I'm excited about James, but interested in getting diverse opinions on him. Here's a quote by a Bucks poster on RealGM. Thoughts?
I think the real question is each team's needs. For example, what were the Bucks expecting him to do? Seems like they wanted a *pure PG* with more a leadership role. Did they expect too much of him? What's our needs? Someone like Sura, or at least not worse. Would a pure PG be best? Sure. But those kinda players aren't easy to get. One thing we'll love is Jame's shooting. He's also has some nice speed that will be needed to break down the defense. The "dribble the ball to much" statement above could also be applied to Sura (no, I do not think that Sura dribbles too much). As long as it doesn't get *too much* out of hand we'll be ok (JVG will make sure of that). Imagine if Sura was healthy, and we traded him to the Bucks. Would the Bucks be happy with his performance? Would they get the PG that they needed? Would they be asking Sura to do too much? I think the Bucks need more a "Nash" type player than a James or Sura type. But the Rockets seem to be doing ok without a pure PG. I think we can get away with it, but the Bucks can't. They are more guard oriented. We have a center that opens up the court. They do not. We can be more flexible with the pure PG issue. They can't. As far as defense. Again, JVG will change that. If James can play D like Westley, we're good. So, anyways....Bucks (22-30) are in a totally different situation than we are.
heres another Milwuakee fans perspective on James Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject: Should of waited to trade James -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I think we should have wait to trade James until this offseason we could have gotten the exact same for him and we would have had him for the year, it does help quiken Mo's learning but I still would rather have James playing instead of Strickland, and James can play defense when it's needed. But maybe Mo will step up his game but I don't think he can enough." this fan seems to apperciate James defense while the other one does not. some people just dont see the same things.
I bet that Calvin "Charlie" Murphy is excited that we got Mike "Rick" James, Biotch! I know that I am..
Exactly! Not only did we give up practically nothing to get the guy, but we weren't looking for Stevie Franchise reincarnate (thank God), just a guy that could sub in/start in some occassions for Sura, and a guy with potential that wouldn't hurt our cap much. James is both. While I'm not ready to dub him King James II just yet, I think it was possibly the most underated trade of the day. Good players AND good management in Houston? Scary.
Ok - just catching up with the reading, but did anyone notice assist/turn over ratio? 3.9 assists - 1.7 TO.
Yes. What about it? His 1.7 TO is very good. And his 3.9AST shoud increase a bit with the Rox (double-teams on TMac/Yao; open shots for his teammates or himself). His best year was with Boston at 4.4 AST/ 1.5 TO. So, even though his AST went up, his TO went down! For us, as long as he provides a scoring threat from the outside. There's going to be a lot of defenders trying to prevent his open 3s. Great opportunity to drive, and dish! Here's some comparable guards...AST/TO ratio... Ray Allen 4.0 2.5 Mike James 3.9 1.7 Manu Ginobili 3.9 2.3 Earl Boykins 3.7 1.4 Troy Hudson 3.6 1.6 Eric Snow 3.6 1.2 Milt Palacio 3.6 1.3 David Wesley 3.5 1.5
Can't say anything else about the Mike James move other than what has already been said. Great move. Thank you, CD.
UPDATE--- I didnt see it here yet, so I thought I would at it... Lastnight on 2 news they found him getting off the plane and asked him a few questions... they asked the same ole stuff, but what got me was I have NEVER seen a player this happy EVER!! He was SOOOOOOO happy to be here he was smiling from ear to ear, he said he was VERY happy to be a Rocket and he has famliy here... This guy was as happy as T-mac was durring the press conference, but X10!!!! I cant wait to see this guy work his way into our system I really think this will be HUGE move...
Man, I wish I could have seen that. I haven't read any quotes or anything from James or Mooch, but I would like to. Did anyone else catch this? Any details?
I couldn't find any *new* interviews from Mike James. But I did find this old article about Mike's best game. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/NBA/2005/02/08/924648-ap.html 2/08/05 Here are the highlights... MILWAUKEE (AP) - Mike James could feel a night like this coming after feeling good all week during practice. James scored a career-high 28 points, including eight three-pointers, to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a big first half and a 121-97 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. James, a former Celtic, had 19 points and five of his three-pointers before halftime as the Bucks used a 22-0 run late in the second quarter to take a 78-46 halftime lead. James shot 9-of-15 in eclipsing his previous career high of 24 points set with the Celtics early in the 2003-04 season. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons in time for their championship run before signing with the Bucks in the offseason. James ended the first half with a bang, picking off a long downcourt pass, dribbling to the top of the key and sinking a wide-open three-pointer with less than a second remaining. The Bucks left the court to a standing ovation from the crowd of 13,764. "Once you get it going, it seems like the basket is the size of a garbage can," said Milwaukee forward Joe Smith, one of five Bucks to score in double figures. "He got it going early and just rolled with it."
CD said on the radio that when he told Mike James he was coming to Houston, Mike was jumping up and down on the phone and all happy and stuff
Yeah on TV he was so happy it looked like he just won the loto, I love it when players want to player here... To everyone that says T-mac and Yao cant and wont have an influence on players wanting to sign with us, all you have to do is see Mike James...
Yeah Barry was delighted. So was Wesley. Well they can't be mad of course..but these guys all were happy to come here..better than being disappointed. DIkembe was happy. Anyways..I'd be happy if I was an NBA player.
Let's hope the same thrill coursing through James at joining the Rockets translates to playing at a higher level in Houston... ala Wesley and Barry. I would include Sura in that as well, but he's just continuing the roll he was on last season at Atlanta, after he got his legs under him here. Remember how so many of us were talking about free agents wanting to sign with Houston because of Yao and McGrady? I think we're getting a huge boost from the guys we traded for this season, for much the same reason. And I have to say that it's not just playing with those two that has these guys excited... it's also playing for an organization with a terrific reputation around the League and, I have to admit it, playing for Van Gundy. I'm more optimistic about the future of the Rockets than I've been in a long time. I really think, given luck with the "i" word, that we're going to be a force in the playoffs this season, and for the next several years. And we aren't finished tweaking the roster. We'll still be getting that PF we need, probably this offseason, or around this time next year. If not, the following year (if the gods smile upon us!). Things are really getting groovy, folks.
"Groovy" Far out. It blows me away. Good to see someone from the old days. I agree. Time for me to eat crow. I think that we seem to be doing ok. This year is all about laying the base for the next free agent class which will make us a true contender.
On Fox26 Sports they were talking to all of them and they all seemed happy. Vin said he couldn't sleep last night because he was excited. He also said he's got loads of experience just waiting to go. It kind of reminds me of when Barkley became a Rocket, "I was as happy as a fat man at McDonald's"....something like that.
