I wish I could see more of Rashard. I missed the game last night. I've always been under the impression that he was a pretty good defender, partly because he had long arms. He's averaging 1.5 steals per game this season, at any rate. If he isn't that great a defender and doesn't have that much of a post-up game as alleged, then while I'd be glad to have him, I wouldn't consider him the remaining piece of the puzzle. kidrock, I won't contest your (and others') assertion that Rudy wouldn't be able to adequately incorporate Rashard or any other SF into our offensive system, although I don't agree. However, why do you feel Rashard couldn't fit our system as it is? (I'm not saying our system may or may not need changing) I admit that I'm not very familiar with his game, but it seems like shooting, particularly hitting the open set-shot from the perimeter is a big part of his game. I disagree with Sane that we don't need another good 3-pt. shooter. I think Rashard could help us tremendously in that area. Why is Rashard not compatible with the perimeter spot-up role we consider that of the prototypical Rudy SF? I want to believe you guys who argue Rashard is only a role player, if a very good one, and not worth what people are willing to give up for him, because I don't see our chances of getting him as very good. However, the guy's still young, is only in his second season playing over 30 minutes per game, and has been improving each year. Why do you guys feel like Rashard's already reached his ceiling (at least in terms of his abilities)? I can see that he might have deficiencies like ball handling and defending, but what makes you think he can't work those out and eventually become a star? The fact is, he's already a very good role player. Has he already plateaued? Is it unreasonable to think that he hasn't?
Relatvist-Lewis would fit our system perfectly in the sense that he is a very good spot-up shooter. However, he would never be anything more than that in this current system. Personally, I think Lewis can still be a go-to guy, if he develops better dribbling and passing skills. Thus far, he is only a spot-up shooter, and a decent slasher without the ball. If Lewis is content with being the 2nd or 3rd banana here, and is content with being asked to float the perimeter, then he would be a great fit. If Lewis is looking to be the man, then Houston is not a good fit for him. Remember when Glen Rice was a Laker, and was upset about being only a spot-up shooter? I'm afraid that Rashard might do the same.
I see your point. Personally, I think if Rashard were to show that he can be a go-to player for the Rocks, that the Rocks would gladly go to him regularly and often. I think the fact that KT and Kevin Willis have been able to get the ball down low (or wherever KT gets the ball) to do their thing this year shows the Rockets are not unwilling to give the ball to a forward/center to scoreif he can. But I agree that I don't know whether Rashard would be able to develop such skills to become a go-to player if he came to the Rockets unless he demonstrated he could. Personally, I think Rashard would be fine playing 3rd fiddle as long as 3rd fiddle means something (like Hornacek on the Jazz or Schrempf on the Sonics)
KT/Willis is a totally different thing than Lewis. Unless, Lewis somehow gains 20+ lbs and develops a low post game. I didn't see Lewis play when he went to Elsik, so I don't know how polished his low post game is, but I rarely see him post anyone up right now. If Lewis is content with being a spot-up guy, then I'd be happy to take him at a price range of 5-8 mill a year. The player who would be perfect for us would be Hedo Turkoglu, basically Peja Jr.
If we had more motion in our offense, Rashard would be a great fit. I have noticed that he does a good job of getting open whether its for a 3 pt shot or a backdoor layup. There are tons of SF's who I would want, but then I realize they would not fit in our current system, like a Shawn Marion. Can anyone tell me the last SF the Rockets had who did something else besides shoot 3s? Sean Elliott was supposed to be able to give us a perimeter guy who could take it to the rack, but obviously he never played for us. Buck Johnson just flat out sucked.
I think that Rashard Lewis would only consider the Rockets if he were a go-to guy on this team. Rashard has made a couple of bold statements in the past few months that should have the Rockets' brass looking the other way. He has stated that he wants to be the man, he wants the max, and has delusions of grandeur that he'll be at Kobe Bryant's level soon. I like the thought of Rashard Lewis on the Rockets, he is another threat to score and would cause mismatches. However, my concerns are his defense. I could care less about his ability to create his own shot, most likely he'll be on the perimeter waiting for the ball to be swung his way. I do have concerns about his handles as well. Rashard has the body-type to give other 3's in league a fit if he could learn to play some D. I do not believe that Rashard is worth the max, and most likely he'll find that out come the offseason, unless the Bulls and/or Wizards decide to sign him outright. I saw someone post the Rashard is only worth $6 mil a year, but unfortunately in today's inflated market and severely over-paid players (I believe we have quite a few of those), Rashard will get pretty close to the max. I have no doubts as to how Rashard would fit on this team, he would give us another viable threat, but his personal intentions are what concern me most. This summer there will probably rampant rumors as to how the Rockets and the agent for Rashard Lewis are close to a contract, when all of a sudden the Sonics swoop in and offer a can't refuse deal at the 11th hour.
So you're trying to tell me the Rockets/Rudy's system is an intricate one? It's a pretty "loose" offense, so it's only fitting that it the term would be used loosely.
Even though I don't think very highly of Lewis, I'd trade Mo T for him (sign n trade). Because, if we're going to have someone for 7M, it might as well be a SF. We already have EG and I really like KT coming off the bench to give us a good spark. Problem is, Seattle doesn't need a PF. They seems to be stocked up everywhere. Booth/James/Oyediji Baker/Radomanovich/Oyediji Lewis/Radomanovich/Mason Barry/Masson/Williams Payton/Watson/Williams I like the Odom idea. KT + Mooch + our 2 picks (we pick for them) FOR Odom + Dooling
This Pippen crap is just r****ded. He was used very effectively in Houston. Everyone just expected his numbers to skyrocket. That was unrealistic as Pippen wasn't the same player anymore and certainly wasnt the same without MJ/Phil/Triangle offense. Let's try and at least look at some facts. 97-98 CHI 5.20 rpg 5.8apg 1.80spg .98bpg 19.1ppg 98-99 HOU 6.50rpg 5.9apg 1.96spg .74bpg 14.5ppg 99-00 POR 6.30rpg 5.0apg 1.43spg .50bpg 12.5ppg 00-01 POR 5.20rpg 4.6apg 1.47spg .55bpg 11.3ppg 01-02 POR 5.30rpg 5.9apg 1.80spg .61bpg 11.0ppg The most obvious thing that stands out is a downward trend in his ppg since leaving Chicago. 14.5 ppg was at leasat respectable, his current average makes him out to be a Robert Horry type player. But, we don't know how he got those points. Nevertheless, in Rudy's inability to use him, he still averaged as high a number of rpg and apg and the highest spg as he had in his past 3 championship years in Chicago and all more than he has since. Playing solely as a spot-up shooter, apparantly, he managed to dish out almost as many assists on an average night as our current PG, Francis does. I remember wathcing that Pippen season closely and I remembered him doing many more things than spot up shooting. His numbers, at a rudimentary glance, seem to back that up. Don't get mad at Rudy because Scottie isn't the player we all thought he was going to be. Rahsard would be a very solid SF for this team. He has some posts moves, his shot is silky smooth and he boards very well. He would fit well in the system and wouldn't be delegated to just open 3 pointers. But, his asking price is way too high. His defense still lacks as does his ballhandling skills. And most apparant, his demeanor on the court seems to be more of a role player than a star type - not necessarily a knock, as good role players are hard to come by, but not for the MAX. It's easy to see why the Sonics are just as high on Desmond Mason, though.
Good post. Now that you mention it, I can't think of one small forward in Rudy's tenure that had better seasons after leaving the Rockets. Craig Ehlo, maybe. Buck Johnson, Robert Horry, Mario Elie, Shandon Anderson, Matt Bullard, Scottie Pippen. All of them are guys with limitations in their games. Just a few years ago, we were saying the same thing about our point guards (all they can do is shoot 3s).
Jay-Z-For one thing his stats were going to be somewhat lowered by playing for a stacked Por team that goes 10 deep. Would you agree with me that Pippen is better suited with the ball in his hands, creating from the perimeter? As opposed to standing at the 3 pt line and shooting 3s? At the time, Pippen's biggest weakness was outside shooting, so why did we leave him spotting up? Another thing is that we should have had him slashing to the basket without the ball. It's questionable as to whether that choice is Pippen's or Rudy's. But, if you consider the fact that the Rockets don't really do that now, I'm beginning to think it's Rudy's call. Probably has to do with the ever important offensive "spacing".
I don't see any possibility of Lewis landing in Houston. The Rockets would first have to offer a max deal to Francis first to keep him happy and then go and sign Lewis for another max deal. I don't think that the Rockets want to sign Francis to a max deal just yet in case they want to shop him around this summer (just a hunch, Francis for Andre Miller?). Lewis is a really good player, but I am not sure if the Rockets even need him with Eddie, KT, and M. Taylor all playing similiar positions at the 3/4. The Rockets need to get low-post player first and foremost.
But if you watched that season, its really not what Pippen did. Sure, he shot more open threes than he had before, but he had never had such dominating post presences to feed off. Nevertheless, Pippen spent a lot of that season playing as a point-forward. That play he lost the ball against the Lakers in our last playoff game to date, for example, was the kind of stuff he did, more often without losing the ball, but failing to create as much as we hoped he would. You dont just rack up 6 assist a gmae standing at the three point line shooting threes. And Houston was stacked that year, too. They didnt go as deep as Portland, but their two best players at the time - Olajuwon and Barkley - were still better than the best player currently on Portland's team. It was Pippen who failed to do any adjusting, not Rudy. It was Pippen who cried when he expected everything to come his way, who made an ass of himself when he left and genearlly dissapointed the whole season, yet still managed to match his stats over the previous three years (except in the scoring category - and it didnt matter with both Barkley and Olajuwon playing) and hasnt returned to those levels since, and still had one of the better SF seasons from any Rocket player in a long while. I think if a player shows Rudy they deserve to be on the floor and can make positive things happen while they're out there, he'll adjust his system to incorporate that player and all his skills, as he did with Pippen, and as he would do with a Rashard Lewis or Lamar Odom, etc, to the extent deemed necessary.
