Why the love affair with Mike James?

I'm right there with you Will. I actually don't like his style of play. Worst of all, in game six he showed how benefitial he could be by pressuring the ball and creating offense from defense, but he didn't do that in any other game.

Right now, I think his contract and reputation make him perfect off-season trade bait. Something in me says that JVG thinks so too.

 

I don't think it's that we're in love with him, it's that he's the only guy on the team besides Yao and T-Mac (and maybe Juwan) who can create a shot, for himself or for others. None of the other supporting players can do that consistently.

In an ideal situation I'd like to have a Daniels type who can create a shot, but can also be a true point guard. But Mike James is all we've got right now.

 

OK. Yeap. Game 6, he was a firestarter.

I noticed he CREATED, took open shots, etc., but I thought I was the only one thinking what you stated regarding NOT looking at teammates. Not only do I agree with you, I wanted to say this all along. WHERE's the TEAM? Even though they were open, he didn't pass. He did make those shots to bring us back in game 6. GREAT POST and great topic.

You even support it with the stats thing. KUDOS.

 

i was telling my friends who were just watching the games with me that James is excellent when his shot is falling and attacking the rim but otherwise he really isnt that great because he dominates the ball so much and stagnates the offense. i wouldnt mind keeping him though for next season as a backup provided that we are able to find a pass-first pg to be a starter

 

1) he can create his own shot.

2) he plays better D than Sura

3) the team wanted him in the off season, and could not get him in under the salary limitations it was under - they persued a trade all season and got him for nothing

.... he is not going anywhere.

I like James, I think he is a great 6th man (with Barry) - good energy off the bench. I am not in the START JAMES camp (because he dominates the ball, and is inconsistent).

 

MIke James is a good defender and he's quick. His shot is inconsistent..and that's not good when you fire up so many. But I like him better than Sura. Sura can't even dribble..cannot pass..we need someone who can create..set up Tmac for easy buckets..set up Tmac for easy stuff.

Sura's tough and rebounding. He was great..but we need someone who you know can score..can pass..can play defense..

I'd rather keep MJ than Sura. I'm hoping Span is good.

I just watched Antonio Daniels. He didn't seem that great I'll watch him next game.

 

At first I liked the offense spark and the speed he provided. But you are right, as the season wore on I started to think he was a combination of Steve and Cuttino. Not quite as big a ballhog, but he does get stuck dribbling way too much.

But at least he'll be coming off the bench. He doesn't really eat up many minutes. I think we should resign him for his defense and speed alone. He's also a better ballhander than Sura, if not a better penetrator.

 

Let's see, he can shoot the 3, play defense and is athletic. Not to mention he has some penetration ability. He also is versatile in that you could conceivably put him at the SG position for stretches in games with his shooting ability. Also remember he's like our version of a Bobby Jackson, Vinnie Johnson type scorer off the bench. Of course he is not ideal as the starting PG by himself but that is not the role I envision for him at all.

Plus he's not expensive at all. If there is a guy I'd like to move it's Wesley. Too short to be a SG, not good enough handles to be a PG, and his shot is way too hit or miss. He's the one guy out of Sura/him/James that doesn't bring enough to table night in/night out.

 

Agree. James is good only when his shots are falling.

 

ALL those stats don't matter guys, because Sura is NOT asked to be an offensive spark for our team, while MJ is. He is our best scorer off the bench, and that is his role.

The only problem I had in the series was with JVG sometimes keeping MJ in the game at the same time T-Mac and Yao are in, that confused the **** outta me

Still, when McGrady especially is not in the game (which is rarely), MJ is usually a positive contributor on offense. His speed and ability to get inside with relative ease (and take that "in-ur-face" shots and make them) makes him a very valuable player to the Rockets IMHO. He might not be a "JVG guy", but if we only have "JVG guys" (basically blue-collar, mediocre talented players) we won't be able to compete in this league with the Dallases and the Suns among others.

I think MJ is an excellent backup SG, which is what he really is. Jason Terry is not a great passer either, but Dallas accept him for his offense, which is what he can do best.

I like MJ, I hope that if we get rid of one of our guards combo for an improvement, it will hopefully be Wesley for a taller SG (being 6'1" isn't going to stop the likes of Stackhouse, and DW would frankly be better served if he was a PG).

I think DW is the one that I prefer to see gone for the right SG (if we get one). DW is too streaky a shooter for a guy who gets tons of open looks all the time and still can't knock them down. He is just not reliable enough of a 3rd scoring option, and is too slow to keep up with younger opposing backcourts

 

so is every other player

 

I somewhat agree. I get kind of nervous when he has the ball. I like that he will attack the basket, but he seems rather one-dimensional. Sometimes it works out and I think - wow, maybe this guy knows what he's doing. But other times when he shoots at weird times and isnt looking to pass, it reenforces my doubts. I wouldnt mind keeping him as a guy off the bench, getting 15 or so min a game. But there is no way I am thinking this guy is starter material.

 

Is that not reason to be suspicious?

Seems like a poor-, poor-man's Tim Hardaway.

But he's the best we got so I look for him to be back unless he is packaged in a deal.

 

All other role players stop taking too many shots when their shots are not falling except James.

 

you can be suspicious, but it seems like they have wanted james for a while (since post Tmac trade) - so it seems they would want to keep him for at least a full year, to see what he has (he has 2 more years left on his contract)

 

As many have mentioned before James is an offensive spark off the bench, and he is the only bench player who can get to the basket.

The problem is that he is a bench player, his strength will be better suited when both Yao and TMac are on the bench. Too bad, our back court was not deep enough, so we had to use him with either TMac or Yao at the same time, and he didn't know he was not supposed to create with one of those two on the court.

Too bad we don't have any capable guard who can dictate the tempo of the game, direct the offense, or we'd have played the Suns now.

 

He's a wild card. When that's all he is, he's a valuable asset. When you're relying on him as a major staple in your offense, he can be a huge liability.

I want to keep him, but he is overrated here.

 

I think a training camp with JVG could do Mike James a world of good.

 

the thing is he is a good energy guy off the bench.... i don't think anyone in here thinks that he is a starting point guard...


that being said....i don' think this team really needs a great PG/SG..... just good role players.