I think Sacramento's aquisition of Clark went largely unoticed. But that was a huge pick up for them. Clark had pretty solid numbers last year and hes hasnt reached his full potential yet. I think if it weren't for Cato's contract, Rudy would rather have Willis as a backup center than Cato. I hate that Ming wont have a bigman that can take him under his wing, like Barkley did for Harrington or Hakeem did for Cato, etc. Willis would be a good mentor for Yao. I think that Larry Smith can teach him alot though.
Wait a minute, that's wrong. They have a rookie too - Ginobilli, who they will have to rely on. They picked up Willis and Menke bateer because Robinson is hurting and can't be as relied on. He retires after this year - the Hakeem thing I think hit him hard. Plus they made a trade with Portland dumping Antonio Daniels and Charles Smith for Eric Barkley and Steve Kerr. Not nearly the same. And we added two veterans who are starters and should contribute greatly... We may be as good, or I think, better.
The lakers are great because there players know there roles. Which is get out of the way and hit the open jumpers. ANNNNND! they play defense. Sac does to, but the rest of the west are pretenders until they learn this. We will have an exciting if not greatly succesful team. I think 45 and 37 would be a good number to shoot for this year. Maybe, Glenn Rice will finally retire after this year as well.
I dont think we can count on Rice and Taylor. Rice hasnt had a decent year in 3 years and hes 35 years old coming off a major knee injury. Hell be a role player at best (hes still hurt too). Taylor will be coming off the bench the first month or so. So these two aren't going to make us a playoff team. S.A. has one rookie who they have great expectations for but are not heavily depending on. We have two rookies and two players returning from major injury that we are counting on to get us to the playoffs. Robinson averaged 13 pts 8 boards and 2 blocks a game last year. Its not a given that Yao will put up those numbers. Robinson isnt the same player obviously and he is getting old. But its not safe to assume that Ming is already better or will be better. S.A. traded a couple of role players for two new role players. Id rather have Kerr than Daniels anyway. Their core is the same (Parker, Duncan, Robinson, Rose). As long as Duncan plays MVP ball, how can anyone think they wont win at least 55 games? For us to be in San Antonios class, Yao will have to be far better than Robinson and Francis will have to play MVP ball. You forget the Duncan factor.
How can we use the team from two years ago as a reference? Just cause Taylor was on that team? Well Olajuwon, Anderson and Bullard. Hakeem didnt have his best season, but he did put up 12 pts and 8 rbs. Anderson sucked offensively but was our best defender and we havent had a legit three point threast since Bull left. I cant believe that losing Taylor's 13 ppg. caused us to win 14 less games than the season before?
It certainly is easier to use two years ago than last year. In addition to Taylor, there was Rice and Francis. To the 45 win team you have to account for the new additions of last year and those of this year plus overall team growth of Francis, KT, Mobley and Moochie. I cannot believe you mentioned Bull. I will tell you what, if EG makes 100 3's and have 100 blocks, a projection off his output last year, we will be top 4.
Bull was effective at what he did. He mad back breaking threes when defenses would collapse inside. We havent had a three point specialist like him since he left.
Wrong. He just received full medical clearance to practice full time and play. They were forcing him to hold back. Says who? Now you're making stuff up... He is the back up to Smith, Smith ain't playing 48 minutes... Wrong 12 pts. 8 rebounds 30 minutes per game. Wow! That's impressive. Key words "last year". Look for 9 pts. 6 rebounds this year. Pretty much Cato range. Ming will top that. Daniels was far more than a role player: 26.5 min. 9.2 points 2.8 assists 2.1 rebounds #11 in assists to turnovers. Smith played 19 minutes per game. That's almost a whole game between them. Kerr last year: 12 minutes per and 4.1 points... Francis will kill Parker. Duncan, OK, you have to give it up he is great. Robinson - addressed above. Rose? MT and EG both are better and I would say so is KT. If TMo keeps playing well he might just be as good too. Rose was a 9.4 pt. 6 rebound guy. Big deal...
If Rice is truley 100% healthy, why in the world would Rudy hold him back?!?!?!? Hes the best shooter on the team and you hold him back? no way So you can with a straight fact say that Taylor will be starting game #6 no matter what????? First month is 14 games. 5 of those he misses for sure. Rudy isnt going to jerk Griffin out of the lineup unless hes stinking up the joint. Since when does a backup guard make or break a championship caliber team's season? Its the same as saying Moochie would make or break our season. We arent heavily depending on Moochie and the Spurs arent heavily depending on Genoboli. 12.2 points, but I didnt know we were getting bogged down in details like .8 points. 12 pts and 8 rebounds a game is better than alot of centers in this league, including Cato. Olowokandi was a #1 pick and only averaged 8 pts and 8 boards a game. Whats makes us automatically think that Ming will no doubt put up better #s? Its not a given. Its well documented that it will take time for Ming to adjust plus the fact that he will hit the rookie wall hard. 26 mins a game, 9 points, 3 boards and 2 assists are role player numbers. Moochie's numbers were 8 points, 5 assists and 3 boards (better than Daniels). Is Moochie not a role player???? Kerr is a three point specialist and a regular member in a rotation that has won 4 championships, plus he fits the Spurs better than Daniels as a spot up shooter (a la classic Rockets offense). Rose put up 10 pts and 6 boards as a reserve in 21 mins. Taylor put up 13 pts and 6 boards as a starter playing 29 mins a game. So how can we see that its automatic that Taylor would be a better reserve than Rose? (Rolling My Eyes sarcastically)
Way, they did. Keith Jones was quoted it was just precautionary. It isn't Griffin's spot. It's KT's. Rice will be at the 3. Point moot. KT will back Rice and EG will back MT (if he is ready to go by game 6). They all are going to get plenty of play time, but EG is not going to start over MT all year... Fact is the Spurs are not as good as they were last year and we have gotten significantly better. The teams are not that far apart. Olowakandi? Please... I'd rather have the "new look Cato". Ming is more of a Sampson comparison in talent, and he is more experienced coming in. Plus Kandi was on a terrible Clippers team. Yao Ming will be able to get his points in the flow and off double teams. At 7'6", and with his athleticism, he should average at least 10 boards. Easily better than what Robinson will.
How long are they going to hold him out as a precaution? Its being done for a reason. I agree hell start. But hes 35 years old and his best days are behind him. How is is not Griff's spot? He started 3/4 of last season and played well. Hes way better defensively than Taylor and a better rebounder. If Taylor is in the startling lineup by the end of Nov., assuming Griffin doesn't stink it up or gets hurt, it will be a suprise. For what reason does would should it be assumed that Taylor deserves to start over Griffin? Just cause he started the year before? What edge does Taylor hold over Griffin besides a slight edge offensively? With Francis and Mobley, we dont need offensive from the 4, we need an inside presence defensively. The Spurs and Rockets have not played one single regular season game. So you are saying cause the Spurs lost Daniels and Smith and replaced them (essentially) with Kerr and Genoboli that they are automatically not going to be as good as they were last year? That thinking doesnt match up. They won over 60 games last year. We won 28. So unless Parker, Genoboli, Kerr and Robinson have horrible seasons or Duncan gets hurt, and Ming earns all rookie honors, Taylor tops his first season with the Rockets and Rice shows old form, then we will be a notch below San Antonio. They have proven playoff veterans. We dont. They have won a Championship with their central core of players, we havent even made the playoffs with ours. Believe me, I hate the Spurs and Id love for the Rockets to beat them over the course of the regular season. But you are acting like its a given that well be in the same class as they will. Not to say it wont happen, but thats a tall task and unrealistic to assume. Lets just wait till the regular season. I would bet the Spurs are at least 10 games better than us, even if our rookies and injured players perform solidly.
Believe me, I hate the Spurs and Id love for the Rockets to beat them over the course of the regular season. But you are acting like its a given that well be in the same class as they will. Not to say it wont happen, but thats a tall task and unrealistic to assume. Lets just wait till the regular season. I would bet the Spurs are at least 10 games better than us, even if our rookies and injured players perform solidly. --Codell I am willing to wait but by that time it would be obvious to my grandmother. It is a whole different thing to project successfully what is going to happen tomorrow instead of waiting to see if it happens. From last night's game, preseason or no preseason, it is evident that we are in the class of the Spurs. Currently we are the second highest scoring team in the West just behind Wolves but we have played only western teams and they have played eastern teams. In both games with many players not available, we controlled the games showing an explosive offense, measured by any standard.
We are in their class. Starters vs. starters we are better. With TMo emerging and Rice and MT showing that they will be just fine, we are far deeper than they are. They were missing a bad back Robinson, and admittedly Smith who is a good player. But, we were missing Steve, Cato, Mooch, and Yao Ming. I can't see how someone can legitimately claim they are that much better than we are. Our front line dominates them. Duncan will not be able to carry this team by himself, he is just not that type of player.
D-Rock and R-Rocket, Im willing to make a friendly wager on this. Heres my proposal: I purchased 4 season tickets for my company this year. I will only be attending about 20 of those games, the rest I plan to give to my clients. My tickets are for all 41 games in section 112. If the Rockets make the playoffs, I will probably be picking my playoff options. However, my wife is pregnant with our first child and is due right around the same time the playoffs will start, so I probably wont be able to attend any playoff games. I will give the BOTH of you, 2 tickets each to our first playoff home game IF the Rockets finish equal to or better than the Spurs during the regular season. In fact, Ill even handicap it. Ill give the Rockets 5 games. This is all assuming there are no mitigating circumstances, which we need to all agree on. Now if neither the Rockets nor the Spurs make the playoffs and the Rockets have an equal to or better record (5 game handicap), Ill give the both of you 2 tickets to our last regular season home game against Memphis (we all know this wont happen). Now thats what I have to offer, what are you guys willing to put on the line?
Rice, you are spot on. Regarding Dallas, I believe they are making a mistake not taking Wang. Despite the fact that Bradley is playing much better, in the West, depth is probably the most critical factor. To get the best four records in the west, this year, it is a struggle from the get go. That is the case because there are six teams (the current four plus Wolves and Rockets) in the hunt for 4 spots. If Spurs can run after Willis and Meng, how can Dallas pass on Wang so cheaply?
Very attractive, Codell. I live in CT so I have to put it in perspective and consider providing an offer which will take some time.
They made an offer to Redd that the Bucks just matched. Maybe now they will turn back to Wang Zhi Zhi. I don't have much to offer on that wager. I'm looking for a job... What do you do to afford 4 season tickets? I think you would have to admit the Rockets did look like they can match up with the Spurs. That is my point. Who knows, both teams may get passed for the four spot. I don't see SA being a fourth spot team though, and we can beat them wherever we land 1-8. I still say we are in the top 5 though.
I have an idea on your part ....if I win ......how about adding something embarassing to your sig ......oh .....something like....................................................... "I am the Founding Father and President of the David Robinson Fan Club" Yes I am cruel and will always choose humiliation over anything tangible.
I own my own insurance mediation and litigation company. I represent people and insurance companies whose disputes can't be resolved. Like I said, Im not looking for anything in return that would cost you money or whatnot. I prefer embarassment. We did look good last night. My arguement still goes back to the novel I wrote about double teams. Going into this season, Ming's potential not withstanding, Duncan is more able to make his teamates better than Francis is. Francis v. Parker and Duncan v. Griffin/Taylor are mismatches. Ducan's mismatch is exponentially greater though.
