A hot women and a hot meal. Oh, this is about the Rocks. Well, new arena, new unis, and Yao satisfy me already. Playoffs are just icing on the cake baby. Well, adding a good player would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'd be happy if Yao came back next season with biceps and pecs the size of Karl Malone. I'd be happy if Steve showed up next season with the court vision and awareness of Magic Johnson and the defensive skills of Michael Cooper. I'd be happy if Eddie added about 25 pounds to his frame, 6 inches to his chest, 2 inches to his biceps, 3 foot to the arc on his jumper, 20 points to his shooting percentage, and a post up move or two. I'd be happy if Eddie subtracted the 3 point shot from his offensive arsenal and instead replaced it with a consistent 16 footer and hook shot. I'd be happy if Moochie.................morphed into Murphy. I'd be happy if Nachbar got some playing time. I'd be happy if Cato got more minutes on the floor with Yao and maintained this year's performance next year with the increased minutes. I'd be happy if Cat, Steve, and Posey figured out how to throw real good entry passes to the post. I'd be happy if Posey developed a consistent jumper. I'd be happy if TMO continuted to improve his game like he did this year and was given increased minutes as the designated dirty man. I'd be happy if MoT got some explosion and elevation to go with his good post moves. I'd be happy if along with the explosion and elevation, MoT picked up some defensive and rebounding skills. I'd be happy if Rice came back next season with only one roll on the back of his neck and no rolls around his belly. I'd be happy if Tito Maddux got an alarm clock and didn't miss team flights next year. I'd be happy if Collier..............................ummmmmmm...................ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................ummmmmmmmmmm...................ahhhhh.........spent the year on the disabled list.
I’ll be satisfied once the players and coaches start acting like they’re never satisfied. I want to see them constantly striving to be better, never ever being content. No more losses to teams we should beat. No more losing 5 straight after winning a big game against LA or Phoenix. I basically just want to see the team come out focused every single game or at least a whole lot more than they were this past season.
Odom is not the answer like many think. Miller and Brand are better options to go after. Not to say that it would or should happen. Look we should not make trades and moves just to make trades or moves. If we need to make a move it needs to be a swift clean move. No sacrefices here to look better here. Don't be fooled, this team is far from just needing some tweeking and a role player to bring us to the next level. On the same note we are not so hopeless we need to gut the team. Many agree Yao and SF are the foundations of this team. Mo T seems to have found a niche as a back up. Yes he is over paid but for those that just complain and brood over the past, shove it. The best thing to do is suck it up and make the best decisions now. Many teams can offer stuff for Brand, we prolly are not the best team to aquire him. If we can attain him for Griffen (who will at best put up his numbers) and Mobley (talent we can afford to give up) and future draft pick(we don't need to get younger and the Clippers love draft picks) then go for it. Ming and Brand can compliment each other, possibly stunting a bit of Ming's post growth (in the sense of dominance) but providing the putbacks and rebounds no one else on the team can help Ming with. Another possibility is Mobley for Miller. Miller at pg and SF at sg could be deadly. Look at Golden State if you want to look anywhere for talent. A simple three way trade b/t our teams might not be out of the quetion. Each team is at the same level and could use some help from the other team. Warriors need a swingman to contribute now and have a jam at the 4. Clippers need to rid 3 potentially loaded contracts for equal talent with smaller contracts and draft picks. We need inside help and a pg. A simple tweak to a trade format similar to this could happen. Clippers lose Miller Brand Odom Maggette Clippers get Mobley Murphy Griffen Richardson Future draft picks from Hou. Rocks lose Mobley Griffen Draft pick Rocks get Brand Arenas G.S. loses Murphy Arenas Richardson G.S. gets Odom Miller Maggette G.S clears up there low jam at the four and get a swingman. Clippers clear house and got back similar talent. J-Rich, Murphy, Mobley, Jaric will be pretty deadly, young, and most importantly cheap. Rocks get what they want with out losing too much. Lineup Odom Jamison Miller Maggette Foyle Brand Ming Francis Posey Wallace Jaric Griffen Murphy Mobley Richardson
Only a ring will satisfy me. I don't know how anyone can be happy without a ring. I support the entire Rockets organization. If the players are giving 100% effort, and we don't win, that means the front office hasn't assembled a team good enough to win the championship, OR, I should expect to win it all the following season. If the team doesn't give 100%, but have all the individual awards and All Stars, I won't be happy, because it means the players aren't committed to the championship. Only a ring. Nothing but a ring. The Rockets aren't all that fun to watch, they are in fact, FRUSTRATING AS HELL. But the reason I am a Rockets fans is because, unlike Golden State or Clippers fans, I have realistic hopes of the Rockets winning the championship in the near future. Once you win the championship for the first time, nothing less will satisfy you anymore. The Celtics have a TRASHY team, but making the conference semi finals wasn't good enough for them. That says something about them. I have faith in this team to win a championship soon, ESPECIALLy that we have the perfect inside-outside threat in Yao and Francis. Don't you find it amazing that we can expect 20 pts from any of these 2 on any given night? That we wouldn't be surprised if ANY of them grabbed 10 rebounds? That we wouldn't be surprised if ANY of them dished out 5 assists? That we wouldn't be surprised if they made the All Star team next year? Only the NBA Finals ring would satisfy me. Unless ofcourse, we actually make the finals and are CLEARLY robbed by the refs, the league, or something similar. That would be ok too.
i'm only going to be satisfied if the following events occur: rockets unveil their new jerseys and they better look good with a new logo. rockets sign jeff van gundy for head coach and move rudy t up into the front office. rockets sign PJ Brown and Kenny Anderson(impossible) rockets trade eddie griffin for Chris Bosh rockets somehow get their lottery pick back and get Mickaël Pietrus. rockets somehow get somebody else's lottery pick and draft carmelo anthony. rockets somehow get lucky and draft Kendrick Perkins 6-10 280 PF/C Beaumont, TX HSSr. in the second round. fantasy complete
1.Why would u take Bosh over EG? 2.Personnaly I would take Diaw over Pietrus.Pietrus is maybe more athletic but Diaw has more BBall skills.Plus he's the perfect fit for moving SF to the 2! ALA
this is why pietrus is who i want to draft. read below. On the road again By Chad Ford NBA Insider Updated: May 14 7:03 AM ET BILBAO, Spain -- Six months ago, Tony Ronzone and I rented a car in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and took a treacherous road to Zagreb, Croatia, in an effort to catch a young French shooting guard, Mickael Pietrus, in action. The harrowing trip along the Bosnian border, past suspicious border guards and through a foreboding landscape, ended up being well worth the effort. Pietrus didn't play particularly well that night, but his performance was enough to impress the NBA scouts in attendance and to propel him into potential lottery status. Now, Ronzone and I cram into another rental car again go in search of the Euro Jordan, this time in his hometown of Pau, France. 11:25 a.m. We arrive in Bilbao, Spain, after a 65-minute flight from Barcelona. Our plans change as soon as we land. The plan was to catch 18-year-old sensation Tiago Splitter, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Brazil who is widely considered the best young big man in Europe after Darko Milicic. His agent claims that Splitter isn't entering his name in the draft, but with the recent buzz surrounding Maciej Lampe, the rumors are he might change his mind. Ten minutes after we arrive a phone call from his agent, Aturo Ortega, brings bad news. Splitter is in Vitoria, Spain (a two-hour drive south of Bilbao). His team had a playoff game there Saturday night and they're stuck there. We don't have time to make the trip down to see him, so Ronzone and I decide to check into our hotel, then head off to Pau to catch a 4 p.m. practice for Pietrus and teammate Boris Diaw. 12:32 p.m. We're lost in Bilbao. The bad news is that, a la "European Vacation," we're stuck in one of those endless roundabouts, circling and circling around some picturesque monuments in the middle of the city. The good news is that Bilbao is one of the most unique looking cities I've seen. With it's modern art, wide boardwalks and the gorgeous Guggenheim Museum, it's a sight to behold. 12:45 p.m. More bad news. More bad information threatens to kill our trip. We had been told that Pau was a brief one-hour drive from Bilbao. Now the desk clerk at our hotel is telling us it's more like three hours. That's a pretty big difference. The problem here is Europeans seem to underestimate travel time by about half when giving directions. If someone tells you your destination is five minutes away, it's at least 10. So, we were prepared for two hours. Three means we have to leave right now. 1:00 p.m. With a map, computer-printed directions in Spanish and no real clue where we're going, Ronzone and I hop in the car and head out in the general direction of France. 1:20 p.m. If driving through Yugoslavia was like traveling through hell, then driving from Bilbao to Pau is like moving through the heavens. The picturesque vistas of the Pyrenees mountains, the beautiful countryside, quaint seaside villages and sheep grazing on the grassy hillsides give us pause. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful landscape. 4:25 p.m. Driving at 140 kilometers per hour (about 87 mph) allows you to pick up some time, and we arrive a few minutes before practice. It isn't easy to get in. By now teams are on to me and Ronzone, and it's making things more difficult. Between fearful agents, suspicious coaches and the ever-shifting time schedules in Europe, we seem to be struggling to get in anywhere unnoticed anymore. 4:35 p.m. We're in, but with one caveat. We have to sit high up in the bleachers to avoid distracting the players. It doesn't matter. The players keeping gazing up, trying to figure out who we are and where we're from. 4:45 p.m. After the players get through stretching, the real work begins. Ronzone is keeping an eye on Pietrus. The last time we saw him in Zagreb, Pietrus shot just 1-for-8 from the field. Immediately, Ronzone is zeroed in on his stroke. Pietrus is sinking 3s with ease. In the corner, on the wing, at the top of the key. Swish. Swish. Swish. "He can't shoot," Ronzone says with a wry smile and a wink. Ronzone has followed Pietrus the past three years. He knows the player inside and out and has laughed at all the reports that claim he's not a shooter. The multi-talented Mickael Pietrus won't drop beyond the 13th pick (Grizzlies) in this year's draft. On defense, Pietrus is even more impressive. Pietrus is guarding the team's point guard and he's doing an amazing job. At 6-foot-6, 212 pounds, Pietrus shouldn't be able to move his feet like this. He sticks to his guy at every position on the court. "He can't play defense, either," Ronzone says before a thunderous dunk by Pietrus rattles the empty gym. "No hops," Ronzone laughs. Pietrus is the truth. Take his handle, athletic ability, outside shooting and ability to get to the hole, and you've got a sure fire lottery pick. 5:12 p.m. Boris Diaw is much tougher to get a handle on. He's long, has a great body, and it's clear he has great point-guard skills for someone who's 6-foot-9. He takes the occasional shot and swishes it, but it's still tough to get a read. The problem with Diaw is that he's smooth. He makes playing basketball look effortless. That's great after you've already made it. But if you're still fighting to get drafted, it causes it's share of problems. Teams have questioned Diaw's aggressiveness and effort all year. It appears to us he's trying. He just doesn't break a sweat doing it. It's easy to see why teams are in love with him. Diaw's mother was a Hall of Fame basketball player in France. From an early age she taught her son how to play. She drilled him in the fundamentals of Euroleague basketball and scolded him whenever he got too selfish. His mother still gets on him if he shoots too much. It's a blessing and a curse. Diaw may be the best big playmaker in the draft after LeBron. He's an athletic point forward with fantastic court sense. But he's also his team's seventh-leading scorer. When's the last time a small forward averaging less than 10 points per game was a lottery pick? Still, this appears to be Diaw's year. In 2001, the Jazz flirted with taking him in the first round. When they couldn't give him a promise (they opted for Raul Lopez instead), Diaw pulled his name out of the draft. In 2002, Diaw was in the draft again. The Nuggets and Spurs flirted with him but in the end opted for something else. This year, the feedback is much stronger. Diaw is a likely mid-first-rounder. That will be enough to keep him in the draft. "I think I'm ready," Diaw said. "My game has improved. But if I don't hear that I'm in the first round, I'll pull it out again and wait until next year." 5:30 p.m. Ronzone has an interesting theory behind what it takes to make an NBA basketball player. According to Ronzone, there are three skills that scouts are looking for when evaluating talent. First, a player must have good hands. His ability to dribble, pass, shoot the ball and catch the ball are the elements scouts focus on. Second, he must have good feet. Athleticism, footwork, coordination, balance, and jumping ability are key attributes. Third, players must have a good mind. Basketball IQ is important, Ronzone says, but the player's work ethic, practice habits, desire and ability to listen to his coach are also major factors. Ronzone claims European players' hands are the big reason they're the rage right now. Teams are no longer yearning for raw athletes who run the floor like gazelles. They want skilled players who can bring the ball up the floor, play multiple positions and shoot when open. However, it's the Europeans' feet that get them in trouble. While the talent over here is improving, very few Europeans have the athleticism, quickness or strength to play in the NBA right away. That aspect must be developed. 5:45 p.m. The team takes a break. As the players head to the bench to rest or to get a drink, Pietrus runs over to the sidelines, grabs a ball and heads to the free-throw line. He's the only one still on the court. "That's as impressive as anything else he's done today," Ronzone said. "He's showing that he likes to play the game and he's dedicated to improving it." Give Pietrus an "A" for his mental skills. 6:45 p.m. After practice, Pietrus and I sit down. I pull out an interesting quote for him. "I can't take 1-for-8 shooting. I need to get back in the gym and get back to work. I won't take a vacation this Christmas. I just need to get back to work. It's a bad game for me for Christmas. Don't worry, I'll keep working hard. You'll see. I'll change. Next time you come I'll be more focused on basketball." He laughs. The quote is from when Ronzone and I saw him struggle in Zagreb in December. "Do you see I've been working on my shooting?" he says with a wide smile. "I told you." I never thought he was a bad shooter, but the performance he put on in practice today was impressive. "I told you," he says again with a smile. Pietrus recounts what he's been doing since December. His grandfather died earlier in the year and Pietrus chokes up a bit as he remembers returning to Guadalupe (his home) to attend the funeral. "I always wanted him to see me play in the NBA," he says in a quiet voice. "But now I play every game to remember him." Pietrus claims his grandmother is less impressed. "She doesn't even know what the NBA is. She just keeps asking me when I'm getting a real job." It could be pretty soon. Several teams are in love with Pietrus right now. The Bulls are looking at him hard at No. 7, and the Grizzlies won't let him slip past No. 13. Or at least that's what the rumor mill is today. Pietrus is caught up in the moment. He admits to staying up at night dreaming about what jersey he'll wear in the NBA. He tries to stay focused, but it's hard when the draft is just six weeks away. His brother, Florent, walks in. And so does reality. Florent heads to the U.S. next week to begin a series of workouts for the Clippers, Lakers, Cavs, Nuggets and Hawks. Unlike Mickael, who doesn't need to bother with workouts to land in the lottery, Florent is struggling to stay relevant. Pietrus is caught up in the moment. He admits to staying up at night dreaming about what jersey he'll wear in the NBA. He tries to stay focused but it's hard when the draft is just six weeks away. Like Mickael, he's a super athlete and, at 6-foot-7, he's an inch taller than his brother. However, he doesn't have the perimeter game that Mickael does, and he's projected as an undersized power forward in the NBA. Florent, an excellent rebounder and a huge leaper, has taken the news hard. He wants to follow his brother to the NBA, but his journey is much tougher. He has to prove to NBA teams that his skills break the mold. He brings up Malik Rose of the Spurs when talking about his game. "I'm tough, I have great energy and I play my heart out. And I am taller than Rose. So why can't I at least get a shot?" Mickael smiles and defends his brother. They've been playing one-on-one almost daily. Florent is helping Mickael with his mid-range game (his biggest weakness) and Mickael is helping Florent with his shooting (Florent's Achilles' heel). The scene of them together is classic, but it's clear there is a strain on the relationship that wasn't there in December. The thought of splitting up (they've been on the same team for three years) is hard for both brothers to fathom. Mickael is off to the NBA soon, and Florent, even if he is drafted, won't be on the same team. The brothers claim it will be hard. "I'm a professional, so you do what you have to do," Florent said "But I'll miss him. No one knows my game better than he does." They walk out of the arena separately just minutes later. Ronzone shakes his head and smiles. "That's a tough act to break up." 7:30 p.m. We're starving and Ronzone suggests we catch a bite to eat in Pau. Being the good Americans we are, we come up with a better idea. We saw a McDonald's sign on the road in. Always willing to snub the French, we decide to eat at McDonald's in France and let our dollars funnel back to the mothership in America. That'll show 'em. It's a stupid idea, but the burgers actually taste great. Both of us are getting a bit homesick. 10:50 p.m. Tomorrow, Ronzone and I are ready to head home. Exhausted, we drive the three hours back to our hotel, pack and say our goodbyes. In the space of a little more than a week, we've seen six potential first-round picks this year -- Mickael Pietrus, Pavel Podkolzin, Anderson Varejao, Maciej Lampe, Boris Diaw and Victor Khryapa -- and two potential first-rounders of the future in Marko Markoshivili and Sergei Monya. But more importantly, we've been able to get a little peek into the lives of many NBA hopefuls. More scouts will follow in our footsteps. As we speak, the Phoenix Suns are heading to Madrid to check out Lampe. Several other NBA teams are descending on Paris on Wednesday. And many top international prospects are waiting patiently for their seasons to end so they can head to the U.S. and begin individual workouts. Last year's draft was dubbed the year of the international player. A record six international players were chosen in the first round. This year as many as 13 of the 29 first-round picks could be international players. In Europe, the talk of the international invasion is over. Players are no longer dreaming of simply getting to the NBA. "We don't want to just play well and not embarrass ourselves any more," Mickael says later in the hall. "We want to dominate." Who's going to stop them?
Chris Bosh Birthdate: 3/24/84 NBA Position: Power Forward College: Georgia Tech Class: Freshman Ht: 6-10 Wt: 210 Hometown: Dallas, TX High School: Lincoln NBA Comparison: Tim Duncan/Kevin Garnett Strengths: Great inside outside player. Few are blessed with his athletic prowess. Plays with a good amount of aggresiveness, but doesn't get out of control or lose his composure easily. Appears "Garnett-esque" because of his long frame and amazing fluidity. Runs the floor exceptionally well. Doesn't have the perimeter skills of Garnett, namely shooting, but appears to like playing in the post more so than Garnett and could end up filling out into more of a dominating post player. Has great ball handling skills and really can pass the ball. Has some developed post moves and an advanced offensive game for a 19 year old. Can even step out to three point land and hit a few long range shots. Understands the game well, doesn't make unnecessary moves, uses the drop step and jump hook effectively. Because of his long arms, timing, and explosiveness, he is an excellent shot blocker. The team even goes to him to bring the ball up the court at times as a point forward. Weknesses: Still weak physically. Needs time to develop into his body. Must bulk up and add strength to handle the power of NBA players. Still has problems with consistency but that can be expected from a young player. Needs better stamina, mental toughness. He can lose focus towards the end of games. -Aran Smith --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Strengths: Very quick off the floor and can really rise…6'11 lefty who may still be growing and can step out and hit deep ball…Quicker than most college big men, especially those his size…Solid handle for his size, that looks as if it will only get better…Good face up game and turn around jumper on the block…Soft touch on shot and hits high percentage of 3's…Takes good shots (almost to a fault) …Is comfortable with ball on the perimeter…Works hard for good position in the post and has good footwork down low…Can dribble with either hand…Gives big target for passer when posting up…Can block shots…Good at boxing out, solid rebounder, who should only get better as he adds weight/strength…Sound passer…Decent FT shooter…Active without the ball…Solid defender…Intelligent player and supposedly very coachable. Weaknesses: Needs to add a lot (a whole lot) of strength to bang in the post in the NBA…Would like more moves in his post up game…Very poor at pick and roll, weak setting screens… Wonder whether smaller, quicker NBA players expose him on the perimeter…Gets pushed around rebounding and in getting position in the post. needs to improve hands catching passes…Lacks constant focus and intensity…Does not go after shots he could easily swat…Needs to improve mid range game…Has a lot of work to do before realizing his potential. Notes: Member of the National Honor Society, the National Society of Black Engineers and the Dallas Association of Minority Engineers ... McDonald's All-American… Long and lanky… Very athletic…thin, but has frame to add more weight…Look and to still be getting accustomed /growing into his body…Young and very immature physically, turns 19 this March...Decent player now, but looks to have 25 and 10 potential…Nowhere near fully developed. -Benjamin Egger and that's why it would be good to get bosh for griffin.
Nice article on Pietrus,Spiral.But this hasn't changed my mind.Pietrus is more athletic and Diaw has more skills. Both of them play for my home team(Pau-Orthez),so contrarly to Ford,I get to see them live on a weekly basis.Plus they play for the national team,so that's a few games more. Like I said earlier Diaw would compliment better SF,as he's more of a play maker than Pietrus who is more of a scorer.Plus Mikael is going higher in the draft than Boris,so it would be harder to get him. ALA
Whatever it takes for the Rockets to play entertaining basketball like the Kings and the Mavericks. That would include lots of passing, player motion, plays, structure, system, and intelligence. Better shooting is on order, and, unlike the Mavs, more defense. I would like the Rockets to be a scrappy, tough, smart, and competitive team win or lose, playoffs or not. If the same Rockets return, Les will need "blow up, inflatable" fans to fill up the new stadium. I won't watch the "same ole Rockets" next year, period.
I'll be happy if they show up every quarter of every game for the whole season. Don't come to games against gimp teams (Clippers, Cavs, Bulls, etc), and expect to blow them out while sleepwalking. Don't think, "Oh, we can let the second quarter slide and catch up in the 3rd/4th". Don't fade away in the 4th. If this team plays hard every quarter of every game, they'll be in the playoffs. A lot of people blame the X's and O's, but it's not the X's and O's that are the problem (although they could be improved.). This team has no heart. They regularly forget to play. If they had just shown up against all the chump teams this year, they'd have been in the playoffs. If they hadn't relaxed for a quarter in many games, they'd be in the playoffs. They had a better winning record for the second game of back-to-back games. What the hell is that? It's certainly not being physically tired, it seems to me like they forgot to show up the first night, got burned, and realized they had better get it in gear for the second. Act like professionals, that will satisfy me, because EVERYTHING will follow if they would just do that.
Many members have been concerned about the lack of heart! Why isn't it there and what can they do to get it? Does this become evident when there is selfish play?
Well, unfortunately, the lack of heart thing has been a problem ever since I've been watching the Rockets (since ~1994). While historically, they've definately brought it to the playoffs, they just don't have it somehow in the regular season. My memories have always indicated that the Rockets forget to bring it for the lesser teams, and regularly get suprised. I have always found it odd that the Rockets have regularly been nailed by lesser teams, but somehow manage to elevate their play against better ones. Unfortunately, this team isn't talented enough and/or the conference is too hard to get by with that attitude anymore. They need to bring it to EVERY SINGLE GAME, because in the Western Conference, unless you're a TOP team (Lakers, Spurs, Kings, Mavs) you have to play like it's the playoffs ALL season to make it to the playoffs because EVERYONE is a threat. They're just not doing that. And the Rockets have not been doing that for at least 10 or so years (imo). That tells me it's not a problem JUST with the players, it's endemic to the organization as a whole. The organization as a whole needs to commit to taking every single game seriously, it needs to redefine the "culture" of the corporation, to borrow recent business buzzwords. IMO, any time Les sees the team play without heart, he needs to razz CD/RT. Any time CD/RT sees the team play without heart, they need to razz the assistant coaches and the players. Any time the assistant coaches or the players see that the players are not playing with heart, they need to razz each other. And sometimes, this needs to be done publicly -- not to the press/general public, but in front of each other. Humiliation in front of your peers can sometimes work wonders, as long as you're careful about how it's done
I hope you're not referring to my post, because I would be satisfied with a barn and a peach bucket when it comes to hoops.
move stevie to shooting guard. sign a PG that knows his role and only wants to make the team better run the offense through YAO if rudy-t isnt right for the job, dont keep him around just for the heck of it. get rid of the stupid iso offense win a championship in the next 10 years. thats all that matters really. just do what it takes to win it all.
