Among the PF's that we contacted, who do you guys think JVG covets the most? In an interview they said that they want team to be athletic, Stro really fits that bill. Walker would surely be the 3rd scorer plus he has the passing skills but is not a shotblocker type...
My wild guess is JVG would prefer Swift. 'Toine brings a much bigger upside but he has so much baggage. Swift may be someone JVG feels he could mold into his type of player.
JVg must want stro first for his athletic ability, his defense, and his shot blocking. he also fits the bill being around yao and tmac's age. walker is a good second option because of his ability to dribble, pass, and shoot. both are good rebounders so at least we know we will be a much better rebounding team next year.
This team was good enough to win over 50 games in the West last year, and we would've beaten the Mavs (and maybe the Suns too) if Juwan Howard had been healthy. The addition of either player, plus Head, is going to make us one of the top 5 teams in the league.
Agreed. Really, whatever additions we get this year should push us over the 60 win mark with either the best or 2nd best record in the league as long as TMac and Yao stay healthy. This is the year that CD proves he knows what he is doing as a GM. He has too many assets to come out of next season without substantial improvement to this club barring injury. I think he will do it, and he will win GM of the year next year and shut up all the naysayers. We are going to have a team with improved perimeter defense, offense, and ball handling to go with our 2 studs. It may be by doing deals with Boston, or Memphis, or Portland, or GS, or whoever. But we are going to be seriously improved on both ends of the floor. Unless CD proves me wrong and screws it up. I'll bet he doesn't.
Personally I never liked Walker in the past. The most disturbing thing was that he averaged over 7 3pt attempts per game a few years ago. Swift seems like the pefect fit. But... Swift has a "sissy" attitude. I believe his teammates questioned his toughness when he sat out with mild injuries. Two years ago Walker dropped weight for the Mavs. I think hes finally ready to commit himself to winning. Look at the boost he gave Boston last year. Swift has the potential to be perfect, but if i had to give a large contract out it would be to Walker.
Preach on!!! But seriously your post is true. The rockets next year should strike fear into the hearts of opponents and a 60 win season could be reachable. Come on CD lets do it!
I'd think he'd prefer Walker. Van Gundy seems to prefers known quantities over potential. A lot of the acquisitions last year were veteran players (Ward, Sura, Wesley, Mutombo, Barry) who didn't have much potential, but you pretty much knew what you were getting. Potential was often traded away (Nachbar, Gaines). Also, Walker could feed the post more easily than Swift with his ball-handling skills and vision. I don't think Van Gundy would have much patience with Swift if he's anything like he was in his tenure with Memphis. I don't think anyone knows for certain what you'd get if you handed Swift the starting job. Also, while the defense can improve, it was ranked in the top three last year, while the offense was somewhere in the 20-30 range. If I remember correctly, Houston was one of the top three teams in defending the paint, so it's not absolutely necessary to get a shot blocker. If our perimeter guys (Head is a good start) can contain dribble-penetration better, that will help protect Yao Ming from fouls. We just need Yao to be smarter away from the basket on defense. I think Walker is the better fit, if the price and attitude is right and his shot selection can be improved.
Yea he doesnt want to lose anymore he played on the ATLANTA HAWKS they go into the game as if it is practice they know they are going to lose once he got out of that situation back in Boston he was going to give all his effort. I think he could fit in well but it is a big big big ?
Something else to ponder: Walker was #9 in Field goal attempts last year meaning he attempted more shots than Kobe, Marbury, Francis, Amare, and Pierce yet he averaged only 19.8 ppg. Not a very efficient shooter. When Juwan was healthy, he found his niche with the rockets which was to spread the floor with jumpers. I don't think 'Toine could bring that.
I just don't think Stro is a good rebounder. Walker is a much better rebounder than Stro. Also, neither of the two are that good defensively. Stro may get some blocks, but he gets beaten a lot too. I'd personally rather have the rebounding and the ball control as opposed to the blocks. Yao blocks pretty well, but rebounds poorly. Having a good rebounding 4 will help our frontcourt a lot; not to mention a viable third scoring option. Lastly, I think that if anyone can get Walker to play decent defense, it would be JVG.
This is very true. We could have well been very close to the 60 win mark this past season had we not blown some gimmes against Charlotte and other scrub teams earlier in the season.
swift has athletic ability, but he is just an average defender and rebounder. he is a good weakside shotblocker, so he would still be very usefull. he would certainly help, but just don't expect 10 rpg and lockdown defense from this guy.
Which player most resembles a former Knick? Antoine Walker plays point forward, similar to Anthony Mason. He's also fat like Mason. Clearly, JVG wants Antoine Walker. Or Anthony Mason.
Walker did take a lot of shots last year, but I don't know how much of that is the result of being the #1 scoring option on the Hawks. I think he's grown up some the past couple of years, although that shoulder thing is incredibly annoying. I think any of the 3 (Swift, SAR, Walker) would play OK defense, and let's face it, there are a few PFs that no one on the market is going to be able to guard because they're sick (Duncan, Garnett, Stoudemire). Whichever of the three has his head screwed on the straightest and fits the money situation the best is the one we'll probably end up with, and I'm fine with that.
Mitch Lawrence has Walker resigning with Boston at a reduced rate, Swift going to either New Orleans or some other location north, south, or east, SAR out of Portland on a sign-and-trade, Marshall going to the highest bidder, Simmons resigning with the Clippers if they can trade Maggette, and Horry staying with the Spurs. Lawrence writes for the NY Daily News. 'Strange' was one word someone of note used to describe the draft. I suspect that same term will apply to the free agent fiasco unfolding. Hope for the best, pray for okay. Info culled from today's Austin American Statesman
does the fact that walker happens to share the same agent as simmons who the rox are very high have any bearing on the level of interest? ie rox humouring agent who's shopping walker hard just to smooth talks over simmons at the same time walker's agent drumming up interest in walker to get the best deal out of boston?
Who's the better rebounder? 'Toine. Nuff said. I still don't want either, though. Rockets' record when JHo gets 8 or more rebounds: 15-1 Rockets' record when JHo gets less than 8 rebounds: 22-23 And don't tell me that stro's a better shot blocker, because we rank #1 in points in the paint defense. We don't need a little extra shot blocking. And I think we're second in opponents fg%, so we just need to clean up the boards. Toine will do it better than stro. SAR will do it better than either.
TY - Remember AW played most of the season w/ATL and he was there #1 or #2 option in most of those games. Not saying that justifies his shot attempts, but believe if we view in that context it doesn't sound so ridiculous.
