Can anyone think of a player that started his career underachieving and overweight and ended it overachieving and fit. (Barkley was overachieving and overweight at the beginning so he doesn't count) I ask this because I wonder what the possibility of Hamilton turning out good when we have already been down this road once with Stanley Roberts.
No, I can't think of a player that took that route, but I do think Hamilton can turn out to be a good player for the Rockets. I like what he's doing for them right now given the injury situation. He's got a nice touch and a good sense in the low post. I liked how he would gather his strength and then take the shot up instead of pulling a Cato and trying to take the quickest shot. On top of that he has lost quite a bit of weight in the last year or so. I think that the next year of work with the rockets training staff and coaches will really help this guy out. On the same note, Cato needs alot of work offensively and on playing smarter. But it all comes down to getting some more complete all around players in camp next offseason, probably through the draft. Notice I said offseason. I don't think that the rockets should trade for anybody, including Turkan who suspiciously played like the knicks were showcasing him for us. If anything I think we should trade the wizard or sign mack .
Dr Robert: Even though his career is just starting how about Shaq? His weight has always been in question and he always has been an underachiever. This year, he may not have lost any weight, but he seems to be more fit and he has taken an active role on the boards and defense.
Hamilton: 1) He does seem to have a basketball sense. -Always looking for long outlet pass after a basket. -Running when required -Staying out of foul trouble -gasthering himself for a layup -Cutting to the basket -Setting Picks (sloppy, but at least he set them unlike Cato who doesn't even touch the guy, he just slips to the post) 2)Held his ground. I was surprised that he held his ground on Ewing. EVen when Ewing wanted to blow past him he couldn't. Maybe that was because Ewing is still injured. Who knows, but it's something to think about. Ewing did score a lot, but nobody in this league could have blocked those shots anyway. Summary. I don't think he should be starting, but I do think he could one day. As has been said in the past...if he lost the weight....
Hamilton is making progress,now if Rudy would just start Cato with that lineup,we'd get production out of him.
What makes you think Hamilton is underachieving? The guy is 340 lbs. I don't know what more you can expect of him at that weight. I think he's playing well considering. If he lost weight and trained hard, you might see some more leaping ability, lateral movement, speed up and down the court. He can't rebound any better because he can't move well. He can't block better for the same reason. Weak side defense is out of the question and man-to-man is limited due to his lateral movement. When a guy does better than expected, I call that overachieving, not underachieving. And Hamilton is playing better than I expected.
