Don't expect drastic improvement from Francis, Mobley, JJ, Cato,MoT. Padget ,Jackson, Weatherspoon, infact they are all too set in their ways to be making any noticible improvement, especially ones that will realy improve the quality or chemistry of the Rockets. Expect this improvement to come from Nachbar, Yao Ming and Badiane . The Rockets need to define their goals and then rebuild the team to meet their goals. If we keep the team intact expect more of the same, dont expect much improvement or chemistry. The Rockets need a starting Point Guard who knows how to play the position, a taller and more athletic Small Forward, an athletic and powerful,starting Power Forward that can play on both ends of the court. These three additions will remove the most glaring problems of the Rockets. The team needs to surround the Center position with good shooters. Van Gundy in making his statement sounds like he has left the door open to players to continue to imagin that they can make the team by keeping in shape. I just hope that this isn't his thinking.
Let's look at your statements: Tell you what, if MoT's shots don't drop, he is useless in the offense end because once ball is in his hand, he hardly pass. This year Mo's passing dropped because often Yao was sitting and Mo became the first option inside. The previous year he had a "rep" for being the best player at getting Yao the ball. Also, in limited minutes he was still one of our best scorers. And he has no defense, a weak rebounder. He can add 4 rebs per game? Taylor has the size and strength to be a good rebounder. He needs JVG to teach him triangulation -- judging where the ball will fall once it is out of the shooter's hands. With anticipation, he can learn to be in the right position, and THAT is 70% of rebounding. Man, if Yao could improve his rebouding by just 4 rebounds per game, he could be the league's leading rebounder. Is that so easy? No, but it VERY possible. I expect Yao will do it, and I expect Mo CAN do it if he spends the summer working on offensive and defensive positioning (boxing out) with JVG.
thumbs, i appreciate your loyalty and positivity, i really do. however, we would trade mo in a heartbeat if there were any takers.
The board would. I'm not so sure about JVG and C.D. But, then again, you may turn out to be right. Mo, despite anyone's feelings, has trade value.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks - you can't teach MO Taylor to rebound well. He's been in the league for many years now. If he can't rebound by now, there's no hope. I use to hope for him to improve his rebounding too but I've come to the disappointing conclusion that nothing can be done about it.
you mean if he plays as well as Shaquille O'Neal? You honestly think Yao would play the way he did if he was going up against any other center than Shaq, the strongest, most physically imposing center in the history of basketball? (Pardon the Walton-esque hyperbole)
I think VG's made it clear that management fully intends to explore trading the Franchise...he's been preparing the fans for it since our season ended when he said something along the lines of "any player can be traded, even the great ones, just look at the history of the league...it's not how good you are that determines whether you can be traded, but the results of your play." Now he says "drastic" changes are needed...he's obviously prepping SOF's for what very well may happen. I for one am tired of the way this team plays, tired of the underachieving, dumb brand of basketball this team has been known for ever since Dream lost control of the reigns. The losing culture of this team is too deeply ingrained to only make 'minor' tweaks and expect anything more than a 1st and out performance. IMO, we need to commit to gutting the team and only look to keep Yao, Boki, JJ, and maybe Spoon, Padget. Come on CD, Les...let's not be afraid to pull the trigga!
I don't know. I'd never put Utah ahead of the Rockets, nor would I put Portland there. I might see Denver and maybe Memphis, but IMHO ("H" is for Homer), the Rockets, talent-wise, are semi-clearly (translucently?) ahead of every one of those except LA, SA, Minnesota and Dallas. As is.
What other marker besides stats would you suggest for evaluating? Your opinion? In that case, could I be so brazen as to ask for a few examples of players 25+ who improved on into their 30's?
thumbs, You're kidding right? The only way Mo will grab 4 more rebounds is with 20 more minutes. There is absolutely no way in hell MoT will grab 4 more rebounds in the same or similar minutes. It's unheard of. No player in the history of the game has gone through such a drastic improvement. You basically want him to double his rebounding? His best rebounding season was 6.5 rebounds in 36 minutes, on the damn Clippers, who couldn't shoot for ****. FOUR rebounds is a humongous leap. Even 2 is highly doubtful. IMO, if he could get into even better shape, get more solid, I could see him grabbing 6.5 rebounds in 30 minutes, which is decent. But he'd really have to get into tremendous shape, train really hard ove the summer, and work on his rebounding with a coach.
Ahh, my bad. I thought he was 27 now. Kobe is just 25. Wow. I'm not sure about his age either, but Artest has been improving tremendously as well. Hakeem's breakthrough came late 20's/early 30's. It wasn't MAJOR, but it was essential. Jordan's midrange game was what made him invincible, and I believe that came later in his career as well.
JVG specified "drastic changes or improvements," didn't he? Because he is a defensive wizard, I am gambling he is the coach needed to transform MoT into a rebounding monster.
IMO, 1 or 2 more rebounds in the same amount of minutes is drastic. 4 rebounds is beyond the realm of possibility.
Mo rebounding and defending would be a drastic change... not sure whether that or Steve learning some smarts and being able to run a break (instead of the wing for a highlight reel finish) is more likely
Artest will turn 25 in November. IMO, Hakeem's adjustments were attributable to re-learning the game and trusting his teammates. Physically his and Jordan's adjustments were much more mental than physical.
