The nagging injuries wasn't just an "excuse". Doc Rocket posted on here a month or so ago that Nachbar did have some lingering injuries later on in the year that cause him some problems. I am not saying that those injuries caused him to stay on the bench, but they didn't help any. I am not sure what to think about Nachbar not playing any last year. He seemed to wow them but yet when it came time for the game Nachbar was inconsistant (at least during the times he played). I assume in practice that he wasn't playing well (perhaps still adjusting to NBA level of play and perhaps due to his injuries). In any case, Nachbar has to do something this year. He really needs to be a rotation player to justify the 1st round pick (near lotterly selection) we used on him.
It was my understanding that Rudy wanted to bring him around slowly. Also he had said that because we don't have a first round pick this year he would be used more this coming year like he's our drafted guy. At least that's what was understood most of this past season.
from Deuce: I think that's best way to sum it up. We don't know. Rudy's "we consider him our first round pick next year" statements were bizarre, and I can see why some suspect "bust". Which I think is a bit of a leap. I am surprised at the number Boki fans we have here, but what the heck, good for him. It's what Rudy saw in Nachbar when he was scouting Skita that rings in my ears. And that workout he had with us before the draft that intrigues me. I think CD would be the first to admit that if you scout a guy you like, pull him in for a workout and he drills (what was it? 21 ) straight 3 pointers you go with your eyes and not your gut. The success of mid 1st-round picks is all over the board, so you've really got to look at the league before you can bash your GM for the heck of it. I know the evidence of what we heard here is sketchy, so this is pure speculation. But I think there's a distinct possibility Rudy and/or CD were upset that they didn't know about the groin injury. The guy comes into camp and you still don't know. The guy's not performing near your expectations and at some point they find out about the groin injury and they see it's going to require surgery. I'm not an athlete, but it took me six months to heal completely in my early twenties. I think Rudy and CD might have been a little more than upset by the way Nachbar handled it. We may never know, but it is true that this organization locks down information more than any sports team I've ever followed. Van Gundy must really think he's in heaven (heh, heh August's coming). Whatever the Rocket's plans were for Nachbar last year I don't think we'll ever know. But if we don't see a lot of Nachbar in preseason we'll know a lot more. If we do, we'll be able to make our own judgements.
Lets see what Nachbar does under JVG. You cant judge the guy for his play last year. I mean he rarely even received garbage time minutes. How can a guy show you his game, when he probably played in under 10 games last year? In which he probably played about 3-4 minutes. Then add our selfish guards to the mix, and then he gets what 1 touch a game (if he is lucky).
oh yeah, when he was wide open on the perimeter Nachbar was not waving his arms and screaming for Francis to give him the damn ball consistently enough. Do not tell me it did not happen. I have a great memory and I really don't have a life right now so I never forget a Rocket game. Those first few games, Francis was freezing Boki out. Oh yeah, its the truth. Rudy saw it. But what was he to do? Sit his maxed out superstar? Or sit out the rook and play the vets who Francis will give a little more consideration? Rudy, obviously went with the only option he had and sat Boki. Lingering injuries you say? I say westside disinfo to cover the leader of the brat packs selfishness.
From Texas Stoke: Ok, ok I believe you. But man, if you've got a problem with Steve and Cat not passing to rookies, last season there was a more pressing issue. I've been sick and medicated for three days and I don't remember if I have a life, but I suspect if I do I'd still want your memory.
From what I've seen, his defense is actually quite a bit worse than Kerr's actually. In fact, I can't think of another NBA player in history who's defense looked so bad off the top of my head. (That may sound like a Waltonism, but it's true)
Boki is one of the great mysteries of basketball today... seriously. Before the 2002 draft, all the scouts were raving about him... 6"9', dead-eye shooter, excellent finisher, good handle and athleticism, at 21, a season veteran of an Italian professional team with 5 years on the Slovenian national team. Dude shot 60% from the field one year in Italy. Not a raw high school kid. Previews had him pegged to contribute by mid-season. Then, what happened? Reports of injuries before training camp... and he fell off the map. Didn't even get in for garbage time. It just doesn't add up. What do we, the casual fans, know about him? We haven't seen much footage of him. He didn't play ball here in college. So nix college basketball footage. I saw 30 seconds of footage during TNT's draft broadcast. He drove the ball one time, shot some mid-range jumpers. (Heck, we all could look pretty decent shooting jumpers if all you showed was our shots going in). Saw him play about, oh 30 minutes, of all of last season. He didn't look horrible. From the way his defense was described I expected him to be running on 2 clubbed feet, but he moved well. Not as smooth as a Peja, but he moved around well. But in 30 minutes I definitely could not come to any real conclusions. Based on everything I had read before last season, I think the expectation of the casual fan and of the Rockets organization was that he was going to contribute at some point last year. However, Rudy and CD's later position that they thought of him as our 2003 1st round pick suggests that they didn't. Did they say that when they drafted him? I personally think that statement is very fishy. Just sounded like a convenient way to explain why he didn't play last year and to try to appease the fans for not having a pick this year. Does anyone remember when exactly they said that for the first time? Before, or after the season started? So for all of us out there in Rocket land wishing we had a 1st round pick this year, remember, we do! It's Nachbar! I really don't have a point to make other than to throw out some more questions for discussion here. Has anyone seen any extended footage of Nachbar from Italy and therefore be able to offer a more informed opinion of him? Also... based on everything we have seen of him and the what the Rockets have said so far, can we chalk last season up to injury? If not, why didn't he play? Is there something that we don't know? Could there possibly be something fundamentally wrong with his game that didn't come out before but has come out now? Was that why Rudy didn't even play him in garbage time? To prevent everyone from seeing how unready he is for the NBA game? Remember, Turksan put up better numbers as a European pro than Boki did. I think it will be great with Boki becomes the dead-eye shooter from the 3 spot we have been looking for, but I won't cry if he's not. Looking at the players taken after him in last year's draft, there's not one player who'd I'd think, "****, we should have taken him!" Would you rather have Juan Dixon or Casey Jacobson? I think not. After all, barring the occasional exceptions like the Cat, the impact or success a player usually has in the league, on average, decreases exponentially the lower that player is taken in the draft.
Yeah last season, this past season, that’s what I’m talking about. Steve Francis froze out Boki; it’s the truth; turned him into a slovenian popsicle on the bench.
You must have missed the Rocket's point guards. If Steve or Moochie ever played defense it would cause a tear in the space-time continuum.
Nobody has a clue what to expect of Nachbar. Hearsay and rumour has it that Nachbar CAN shoot, CAN'T play D, and SHOULD be a star (possibly Stojakovic mold). Since RT didn't play Nachbar at all last season (dunno why), I can't put much faith in Nachbar's ability to hold down the 3 for a good length of time. I'd use him as a backup unless he really sux, then we gotta get rid of him. But I would put TMo as a starter if we don't keep Posey. TMo is gonna become a great role player, and I'm glad many ppl are starting to put more faith in him.
