TJ FORD declares for draft - Should Houston be interested?

don't make me laugh... now you are comparing Ford to Kidd? Apples and Oranges...

 

Other than height, you tell me the difference.

 

Give me a break. Here is Jason Kidd's accomplishments and he is entering his prime right now. I would love to hear what TJ Ford has done to be named in the same sentence as Jason Kidd let alone called as being the same type of player. Give me a break...
I can guarantee T.J Ford will never be 1/4 of what Jason Kidd is...

Jason Kidd was a runner up MVP last year

Named First Team All-NBA four consecutive seasons (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01and 2001-02).

Named First Team All-Defensive three times (1998-99, 2000-01, 2001-02) and to the second team in 1999-2000.
Five-time NBA All-Star selection, including four times (2002, 2001, 2000, 1998 and 1996)

Became only the fourth player in NBA history to lead the league in assists three-straight seasons - 1999-01 (John Stockton, 1988-96; Oscar Robertson, 1964-66; Bob Cousy, 1953-60)
Won a gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

First Maverick to start an All-Star Game (1996).

Became the sixth fastest NBA player to record 5000 career assists (531 games), as he finished with three points, 15 assists and eight rebounds in 44 minutes at Dallas on 1/21/2002

Tied a career-high with 16 rebounds while scoring 16 points, dishing off seven assists and collecting a team-high three steals in 43 minutes of action at Orlando on 4/11/2002

Set the Nets all-time single season triple-double mark (8), and in doing so, became the Nets all-time leader in triple-doubles
Set the Nets all-time single season assist mark by recording 808 assists

Became first Nets player ever to win “Eastern Conference Player of the Month” for November by averaging 13.3 points, 9.6 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals in leading the Nets to a 10-5 record and their best start in franchise history

Ranked 2nd in the NBA in assists (9.9 apg), 3rd in steals (2.13 spg) and ranked 4th in double-doubles (44) in 2001-02
Recorded first career playoff triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and personal playoff-high 16 assists in Game 4 against the Lakers in the 2000 Western Conference Semifinals

Named NBA Player of the Week (7th career, 5th as Sun) on 4/2/01 after he averaged 31.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 4.3 steals and shot .513 from the field during a 4-0 week with wins over the Lakers, Cleveland, Houston and Milwaukee

Exploded for career-high 43 points at Houston on 3/29/01
Named NBA Player of the Month for April 1999, averaging 20.1 pointes, 10.4 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 2.38 steals per game and logging two triple-doubles, for the 10-6 Suns

Topped 700 assists and 500 rebounds in the same season for the second time in 1997-98, joining Robertson and Magic Johnson (six times each) as the only players in NBA history to do so more than once

Established a Mavericks' single-game franchise record with a career-high 25 assists against the Jazz on 2/8/96 and notched a Mavericks' single-season franchise record 783 assists in 1995-96
Was named 1994-95 NBA co-Rookie of the Year (with Grant Hill) and was a unanimous selection to the 1994-95 NBA All-Rookie First Team

Named Schick NBA Rookie of the Month for March 1995
Participated in the Schick Rookie Game during the 1995 NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix

Won Naismith Award as nation's top high school player after senior season at St. Joseph of Notre Dame (Alameda, CA), averaging 25.0 points, 10.0 assists, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 steals
Parade and USA Today High School Player of the Year
Played in the McDonald's High School All-American Game

 

TJ Ford is nothing like Jay(er... Jason) Williams. TJ is 10 times the passer, and is much quicker than JWill. He also has much better court vision and athleticism. The only aspect of TJ's game that isn't as good as JWill's is his shooting. But shooting is not nearly as important as the other attributes I mentioned in becoming a great NBA point guard. Plus, you can learn how to shoot, good luck learning instinctive things like passing and court vision.

TJ would be a perfect fit for Houston and he will have as good or better career than Jay Williams.

 

Excuse me X_Trepidation_X,

But how is it fair to use Kidd's NBA honors in a comparison with a player just entering the league from college.

Plus the comparison is very apt. Kidd is a poor shooter. TJ is a poor shooter. Both have outstanding court vision and passing skills. TJ is quicker and more athletic than Jason, but Jason is bigger and stronger. Personally, quickness is much harder to stop than strength if you are a guard.

Also, look at everywhere TJ has played from high school and on. Every one of his teams has won games. Concidence, I think not.

 

Exactly, it is unfair to compare TJ Ford to Jason Kidd. Kidd is one of the greatest point guards in the game and will be considered one of the greatest point guards to have played the game once his career is over. TJ Ford has done nothing to warrant such comparisons. Ford's speed is better? Look at speedy Claxton. He is faster then Kidd but does it make Claxton a better point guard? Answer is no. You could also make an assumption that Claxton is more athletic then Kidd because in all fairness pound for pound Claxton is probably a greater athletic talent. But does that mean Claxton is a harder point guard to stop? Answer is no.

You say speed is much more difficult to stop then power. Okay, speed is difficult to stop (Iverson, Kobe, Tmac). However, speed is not everything, I think at point guard, which I’m assuming Ford will be playing in the NBA, you need intelligence also. Kidd is the full package. He has athletic talent, he has size, he has amazing court vision.

You also make a lot of general comments that are quiet vague. To say "Also, look at everywhere TJ has played from high school and on. Every one of his teams has won games. Coincidence, I think not." doesn't mean much.

I am going to stand by my words, I think TJ Ford will be a bust simply because of his size, lack of shooters touch, and his best weapon which is penetrating the defense won't work in the NBA. I hope Ford proves me wrong, but all signs say he is going to be a bust.

 

x, I never said Ford would be the next Kidd or better than Kidd. But, other than height, they have a very similar style. That wasn't a slight to Jason, but who's to say that Ford can't average 10/7 his rookie year, ala Kidd? Now of course, that may not happen. Kidd had two scorers to distribute it to.

 

X_Trepidation_X,

At Willowridge High in Houston TJ was the leader of a team that won 3 state championships. Yes, four of the entire starting five is in D-1 ball, but still he was the orchestra leader of the unstoppable machine. Also, the only one of Mcfarlin, Taylor and Ewing to approach TJ's play in college in Daniel Ewing but it isn't really that close yet.

Then, he goes to Texas, a renowned football school. He leads UT to its 2nd sweet 16 appearance in school history and it's first final four in 50 years or so, and the talent wasnt nearly as good as the Duke's of the world. However, UT had all the pieces: inside play, a lock down defender in Ivey, pure scoring from Mouton, and 3 point shooters galore.

But once again TJ Ford was the orchestra leader of two of the best years ever in Longhorn basketball history. And his commitment to UT has prompted high profile recruits like LaMarcus Aldridge, Brad Buckman, and Daniel Gibson to the 40 acres. Basically, he and coach Barnes have made UT an elite basketball program. That is what I mean by he wins ballgames.


As far as you comparing him to Speedy Claxton. Have you ever watched TJ Ford play? Claxton is a shooting guard in a point guards body. He only can dream he has TJ's court vision and passing ability. The comparison isn't appropriate. You are majorly underestimating TJ if you ask me.

I know I won't change your opinion, but TJ Ford has it all for a stellar NBA point guard: superb court vision and passing ability. Plus he is faster than most players in the world and that is tough to stop. Yes he is short and isn't big and needs to improve his jumper, but he has outstanding defensive intensity, and works like a gym rat on his game. His jumper improved dramatically at UT from year one to year 2. And it will continue to get better.

TJ Ford is a one in a million kind of player, if he busts then that means there are no sure things in the NBA draft anymore.

While his presence would give the Rockets a small backcourt of him and Steve, that would be negated by all the help he would bring our offense as it takes pressure of Steve and all our players would learn where to expect the ball and play a better, more loose style of basketball.

And finally, he is not going in the second round.

 

DVauthrin,

Thanks for the info. And yes, I'm not going to change my mind.

Perhaps, Ford will not be as bad as I am proclaiming him to be.

The truth is, we will both have to wait and see how well he does. Good luck to Ford. I hope he makes it in the league and does some spectacular stuff. Maybe he will redefine the position.