Either SAR is a 3/4 Rock or JHo would have to be trade bait. If SAR SnT occurred (with DA, or not at all IMO).
We also heard nobody can score 20 ppg, let alone 25 ppg in a JVG offense. Just like he's never had an offensive player like Tracy, he's never had a 4 with the offensive talents of Abdur-Rahim. SAR has a lot more diverse of a game than people give him credit for. I don't think he plays well as the 3, nor would we want him to be playing the 3.
Larry Johnson scored 15.5 ppg in 34 mpg under JVG as a third option on offense. The first two options were a center and a wing player. There is no reason that Reef couldn't match the production of an aged Larry Johnson (whose jersey always looked several sizes too big).
Larry Johnson played the 3 during JVG's tenure. Oakley played the 4. I think Van Gundy has certain defined roles for each position and is reluctant to change those roles. Instead of adjusting those roles to fit his players, he prefers to go out and find players that fit his system (which I don't have a problem with). This is why it would surprise me if Van Gundy did go after SAR. He tried to mold Francis into a traditional point guard when it was obvious there's no way Francis could play that role. He's tried to mold Yao into playing like a traditional center that plays in the low post all the time. And he has molded Howard into the type of 4 he wants. One that concentrates mostly on rebounding and defense. I would expect the same to happen to SAR if he were to come here. I truly believe Howard could still average +15ppg if Van Gundy wanted him to, but that Van Gundy would rather he concentrate on other areas.
Well it's not me against the world anymore. Thank you Lord! Now, that's what the heck I've been talking about.
I pretty much agree. But to qualify the last part, I was justing suggesting SAR could pick up the back-up 3 minutes. He would get most of his minutes at the 4, but he would certainly be a better back-up 3 than any we had last year, and that flexibility to a good asset (to go big if needed), not a negative one. I am on target about the system thing too. I think great coaches build the system around their talents, not the other way around. I am quite sure JVG would not have traded Barkley or Malone just because they shoot too much and dominante the ball. Not that SAR is at their level, but he would be the 3rd most talented guy on the roster and the 2nd most efficient scorer behind Yao, JVG would use him well. His PPG would fall, Otis Thorp's fell alot too when he joined the Rockets and took a less central role on a better team playng besides an all-world player, but 14-15PPG in 32MPG on high % shooting and doing other things at least adequately (not exceptional defense or rebounding, but adequate like JH did for the most part) would help the team immensly IMO, I think SAR could do this. Now if he comes here saying he wants to be a #1 option, get payed the most bucks he can, and not do the little things we need--of course he is the wrong fit and I say "thanks but no thanks, go find a league dreg to pad your stats with". But if SAR says he wants a championship, and understands what will be asked of his role as a supporting player to Tmac and Yao--by all means I think we should do every reasonable things possible to make him a Rocket.
Given that what you are saying is true, will you guarantee say 9 extra wins (up to 60) and a battle with PHX or SA in the Western Conference finals next year?
If we added SAR and a more athletic back-up SG/SF (draft pick or FA like Raja Bell or Spree) and not had major injuries over a long period (particularly Tmac and Yao, we could even survive SAR for a while with JH healthy)--I would guarantee no worse than the 3rd best record in the West and home court in the 1st round and no worse than 5th best in the league. We might be able to do this with just SAR and the whole rest of the team back, but the extra swingman as a secondary priority should be achievable without too much cost/effort. I'd like our chances against SA and Phx too. Despite Yao providing Phx major problems in the regular season, I think anyone thinking we had a chance versus them in a 7 game series this year after what they did to Dallas without their #1 MPG guy (JoeJ) should have dispelled that notion. We had trouble with Dallas athleticsm in their swingmen and forwards, Phx would have destroyed us.
SAR is a great player who will make our team better, not worse. If we can get him for a reasonable price, I think Van Gundy can make him fit. Just my opinion, but I think there's some over-analyzing here when it comes to his purported lack of defense, or his ability to fit into the system as a scorer. Defense is not just about standing up to a guy man on man, especially at the PF or SF position - it's as much about understanding the scheme and knowing where to be on your rotations. SAR is talented enough to be a solid defender, so it's just a question of whether JVG can get him to play good team defense. I'm inclined to that the Rockets will only take SAR if JVG thinks he can coach him. (Initials fatigue, anyone?) Don't forget that people said the same thing about McGrady - that he can't (or doesn't) play defense. I don't see SAR as a guy who needs a ton of touches to be effective. Really, I think he'd be fine. I just question whether we can ultimately afford what he wants. I think he'd have to want to play for us for us to make it work - if he does, I think he'll adapt just fine on both ends.
IIRC, in order for us to have home court advantage in the 1st round we would have to win our conference. That would be over Dallas and SA. This year Dallas, ranked #3, had a better record than Seattle, but they were still ceded #4 and had Home court over the Rockets #5. So if you are willing to guarantee that we win Texas, I vote for SAR. But, then again, I think we should agree to disagree again.
You don't have to win the conference let alone the divison to have home court in the 1st round. All you have to do is have the 4st best record in the conference, it may very well 3rd in the Rockets division. If we got SAR and improved more athletic back-up 2/3 and stayed healthy I have little doubt we would be better than the Mavs. There would be 3 elite teams in the WC-us, SA and Phx, and at most two more league elites (Mia, Det). Predicting among them is much harder and of course injuries change everything.
Okay, I guess the second sentence was 'righter' than the first. We would have to swap places with Mavs, but not SA in order to hold home court. OKAY, then if that is your guarantee I'll accept it as possible. However, I would also accept that the same scenario is possible with JHo as so many people on the board have espoused. I would have to watch SAR or JHo play defense alot more than I have to believe they could cover Dirk who is 3-4 inches taller and a little younger. I'm glad you are good natured and intelligent. Some other debates like this have turned kind'a ugly. Have a nice day.
