I think this is one of the best bbs in the world but the only true insider info was an overheard conversation in a mall for the steve franchise trade. That's pretty epic to overhear someone and post it here first. apart from that the 'save our rockets' is the other thing that we should all thank clutch and jeff for. but please stop giving credit for yao conjecture ..that is how bad info gets passed. Clutchfans is a great place but don't make it something that it's not. It almost takes away from the greatness that is overhearing a trade in a mall !! I mean that's legend on it's own.
I like your thoughts on Ishmael Smith. I personally don't think either of our point guards is "our future." Brooks, while a very talented scorer, is just not a great floor general. Lowry is playing better than Brooks at the moment...but I can't see him ever reaching all-star level status. I'd like for us to get Steve Nash (along with a good center) and for Ish to be Steve's backup/apprentice. Lowry is of course better than Ish at the moment, but Ish's outstanding court vision is a gift. I'd like to see him develop a more polished game under Steve's tutelage and see if he can really shine.
Wow! It's freaky how many of the comments you made, Doc, are also how I view things. Except for Ish. I really like the guy, but not nearly as much as you obviously do. I bow to your opinion, though.
Scola has his limitations, but he's not slow... he's busting his booty down the floor nearly every possession to push the pace. If that's the goal Scola, does that well.
well it's the most inefficient spot on the floor. moving the mid-rage game out to the 3 point line just makes sense. i don't even know who coaches memphis, but they aren't exactly loaded and thabeet is racking up a whopping 8.8 mpg and 1.3 ppg. so apparently adelman isn't the only guy who doesn't want to play him. and even if he played 35 mpg he would only average 1.6 blocks per game, which is nothing spectacular to make up for being horrible in every other area. right now he just seems to suck quite a bit. doesn't every coach?
I like Ish as much as the next guy, but he needs to develop a jumpshot before anything else. Agree that Brooks is not a true PG, but he can change a game at times. A seven true shotblocker is definetly a must for this team and also not easy to aquire. I think these next 7 upcoming games could make a break the rockets season as far as them making the playoffs ie.(they could easily be 22-31 or 23-30 after these 7 games).
If you said it before, then you were wrong before and you're wrong now. Luis Scola is making $7.8 million this season, not the $11 million you said in your post. He signed a 5 year, $47 million dollar contract. That contract, like most contracts in the NBA (but not all) goes up every year. And, I should add, only part of the 5th year is guaranteed, if any (I've never heard the exact 5th year guaranteed amount, but assume it's around $3 million). For a starting 4 in the NBA, one who's getting 19 points, 8 to 9 boards, 2.4 assists, and only 2 turnovers, that $7.8 million bucks is a STEAL. Yes, Ish definitely has some amazing skills. What he needs to be more of is a jump shooter! ;-)- And if we had that 7 foot tall athletic defensive big, it would help players like Luis a lot. His does everything well except defense, where he's only average, although he busts his butt regardless. With a tall shot blocker behind him, it would cover a lot of sins. Not only for Scola, either.
Yeah I wrote that post on my phone, I didn't have the exact numbers on me. I haven't misstated his salary before, but I have been critical of him. For example, in preseason rankings people were putting Scola 5-10 usually in their ranks. The problem is that, despite his productivity, his PER still ranks 14th among those that get regular (30+) minutes. What I'm trying to say is that the standard is higher for efficiency among big men. And for all of Scola's craftiness, he still ain't par for the course as a starter on a playoff-worthy team. But go ahead and stay behind Scola. I just feel like we'll never regain our defensive mentality with a PF that plays defense like he does. Running a screen and roll with his man means that his man will be wide open for a layup, or whichever man Chuck Hayes has to roll off of due to his horrible spacing. You can blame Brooks and Martin for the change in philosophy of this team away from one that plays hard nosed defense (and wins, for that matter), but Scola has just as large if not a larger role in that transition. Patrick Patterson was drafted because he was a two-way player, one that would have fit superbly next to Yao. He hit jump shots just as well as Scola, but he also had the athleticism and court smarts to contain his man on the other side. If you really wanna look at my track record, I said before the season started that I hoped Patterson would be starting over Scola by the ASB. I still maintain that hope.
Good post OP. You didnt say much about Bud. What are your thoguths there? Just in case you miss my question - I shall answer it myself. Bud sucks Bum.
Howdy, Howdy Doc - - nice to hear from you! AB needs to start but has not merited regaining starting. The interesting conundrum. So, how does one correct that? AB needs a trade. RA needs a time-out. I truly believe it is Elston's time; I (sincerely/strongly) suspect there is a disconnect between DM the GM and RA the CL. Yes, yes - - this team needs: More altitude More attitude Two or three clearly excellent NBAers Two or three fewer worthy benchers And this Board needs more DR!
Stop making sense with your posts. Thabeet is going to be amazing! Somehow he has managed to stop blocking shots (3.6 per 36 down to 1.6 per 36) and has found a way to foul even MORE (6.6 fouls per 36 to 7.4 fouls per 36) in his 2nd year in the NBA. I mean that's got to take some talent to suck that bad, right?
I disagree about the mid range game being the worse part. Most of all of the high scorers in the league have excelled at the mid range. Look at the leading scorers this year and throughout history and you will find great midrange scorers. Thats not by accident. In reference to thabeet, he needs playing time. At the end of last year after the d-league call up he averaged almost 2 blks in 20 mins When he played consistent minutes, he showed good progress especially defending the basket and rebounding.
OMG! I know right! He has been stellar since we traded him! He was such an amazing player that Stern wouldn't let him play in the league anymore because of how dominant he was. Pretty sad that Stern kicked him out before he even turned 30. I think everyone agrees with you that Swift would be the answer to all of our problems and we should have never traded him.
It may be a rant, but I still think there' something cryptic about it. The capitalization is interesting...
