I think Eddie will be great. I just think MoT fits in with Yao better, and am not willing to wait anymore for Eddie to grow up. Steve and Yao are ready to win, and the organization is bringing in vets this offseason. Also, playoffs are the bare minimum goal next season, and we can't blame it on Eddie growth. Sorry, I'd rather win now, even if it means getting a slightly less talented player. I think Sheed is a good bet. The whole Portland roster is up for grabs, Zach Randolph is exploding, and the Blazers are imploding again. Rasheed would fit in very nicely with this team. He's basically everything we want Eddie Griffin to be. We used to say we don't want Rasheed's antics, but his T's are WAY WAY WAY down, and he's as clean as Eddie Griffin when it comes to drugs.
The problem I see with Eddie is that all of his bad habits and shortcomings that existed 2 years ago are still there today, and he has shown no signs of improvement. Poor shot selection based on a willingness to settle for crappy outside jumpers, apparent apathy on and off the court (even Yao wrote that he was quiet, for god's sake), and immaturity. To top it all off, he still does not appear to have a viable NBA position, he doesn't really appear able to guard small forwards but is to wispy to guard power forwards. These other guys referred to, O'Neal, McGrady, etc, took time to develop, but they weren't given anywhere near the opportunity to get serious PT, let alone be a starter, that Eddie had. Similarly, they didn't have the one year of college as a "buffer" between high school and the big leagues. Potential is nice, but we all know what it means in the present tense.
That's an excellent idea, Will. Up until now, Eddie has basically been told that he's going to be the man, regardless. From not trading him last offseason to trading KT to not starting Mo Taylor when it was obvious that he was playing superior ball, the Rockets have given Eddie every indication that he has nothing to worry about when it comes to playing time and this team. Maybe hearing whispers to the contrary will motivate him to work on his game harder. I'm torn on the issue, personally. Part of me thinks that he's shown relatively no improvement from last season and that we should move him while we can still get something decent in return. Then, I think of Jermaine O'Neal. I'm also not quite ready to give up on him because I want to see this team do better than the potential lineup of Yao/KT/Jefferson/Mobley/Francis could've done. Of course, had we had Jefferson last season, we probably wouldn't have Yao right now.
Hi, If we trade Eddie then Yao Ming will be the youngest player in Rockets (Tito is a bad guy and we will get rid of him, right?). How can the youngest player (YM)be the learder of the team? If Eddie is around at least Ming can make jokes on Eddie (such as Eddie old man joke) or call out Eddie's poor defence (just like what he did in an Chinese interview). Eddie's role (younger than Ming) will be good to foster Ming's leadership in this team. (Just a funny thought in my mind now)
Windandsea, leadership is not about age. If you're a leader, you're a leader, regardless of your age. PS Are you Yang Mei Yi on the Sina BBS? I enjoy your posts very much over there.
OK, here's the reason I still have hope on eddie, I remember the game against T-Wolves. Now we dog eddie's man to man defense, but in that game I thought he played KG pretty well, and on one possession he blocked KG straight up. It wasn't a nasty block or anything, but just a good man to man block, a nice solid play. The thing that had me jumping up and down was when's the last time you see KG back some one down, turn around for a semi-fadeaway shot, and was blocked straight up? How many ppl in the League actually have the abillity to do that?
Sorry I am not familiar with Mandarin. I follow your posts there although I don't have an account (they're charging for an account damn).
I think the Rockets have done a disservice by playing Griffin so much, they have basically outlined that mediocrity is accepted as a player. They should have sat him down and made him EARN his minutes on the floor...you hustle you play, you loaf, you sit. By playing him so much early and not yanking him when he underperfomed it is sending the wrong message. I hope EG can be salvaged, but Jermaine O'neal worked hard at his game, Eddie...well...he smokes pot. DD
keep eddie. he will be 1 of the best 4s in the league in 2-3 years. 2-3 years from is right about the time i think were going to make a title run. we were 1 game out of the playoffs this year, i know next year we will make the playoffs. but dont think we will get passed the first round, and the 2nd year maybe take the first round to 7 games and then fall out. which leaves us at the next year, destiny is on our side!
LOL, DD, you are so funny. Next time you don't reply a thread when you find it has had 28 posts. Just wait to be the 30th.
Stop! There is only one right way! We give Griff the chance to develop or we trade him for another Power Forward, good character , stability, great performer at least 20/10, does not demand the ball, can block and rebound and young enough that he could play with our team for another 8yrs. The only player that matches and might be available for such a trade is Elton Brand of the Clippers.
I agree with several of you here and will just reiterate a few points. Griffin has the talent to develop into a Jermaine O'Neal type player but does he have the drive to do so. Many of the young 20 and under players that came into the league like Bryant, Garnett, McGraddy, and O'Neal all had unquestioned drive to excell and work on their game. Then there are the Benders, the Miles, and the Stevensons. Rockets management knows more than us about what's going on behind the scenes with Griffin. I'll leave it up to them to decide which group they think he will fall into and make a decision based on that.
DD, Rudy DID yanked him earlier in the season, remember? He was DNP-coach's decision in at least one game. But that was when KT was still here. Anyways, trading Griffin is like trading stock. He is falling now. Do you get rid of him now before he falls some more, or do you wait it out and hope he will rise again? Either way is a gamble.
Ming did say earlier in the year that he liked Moochie and Kenny Thomas. We all know moochie sucks,so take what Ming says with a grain of salt.And kenny was traded. If ming said he likes eddie,then ming was just being nice. He also said that around the deadline,the rox were about to trade grif/cat for brand. Ming didnt sound like he had a problem with that. Ming reminds me of Hakeem like that,he NEVER critiques a player in public. Except Mobley. LOL I guess thats why Mobley is guaranteed to be gone.
