And does a team with two superstars that's interested in winning right away take the young player who will potentially be an "allstar", or do they take the guy who, right away, will be a "glue guy". What's the more rational choice?
that's probably the fundamental difference between you and those that are okay with the trade versus me and those that hate the trade. i wish we just needed that glue guy. but i feel we need more talent and athleticism first. then we can worry about getting that effort/glue guy. that to me is the rational choice. we're probably the least athletic/quick team in the league right now.
I've always like Battier and his game. I agree that he's a very nice addition. But what drives me crazy is that (been saying this for a year) we've got two guys who are 26 and 27 and our franchise is acting as if both have terminal diseases. T-Mac, well I just don't know. The back thing spooks me and I believe his statements like I believe JVG's. With that fear I felt this organization was going to screw up, and I think it did. Yao may still be 3-4 years away from his true prime and this franchise seems determinined to Milk-McGrady-Now and that gets us nowhere close to a ring. Battier probably will help us to 55 wins, but it doesn't mean squat and I will not be thanking Richard Justice when it happens, no matter what he says. But we need youth, length, speed, hope and imagination. Our organizaation just wants to win a playoff series. I feel very bad for Yao. This team should have just once tried to do something with no one but him in mind. Instead we get a very interesting running buddy for T-Mac. Messed up.
Unless you think Shane Battier will put us over the hump (I don't), that's Knicks way of thinking, or last-year-of-contract way of thinking. Besides, we give up too much. And I like Battier.
A "glue guy" is a player that you covet on a team that already has three legit scoring options. Battier will be what he is now for the rest of his career, Rudy could have added a demention to this team in his first or second year that Battier would never be able to bring. There are many parts to a championship team, and the Rockets gave up the part that is harder to find for the part that will make them better immediately but in the end will prove more common.
The Knicks way of thinking is to go get "talented" players, often without winning backgrounds and with terrible contracts, without consideration for team need. Their philosophy is if you gather enough talent on a team, regardless of how they fit and chemistry and all that, somehow it will all mesh and the team will be successful. That's very different from what the Rockets have done with this trade.
Do you guys really think our management is that stupid? You guys think were that much smarter than people who do this for a living? There's a reason why this forum went nuts and still pissed about the trade. It just doesn't make sense and just mind boggling. Something really big is going down and we're involved.
I'm still ticked off but i will say this: If the Rockets can do enough in the remaining offseason to build a legitimate contender, i will let this one go. If this team stays pat (and really i don't see any team/player taking what we have to offer) then it is just another wasted season in H-Town.
No that's Isia Thomas way of thinking, not Knicks ways of thinking. Knicks way of thinking is to win now, putting short tem respectivity over long term planning, even if it's mediocre product. It started from IT, it was there when JVD was coaching them.
What is that extra dimension Rudy adds in his first couple years that we don't already get from McGrady or Yao? I think the qualities Shane Battier bring are far from "common". He's not just an average NBA player. The intangibles he brings, the so called "immeasurables", really separate him from the typical starting player. Just because he doesn't put up gawdy stats or have sensational athleticism does not mean he doesn't have special qualities that could prove very valuable in a championship run.
i hope the rockets give david wesley the max so they can really piss us rockets fans off!!! what in the phuc is the rockets organization doing!!!! im madder than a lil jon song
Stop justifying this nonsensical move. Rudy Gay is not ready to contribute "right away".... So?? Its fine how low risk players like Badiane and V-Span and this Eliyahu guy they'll hang onto and let develop and be patient with them but actual all-star potential guy they'll mortgage away for a decent heady role player at best. Kobe wasnt ready to contribute right away, nor was Tmac. Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal...Hell for a little while Yao wasnt ready to contribute. Its a nice luxury to have, a potential phenom sitting there waiting for his chance...And if you're smart and intelligent enough as a front office you make OTHER moves to enhance the ballclub. Example: What if they agreed to trade the number 8 pick and Stro away to a team before the draft, and the draft goes on and Brandon Roy falls to number 8? And they give that up for a Devean George-James Posey type?? Face it, its a dumb move. Especially for a team where high draft talent has always been lacking. Rocket's aren't like Phoenix who had to give away picks to free up money for the players they already have on their good team (At least Phoenix had a concrete plan in mind) Houston needs to ADD players. And they traded away a player in Stro who by himself woulda got back something at least serviceable... Geez. Rudy Gay COULD be a bust sure. I think everyone has the same hunch on Gay that he'll come around to be a decent player like how everyone viewed Rashard Lewis would be (Another player that took 3-4 years to be special. Does that really matter now?) Come on now, Rox
Alright. Hey, I'll admit that I don't like this trade from a long-term perspective. I think we'll probably be better off the next couple seasons, but after that we could end up really regretting getting rid of Gay if he turns out to be a great player. I just think there's incredible pressure on the Rockets to make considerable progress immediately. And with Tracy McGrady's back issues, the window of opportunity could very well be these next three years to get a nice run going.
He would add to this team what a young McGrady brought to the Raptors, solid perimeter defense blocking and rebounding. Battier is a great player and like you said he does have some special qualities that will benefit on a championship run, but the Rockets have to make the playoffs before they can make a run anywhere.
Is there anything that any player can do that Yao and McGrady can't do? Gay is a good shooter, can get to the hoop and is an athletic freak. We could use all three of those dimensions. Please tell me what qualities Battier brings that don't show up on the stat sheet? I agree he does have some, but I can't say that it has me feeling any better playing Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, etc.
His On/Off numbers the past couple seasons have been through the roof. http://www.82games.com/0506/05MEM9D.HTM http://www.82games.com/04MEM7D.HTM According to the Adjusted +/- Defensive Ratings, published in August 2005 here a based on the preceding three seasons, he was the top rated SF defensively. He's able to score 10+ points a game without needing any plays run for him. He's a leader, a great locker-room guy. His hustle could turn out to be infectious; he's constantly moving and helping on defense. He's a very strong team defender who'll contest a ton of shots, get deflections with quick hands, and draw a ton of charges over the course of the season.
