Piatkowski likes deal by Rockets

The Omaha World-Herald
July 7, 2004


Eric Piatkowski came to Houston from the Los Angeles Clippers, so the Rockets' 45-37 record last season seemed like NBA nirvana to the former Nebraska star.

But hold on there, Mr. Sharpshooter. Maybe it gets even better.

Piatkowski has a bigger reason to believe he latched on with the right team after Houston's blockbuster trade for Tracy McGrady. It shows a commitment by the Rockets that the veteran appreciates more than ever.

"When you're young, you think an awful lot about yourself, concerns about playing time and statistics and contracts," Piatkowski said. "But I'm going into my 11th year, and the only thing that matters at this time is winning. I want to be with the teams that are playing at the end of May and the beginning of June."

As long as Houston's next deals don't involve Piatkowski, the 6- foot-7 shooting guard can envision playing for his first 50-win team. The Western Conference is loaded, but he thinks the Rockets can continue to gain on teams like Sacramento, Minnesota, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I don't think we're far off at all," Piatkowski said Sunday from his Omaha home. "They went out and said this is what we need to do. Granted, you don't know what kind of chemistry you're going to have when you add new guys, but I know we got guys who all want to win."

Houston rocked the National Basketball Association world last Tuesday by bringing McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines from Orlando. It came with a price as the Rockets gave up their starting backcourt of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, along with Kelvin Cato.

Piatkowski said it would have been tough to pass up a chance to land the player he calls "probably the second-best overall, all- around player in the game right now" behind Kobe Bryant. With center Yao Ming and McGrady, Piatkowski said the Rockets possess an inside- outside combination that rivals Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant during their Laker heydays.

Piatkowski, 33, also can sympathize with McGrady, whose seven seasons at Orlando produced no 45-win totals and no trips past the first round of the NBA playoffs. In nine seasons with the Clippers, Piatkowski played on teams that went a combined 220-486.

"His whole train of thought right now is he wants to win," Piatkowski said. "He basically hand-picks the Rockets as a team he thinks can win a championship for him. So everybody's really excited to have him."

Piatkowski believes the Rockets will be making more moves. Despite obtaining Lue, also a former Husker, Houston is expected to pursue a veteran point guard.

Piatkowski has two years left on his three-year, $8.5 million contract, but his 2003-04 numbers -- 4.1 points a game, 14.1 minutes, 35.3 percent on 3-pointers -- were below his career averages. He was limited to 50 games by ankle problems and is recovering from surgery.

But he wants to remain part of what Houston's building.

"I'm frustrated about the season I had, but that's over," Piatkowski said. "Life goes on. I'm getting back to 100 percent now and I feel good about that."


(C) 2004 Omaha World-Herald. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7480102

*you have to register to read the whole article so I posted it all here.

 

I was bored and wasnt finding any new Rox info ... when I came across this and never saw this posted here.

J