Is it within the realm of possibility that the Rockets will throw us a curve ball and move up for Jason Richardson with thoughts that he can be our starting 3? Targeted as a 2, he is 6'6 and 220 Some of the top 3 don't have much on him in terms of size Joe Johnson is 6'8, 220 R.Jefferson is 6'7, 227 Battier is 6'8, 229 I know it's said Rudy wants a tall 3 to create match-up problems and JR doesn't stetch to the likes of the Euros. And we need size and rebounding. But what if the Rox have concluded they can acquire those needs later. Have a look at JR's comparisons to Vince Carter and even Michael Jordan. ``He has the physical skills of Michael Jordan when he came out,'' Denver Nuggets director of player personnel Kim Hughes said. ``He's a tremendous leaper. He's strong. He can run the court like a deer.'' At 6-6 and 220 pounds, the 20-year old Richardson has similarities in his game to that of a young Jordan, but most compare Richardson's skills to Vince Carter's, the high-flying Toronto star. Yet the quality some teams like most about Richardson is his devotion to basketball. One league vice president referred to him as a ``basketball junkie'' because he has worked endlessly over the past year to improve his game, particularly on the perimeter. On off days, it was hardly uncommon to find the former Michigan Mr. Basketball in the gym hoisting 1,000 jumpers. The results showed -- evidenced by his three-point shooting of 40.2 percent last season, up from 29.2 his freshman year. The team that drafts Richardson will find the work ethic is a permanent part of his philosophy. ``I think a lot of guys think they've made it when they get drafted and they stop working,'' Richardson said. ``I'm not going to be content because that's just going to be a start. My goal is to win championships and be a player that people say was one of the best when I retire.'' ------------------ [This message has been edited by Joe Fan (edited June 26, 2001).]
6'6 with shoes. He is comparable to Shandon's height. Much more athletic with better ball skills and upside. He would look nice running with Steve and Cat. Could be very deady combo, just needs to work on the jumper. ------------------
I heard that if Jordan is to comes back, he is planing on playing SF as some kind of way to keep Hamilton. Jordan only stands 6'6", but of course, Jordan is Jordan. Richardson is, however, much more athletic, but I don't think it's worth trying to figure out because I don't think the Rockets will draft him. ------------------
Would you be willing to give up the 13 and 18 to move up a few spots to grab Jason, if you knew you had MoT coming back, and then took a defensive-minded center with the 23? Youre right that it probably wont happen but our management has certainly surprised in the past. ------------------
Abraham, Richardson is much more athletic than Jordan? What is your definition of athletic? ------------------ [This message has been edited by Moe (edited June 26, 2001).]
I'm sorry if I used the word "athletisism" too loosly. However, I am talking about the 38 year old Jordan versus the twenty-whatever year old Richardson. It's true that Jordan is the greatest athlete of all time because in his prime he had the greatest blend of coordination, speed, and power. However, I was referring to pure speed, quickness, and hops. Someone's sig quotes Battier as saying that athletes win track meets and basketball players win basketball games. That's what I'm talking about. Human skeletal muscle consists of two types of fibers: type I and type II, which is designated either a or x. Type II fibers, known as fast fibers, rely on efficient anaerobic metabolism and can contract up to 10 times faster than the aerobic type I. Athletes like basketball players have a greater proportion of type II fibers, while marathon runners posess greater amounts of slow fibers which results in endurance. The production of type II fibers slows down as people age, and they are replaced with type I fibers, Although the strength might be there, the speed is gone. Just look at older boxers. Therefore, size being equal, and undersized twenty year old with tremendous athletisism can make up for the mismatch much more readily than a tremendous athlete 18 years his senior. Jordan can still do it because he has an unparalleled mental game with the competitiveness to match. Anyway, I was just saying that from what I read, Richardson has the physical tools to play undersized. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Abraham (edited June 26, 2001).] [This message has been edited by Abraham (edited June 26, 2001).]
I think it remains to be seen how much quickness and speed and hops Jordan has lost at this point. Individuals biologically age at different rates. Until I see otherwise, it's hard to believe anyone is much more athletic than Jordan, even though he is chronologically 38. ------------------
6'6" is still 6'6", no maatter how well a player can jump. And that is still UNDERSIZED for a SF in the west. Unless Richardson has the power of levitation (and he might the way the scouts rave about his flying prowess...) then he won't be able to match up defensively with the opposing SF's in terms of height and rebounding. I wouldn't be disappointed with Richardson, but I can't see it happening! ------------------
I read somewhere that Richardson is more like 6'5" than 6'6". I think he was measured somewhere but I can't rememeber where. ------------------ President of the (the Rockets first pick in the draft) fan club.
