I like Battier, but he was an offensive liability in the Jazz series. He couldn't hit a three to save his life. I almost think the other team having to play some defense on us for once might actually be more beneficial than a wing defender at this point. All the Jazz had to do was double McGrady and clog the paint and they eliminated our scoring. I would take the risk for this trade.
Wouldn't you all prefer Maggette? He's better in every way besides outside shooting. And the way he scores puts pressure on the defense, as opposed to just hoping the shot goes in. Maggette and Yao together would foul out the opposing frontline by the end of the third.
You would be a complete r****d not to do this trade. Of course, the Bucks would be r****ds to do this trade. Shane for Redd? Are you kidding me? Why?
I'm fine with the mantra "defense wins championships", but please explain why Shane makes us that much better defensively as a team? Seriously. I'm not saying he doesn't but the stats prove otherwise. This team was just as dominating from an opponent PPG and FG% perspective in the year(s) before Shane got here as they have been the past two seasons. For some reason, people continuously fail to see that. I'll take good team defense 99 times out of a 100 over a great individual defender. And the Rockets have that. Why? Because for some reason, the team has that identity where all their players, including their 2 stars, are good rotation defenders, understand that protecting the paint is extremely extremely important and the team is almost always a solid, way above average rebounding team. Of course, having Shane there to play one on one versus the Kobe's and Lebron's of the world is awesome. But, sorry, we still haven't gotten out of the first round in over a decade where the likes of the Phoenix's, Golden State's, Lakers of this year, etc. have and more. If the goal is to emulate the Spurs, as it should be, you have to understand that while defense may take you over the top, offense is needed to get there, and the Rockets simply don't have enough. As to Michael Redd....dime a dozen scorer is way way undervaluing his capabilities. He was the number 8 scorer in the league. Yes, read that again, number 8. But it's not just because he's a "chucker". Of the 7 players above him, he attempts more FG per game than 3 of them (and just barely more than Dirk), so no less a chucker than any of them. His FG% was down last year, but.... Forget his rookie year - he only played in 6 games and 35 minutes. Other than that year, he's shot a better FG% in every season than Tracy's shot in the last five years. He's shot a better 3 point FG% EVERY SEASON than Tracy's shot in the past five years. And he shoots more 3's than most other top scorers in the league, at a very solid %. Sounds perfect for the Rockets system. He's not just a volume shooter. He is also a good one. I'd trade Battier + Bobby for Redd in a second. I'd throw in a future draft pick, too. You won't find a bigger impact trade out there. Keep this year's draft pick, add a player with the MLE (or split it and add two), develop Landry, Brooks, Novak...expect the same from Deke, Hayes... ...and, most importantly, stay HEALTHY, and that finally is a championship caliber team, imo.
I addressed a lot of what you said in latter posts. But not this. So Ill address it now. The 8th top scorer on a team that won 4 more games all year than we had during our streak. Their second option is what? Bogut? Mo Taylor used to look pretty good on 20 win teams too. Yes Redd is better than Taylor, but you have to see my point. You could plug JR Smith into the Bucks and he would be a top 10 scorer too. So would Barbosa, Gordon, etc... I would rather trade less and bring in less, than do something drastic. We are currently a contender with a healthy Yao.
Probably yes. Redd isn't just a shooter but Maggette is far better than him at getting to the line and finishing around the basket. I also think his outside shooting might improve a bit on the Rockets too with the attention being payed to Yao and Tracy. His fitness concerns me. Maggette has defensive potential but doesn't work hard at it. Redd isn't a good defender either. I don't think he is lazy but in the end it amounts to the same problem anyway. Maggette is cheaper too. Getting either one of them can help us on offense. We will have to add another defender as well if Battier is traded for either one of them but I doubt if the Clippers or the Bucks are going to want Battier for them.
Redd would play the Peja role from Rick's Sacramento days. He can shoot it as quickly and with as little room as Peja, and he can drive around a player who attempts to close out on him too quickly. If it wasn't for Redd's contract, he would be the perfect offensive addition to the Rox.
I love Battier. But at times, especially in the playoff, his inability to score really frustrates me. Defensive specialist is easier to find than an offense talent. I just feel if we dont add a significant 3rd offensive threat like all other contenders, this team will repeat the theme we have seen in the last 3 years. Regarding to Redd is ball hog. Actually, I think he can be bought into a team concept, and he has tools to be great playing along side with Yao. He doesn't have to do much. With Bucks, he is the offense, and he just becomes Bret Farve of the Bucks because too much offensive freedom. With Yao and Tmac on the team, he will bow. Why not, he is not stupid. He is not Ricky Davis. The guy would be a perfect two guard/ win for this team. He can shoot, he can finish in traffic. The only thing I dont like is his contract. If it doesnt pan out well here for any reason with us, we are stuck. So it's a very high risk move. But if it's only Bjax and Battier, you have to consider it seriously. Are you going to get better talents in return? If you want to play defense, you can always put Hayes there, or sign goon from the D-League, who will do anything to stay in the league. Defense is discipline and effort, and a little talent, dont overrate it.
how many games did pau gasol's grizz win before he joined the lakers? mcgrady's last year in orlando? doesn't indicate they're not great players.
With, or without, Redd, it's literally back to the drawing board in a few years. The Rockets have to add another big time player or we will be stuck in the 2nd tier of contenders until the Tracy/Yao experiment is over. We are not on the verge of becoming a dynasty with this roster. There are two directions this team can go: 1. Take the Boston approach and go all in for a real chance to win the title by signing a Redd-caliber player. 2. Find a way to start rebuilding NOW. Trade McGrady for the best you can get and start building a younger team that may contend in 2 or 3 years. You don't want to get stuck in the middle at this point. We have to go all in or rebuild. Signing a guy like Redd would be considered approach #1. Personally, I don't see this team contending with small changes. We need a high-end third talent/scorer or we will likely get the same results as the last two years. It doesn't have to be Redd. A guy like Mike Miller, Artest or even Ben Gordon may be just enough.
Micahel Redd's offense efficiency is atricious with the Bucks. But we have to look past that. The Buck system is a backcourt dominant system, in which Redd is given complete offensive freedom. Our system is different, and I think Redd has what it takes to be great in this system as long as he buys into his role here, which I dont think he wont. Redd's stubboness and IQ is about two shades over Francis, and if we welcome Francis back, Redd definitely will fit in.
Almost every team that we are up against is deep just look at the Lakers as an example. Yao makes us good but even then it's not enough IMHO.JR Smith and Barbosa can score but I don't think they can get 22 points a game on the Bucks,Gordon might be able to do that.Redd should get part of the blame for his team's failure to win but he has a better chance of succeeding in Houston with most of the pressure being taken off him as the primary scorer. We will need an extra defender if we do get him and I admit his contract is big and this may not be successful either but we don't have many other options. This thread is hypothetical of course as the chances of a Battier plus others is unlikely to say the least.
I actually think Redd is a better fit than Maggette. Yes Maggette gets fouled a lot and goes to the line a lot, but with Yao in the middle we dont need him to penetrate or slash that often, while his shooting ability isnt that great. Guys like Mike Miller or Michael Redd are perfect fit. The can shoot when the ball is passed out or drive if defense takes the open shot away. I like Miller more than Redd, but if Griz asks Scola for Miller, there is no way we are going to do. Rafer Redd Tmac Scola Yao This is a contender team. And defensively this roster is not that bad either.
First of all, you say with the Bucks as if their was another team he ever played for. Secondly, would you mind specifying those attrocious offensive stats? Are you referring to his career FG%? 45% Or, his career 3PT%? 39% Or, his career FT%? 85% Those stats are all as good as or better than Kobe' and T-Mac's. His career FG% is better than Ray Allen's. His career 3PT% is equal to Ray Allen's, who is widely considered one of the purest shooters in history. His career FG% is equal to Peja's and his 3PT% is only 1% less. Basically, what the heck are you talking about? Do you think Team USA would designate an attrociously inefficient offensive SG to be their primary outside shooter? Of course not. And, they didn't. Michael Redd is actually a highly efficient scorer and he would immediately make the Rockets a better basketball team.
