Our 5 of the future

Like everyone, I've thought of the possibility of EG at center....eventually, anyway, or against the leaner, less bruising 5's of the league (Clark, Lafrentz maybe). Supposedly EG has grown since his 6'9" measurement and is closer to 6'10" or 6'11". If he can put on at least twenty-five pounds (and his frame looks to be able to keep it on), then it is likely he'll play a lot of 5. I just wonder where the pieces will fit in the future: Mo; KT; EG; et al.

Knowing Rudy, Mo at the 5, EG at the 4, Rice or T-Mo at the 3. But that's a year away, so leave it for now, I guess.

I would be glad to see EG on the floor at all .

 

It's very possible....all players bulk up when they age.

(I now it has no positive connection...) but at 19, I was 5'10 1/2'' and 160 lbs. ....at 22 I was 5'11 3/4'' and 200 lbs.....(er, all muscle too.)

Now, I'm not saying he will gain 40 lbs. in 3 years; but I do think he should gain at least 20 to 25 and maybe an inch more...that would put him at a typical Center size.

 

Eddie Griffin will never be a C. It's laughable to think otherwise.

 

Thanks for the great insight.

We are so fortunate to have such unparalled wisdom bestowed upon us...

 

People are talking about moving Eddie to center, and I'm still sitting here thinking he would be best suited for SF. Look at Pippen and Nowitzki. These are guys with similar builds and they thrive(d) at the SF position. And Griffin is probably more athletic than either of these two players. I just don't want the Rockets to ruin him by trying to make him bigger and most likely slower. Just look at what the Lakers did to Robert Horry. Not to say that Griffin couldn't use some work in the weight room.

But under the current circumstances, since we don't have many options at the 4 and 5 and with Glen Rice at SF, Eddie should play PF this season. But if the Rockets try to turn him into a center, I think they'll ruin his career before it even starts. He is not a center.

 

We shall see.....call me in 3.

 

At 6'10"-11" and 255 he would be roughly Dream's size. So, I don't think that I would call the idea "laughable."

 

Actually Rudy said last week that he does not think of Eddie as a three, but rather a four or even five.

 

Griffin strength right now is our weakness. Rebounding and interior defense. So you do the math. We have to have him play 25-30 minutes a game with 5-8 played at the 5. Untill Mr Collier shows up, by rebounding and playing tough defense, then the team does not have a choice.

 

What if the Rocket make a trade to whichever team might get the number one pick next year ?

Which team is projected to draft number one ?

Will the Rockets get a chance at Chris Marcus who averaged 12.1 rebounds for Western Kentucky in 31 games?

With today's roster, I don't think the Rockets will beat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers this year, or Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.

Seriously advancing deep into the playoffs, I don't think so.

Making the playoffs, with a frontline of Cato, Collier, K. Thomas and Eddie Griffin, maybe just barely.

Prediction : 9th place in the Western conference

 

It only all depends on cato. I've seen him step up lately and it really surprises me how much he hustles now. If we see Cato really pullin in decent numbers i think he's set there with eddie playing pf at hopefully 6'11++ I see him gettin up to a legitimate 7' before he stops growing. I think he could slide to the 5 spot occasionally as well.... we all gotta watch and see if this new cato attitude lasts

 

There is a difference between being a first tier starting 5 and be able to log minutes at the 5. Last year, Bullard logged significant minutes at the 5 (more than one minute at a time ). Griffin will log minutes at the 5 for the Rockets. Does that make Griffin the Rocket's future 5? No, but I don't expect him to embarass himslef either.

Griffin's main position will be the 4. Offensively, he will have an inside-outside game. Defensively, he will be able to play the 3, 4, and 5. I suspect that he will have problems guarding the more powerful 4s and 5s, due to his slighter frame. If I had to guess, I would say that when he fills out he will weigh 235-240. That would be on the lighter end of the 4 spectrum, but his quickness and hops will more than make up that

 

Everyone's talking "build, size, weight" etc.

How about looking at skills instead, or size coupled with skills? Not all centers have to be 6'11" and up and weigh 255+ to play in the middle. Not all SF's have to be built like Nowitzki either.

I am not a firm believer in prototypes and I also believe that a player's physical makeup is much less important than their skillset when determining position.

My belief is that it's best to have as much versatility in a player as possible. Who you play where also is heavily weighted to the situational aspect of the game, and what lineup you are trying to counter against your opponent.

Everyone is so hellbent on trying to match up with Shaq. Who mathces up with Shaq today? No one. Why bother? Counter with something to expose his weakness.....perimeter defense.

 

Mr. Hoop-T has a valid point.

Skillset is more important than what the player is physically.

Hoop-T, do you know of a any skillful player that is still available that the Rockets might be interested in?