Statistics may say that Cat 'beat out' Garnett. But I really can't imagine a world where this is actually true. And I write science fiction.
Why would management want to fight? If they feel that this would be best for the team. Shouldn't that be sufficient reason? The last time I checked, the hierarchy for decision making for a team was Owner->GM->Coach->Franchise player who has not gone to the playoffs. You can look at stats all day if you want but all those players that he is supposedly better, made it to the playoffs. So what does that tell us about stats?
Why do people want to move him to a 2 (his natural position), didn't he leave Vancouver because he didn't want to play the 2. Steve Francis is a POINT GUARD!!!!!!!!!
How about Glen Rice and Moochie for Sam? Or Mo Taylor and Moochie for Sam? Can you imagine the scoring machine we would have if this is our line up? Cassell Francis Mobley Griffin Ming People are saying Sam and Cutino cant play together, I say BS!! Sam played with the biggest and worthless ball-hog (Glen Robinson) and they won games. Dont forget Sam and Vernon Maxwell were a championship combo (sorry Kenny Smith) when they were on the court together. Sam brings wins to the table, that's all we care about, plus he doesn't dribble the ball 23 seconds like Moochie.
Mobley too small? Tell that to Rudy when we put the small ball lineup with: Moochie Steve Cuttino Kenny Thomas Cato Last year.
That was not the starting lineup though. Even if it was, that was mainly because no one else could score. (T-Mo,Langhi, Oscar at times, etc.) This year we don't have to revert to that unless for a special situation, with Nachbar and maybe a healthy Rice.
It's not that people want to move him into the 2 spot. It' s moving people around(anybody) to see if we can make this a better team. It just so happens that it's Stevie. Moe -center, Rice - power forward Mobley - small forward All played roles outside of their position with no complaints cause this was the decision that the coach made (good or bad). Is it too much to ask a player (any player) to play a role that's his natural position for the benefit of the team?
It's all good bongman, I personally think everyone else that just accuses you of being a stupid stoner would do good to smoke a little if it could open their mind a little sometime. God I swear the way you guys love Stevie you would think you're sleeping with him but I know Steve only sleeps with Cat or does he? I thought Steve has a company with Cassell and go as far back as San Jac (as friends at least).I think by the time this team evolves Cat will be gone anyway.I don't see him making it through the whole rebuilding process.I think we the fans will eventually stop praising his offense and realize his defense is killing us.I thi9nk Sam's defense isn't all that either so I don't think it will happen. P.S> COncerning the FRANCHISE tag,IMO it was given to Steve way too early.I like Stevie Wonder but the FRANCHISE is just to much to put on a player in the first place.I guuess though I must be stoned too because I'm saying things some of you don't agree with.But atleast the guys on this team would rather hang out with me and bongman while you're all buying their shoes.We'll be smoking it up while you're complaining about cryptic info at Dave and Busters.Then you'll want pictures, but all our pictures we won't post because there is paraphanelia on the table and a bunch of Steve's pills.
When did this happen? Rice missed most of last year, Mobley played nearly every minute of every game at shooting guard, and Mo Taylor was out last year. Francis' natural position is point guard. Cassell's is as well - and he almost assuredly won't take kindly to a role reduction, considering he's always complained about money and his contract doesn't have that much longer on it. You can have a team full of players with all kinds of talent - the Blazers and Knicks are two examples - but if they aren't playing their natural position and natural roles, you aren't going to win. For developmental and logistical purposes, letting Nachbar and Morris develop at SF and letting Moochie remain the backup PG are both in the Rockets' best interests, not trading for a player like Cassell who would disrupt team chemistry.
thx for the backup dave. Here ya go (taking a hit then passing it to you). Pass it around please hehehe
They played those positions on a limited role( not full time ) at some point of their Rocket career. Is this the same Sam that did not mind coming from the bench even though he was clearly better than Kenny Smith?. What was his role with the Bucks with Allen and Robinson? Wasn't that reduced? What makes you so sure that Cassell will disrupt the chemistry? I'd like to know why. As somebody mentioned here, Rudy plays Steve at the 2 spot cause he is good at it. How much more natural can you get with that? Remember the Twin towers? Ralph had to play power forward even though he was a center and for what reason?
One problem I have with trading Mobley with Cassel is that Mobley and Francis of last year avg more ppg together than Cassel and Francis together. In order to good, Cassel must put up as good numbers as Francis did at pg (bout 20 and 6) and Francis must avg about 23 or 24 ppg at sg. That may not seem like much, but the most cassel has averaged at points is 19.7. Although the two could be better, we shouldn't take the risk. Besides, Francis is a PG and needs to stay there. Limited minutes are ok, but not all the time there. Plus our duo could still get better.
1) He had limited experience at that point in his career, almost 8 full seasons ago. It's the past and well past time to move on from then, as it seems that's the biggest reasoning you (and others) have used to show why the Rockets should go after Cassell. 2) His role was starting point guard with Allen and Robinson. Yet, he still complained about money and he still complained about not getting his touches in the offense. Do you think that he'd be in any better of a position in Houston with Francis and Mobley? Nope. 1) Cassell has disrupted the chemistry everywhere he's been outside of Houston, all for various reasons ranging from money to his role on the team. Considering the state of affairs with Cassell and the Rockets these days, none of those factors would change...and it's not like Houston's a better situation for him than Milwaukee is. Not to mention that Milwaukee would scoff at an offer for Cassell if it did not include Francis, Mobley, or Griffin. They aren't going to take Moochie, Nachbar, or any scrubs for him. That's an aspect most have overlooked thus far. 2) Steve's natural position, however, is not the two guard spot. Sure, it's good for a few mismatches for a few minutes per game, but as a full time gig? No way; you're allowing other team to exploit you defensively and playing away from the strength of the Rockets in having Francis and Mobley in the backcourt. 3) Last I checked, Hakeem Olajuwon was better - even as a rookie - than Francis is; not to mention that Sampson was better than Cassell ever has been. The two situations are not comparable. It's one thing to play two highly skilled big men in the frontcourt together; you aren't losing anything on matchups at PF or C. It's an entirely different situation when you are dealing and playing away all of your team's backcourt depth in an attempt to appease players who need to have a certain role, all the while allowing other teams to exploit you defensively and on defense as well. The Rockets do not need more personalities, salaries, or star players - they need continuity and health. A deal for Cassell provides none of that.
hell no! mobley for cassell? cat's a future all-star if not this season, cassell will never be, not a pure pg, more of a shooting pg, we dont have a place for cassell except if he would back up steve which would never happen, or play sg which would make our team real small....plus he wants too much money too and i'd would rather give it to our starting sg Cat.....having him on our team sounds good cuz of what he did for our championship teams, he was a major contributor.....but it should be more like Mooch for Cassell? thats a definite hell yes!
mfclark, well stated. You said exactly what I've been trying to say. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. There's not much wrong at PG and SG, except for better defense and some needed depth. The problems have been at SF and C and I believe they are in the process of taking care of it beginning with the draft.
I was at the Gingerman in the Village in H-Town years ago (Sam was still on the roster) and happened to catch Rudy drunk. Go figure. (This was before the shaming DWI) He got to talking about the roster with some other drunks, and the tongue was liberal. All of this is a long-winded preamble to say: Rudy said that Sam was the dumbest player he had ever coached. For the record, I was among the more vocal dissenters, as I still believe that the Alien Fetus is a helluva player.
Who said Steve is a better 2-guard? Is there any proof? "MOST people...." That's not true. If anything, they're split on the argument. Do you realize how incredibly WOEFUL, TERRIBLE, HORRENDOUS, AWFUL, and DISTURBING Steve would be defending the 2-guards in the league? Has it crossed your mind? It wouldn't be better for our team, IMHO, and it's not like we're desperate for scoring. The issue for us is Defense. It's a bad move to make Stev the SG, if we ever want to improve D. Do you realize what Cassell's extension is worth? The only way I would be willing to move Steve to SG would be if we got a 6'5+ PG who can play good D, and is good at passing. I'm talking something like Jamaal Crawford stature, defense of Eric Snow, and skills of someone like Aaron Mckie or something. needless to say, there are none.
