I was checking out his opinions on what the unlucky 13 teams need to do this summer, and when he mentioned who we should draft, he said Curtis Borchardt, Chris Marcus, or Marcus Haislip. I'm assuming that he went with the draft order according to current standings which means we have the 5th pick. With the 5th pick, we would be in position to draft somebody like Woods, Gooden, Wilcox, and Butler. I know we need a center, but you don't just pass up talented guys like these for unathaletic big men. All 3 of these centers averaged between 15 and 16 ppg. Collier averaged over 17 ppg and 9 rpg and can't even average 1/4 of that in the pros. I don't know who we're going to pick, but I definately think, hands down, Melvin Ely should be the first center taken. He's improved from 11 ppg to 23 ppg during his college career. He's so much more athletic than Borchardt and Marcus that it pains me that he isn't considered a better prospect than those two. If the Rockets end up with the 8th pick, I hope we take him because he could be a better center than Cato right away and that's something this team needs. Also, it would be cool to have another Fresno St. rookie in H-town. Go Bulldogs!!!
Nice post Oski. The thought of us drafting "the next big stiff" scares the hell out of me, too. I can see us going after one of those guys with the 2nd pick, but if we draft one of them with the #5, I'll faint. Instead of focusing on a center, I'd rather just focus on getting better defensively on the frontline. We have absolutely no one outside of Griffin back there to take up the slack for our guards' matador defense. I want an athletic freak on the frontline. I mean an alien rock-hopping slime-spewing fast hoop monster. I want Gerald Wallace with a jumpshot. I'm willing to take a risk as opposed to "knowing what I'm getting" if it means we'll get someone that will be able to run, leap, shoot, and help execute a fast break. I don't know if Rudy is willing to take that risk, though. But since I don't see but maybe 1 or 2 people that fit that category, that Ming fellow will do. It really is a shame the Compaq Center will no longer be home to the Rockets... the whole computer/Compaq/Qyntel Inside angle was a perfect fit.
Did you guys hear they arrested Oprah? She was at the airport got searched, and they found more then 50 pounds of crack under her skirt. DaDakota
DaDa, The joke goes like this: Did you hear that Oprah Winfrey was arrested at the airport for drug smuggling? It seems she bent over and someone saw fifty pounds of crack.... DoD, "I want an athletic freak on the frontline. I mean an alien rock-hopping slime-spewing fast hoop monster." Seriously, you need help. Come back to reality and out of your silly computer world.
Eh? Chris Marcus? Borchardt made him look like what he truly is: a decent player that looked great playing against inferior competition. As for Borchardt, we already know what he is: a decent big man, but not even the best player on his own team. Either would probably be a decent late-lottery pick.
He's a MUCH better pro prospect than Jacobsen. Jacobsen will have trouble getting his shot off in the NBA.
kidrock: Not disputing that... just doesn't say much for Borchardt. I wouldn't touch Jacobsen in the 1st round, at all. IMO, Borchardt is one of those guys that gets taken at the bottom of the 1st round in hopes that they can learn how to play the game, instead of just being tall without great athleticism.
Statistically, Borchardt matches up well with another big white dude who wasn't even the best player on his team that went in the lottery. Raef LaFerenz wasn't the best on his team (Paul Pierce) but still managed to go #3. The two are almost identical statistically, and the more I think about it the more Borchardt seems like Raef, without the 'PF/C' 'tweener' problem. I think he's just suffering from big white dude syndrome. Really, how many of the people who dislike him had an open mind the first time they watched him play. He's got skills to contribute right away, and the upside to develop into a more complete game? What's not to like beside the foot problems that he seems to be over?
