I have been thinking about EG and his role on our team. There seems to be a lot fo split opinion on him on the BBS. I feel like he can definitely have a bright future in the NBA, but not with the Rocks, and here's why: When we drafted him, he was looked upon as a future low post scorer, that could spend time at the 3 to help compensate for MoT's deficiencies - shot blocking and rebounding. I remember watching him play a summer league game against Utah. To start the second half of that game we came out and posted him up and he scored on turn around jumpers from the low block 5 or 6 times in a row. I was psyched because I felt like he would give the insdie game we were lacking. After we got Ming, my position on him has changed. I still feel like he has the potential to be a terrific player, but not on our team. Why you ask? Simple, he won't get the opportunity, and I don't think it has anything to do with our system. Yao will take all of his touches in the post, and he should as he is light years ahead of EG when it comes to a back to the basket game. At this point Yao deserves them, but it will ultimately hinder EG progress as a low post scorer. One of EG's main problems is obviously strength. People wonder why he is out there jacking ill-advised 3s, because it is so much easier then trying to establish position in the low block. I don't think he can against any top-notch PF in the West. Strength takes some time to build my friends, especially with B-ball players. They tend to spend all the time playing ball, and for most players this is probably the correct route. However, there are a few that should divide time between lifting and working on their post up game. This is EG and Yao. This leads me to my other problem with EG, work ethic. You can tell from his demeanor on the court he lacks that drive that you need to be great. A great example is the young Mr. Stoudemire. You want to fire, watch Phoenix. Another example is KG, or the ever popular Mr. Brand. THese guys have an attitude that screams, "Just Bring It B****H!" EG doesn't. I feel that for these reasons it is in everyones best interest if EG was moved to another team ASAP. He would be better served going to a team where he can get touches in the low block, and we need a dirty work, bring your lunch cause I'm going to wear your ass out kind of PF. I don't see EG ever filling that role. I do think that in time, he could develop into a J.O'Neal type of PF, it will just take time, and this team is running out. How many more seasons do you think the fans will put up with "We are a young team" or "We're definitely going the playoffs next year" Not many!
Perhaps he may be better off somewhere else. Perhaps we would be better off. But you do not trade a 20 year old that blocks shots. You want to compare him to Amare, then go right ahead. But I like to compare him game J O'neal. Do you remember O'neal's mannerisms on the court (in Portland)? Timid to say the least. And if you want to talk about work ethic, then Mo needs to be traded, not EG. Here is what I think you are missing. Often we think about complements on the offensive end without mentioning the repercussions on defense. (puttin Francis at the 2) That is where EG and Ming, as a duo, can be dominant. Defense is what wins championships and that is why we need to give the kid a chance.
Even more of a reason to trade Mobley/Grif/picks/$ for Brand. Brand IS a shotblocker and great defender, as well as rebounder and tough guy. Then Grif can flourish in LA. Defense wins championships and Brand plays D.
Have you seen Brand play defense against the top notch PFs in the league. He does not play them very well. Brand plays really well against us because we didn't have the bulk to contend with him. But, we will soon. I agree on paper, Brand does a great job and he may be very good here. But, he needs touches that I would like to reserve for Yao. We have to give Yao a chance to grow offensively even though he may prove to be a better second option. Also, you guys have not accounted for the salary implications. We can't pay three players MAX contracts.
i disagree. here's brand versus the best power forward (actually he's a center, but we won't go there) in the nba - tim duncan. AVERAGE: Duncan: 27 & 14 Brand: 16 & 13 Dec. 13 Duncan: 25 & 18 Brand: 16 & 14 Dec. 16 Duncan: 32 & 11 Brand: 16 & 8 Jan. 5 Duncan: 24 & 14 Brand: 15 & 16 true, he got outplayed by tim this season (no shame in that). but i'd take those #s, if brand were on the rockets. plus, he'd have much more help with the rockets to try and contain duncan.
they are not cousins. i know, i know, it says they are in his profile; but they are not cousins according to griffin.
EG is a good shot blocker, but he man to man D is quite poor. Also, I agree that he may very have J.O'Neal potential, but my contention is that he won't develop his potential here because of Yao. Why on earth would you give EG touches in the low post over Yao or even MoT for that matter? I believe that in time, with a gain in strength, he may develop into a good even great low post player, but that is years away and probably on a different team. I feel that Brand is our ultimate answer at the 4. The question is how to get him. Even if he was a tad weak on man to man D, he still blocks over 2 shots a game. He also has bulk, and a tenacious attitude that we are sorely lacking.
I hate to say this and I am probably opening up a can of worms but numbers do lie.(No they don't) I am glad you brought up the games with Duncan. I thought he was a top ten player before those games. I don't want to discount Brands game. He is very good. The problem I have is giving up on EG. He complements Yao on the defensive end. Seriously, this is a moot point. We can't pay three players MAX dollars. Someone show me a way. When I am not acting as a GM, I work in the financial field, company valuations. The numbers will not work unless we go over the luxury threshold.
These are the threads that spread silly rumors. MoT and Eddie Griffin have excellent offseason work ethic. On the court, Mo put it on the floor every single night, and Eddie tried his best despite being elft out of the flow of his offense. Despite how much I like Eddie's potential, and I do agree that he has J. O'Neal potential with the right coaching staff, I want wo win now. This team needs to win now. We cannot wait 2 years for Eddie. We have the 2nd best C in the league, and a top 10 Guard. One more player of Brand's caliber, and we're contenders. There's no reason to wait. In 2 years, Steve will be 29. We want him to tast the playoffs big time next year (2 rounds) and go for the title the following year. This will NOT happen with a developing PF.
No, but Les can! Perhaps Eddie gets an unfair knock for lack of intensity due to his facial expression, and his natural shyness. But remember Sam Perkins? He looked half-stoned out there, but he put the dagger to the Rockets countless times.
If you think he has O'neal type potential then we should not trade him. As for the necessary bulk that we are lacking, we will get that soon from Yao. Yao will clog up the middle soon enough. The perfect complement in two years, on the road to the championship, will be an athlete at the 4, not bulk.
1) Brand would not demand the MAX. If a few million mattered to him, he'd stay with the Clippers. 2) If it meant getting Duncan, I think Les would go slightly over the luxury tax, and if not, we'd trade Francis.
We don't need an all-star at every position. Do you think bringing in another franchise player will work? Cat has never been the first option and we still have problems on the offensive end. Now, you guys want to bring in another player that dominates the same block that Yao feels most comfortable with. We will win with or without Brand. He is not the final piece to the puzzle. I think we should stay patient with this team. If we make any deals, it should be for a player who has won in the NBA.
Everybody uses J'Oneal as an example of a late bloomer. While EG may have as much if not more potential than O'Neal, I think stevel is on the ball in that the current rockets won't be the ones to harness this potential. Do you think that J'Oneal would be as good as he is if he didn't get traded to Indiana?
I AGREE STEVEL. Griffin has potential. But we don't got no time. And our coaching staff isn't the greatest and developing young players. We need veterans. He might blossom somewhere else...but never here. Kenny Thomas kinda sucked here..well he wasn't that great, but now he is just awesome on another team. Eddie...is just a kid...who smokes mar1juana...who can block shots...who is very skinny...who needs to improve his shooting...who needs to get stronger...who needs to be given more opportunities...BUT HERE IS NOT THE PLACE TO DEVELOP. We need to win. No more experimenting. Man...if that was what we were doing...we could have let Bostjan Nachbar play. I don't think we can get Elton Brand. But I would be happy with just a guy who can rebound and block shots and make a midrange shot consistently...a veteran.
