How does waiving Hakeem help the Rockets in any way shape or form? It doesn't ! If Hakeem thinks he can go 35-40 minutes a night, then why not give him a chance. Sit him down, tell him what is expected of him, that he play with passion, fire, and he shut down the layup drill that Rocket opponents have had, and let's see what happens. Explain that the minute he starts dogging it out there, that you will pull him for a spell, but that he will get right back in the game. He is on the Rockets..UTILIZE him, he is still an effective player when motivated. If his body can't take it, and he breaks down, what have you lost....NOTHING....the Rocks were prepared to waive him anyway. CALL HAKEEM'S BLUFF....tell him to bust his hump and give him some PT, he is a far better solution then any other center on the team right now. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from monkeys and apes, then why are there still monkeys and apes?
Absolutely! I think he could handle that. The team would be better for it. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
THATS WHAT IM SAYIN! Heck, If he thinks he can go 2-3 more years, lets see what he can do. Play him til he begs to come out! It's better than not playing him and waiving him for nothing! BTW, did anyone see Patrick Ewing get blocked by Shawn Marion tonight? Sigh.... ------------------ Francis out top, 9 seconds on the clock, he gives a no look pass to Cuttino Mobley, 4 seconds left, Mobley passes to an open Langhi in the corner with 1 second left! Langhi at the buzzer.......YES!!! How Sweet It Is!!
DaDakota, I understand your point about Dream doing what is asked of him as he is a highly compensated employee of the Rockets. It is the fact that he is not the offensive centerpiece of the team that makes him want to leave. Your logic is correct, but humans are quite often illogical. Mango ------------------ Lets get the Mo Go working! Test Your NBA Trade Ideas 1. Put new topics in the proper forum. Things happening in the rest of the NBA 2. Use clear wording for new threads. 3. No duplicate threads 4. Conduct yourself as an adult. The Serious Police are watching. Donate Blood or be assimilated!
Tell that to Dream, he's the one who came out pissing moaning about wanting to be traded or waived! Why didn't DREAM go to the Rockets coaching staff and bring that up instead of going to the media? But you guys are still missing the point, the Rockets would use him for defense and rebounding, but Dream wants a good deal of the offensive touches and that just won't work. Mo gets his share of touches and scores. Dream would need more then Mo because Dream is older, and that just won't work. The bottomline is FORCING him to stay does NOTHING to help us, and in fact could disrupt the lockerroom. It is obvious Dream wants out or wants to be the centerpiece of the offense and isn't going to happen. You talk about calling his bluff? Ok lets do that, lets tell him we're going to waive him and see how he responds. ------------------ "I have a scale at home and it only goes up so far, I love that scale!" - Charles Barkley TNT Studios [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited January 17, 2001).]
Mango, I think the real problem is that no one has sat down with Dream and explained it fully. Heck, I don't know why he was only getting about 24 minutes, he looked GOOD when he got some time. I think Rudy sometimes needs to take a little bit more control of situations, and explain to his players what is expected of them. Don't waive him so he can get a ring somewhere this year....if we have any chance of making the playoffs (which I doubt), Dream will be the one that will show them the way. We need a CENTER badly, and guess what...he is a QUALITY Center. Talk to the man, man to man, and see how he responds. I mean how much would 10 more post ups to Dream per game hurt his team? The Truth, it wouldn't. PLAY HIM !!!!!! This YOUNG team can learn a lot from him, if he plays. PLAY HIM TILL HE DROPS !!!! He is the Rockets best option at Center right now. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from monkeys and apes, then why are there still monkeys and apes?
Dream is usually huffing and puffing and staggering up the court within 8 minutes of the first quarter. Dream can't handle big minutes these days. He is effective in bursts but he can't keep up in a fast paced game. Other teams know this and the commentators during games (on league pass)always point this fact out. I am not going to assume no one has discussed such a critical issue with Dream, especially Rudy T, who coaches "know your role." Dream seems to want a different role than the one he has been given. Perhaps blaming the role for his problems and not his conditioning and deteriorating skill. ------------------
Actually Hakeem HAS gone to the Rockets and begged for playing time. Rudy came up with some kind of bullsh*t about 'Hakeem not practicing" etc. This guy is a fricking 17 year vet. Play him dammit. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
JeffB, When Hakeem starts puffing, pull him for about 5 minutes, but put him back in. Rudy was playing Hakeem 8 minutes in the first quarter, and then SOMETIMES bringing him back in the 2nd. Hakeem also was not in MOST 4th quarter, when this team NEEDS a steadying hand. Hakeem plays harder when he knows he will get to touch the ball, as do MOST players. I think if you give him some touches he will respond. All I am saying, is that we have nothing to gain by waiving him...NOTHING.... Play him till he drops, he is a proud man, call him out, and see if he can handle it. If he can't I am sure Dream will acknowledge it. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from monkeys and apes, then why are there still monkeys and apes?
If you want Rudy to compromise for Dream, Dream needs to have the courtesy and do the same. He needs to realize that he isn't the centerpiece of the offense, and adjust to a role of playing defense and rebounding. Obviously Dream doesn't like that. If he wants to play more, that's one thing. When you demand the ball when you can't get it done anymore that's another thing all together. Throw in the fact that Dream almost passes out after 8 or 10 minutes on the court and we are talking about trouble waiting to happen! ------------------ If Megatron can become Galvatron, why can't Rocks2001 become RocksMillenium? [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited January 17, 2001).]
DaDakota, So who is giving up shots so Dream gets his 10 shots a game in the postup? Revise the offense for a player with perhaps 40 something games left with this team? It has been pointed out in the media that Shandon has blossomed on offense with the low post vacated. Stifle SA again for Dream? Mango ------------------ Lets get the Mo Go working! Test Your NBA Trade Ideas 1. Put new topics in the proper forum. Things happening in the rest of the NBA 2. Use clear wording for new threads. 3. No duplicate threads 4. Conduct yourself as an adult. The Serious Police are watching. Donate Blood or be assimilated! [This message has been edited by Mango (edited January 17, 2001).]
I remember seeing a winded Dream fumbling away the ball late in the fourth. He is not the best option with the game on the line anymore. Anyway, the point in the Dream saga is not that the Rockets don't use him or haven't tried to use him as much as they can. It is that Dream wants it his way, the only way he knows how and doesn't want to use the new system. I find no fault with the Rocks in this situation. If Dream wants more time, he should run the plays they practice and stop demanding 20 post ups a game. ------------------
If dream wants out to get another shot at the title and it doesnt hurt the rockets (if his heart is not in it then i think he would not be helpfull) I say let him. ------------------ KD 12-21-99 [This message has been edited by Elliott03 (edited January 17, 2001).]
For all of you who think Dream can not play anymore, the stats simply do not bare this out. Dream's is averaging 10+ ppg, shooting 47%, getting 6+ rebounds, 1+ steals, and what the Rockets need most 1+ blocks a game. http://www.clutchcity.net/players.cfm The man can play....play him, it can't hurt, we are .500 anyway, and he is our best center. PLAY HIM !! DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from monkeys and apes, then why are there still monkeys and apes?
Dream also hit the shot that sent the game into OT in Denver, his late game success is a lot higher then Mobleys. Mango, He does not have to take 10 shots off those 10 post ups, you can run cutters through the lane for him...ala Shandon. It would diversify the offense, which in case anyone has been paying attention is VERY predictable. If we play ANY team with an inside presense we lose....Utah, Minnesota, etc..etc...to win in the West we need an inside game. Doesn't anyone in here think that Mo could learn how to play BIGGER by watching the Dream on the left Block? Dream and OT got along fine..... I am not saying he can give you 18-10 a night, but I DO believe that he can give you 14-8 and shut down the middle without hindering anyone too much. My whole point is that we gain NOTHING by waiving him...NOTHING !!! Play him, let's see what he can do...he thinks he can, who are we to tell him otherwise, let's see if he can. I am willing to give him a shot, and root for him, if he can't then he is open for criticism just like anyone else. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from monkeys and apes, then why are there still monkeys and apes?
Why prove the guy that he can't play many minutes when you could trade him off for something half-ass and let that team prove he can't handle it. ------------------ its all good and fun till someone gets hurt ... then its absolutely hilarious!
You know what, I think I can hit a baseball, you want to give me a chance? I'm sure the Astros would say no. Thinking you can do something, and the actual ability to do something are to VERY different things! Guess what? WITH Dream we are STILL losing to Minnesota, losing to Utah, losing to Sacramento. Numbers don't alway tell the tale. And again it's NOT a matter of playing him, it's a matter of Dream not wanting to be here, and if he does stay here wanting a huge chunk of the offense run through him. That won't work. The guy's stamina is shot. Nobody has a problem playing him, but when he wants to be a focal point that just isn't going to work. ------------------ If Megatron can become Galvatron, why can't Rocks2001 become RocksMillenium?
DaDakota, He spent extensive time on IR in 1999-2000 and has spent some time on it this season. In all that free time, you don't think that Dream has sat down and talked to Rudy and/or CD about where the team is going and how he fits in? If Dream had doubts about the situation, why couldn't Dream ask to have a face to face if Rudy and/or CD never took the initiative? Is Dream that bashful? Mango ps I think they had a conversation and Dream didn't like the answers, so that is why he wants out. ------------------ Lets get the Mo Go working! Test Your NBA Trade Ideas 1. Put new topics in the proper forum. Things happening in the rest of the NBA 2. Use clear wording for new threads. 3. No duplicate threads 4. Conduct yourself as an adult. The Serious Police are watching. Donate Blood or be assimilated! [This message has been edited by Mango (edited January 21, 2001).]
Rock2k and SGhost, The difference is that Hakeem HAS done it before, and probably STILL can do it in spurts. As a FYI he averaged 19-10, just 2 years ago, so he is not a STIFF, like you guys are saying. Neither of you has answered my question as to WHY waive him? What, exactly do the Rockets gain? How do players around the league view their loyalty to an aging SUPERSTAR? Hakeem feels good, let's see what he has left. I think he will have more then anyone we have at center right now. Heck I would rather we trade Cato, and keep Hakeem as we get his salary taken OFF the books at the end of the year....by all means...DO NOT TRADE HIM !!!! Just don't waive him, it does NO good for MY Rockets. DaDakota PS. The 'Stros need Pitching not hitting. ------------------ If Mankind evolved from monkeys and apes, then why are there still monkeys and apes?
Mango, Then Hakeem should have left the office with an I'll SHOW THEM attitude !!! Hakeem can play, and he is BY FAR our best option at Center right now. How many people REALLY think we can go anywhere with MO and KT as our PF, Center combo...no one that understands hoops..believe me. Hakeem can play, just let him, if his body breaks down..fine, you proved your point. But what if...WHAT IF, he can do what he says? We could sneak into the playoffs for one last hurrah, and that would be something to see. As it is, we arent' going to the playoffs without him, why not see if we can get there with him? My BIGGEST point is that we gain NOTHING by waiving him...NADA, SQUAT... DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from monkeys and apes, then why are there still monkeys and apes?
