Wanted: sharpshooter

I'm assuming you think this is some knee jerk thread where i just want something cus it sounds good and i'm not looking at the big picture, where he'd fit, etc. But there's a reason why houston drafted Novak, kept him for 2 years and now is giving Cook some minutes over guys like White, and that's because they've been thinking the same thing for a while now and continue to look for someone. They want that 3/4 guy who can be consistent with his 3 point shooting and benefit Yao directly, but also compliment others.

 

i dont' think he'd be consistent part of the rotation. He can play a similar role to what Hayes is playing now, where they plug him in in very specific situations where they think he'll succeed. For example when playing against teams who are doubling Yao and they don't respect guys like Wafer, battier, ron and Brooks because they figure they'd rather let them make 1, maybe 2 out of every 3 attempts than let Yao make almost every shot. You put someone out there who could easily win a 3 point contest and opponents now see someone who's going to hit 3 of 3 of open looks, which they can't afford so they stop doubling.


the name of the game is and always will be to put the ball in the hole, so a guy like that is always wanted, but doesn't always work if a team already sucks at D, but on a defensive team they can be a lethal weapon. Look at Bonner in San Antonio. He'd never get time on most teams, but in san antonio he's an asset because they play good D overall so his defensive weaknesses aren't exposed as much as they would be on other teams.

 

No we do not need playmakers. The shots are there. That playmaker excuse is old and no longer valid. We have several guys capable of scoring off of others and on their own. We don't need a guy to create plays for them. The shot are there and have been, either they just dont hit them or ruin it by turning the ball over.

"Playmakers" is overused and not even properly. i think you mean they need guys who can make plays, which isn't exactly the same. Those are guys who come through for the team on plays, regardless of their role. They can be a shooter, shot blocker, spot up shooter, etc. A playmaker though is typically seen as someone who creates scoring opporutnities for others and makes things happen out of nothing, like Tmac once did, but it doesn't mean they'll always be as offensively capable as he was. So technically you can have playmakers who aren't even good shooters, so you don't want a team consisting of a lot of playmakers. At some point you need complimentary players.

 

Well i was using bonner more as an example of a player who can be a liability defensively, but can still get significant minutes on a defensive-minded contender. I shouldn't have wrote he wouldn't get many minutes on other teams, I meant on other contending teams who lack defense.

I think it just comes down to what we're paying him and what we give up for a guy like that. I think he can be really useful, even if you just plug him in for 2-3 mins. Like in those games where the score is close, but you can seem to really pull away because no one is really hitting, even on open shots. Having a guy you can throw out there because you know he's ready and capable is a great option. He gets a few shots, hits them, gives you the boost you need, then you let the others finish off the game.

 

I think we can all agree Barry is above all the others in terms of shooting, easily above them. Basically i'm suggesting someone who'd eventually take Barry's spot. You can see tonight how important it is to be able to plug a guy in there when he hasn't even played much, yet he still is on target with his shot. I love barry, but he's likely to retire this summer and we need someone to replace his shooting stroke.

 

Ask around, Barry is clearly a better shooter than any one of those guys from the perimeter. Just because he doesnt play a lot doesnt mean he's not important. He's important for games like this when someone is out and you call his number. If you just had some NBDL scrub who can't do anythint right or isn't always ready then you wouldnt be able to compete in a game.

And speaking about barry specifically, you dont know what he's truly worth to this team, he means much more than what he does on the court.

 

He coaches on the bench. During timeouts he often adds stuff to the huddle or even sometimes explains things to the younger players if he sees they're not getting a certain play or not sure about it. He's constantly giving advice to the young guys, especially Brooks. Anytime Brooks has a big mess up and houston call s a timeout or Brooks comes out of the game, barry will go up to him and talk to him about it. He's also always congratulating and supporting the teamates, like literally allt he time. The first guy up to hig five them, to give them a pat on the back. He deserves some credit for the emergence of Brooks this year and some of Landry's improvement. I'm sure he's been in Lowry's ear as well since he came here.

 

Nope, watch the games. He does it every game. Or like I said, dont take my word for it, ask around, especially ask those who go to games often and are near the rockets' bench. Or ask the players themselves if possible, the reporters who are around them at practice, etc..they'll tell you the same.