 2 tickets to see the Rockets in Atlanta.....seats right behind the Rockets bench! Hot Damn!!

Needless to say, the game is right around the corner and we will be driving the 4.5 hour trip here from Savannah, GA to the ATL for the game. I am really looking forward to it as I haven't seen a Rockets game "live" in about 6 years.

Anyone familar with the fan apathy in Atlanta will know that they probably draw about 100 fans a game (perhaps that is a bit harsh....perhaps not ) so if you see two people behind the Rockets bench with Red Rockets Tshirts on (and chances are we will be the only ones LOL), you will know who they are!

I plan to bring my new digital camera so perhaps we can get some incredible shots of the back of the players heads...or perhaps something more interesting.

I hope to come back and write up a full report of how things went and if there was anything interesting heard in the huddles or on the bench.

Hopefully the photos will come out ok. I am angling to get one of those spiffy RockHEAD "official images posted" badges.


Wish me luck at the game! Go Rockets!!

 

Yeah, Savannah's kind of boring. Absolutely the WORST sports town I have ever lived in. But, as long as I can still get on the internet and log on to ClutchFans...I am in good shape!

 

Tonaaayyyy, I don't think we have to even be that obvious in Atlanta. If you actually see humans behind the Rockets bench, assume it is us!

 

I am sure I will get a good look at SAR. But honestly I have seen him a lot this year and in the past as they show quite a few Hawks games here on TV in Savannah via Turner South and Fox Sports Net.

I like SAR for the most part. In fact just the other night I saw him drop 34pts and 14 rebounds...ON KEVIN GARNETT!

I dont think he is a "franchise" player but is best suited to be a "2nd or 3rd" star player on a team. One of the things I like most about SAR is that he is fearless in the paint. He LIKES to bang! And for a guy that is not really BIG that is something special. Also the guy ALWAYS gets to the FT line because of his physical post play AND he is NAILS on the line. I think he shoots like 88%. He always seems to make his FTs. I think his defense is average to good. I dont think it is bad in any way.

I think SAR would be a nice addition to this team depending on what you could trade for him.

 

ALA, Since I have seen a lot of Hawks games this year I have seen a fair amount of Diaw. He is an interesting player. He really is a 6'8" PG. He doesn't like to shoot unless he has to but loves to drive and dish. He actually is a nice compliment to the shoot first Jason Terry. He is turning into a nice player.

Tom, yeah the Hawks seem to have the Rockets number there the last few years. I am hoping the Hawks wont sneak up on the Rockets this time since the Rockets should be treating each game now as a fight to get into the playoffs. Thanks for not going, though, any jinx we can snap is good! LOL


As for booing Francis.....naw, not going to do it. As a fan I have a problem with booing my own team unless I really dont see an "effort" out there and even then I dont like to boo my own team. I am more for positive reinforcement. I will boo opponents and especially refs, but am not much into booing my own team. Just call me the "anti-Northeast Sports Fan"

 

My initial thoughts on your quick trade proposal is we should get more.
I would like to throw in Diaw in that trade. Right now as it stands....
Francis > SAR
Mo T > Mohammed
We need a sweetener. Crawford is ok, but would want someone with a bit more upside.

The salary cap implications would be interesting however. Mohammed isn't very pricy I dont think and SAR's outrageous contract is up after next season. He could be signed to a lesser contract after that. And then we wouldn't have Francis OR Taylor's contracts on the books. We could go after a 3rd star player with that cap room. I guess that is a plus.


I really feel that SAR is a poor man's Jermaine O'neal. SAR doesn't have the shot blocking as O'neal but he does just about everything else O'neal does. O'neal isn't a big guy either in terms of pounds but be gets in the paint and bangs. SAR does the same. He is just at a disadvantage in terms of being only 6'9" (but still 245lbs). I think SAR is a bit undersized in the West but I think he could hold his own against the quicker PFs like Dirk, Webber etc. His lateral quickness is something we dont currently have at PF because of the loss of Griffin.

Nevertheless, I think if you get SAR you also have to have a back up Banger. I am not sure SAR and Taylor could be your combo at PF as I DO think SAR would have problems against the Brands, Duncans and Garnetts of the West. Also, I think SAR is a better 4 than a 3. SAR does not really have 3pt range and that makes him really ineffective at the 3 spot for long stretches of time. His game is more midrange and in the paint. Like I said, he gets to the FT line a lot. And I dont think SAR will have much of a problem with playing with Yao in terms of demanding the low block. I think SAR is similar to the way Taylor plays, except SAR is more active and drives to the basket a lot more.

I am not sure about his work ethic but he has been consistant and that says something to me. "Consistancy" in my opinion is one of the more important things that makes you an All Star type player. I think he really wants to win, I dont see him loafing when I see him play and I dont think he would have a problem leaving Atlanta to go to a winner.

I am not saying the Rockets should persue him. But I like him as a player. I root for him (except this Saturday. ) I think he could work in Houston if the right personnel was involved. Like I said, you would have to have a backup banger PF. And I think you would still have to have a 3rd solid scoring option (with Yao and SAR) if you were to trade Francis away.