Odom. Odom. Odom. We keep out two all stars - Steve stays at the 1 but plays the 2. Posey starts at 2, Cuttino (if not in the trade package) - 6 man scoring machine. It's perfect. Odom, Steve, Posey can pass into Ming. All Good. They get the ball back from Ming to score in maximally profitable position. With Kandi gone, I'm thinking Cato + for Odom. Cato's contract is not too pricey and he's playing great ball now. I'd even trade EG or Cat for Odom, but I'd rather trade someone else, of course. In a three way, like Sane sez ... maybe we can pick up the chips with Rice's contract and a cap room player to make it attractive to Sterling in $$/contracts, player/position, picks. I'd love to have a point forward to distribute and use Steve's natural scoring ability against lesser competition with him still nominally at the one, paired with a strong, tall defender in the backcourt, like Posey. Then you get offense/defense balance in the front court and back, with size and scoring advantage everywhere, and great rebounding all over. I much prefer this to moving Steve to the two or trading him for a super one and relying on Yao and Cuttino as primary options. Point forward is the way to go.
A 20-15 record and a few months removed from one of the most talented teams ever assembled (thank you, Les Alexander) to utter chaos and a much more dramatic overhaul. Regardless, I do agree with a lot of what's been said here. Given the commitment to the players, though, and given Steve's amazing abilities, I'd much prefer to see a new coach than a new PG. One who, perhaps, can teach/force Steve to be more of a creator, as he definitely has the ability, and who will take much more control over the team. If this still doesn't work, then you trade Steve or move him to 2 or try something new. As far as random thougths on who I think would be good PG on this team and how we might get them - and I am NOT suggesting the team do this... I'd love to get Gilbert Arenas if possible. He does have a good number of TO's, but, to me, he has avery bright future - I see no way we could pry him from G.State's hands without trading Francis for him, and, at the moment, that is obviously an unbalanced trade (now Francis for Arenas and Troy Murphy would be interesting).
He's a 2-guard playing 1 just like Francis. That being said, I think he is more unselfish than Francis and he might actually develop into a good 1.
Skip to my Lou has it...Rafer Alston is lighting it up for the Raptors since being called up last week. He would go perfect with the street-ball we continue to play over the last 3 years. Since we dropped Pete Mickeal last week, why don't we sign some player for a 10-day contract from the NBDL and give that person Hawkins spot on the active roster for a few weeks. http://www.nba.com/games/20030112/MINTOR/livestats.html http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/gamestory_030110.html
I think it would be great, and it would be perfect if Cat was content being the sixth man, but he will never do that. I still think getting Odom would be great...we could still have Cat start and have Posey subbing in at the SG/SF position. Also, it would be nice if either Moochie stepped up his game or we could get a better backup PG.
Funny that you mention him, I just picked him up on my fantasy team and was thinking if I should mention him. But he is even more of a playground type guy than Steve, Cat and Moochie, I don't know if that would make us more stable. I still say sign George McCloud. The Mavericks wanted to get him before they had to settle for Rigadeau.
Why settle for keeping pace though? Why don't we just go ahead and beat Atlanta, NY, Utah, Clips, New Orleans, etc and take over 2nd place? Why not just go ahead and win the championship instead of just squeaking into the playoffs?
The thing with the fast breaks is a very good point. That's also part of being smart, and it is the coaching staff's task to point these things out. With Yao and Eddie in there, Steve and Cat or at least one of them should already be running, chances are either Yao or Eddie will grab it. Very true. Unfortunately, some posters cannot find the middle ground between relentlessly bashing our players and the coach and even wanting them to be traded or fired, and justifying everything they do and not seeing their mistakes at all. Constructive, calm criticism is what we need and what you did with your points in this thread.
It's the winter. Why are so many heads steaming? Just look at the front page of this site and you should realize that by the end of 1/21, Rox could be 20-20 with 40% chance, 21-19 with 50% chance, 22-18 with 40% chance, 23-17 with 30% and almost no chance to be 24-16 or better. That's about half-season mark. Then look at the second half schedule and you shall get a better idea. Now raise your hands who were sure Rox would make the playoff pre-season and still believe so. I think at this rate Rox will sneak into the post season. But don't you want them to be like The Champs. To break it down, I still believe Rudy should at least bear half of whatever sh*t Steve and Cat get. BTW, why is he always calling plays at the side line? Stupid.
Your right, Moochie is world's better at running the back-up point guard spot. Rafer has produced more in 2 games than Moochie has in the last month. Check the boxscore again and look at what Skip did against the Wolves today. He was also the leading scorer Friday in his very first game since being called up by the Raptors. I would trade Moochie & his fro in a hearbeat to Toronto right now for Rafer. http://www.nba.com/games/20030112/MINTOR/livestats.html
Because this is a young team that is trying to find its identity. I remember watching a game on ESPN and they brought up a great point after somebody, I believe Phoenix, lost a game they should have won. Young team are going to lose games they should win because they're young teams. We're running with a rookie center, inconsistency at the PF spot, and a PG who has never been to the playoffs. Why do people suddenly expect this team to be a title contender? The Rockets were a lottery team last year, they haven't made the playoffs since 1999. If I told people this summer that the Rockets would be the 7 seed in the playoffs, Francis would get MVP run, Yao Ming would be on the top of the list for ROY running, we would trade for James Posey, and we would be within 2 games of the #3 seed in the playoffs, raise your hand if you would have taken it? We have a young team people, things like this are to be expected. The difference between the Rocks and Suns, and the reason Phoenix is ahead of us right now is that they have more veterans. Marbury has been to the playoffs. Marion has been to the playoffs. Penny before he got hurt, he has been to the playoffs. Our most experienced playoffs guys are Glen Rice who isn't ago-to guy and Mobley. That's it. We're running with kids, THAT'S why I don't understand why people suddenly want this team to contend for a title. If this time next year the Rockets are in the same position I would completely agree with this. But when you have young, banged up team fighting for the playoffs you have to expect some growing pains. This team is inexperienced when it comes to a serious playoff chase. It's one thing to win 45 games and make a run at the playoffs. It's another when you're the hunted, getting serious TV pub, and having people take their best shot at you night after night because you're on Sportscenter every night.
I never said Moochie Norris is better than Skip. He just hasn't dont a damn thing yet. BTW, he played 30 minutes, not 18. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=230112028 Look at his last game, too. Not so hot. He hasn't done a thing yet in the NBA. I guarantee you Moochie Norris had a two game stretch once in his career like Alston just had.
Possible reason for Francis not being a better point guard: Court Awareness Why is it that Francis can throw any alley oop to Cato, but cannot throw a bounce pass (like Yao does) to a cutting teammate in the lane? Possible reason: Francis practices the alley oop pass and does not practice bounce passes. Or: Bounce passes don't make Sportscenter highlights (unless your Lebron James). To be a great point guard you must have court awareness AT ALL TIMES, just like a Quarterback in football. When you see a teammate has beaten his man on a cut to the hoop, get him the ball. When you are double teamed, pass the ball and find the open man. DO NOT dribble into the lane when there are 2 or more defenders in there. Stop and take the open shot, where the percentages are in YOUR favor instead of trying to beat 2 taller players. MOST IMPORTANT: THINK!!! Before recieving a pass, THINK what you are going to do with the ball. Survey the defense, look for mismatches. Also important is keep your head up while dribbling (and we all know Francis likes to dribble) to see when a teammate make a cut towards the hoop. Last but not least: Always remember the ball moves faster via the pass. Dribbling slows everything down.
I'd love for the Rocks to somehow get Odom, I was big on him before he got hurt. He can handle the ball, rebound, pass, and score. It also frees up Yao, because you have to guard somebody. I wouldn't trade Griffin for him though, we already are thin up front, and the Clippers wouldn't take Mobley because from what I heard the Clippers are big on Corey Maggette, especially at 2-guard his natural position. Odom is coming up on a contract year, I wonder if he would be available? Either way, another passing threat would be nice, and Odom can do that, along with of course Yao.
Trust me Rocks, I know that we're not experienced enough to win the championship. I'll use a martial arts example. If you're trying to break a board, you don't hit the board as hard as you can. What you do is hit through the board. The board breaks as a result. If you change your intention from breaking the board to succesfully hitting through the board, then the board breaks as a result. I say focus on every game as if it's Game 7. As hard as that may be on mental focus, it's what must be done. Now when you get to game 7, you've done it 82 times already. Aim for the NBA championship at all times and the playoffs will come as a result of setting your mark 'through the board.' Aiming for the playoffs, IMHO, is just like trying to hit the board hard.
Also, instead of looking for trade right now, sometimes position changes come from within. Now this may due to long term injury or maybe even long term injury, perhaps even long term injury. The fact remains that sometimes these changes happen by the next game nobody is 'wasted' and we see 'high fives' for most of the game! Ahh...the crypticism (Is that a word?)
First of all, Saying Steve Francis is not a good PG is not bashing him. Regardless of where we finish this year, having a SG play a PG does not work. No one said Miller was a better player than Francis. He is a better PG than Francis. In all the trade scenarios that we've discussed, no one has said Francis for Miller. The discussion has been trade for Miller (perhaps Mobley +) and move Francis to the 2, a more natural position given his talents. Also, we don't need a Steve Francis quality player at PG. We just need a PG. On our championship teams, our guards were not the primary focal point of our offense. They were role players. The problem most people have is not Francis by himself but rather the combination of Francis and Mobley taking the majority of the shots, not passing the ball enough, and the inconsistency on defense allowing opposing guards easy opportunities at the basket. We are inconsistent because our guard play is inconsistent - on both sides of the floor. The way theyre playing now, this team is first round fodder. We can hope they change and mature into a multi-faceted motion offense. On the other hand, we could look at this and honestly ask ourselves whether Steve and Cuttino are willing to adjust their playing style. I personally don't think theyll ever change.
