yes Puedlfor...Christie is it! And how people can just say he is like Shawn Marion (the freakazoid from the gods) is like saying Fizer is like Barkley. Freaks of the stratoshpere don't happen that much. Always be wary of any draft guru who compares people to freakazoids like Marion, Barkley, Rodman, Magic and Bird and now the new favorite Nitwitz. Freaks are rare. I love Christie's defense...man, he is stellar. But he could not stop Kobe. One on one defense on the perimeter doesn't stop the superstars. We need big bodies underneath to improve our defense tremendously. And lets not forget that one of the best defenses....is grabbing your fricking rebounds! Someone is blowing smoke to Jeff and the draft notes, or Jeff likes the name Jefferson. Jefferson is a classic "umm,,,,pass" by Rudy.
One other tidbit to consider in this. If indeed HP is right, and the Rockets do pass on Jefferson (Im not totally sure either way), then there arent exactly a ton of centers worthy of picking at 13. The top of the draft is very talented at the five position, but it somewhat thins out later on. The one true center that could go around 13 is Brendan Haywood unless Woods falls there. I dont think Rudy T and co will go for Haywood. That leaves two options: 1. Take a PF like Troy Murphy or Michael Bradley and play them at both frontcourt spots since they are big 4s. 2. Use the pick as bait to unload players under contract and/or trade down. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Diop will be there. He's a project, but is very raw offensively and I don't see him making an immediate impact. ------------------
Diop will be gone by #5 because nearly all the lottery teams need a big, athletic center, even a project center. ------------------
I think, as long as he's an athlete, why pass ? The Rockets may need to get a bit more athletic. didn't Christie used to be compared to a poor man's Magic ? So much for comparisons. Christie handles the ball better then RJ, but is nowhere near as athletic ------------------ "norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
Sounds Yinka Dare like to me ------------------ "The things I enjoy most, I suck at: 1) Sex: everything's fine until she makes noises." - Achebe
For some of the more saavy NCAA fans - 1) The ultimate for me is to trade the picks and some players for Raef LaFrentz (he goes good with Webber or Taylor and would be terrific with Dream). How does Micael Bradley stack up in comparison to LaFrentz? It appears Bradley can shoot, but what about shot blocking, athleticism, foot speed, & personal drive? 2) IMO, Diop won't drop to 13, but if the Rockets trade up and he and Battier are both available? I ask because I have a concern that Battier could be another Laettner - great in college (clean image, team leader, 3-4 year player, NCAA champ, good intangibles) but without tools for a great pro career. As you can tell, I think Center is a more pressing need for long-term success than SF and as has been noted all of the 5's within the Rockets current reach have flaws. Ken Johnson hasn't been mentioned, but I do like him later than 13. MManal - Thanks for thread. There are some exceptional comments here. ------------------ GATER
I read this kind of speculation, i.e. trashing, about Mike Miller during last year's draft. No one remembers that now. Diop will not be rookie of the year because he won't get that much PT unless he goes to a REALLY bad team. But YDare? -- no. But why dare? -- because he could be the center of the future. ------------------
Oh, I forgot to mention that Shane B. will be a very competent player, much like Rodney McCray. However, we can get a 10 to 12 point per game, good defender, solid team guy in the late teens or early 20s. Go for a guy with upside like Joe Johnson or Rodney White -- just as long as he is not from Alabama (we have no luck with Alabama players). ------------------
Yes, exactly. Battier is too expensive inside #10, imo. Jefferson may become a better defender than Christie and even have more athleticism than Shandon, but banking on a player who played low post in HS and still isn't showing much ability to create from the perimeter, has as much downside as upside. The potential to be totally shut down in the NBA is equal or higher than the potential to learn things he's never shown before. Leaping does not help you become a star without the fundamentals...ask Larry Hughes. Jefferson is too expensive at #13. Rudy has simply never shown the willingness to use a #13 on a 6'6" defensive specialist/super athlete who doesn't show fundamental offensive skills. This is why I believe we trade up/down or away our picks. If we trade up, it is not for a SF, imo. If we want a SF, we will trade down for him, or get lucky with Battier falling to #13.
"1) The ultimate for me is to trade the picks and some players for Raef LaFrentz (he goes good with Webber or Taylor and would be terrific with Dream). How does Micael Bradley stack up in comparison to LaFrentz? It appears Bradley can shoot, but what about shot blocking, athleticism, foot speed, & personal drive?" The comparison I like to use for Bradley is a slightly taller version of Austin Croshere. However, this isnt exact either... Both guys play inside-outside and shoot well from the perimeter, but Bradley is better on the inside, and Croshere is better on the outside. For instance, Croshere is very good at facing PFs up, making a dribble move baseline and finishing at the rim. Bradley on the other does his major damage by getting real good position down low and finishing real well around the rim. An area where Bradley could improve is something guys like LaFrentz and Croshere are good at which is being able to face up the defender and put the ball on the floor to go to the basket. Bradley is a better shotblocker than Croshere but not on the level of LaFrentz. Athleticism wise, Bradley is like Croshere, a good athlete but not a great athlete. My personal observation is that LaFrentz is better athletically than both these guys considering he is a good quick jumper off the floor which makes him a good shotblocker. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
You know who Battier reminds me of? Anyone remember Scott Wedman. He was great with the Kings (KC, I think) and finished his career up with the Celtics. Very under-rated because he spent his best years on a lousy team: tough-minded and could shoot the lights out. Battier's career will smoke both Fox's and McCray's. Fox was picked ~17th in a draft that was not deep and McCray was a huge reach at 3. Remember, we could have had Drexler or any number of other great NBA players instead of Rodney. Watch Battier. I've seen him for 4 years at Duke. He has worked to improve his game year in and year out; he hasn't peaked. Laettner was an ******* and still is by all reports. Laettner is a freak, too, but the wrong kind, the "tweener" kind. I'd love to see Battier be a Rocket, but I agree that SIZE is a more pronounced need at this time-- even if we get Webber because it is starting to look like Hakeem will walk. ------------------ Time is a great teacher-- only problem is it kills all its pupils. [This message has been edited by RichRocket (edited May 18, 2001).]
"This is why I believe we trade up/down or away our picks." Ive been thinking this as well of late. The scenario of trading contracted players like Willams, Rogers, etc in combination with a pick could possibly happen with pick 13 instead of pick 22. In the 20-35 range, players like Terence Morris, Ken Johnson possibly Jason Collins (though some disagree) and one guy that has moved up the charts of late in Brian Scalabrine could make a lot of sense for this team and come at a very low salary cap price tag. Players like that are good role fillers on this team, and in the process, the Rockets could open up more cap space. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Who can acquire salary though on draft day M&M? It's still only Chicago and LAC and whichever teams still have exceptions right? What teams have exceptions? ------------------ women love me, fish fear me.
Bradley is really hard to clone exactly IMO. He doesn't have the grit and in your face game that Croshere has (very few do), and is nowhere near the defensive presence of Lafrentz. I prefer Murphy to Bradley. I think Bradley will be an average NBA journeyman-spot starter, decent backup, nothing special. If we trade away 13, or draft a big man, I think Tayshaun Prince is a guy to watch-LOOONG arms, tall, lanky solid shooter, nice defender, an absolute mismatch. Think how much more fun these discussions would be if...err when we win a top 3 pick. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.
NIKEstrad, Really!! Nice that you came in. Tell me more. What I would REALLY like to know about Bradley and Murphy is how well do they move to their off hand. Are they one-sided on moves to the basket, meaning can they move (ie 1 or 2 dribbles) going the wrong way, can they finish down low either way. Are they ambidextrous at all, meaning do they really have an off-hand shot of 3-5' out with good rotation, no dribbling necessary? And also, what is a reasonable selection spot for this Tayshuan dude. And have you seen him play. What have you seen? Tell me about his stroke. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited May 18, 2001).]
Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha, HeyPee. You have succombed. Last year you were like "I don't know anything about college, so I'll just wait for the season to start." "Maybe I'll just categorize all those 5 1/4" floppies while I'm waiting." Welcome to the party. If you squint your eyes and read real fast, you can actually see Eddie Curry snatch a rebound and outlet to Stevie who gives a sweet dish to Joe Johnson/Richard Jefferson/Rodney White/Tayshaun Prince/Ousmane Cisse/////// ------------------
Prince is scrawny, an adequate ball handler, and has a nice shot, probably NBA 3 point range. He's not going to scare anybody with his athleticsm though, and doesn't possess great foot speed(lateral quickness especially). I'm not sure where he'll be picked. It all depends on his individual workouts. I would say Tayshaun at 22 wouldn't be that bad, but he is projected to be a small forward I believe, and could surpass Langhi which means you could lose your bet HeyPartner ------------------
