James, Head, Alston, Sura, T-Mac - Maybe Battier was a good trade

And this is what makes the Battier trade more interesting and why it became intriguing to the front office. Considering the problem the Rox have matching up with teams like Phoenix and Dallas is not necessarily the speed of the game (though that does take Yao out of those contests), but the matchups they can create with multi-dimensional players.

Well, in Battier, McGrady, and James, we have three such players ourselves. That's why I think the next move may be for a post player who can run at the five in a smaller, quicker lineup, or as a traditional four. Such palyers give us the versatility to go with a longer, more physical unit in a half-court game or a more athletic group for a full-court game. The additional benefit is that we have guys who can switch positions in the event of injury, which in turn creates depth.

 

And for what it's worth, Mike Jones IS a very talented high school combo forward headed to South Carolina next year. He reclassified from a 2005 graduate and is a mad athlete who can get to the rim and score.

So there.

 

better shot at what? the championship or past the first round?

 

That sounds great........ but why?? unless we become a running team, which like you said, takes Yao out of the competition, what's the point. If we play big, and play it effieciently, we should force those small teams to try to play big, and get them out of their element.

Slow them down, and make them play halfcourt. When Phoenix, and Dallas lose, it's because they were forced to play in the half-court.

We shouldn't be worried about what we'll do if we get caught in a full court shoot-out.... we should learn how to slow those teams down, and make them play our game.

 

All I'm saying is my new girlfriend is a question mark. My wife is a sure thing. She makes the family better. We're going all the way next year. We have a much better shot with my wife than with Mary and Nancy.

 

But unfortunately, you still have to get back quickly against teams like Dallas or Phoenix and just that sort of transition defense followed by quick shots from the opponent wears down someone like Yao. While I can grant your point and think that is the goal, there are nevertheless some games where you cannot dictate the pace. However, with some more versatility--especially in the post--we can play at a faster pace than necessary.

Back to the original point, slowing the game down also requires taking and making good shots. That's where guys like Battier, James, and Head in addition to our stars prove so valuable: we have guys who can get to and finish around the rim and hit their jumpers. That offensive balance enables us to put five guys on the court who can hit their shots and that alone helps us slow down games because we can set up our offense in the halfcourt and force the opponent to defend all five positions, but also have the perimeter scoring to bail us out late in the shotclock.

 

James is the third scorer we need..whether he starts or comes off the bench again. I remember last season, everytime ide look at toronto's box score it seemed like James was putting up 30 a night. Im really liking what were doing this offseason. If McGrady goes down with another injury, our team is more equipped to put out a more competitive effort with the additions of Battier and James. Think about how last years team would have fared while McGrady was out if we had both of these players then.


This team is starting to look like the 2nd championship team we had here. Yao, although not as skilled, is our dominant center like Hakeem. T-Mac, like Drexler, is our star wing player. Battier is going to be the ultimate team/role player much like horry was, minus the high flying dunks with only a few blocked shots here and there. His high basketball IQ, hard nosed D, and ability to stretch the defense with his shooting range draws even more comparisons to Horry's role. With the addition of James (this assuming that he does sign), we have our emerging 6th man scoring guard like Cassell, a guy that could light it up any given night. Hopefully (and this is a stretch) Rafer will be the floor general Kenny Smith once was.

 

I thought Yao has a lot of skill, it is just that he is a bit slow. If he is not skilled, then the only good thing about Yao is his height. Damn, we should have got Shawn Bradley, another 7'5" who is very much cheaper.

 

Sorry for misread, did not see the 'as'. Damn ass.

 

Shaq and Alonzo seemed to do okay......... and Zo only has one kidney.

Rebound......... if we get our offensive boards, which Miami was only so-so at, we'll slow them down. Sure, they'll beat us every once and again...... but if our boys keep their heads in the game, take good shots, and get the boards, we'll slow them down quite a bit.

 

People keep saying Sura won't play and he's retiring, but what exactly is everyone basing this on?

This keeps being said over and over on this forum by numerous members.

However so far the only official word from the Rockets from JVG and CD is that Sura will play next season.

So just exactly where is the info coming from that Sura is definitely done?

 

Sura coming back is just not happening, i saw him at Eatzi's in the galleria like 2 weeks ago, guy didn't look like he was playing ball, wasn't fat or anything but didn't look in shape per se. I mean lemme tell you if he comes back and plays at the level he played 2 years ago i will be estactic. You could put him and james in the back court, battier and Tmac as forwards and Yao in the middle and this team will eat you up on defense. He would give us size in the back court that we are severely lacking, but i just dont buy it.

 

That sure narrowed it down...

I'm still so disappointed with the trade - I still hope that something will happen and we still get Gay. I don't want to drop Swift off yet either, first one I want to see gone is J-Ho or Robo.

 

So basically everyone saying Sura won't play is based on nothing more than pure speculation by many members.

To me when CD and JVG said he will play next season, I believe he will play. How effictively is totally up in the air, but it seems he will play though.

 

The condition of Sura's knee from what i have heard is damned near to the point where its bone on bone... any come back to the NBA other than being a coach is nothing short of a miracle. But then again, there is no telling we'll just have to wait and see. If i'm not mistaken if he cant play and has to retire we can get half of his salary to sign a player right?

 

JVG and CD said he had "scar tissue" they said nothing about "bone on bone."

 

sura is my all time favorite and I believe also

 

Ok umm lemme see if i can summarize how the surgery was put to me (by a doctor) The cartilige in his knee was worn out and degrading, they attempted to create some scar tissue to cushion the joint of the knee. The scar tissue itself is not a permanent replacement for cartilige. Now I HOPE sura comes back at full capacity but i think the procedure performed on sura is/was relatively new. But the knee situation in addition to his back problem, is the only reason why i doubt Bobby will make it back. But heres to him making a miraculous come back *crosses fingers*

Heres to making Juwan happy

 

This is the only thing I could find on Sura's status. It looks like we should find out soon if he can go.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/rox/3788382.html

 

why is everybody so enamored with Sura? he's was really never that great to begin with in the first place...

plus hes injured let it go...