Although he had a year where his minutes where so inconsistent he looked like a possible bust. This guy was suppose to be a lottery pick and went just outside the lottery. Watching Gaines in college if he finds his comfort zone, he is a much better shooter than Ward and Sura. He is the tallest and strongest of the two. Gaines is the most athletic although Sura in his prime probably was just as athletic. Gaines is a spectacular defensive player, with good ball handling skills, better than Ward and Sura. So what if he comes to camp confident and ready does he start at point guard along with T-Mac or does he become the first point or two guard off the bench. He just seems to be the forgotten man, and personally I think why we didn't have a summer league team is because JVG already knew he was going with veterans and doesn't young players. Just hope he gets a fair chance considering he was one of deal breakers, considering they were trying to compensate the bobcats for not drafting him.
Nice post, I don't know if he's better than Sura or Ward but it will be interesting to see him develop. I like Gaines too.
I have to admit that of all the players we traded for (other than TMac of course), I'm intrigued the most by Gaines. If he ever lives up to his potential, this could be an absolute steal in this trade. But then reality sets in and tells me that he couldn't get PT on the Magic and reminds me of a player named Randy Livingston that I once held out hope for. But... I'm still... intrigued.
I'm getting tired of potential tagged on player. I remember back with Hakeem and the glory days of the Rockets, it was always about getting solid guys. Very little potential outside of Hakeem and Drexler. Cassel fit the label well, but he was about it, and he'd piss off Hakeem with his ball hogging. Nachbar, Gaines, Griffin, etc are guys who we've been looking at for big thing in the NBA. Griffin was a bust (lamentedly so). Nachbar has done nothing in 2 years (but ONE good game against the Lakers has everyone talking) Gaines could not get off the bench with one of the worst teams in the NBA. I'm guilty of it to, but lets get serious, the Rockets hopes rest soley on Yao and McGrady. Howard, Jackson, Taylor, Surra, and Ward will provide the stabalizing force. Nachbar and Gaines are nothing more than wishful thinking by the fans. I want Gaines to do good, but after the Griffin "potential" circus, I'll sit on the side line and just be happy if they do good. Good Luck Gaines.
As talented as Mobley was, he would drive the coaches nuts. He would never run the plays as they were drawn up. JVG just did not like Mobley. But, I think Mobley did have that potential tag on him. I remember how excited the Rockets were that Mobley had been available in the 2nd round. From what the Rockets said, if either or the 3 guys they drafted or Lewis was not there, Mobley would have been drafted in the first round. Mobley,was a good solid player, but he could have been so much better if he'd play smarter.
I've got to admit that I know nothing about Gaines. I hope he achieves. I just don't know. I have watched Boki and believe if he gets his head on right and gets the confidence of the coaches he will succeed. I believe in his talent and determination. JVG hoards minutes, disdains youthful mistakes. I hope they all come together because this team will need more than 'just' Yao/TMc.
Mobley was one of the most solid players last year and stepped up his defense too. What evidence do you have that mobley blatantly disregarded plays, or that JVG did not like Mobley either. Rather, I think you're just buying into an over generalization made by many Rockets fans such as "Steve Francis is a ball hog", etc.
that year we were without pg and sg so the rockets select them and they hit the black hole with young talet they select Michael, Dickerson gone with the francis trade Cuttino, Mobley Drew, Bryce backing up both player at the Guard and as a six man he score 14 ppg so he win the spot when dickerson got trade BTW in this year we have the best young core of players and if we could get Rashard IMO that would be the best draft pick all around selection in our history but with all the respect of the selection of The Dream
Well, I am sure and/or I hope that he gets a shot considering we found out afterwards that the Rockets wanted Gaines in the trade. I think, given the opportunity, he will be a good contributor to the team and a good player in the near future. What bothers me is that they went and got two more guards to go along with Lue, so it doesn't seem likely he will jump ahead of any of them. That fact alone makes me think they may try to use him as trade bait or trade one or more of the guards ahead of him to improve another spot on the team. But, I could be wrong.
hey we get lucky to bring a good top 5 player a past first round pick and tow back up guys from Cato (trade from portland "Quitten trade") Francis (trade from the Grizzlies for a bunch of guys that we get in the quitten trade and dickerson) Mobley (selected in the second round )
To say Reece Gaines is our 2nd best guard is not but stupidity or blind optismism. Most #16 picks bust. Most #16 picks looked great in college. Welcome to reality. There are more busts than successes in the draft.
I think that the reason we didn't have a summer league team was that the decision was made before the T-mac deal and we had a full roster of vets (Boki and Wilks would have been the only players - and I heard JVG on 610 last month saying that Boki put some time in this summer already) Gaines will get the chance in practice to learn from some solid vets - if he has some potiental, he will get his shot when JVG is comfortable with him the only reason Cat got to play was they were desparate for guards that season - (I think that most coaches would rather not start rookies taken outside the lottery)
Wow!!! the Rockets saw how good Cat could be and were all excccccited !!!! ( I am picturing now Chris Farley's impersonation of the cosmetics tycoon Laura Davis) Well, of course not as good as Mirsad Turckan and Bryce Drew, but still, excccccccciting!!!!!
And the only reason they were desparate was because they were paying two white scrubs through the nose (Maloney and Price) and drafted a third one in the first round (Drew). Cat saved their butt, then took less money to stay in H-town, only to be traded...
I do hope Gaines can turn out to be a surprise kinda like Flip Murray did for Seattle in the Payton trade.
