As someone who was treated as if he had sold his soul to the devil for saying it was probably time for Olajuwon to leave, I'd just like to ask... Where are all those who claimed keeping Olajuwon was essential to making us a winning team? Nevermind the club loyalty issue, do you want Dream now for 3 years at this level? Anyone? Here are Dream's numbers this season: 30 games 26.7 minutes/game 8.4 points/game 7.3 rebounds/game 1.93 blocks/game 1.53 steals/game 1.3 assists/game 47% Field Goals 55% Free throws Now, from a sentimental perspective, I understand the logic. But, anyone who argued that Olajuwon would put up numbers worthy of a 3 year deal, think again.
I thought it interesting that he didn't play much in the 4th quarter yesterday, especially when the game got close near the end.
I agree with you Jeff. It was really sad watching the big guy last night. He seemed to be moving in slow motion & in general, just appeared to be old & tired. I believe the Rockets made the right decision by not paying him what he wanted. As much as it pains me to say this, I think Cato played even with, or better than, Dream. That's not saying much for Cato either, since he can only play even with a 39 year old man.
Here's my question. How low has Olajuwon fallen at this point? Is he a stumbling Mays? A badly outclassed "old Ali?" Or is he just another Patrick Ewing (7ppg, 5rpg, 17mpg)? Personally, I'd place this year as slightly below "Tragic" Johnson's second return to the NBA in 1995-96. It's enough to make one wish he didn't have that run last season, especially since the Rox didn't make the playoffs anyway.
<b>Statistic---------------------Cato--------------- Olajuwon</b> Games----------------------------- 35-------------------- 30 Games Started -------------------33-------------------- 29 Minutes---------------------------- 797------------------- 802 Minutes Per Game--------------- 22.8------------------ 26.7 Field Goals Made----------------- 78-------------------- 111 Missed Field Goals--------------- 70-------------------- 127 Field Goals Attempted---------- 148------------------- 238 Field Goal Percentage----------- 52.7----------------- 46.6 Free Throws Made--------------- 55-------------------- 29 Missed Free Throws --------------37------------------- 24 Free Throws Attempted ---------92---------------------53 Free Throw Percentage--------- 59.8----------------- 54.7 Three Pointers Made------------- 0---------------------- 0 Three Pointers Attempted------- 0---------------------- 1 Three Pointers Percentage------ 0.0------------------ 0.0 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage- 52.7--------------- 46.6 Offensive Rebounds-------------- 66-------------------- 58 Defensive Rebounds -------------130----------------- 160 Total Rebounds -------------------196----------------- 218 Assists ------------------------------12------------------- 40 Steals -------------------------------12-------------------- 46 Turnovers-------------------------- 17-------------------- 61 Blocks -------------------------------28-------------------- 58 Points------------------------------ 211------------------- 251 Points Per Game -----------------6.03------------------ 8.37
Stop hatin.' I saw some good outlet passes from Dream last night, some blocks, some rebounds, and a 16 point lead till he sat down. Nothing wrong with that. Of course I can't speak for all those who didn't turn their backs on Dream 'cause he left, but I've always said it was the way the Rockets handled his departure, not the fact that they wanted to move on.
I still think that CD and RT would trade Cato for Hakeem even today... Hakeem is a great center if motivated. He is playing like he did last year around this time of year. He is capable but you have to give him the ball and play him at crunch time or you get this kind of perfomance. He showed last year that he is still a servicable center but he is going thru the motions when he thinks he is being disrespected. Toronto is disrespecting him alot more than we did last year. I still would rather have a Hakeem & Willis combo at center than Cato. More production and less money...
Well, lets take a look at those stats compared to current Rockets. Here is where Olajuwon would place on our team with those numbers: 26.7 minutes/game 6th 8.4 points/game 7th 7.3 rebounds/game 1st 1.93 blocks/game 1st 1.53 steals/game 1st 1.3 assists/game 7th (tie) 47% Field Goals 3rd (not counting 1 for 1 Collier) 55% Free throws 13th The FT% is atrocious and he's not much on the offensive end (7th in points and assists, though 3rd in %). But he'd be our best defender (in only 27 minutes per game): 1st in rebounding, blocks and steals. I can take 3 more years of that. (All that said, I'm not unhappy with the trade at all.)
Hakeem for 3 years at that level is better than Cato for 5 at his level. Why don't we put up Glen Rice's numbers and salary, and ask if anyone wants 2 more years of that?
Also if we had Hakeem and Francis was out for a prolongued period the team at least has a system it can run, instead of the helter skelter fall-apart offense and defense that happened this year.
Houston Rockets 2001-2002 Total: $49,168,169 Glen Rice .................. $8,800,000 Maurice Taylor ............. $6,500,000 Kelvin Cato ................ $6,048,000 Walt Williams .............. $5,000,000 Cuttino Mobley ............. $4,413,375 Steve Francis .............. $3,473,520 Moochie Norris ............. $3,600,000 Kevin Willis ............... $3,000,000 Matt Maloney ............... $2,543,750 [released] Eddie Griffin .............. $2,011,080 Jason Collier .............. $1,280,040 Kenny Thomas ............... $946,920 Dan Langhi ................. $465,850 Terence Morris ............. $420,000 Tierre Brown ............... $332,817 Oscar Torres ............... $332,817 ____________________________________________________ Houston Rockets........ Date.....# of..... total Player ..................... signed....years... salary........misc....FA Tierre Brown .......... 9/26/01.... 1 ...... minimum...............'02 Dan Langhi ............ 7/17/00 ....2 ...... minimum..............'02 Oscar Torres .......... 9/10/01.....1........ minimum..............'02 Walt Williams ......... 7/2/97......5........$20 million.............'02 Kevin Willis .......... 8/19/96,10/7/99..4+2..$9 mill + $6.1 mill..'02 Steve Francis ......... 9/1/99......4 .......$14,124,582....rc......'03 Terence Morris ........ 9/7/01.......2.......$1 million..............'03 Kenny Thomas .......... 8/13/99....4......$4,213,163.....rc.....'03 Jason Collier ......... 7/17/00........4 .....$5,939,592.....rc... t-opt '04 Glen Rice ............. 9/20/00..........4......$36 million..............'04 Eddie Griffin ......... 9/19/01.........4...... $9,422,965.....rc...t-opt '05 Kelvin Cato ........... 9/23/97,10/28/9.. 3+4.. $3.4 mill+ 42 mill.. '06 Cuttino Mobley ........ 10/2/00 ......6.... $31 million.............. '06 Moochie Norris ........ 10/9/01.......6......$22.7 million.......... '07 Maurice Taylor ........ 8/7/01....... 6 .....$48 million...............'07
Wow. I know injuries are playing a big part of it, but look at the top four players salary-wise. Think of what Houston is getting for that $25 + million dollars. Ouch.
That's a classic example of statistics not telling the whole story. I'd take the Griffin of the past month and his stats over Hakeem any day. By the end of the year I expect Griffins numbers to be better. OS
IMHO, the fat lady hasn't song yet, so I aint giving up on Dream. I wouldn't care if he showed up with one leg, the Great One is money down the stretch. He'll work himself into the system up there. Dream's health is the only real concern.
When has Hakeem started off strong in his entire career ? He's shown his old self quite a few times this year, like both games vs. Atlanta (16/8 (with the game winning shot too) and 16/11), had 9 blocks vs the Spurs, 20 rebounds vs Detroit, 3 consecutive games leading the Raptors in rebounds (12, 12, 20) Last year he started to peak a couple of months before playoffs and thats why he was signed by Toronto. Anything he can produce now is a bonus, its his play against Mutombo and other big centres that hurt the Raptors in their last run and he'd help alot. Does it suck he left the Rockets ? Yes, but don't discount what he can still bring to the table.
Yeah, I can't think of a center other than Vlade who passes better than Dream, I can't think of a single center who steals better than Dream, and we're still talking about the All-Time Blocks Leader in the NBA, so he's a serious presence on defense. Sure his points are down, but that's what Vince Carter's for, right? His rebounding average could be better, but perhaps if he could play more minutes, that would help. He's never been the best offensive rebounder in the league ... of course that's partly because he used to be our offensive focus. Still, when it's all said and done, he's still one of the best centers. Here's a question I debated on my fantasy basketball team. Who would you rather have: Mourning or Dream? Although Mourning scores more, and has an edge in boards & blocks, I took Dream because he still has an all-around game.
Yeah, it's not as if the Rockets resigned Cato instead of Olajuwon. It happened at least 2 years earlier.
Jeff, how dare you even ask the question! Going based, alone, on what the Rockets did with Maloney and Cato, they should have kept the Dream. Not to mention of course the leadership and mentoring for EG which Cato cannot provide. I am one of those who believe that KT's development reflects the Dream's influence. Your question should only come after the playoffs which is why they got him in the first place. I have seen nothing that suggest to me that he is incapable of being a factor in the playoffs. His biggest thing right now is to cruise and be ready in the playoffs. He did not seem to have a problem when he went pass EG! His rebounding and defense is going to help make the difference when added to Davis and Clark, going up against the Bucks and Nets, en fin, en fin. If you consider the Dream situation bad, I wonder how you would feel about the Rice one?
