So that is how Cuttino's Backyard looks like. I missed the Episode of Cribs with Cat on it. I need to see the front of his house and what cars are in front of his driveway.
I want the Cat traded, not 'cause he is a terrible player but 'cause he does not fit with the team. I am not blind to his ability. He is a solid defender when he wants to be. On offense, there are not many players that can create his own shots, take it to the basket and shoot a decent outside shot. Each team needs at least 2 scorers. Cat and Steve served that need the past 2, 3 yrs. This year we not only added Yao, Mo. Taylor had also proved to be a reliable scoring threat. There is just not enough ball to go around. Does Cat want to stay here and limit his game, to become the 4th option behind Steve, Yao and Mo (in that order)? Is he willing to pass the rock and make his teammate look good? If yes, then it's fine to keep him. Do I think he is willing and able to do that? No, he's not shown me that.
I agree Cat is better than Torres ...but bringing in players with little or no talent , so Yao can dominate, isnt the answer. The reason so many people think the Rockets will dominate in a couple years, is our current roster. The talent ia already here, just needs to mesh together. The Rockets dont need to be traded for a team of the future...they are the team of the future.
But see, Portland used the same logic, and we all know how that's turned out. Cuttino is a damn good player and could easily start on most NBA teams. There comes a point where you've got to have role players over stars. You know how eveyone like to dreamcast about what the Rockets could have been-----> we could have easily had any combination of Dream, Charles, Clyde, Stockton, and MJ for their full careers, and if they all would have accepted their roles, then the Rockets would have every title from about 1984 to 2000. But it never would have worked unless those guys made huge sacrifices to stay with one team. We've got too many scorers, imo. It looks good on paper, but in real life, we've got too many guys trying to do the same thing.
Lynus - very nice on both your post. I couldn't agree more. WTF did everyone expect? A team to just learn how to play a new style of offense instantly without even getting a training camp? This season was dissapointing, but still valuable.
I'll grant you guys Cat's not the quickest to adjust to a new role, but the continued b****ing like he hasn't even tried to adjust is silly. Why did he slump after the All-Star break? He was trying to find his new role on the team. He was trying to get away from ISO's, being the main man, etc. I think he started to find a good balance when he broke out of the slump. And there's no denying his defense has improved. I think some of you guys are just stuck on hating him. Freaking Torres??? If Cat leaves we'd better get serious value back. He's a perfect third/fourth option and has become a very decent defender. Give him just a little break.
Yeah, Steve really woulda shut down all those star 2's like Cat did at the end of the season... He's a better scorer than Cat but playing him at SG would be a defensive disaster.
That's another thing. Question his head if you must, but never his heart. Nobody wants to win worse than Cat and you can't put a price on that. Also, I know everyone's sick of "excuses." I am, too. But consider for a moment that Cat's role has been different every year he's played. He went from starting point guard with three HOF'ers, to trading ISOs with Steve in a brand new guard oriented offense, to being the primary go-to guy (when Steve was out for so long) to third option in an alleged motion offense. He hasn't had four years to adjust -- he's had one. And when you consider the fact that no one went into training camp thinking Yao would be a first option, he's had less than one. It'd be great if a few more people respected his heart and his effort and gave him just a little time to find his new role before saying he's the main problem with the team.
Who do you have playing one in the offense that's gonna be a good enough defender to cover the two? Kidd? Payton? If someone wants to trade one of these guys for Cat, I'm all for it. Not holding my breath. So what about guys we might actually get for Cat? White Chocolate? Miller? Yeah, I'd love to see those guys chasing Kobe. Try again.
This kind of excuse-making is exactly why every player on our team other than Yao Ming should be shopped this offseason. No need to be cagey about it: We're shopping you all. If we don't get an offer that makes us better, we'll stand pat. But not because we're satisfied. We aren't. No offense, fellas, but missing the playoffs with the roster you had is unacceptable. If you don't want to be shopped, try winning more games next year. And if you think you've got too much dignity to be shopped, I've got 39 losses that say you don't.
Ive never thought much of Portlands idea of building a team from players that other teams didnt want. That scheme was dreamed up by a coach who is long gone.. With the adoption of the zone defense in the NBA it will be tougher for teams with two scorers and bunch of role players to win (exception Lakers)...it was clear this year, when Cat was out..the Rockets had problems scoring from the perimeter...this team needs Cat...As far as sacrifice goes..Cat is the only player on the team who sacrificed salary to stay here.
Why should I read yours twice when you obviously didn't read mine once? If Steve's playing 2 on O and 1 on D, who's playing 1 on O and 2 on D? Pippen?
The talk about the players and their stupidity to me absolutely baffles the mind. Yes, this team is at the absolute top of the list for DUMBEST PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE!!! I mean, Les Alexander has GOT TO KNOW that everyone one in the country from ESPN analysts on down are laughing at the ineptitude of Steve Francis and Rudy T's alleged offense!!!!!!!! But having said that, leadership BEGINS AND ENDS with the coaches!!! I started that stupid petition to have Rudy's ass fired...not for letting the players do what they want, or even for the abundance of ridiculous contract decisions he and CD have made, but for his STUPIDITY!!! For not blasting Steve and Cuttino when Yao would get less than 10 shots a game while those two asses would go a collective 11 for 32!!! If Rudy stays and fails to SH*THAMMER Steve's dumb ass for any continued displays of "dribble diahrea" or for jacking up 30 shots when Yao gets only 5, then Rudy deserves whatever the hell he gets. If Rudy knew how to implement an offense to match up with any given opponent, then what happened when we played the Knicks/Cavs/Hawks/Clippers/Bulls/etc, etc. etc. Rudy may be well respected by other NBA coaches but there's only a couple of coaches still around who have EVER won an NBA title. Rudy just happens to be one of them, so what the hell else are they going to say?? Please Les, do us all a favor and send Rudy to the convalesent home for former NBA geniuses... 'cause Rudy, YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK!! GOODBYE!!! (Oh, and I do believe that Steve's little tirade is much less about loyalty than it is about selfishness, the one constant in Steve's repertoire...)
