I liked KT so I made it a point to catch as many of the 76er's games as I could on DirecTV. He looks like a completely different player at Philly. I attribute this to the structured offensive system they run there as opposed to whatever that was they were running here. His game fits in very well and he's more into the offensive flow. Steve, Cuttino and the rest will be able to see for themselves as they watch the playoffs on TV...again. Some observations: EG plays soft and scared as if he is unable to commit to a particular style of play. He tried to make too big a jump to the NBA and definitely needed another year or two in college ball. Francis MUST be moved off the point. Look at what happened in Philly once AI moved to the 2. That needs to happen here - he's just not a point guard. He's not smart enough nor is he unselfish enough to play the point. Plus, he's a turnover machine and a ball hog. How many times did anyone hear or read about Francis' "smart" level of play at the 1? So much is wrong with this team that a major overhaul may be exactly what's needed. There are severe Cap issues that hamper making trades. The coaching staff is simply not in sync with what's going on in the league today (Rudy still thinks it's 1994). The roster is packed with selfish, one-dimensional players that carry little or no trade value. Aside from Yao, Francis, Cato and maybe Posey - this is the most mismatched team this side of Boston. BTW, don't expect major changes from Les & Co. because that would mean starting a rebuilding project just as they move into the new arena. Les has 18,500 seats and 90+ luxury suites to fill. To start rebuilding now would mean no playoffs for at least another 2-3 years. That would mean a 7 year streak out of the playoffs which is getting into Cavalier or Clipper territory. Expect them to make some sort of half-assed minor correction (can the assistant coaches perhaps or maybe even CD) to appease the fans. Rudy will be back because he's owed $12 million (that's MILLION with an M) and Les would be vilified for firing a cancer survivor. The Rockettes management and players can continue to delude themselves by thinking that another year "together" will cure what ails this team but that's all it will amount to: self-delusion. If they come back and do the same things they will end up with the same results - No Playoffs! All in all, I see very little reason to be optimistic nor excited for next year.
The reason Griffin shoots from the outside so much is because he has such a piss poor post up game. He has but one move, that little turnaround jumper that gets blocked way too often. What bothers me about Griffin is not that he has done poorly this season, but that he has done poorly and has seemed to improved none of the aspects of his game. It's like someone just photocopied last season and slapped it down for 02-03. I hate that. I know he shouldn't be an all-star right now, but I had seriously hoped for some indication that he has the ability or the desire to improve his play. Maybe he won't turn out to be a bust, but I don't see why we as fans have any reason to believe he will ever be much better than he is right now.
Maybe the critical pressure will make him change. Rox fans are watching him now with skeptical eyes. This might put a fire under his butt. Else, he get traded. But the sad thing is. If he gets traded, he'll flourish somewhere else in a about 5-6 years. I don't want that.
Whenever I watch KT play with the Sixers, I am reminded as to why the Rockets should not trade EG. Sure KT is playing in the East more, making for easier competition at the 4, but seeing him succeed in a team ball system (despite Iverson's shooting proclivity) highlights the Rockets real problems and why we shouldn't be so quick to shuttle away talent before we really address the lack of team play on this squad.
You'd rather have him playing 25-30 minutes a night on our team and sucking? Hence the problem with drafting for potential. And by flourish, I assume you mean, play like a Donyell Marshall - solid, but unspectacular.
Kenny Thomas. I love him. He is playing very well with Philadelphia. He has a nice little role. If he was still with the Rockets...he would still be like a 7/5 guy along with a couple turnovers. The coaching also makes a difference. I miss him. And Griffin was disappointing. But I do like Posey! And Kenny is going to looking for money. Hopefully Posey won't be..
Yup, and that's why the Brake Check Block Party went from showing their nightly contribution after games to the yearly total. Sorry, just had to point that out.
I totally agree, but it's definitely in hindsight (that is, I thought the draft day trade rocked). If the Rockets actually believe him to be a franchise player.... HOW MANY DO WE NEED? Shoot, we have Francis, Yao, Mobley, and now Griffin. Ugh. As much as I'd love to see a rebirth of the Showtime Lakers and all, I don't think any of these guys would willingly take a back seat and let a couple of people dominate while they do the little things to win.
Well, some might think that "solid" somewhere else (another team) is equal to "spectacular" even though the truth is more like he upped is production by a little bit. Kinda like what DaDaKota thinks about KT. It's that grass is greener effect. But when I say "flourish" I mean 18PPG/12/RPG. Griff could do that. But only if he develops an inside game. And that will happen if he hits the weights and stops being a lazy outside shooter.
Good point. Larry Brown's system has a lot to do with a "good players" effect on a team. "Good players" or "decent players" dont' really do well in a Rudy-T ISO system. Why? Well, "decent" players, are NOT awesome one-on-one players. Thus, it's not like they can create their own shot. And because of that, they don't do as well as they *would* in, say, a Sac King or Sixer system. I'd never thought i would say that a team with AI would play a better TEAM ball, than the Rockets! Ha!
18 ppg/12 rpg is far from "solid", those are All-Star numbers or even superstar numbers. Only Ben Wallace, KG and TD grabbed more than 12 rpg this season, mind you. The "If he can do this and that, he will become a star" argument is getting pretty tiresome. Hey everyone knows this. You really think Darius Miles doesn't know that? You really think that Diop doesn't know that? But how come they are still "busts"? Fact is for every Kevin Garnett we have a Darius Miles. For every Jermaine O'Neal, we have a Diop. Are you REALLY VERY SURE that Griffin is more KG/JO than Miles/Diop? What factual "base" do you have him putting up those All-Star numbers in the future other than the fact that he's only 20 years old? But I had the fact that he didn't show any significant improvement from last season to this season. As I said in my previous post, unless we are ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED that he will become a star (like you seem to do although you gave absolute no good argument) or we better trade him sooner rather than later because his trade value is going nowhere but down as he gets older and his preceived "potential" gets less and less. His only "potential base" right now is his young age. Those opposing GMs think the way as you. When he's 25 and still only put up 8 ppg/6 rpg, his trade value will become ZERO.
The word I used was "flourish" regarding 18/12. The "potential base" are a few things. His body type; arm length, leaping ability, shot blocking timing and smooth jump-shot (INSIDE the 3-point line). Then, I factor in his youth (20). This is where I get the "potential base." The factor that you use is: "What has he done for me lately?!" "He's not an All-Star yet! Get rid of him!" And why did you pick TD, KG, and BW as examples? Those guys are more than 18/12. How about Elton Brand or Jermain O'Neal? Those are the guys that I use a measuring sticks. Not the top, but just under. I understand you want to make the trade before it's too late... Well, if they trade him. It better be for someone like EB. By the way, EG will never average 18/12 if he's on our team. That's why I use the word "potential." Even Brands numbers would go down if he came to our team (Francis, Mobley, Yao; share the wealth?). So, numbers can be deceiving. If EG went to another team (lessor), his numbers would go up by default (more shots). So, yes. I do believe that if EG was traded to say, Miami, in 2-4 years he'd gradually start edging toward 18/12 (24/25 years old). If we took him back his numbers would drop from 12/10 to 14/12. Know what I mean?
By the way, I've been hearing the name Zachary Randolph being thrown around by cc.net posters. He's a 2nd year player getting 8ppg/4.5rpg in 16 minutes. At first glance, the numbers don't look that good. But I think the point that some people make is that it's not the numbers that matter, but what style of play do they give the Rockets if they came here? Style, as in, POWER FOWARD that plays with his back to the basket and crashes the boards! Even though they wouldn't put up great numbers, they are able to do, what they do, very well! FG% is a good measuring stick for POWER FOWARDS. PF that shoot under 50% means two things. Either they're not very good at offense in general. Or they are taking too many outside shots, when they shouldn't be. MoT's numbers aren't that great. Griff's numbers are bad because he thinks he's the 2nd comming of Matt Bullard!
I never wanted him to leave I like posey but still prefer KT I've been a KT fan since year one I've maintained that status [almost CBFC like] He *is* better than MoT and EG IMO because he has HEART and FIRE you know what . . . HE MADE EG AND MO-T PLAY BETTER when he left. . .they did not [esp EG] seem to have the same intensity Rocket River
QUESTIONS: If the rockets played so much more TEAM oriented ball after KT . . . .why did we seem to LOSE more? What happened to our DEFENSE after we brought in the DEFENSIVE 3? [could it be that the 4 spot sucked more than the 3 spot improved?] The rockets may have LOOKED BETTER after the trade but it did not translate into WINS! f*ck looking good. . . WIN BABY I think the trade disrupted ALOT . . . it was il timed Rocket River
Kt will not be a 15ppg-10rpg. He is what he is. Last yr he was 13pts 7 rebs, thats pretty much what he'll be. He got those numbers being the 3rd option. On a good team, Mobley would be a 3rd option and last yr he was our leading scorer. The Rockets did themselves and Thomas a favor by trading him. How many people would have thought he would have kept quiet in a contract yr getting 20mins or less per game? At least in the Leastern Conference he got to show he's a solid player. KT probably will ign one of those Buckner deals. He'll be a good role player on a good team like Corliss. That about it though.
Body type? There are tons of NBA players/prospects with better body. EG's body is probably the weakest among starting PFs in the West Conf. Arm length? Okay but not very special. Leaping ability? Okay but from I noticed, certainly not a "high-flyer". Shot blocking timing? I give you that. Smooth jump shot? You meant his 25 shooting % of wide open jumpers? Yes, this is about his season % if you excluded the dunks/layups he made. No, I am not "what has he done for me lately". I just can't see huge "potential upside" in the guy like you did. Yeah I know what you meant. I also believe that he would probably aveage 18 ppg in Miami. But what would be the team's record? Howard averaged 18 ppg in Denver. Rasheed Wallace put up 18 ppg in Portland. But you wouldn't put them in the same class as a player, would you? Surely Howard's 18 ppg are different to Wallace's 18 ppg, aren't they? Didn't EG struggle to be an offensive option on a borderline playoffs team (i.e. our Rockets) tell us very much his "potential" on offense? Do you really believe that EG can eventually be a 1st/2nd option on a playoffs team or a contending team?
I agree with you newgirl on the potential thing. What about Rodney White,Larry Hughes,Tim Thomas,Darius Miles and guys who have this huge upside, but can't get it together. What about Stacy Augmon being like the next Dr.J, but at 32 is now just a bit player. What about Taylor and his potential, but find 7 rebs a game? The "p" word is used to loosely and for the wrong players. Itsknid of interesting that players who go straight from high school , seem to be more successful than those playing 1 yr of college. O'Neal,Kobe,Harrignton,McGrady,Garnett and the recent Stoudemire vs SAR,Marbury,Tim Thomas,Hughes,Griffin,Rodney White. It seems with the exception of SAR and Marbury, the high schooler have more all star appearences and regarded as better players.
