I wouldn't go so far as to claim this a bold prediction because I know that people have been arguing for old Walt on recent occasions, but I would like to put my rep (if I have one) on the line and say the following: Walt Williams and Dan Langhi will form one of the best two headed monsters that the NBA has seen since Cassell/Smith. OK, OK. I know that Wallace/Kemp/Davis combo should be more productive, but there isn't any poetry in a bunch of all stars being fed money intravenously from Microsoft. I don't include them as cases in my test pool! It is interesting to look at the similarities between Williams/Langhi and Smith/Cassell. Both pairs have an experienced veteran and a rookie. Both pairs have a good hot/cold shooter and rookies that can provide instant offense. Neither pair can play D or cares to try. Here's to hoping Walt starts shooting like he finished last year, Langhi inspires Walt's game like Cassell did for Smith and that Langhi can come off the bench to spark the team when it most needs it. If these two guys play like they can where does that rank the Rockets at the 1-2-3 positions in the NBA? Our two deep looks pretty incredible. ------------------
Dr. Robert, I'll stick my name out for Walt Williams, but my head stays off the block for Dan Langhi. I just don't know much about him, other than stats and a video clip off of nba.com. I've read all I can read about him from college and the nba gurus. Tell me what makes you so sure about him-is it instict or something more substantive? P1st,S2nd ------------------ Watch...the Wizard is gonna work majic this year!
Doc Robert, I have had similar feelings about the Walt/Langhi tandem (but did not make the same Smith/Cassell connection). Just from Walt's on-court body language, I think he really enjoys the game. His productivity in the last 15-20 games was from finally getting comfortable with the team and his role. The addition of Mo Taylor's low post presence helps Walt, too. Like yourself, I am one of the few who thinks Walt will have a VERY solid season. IMHO, Dan Langhi is ALOT tougher on the inside the than his thin exterior would indicate. Langhi has mental and emotional toughness which will allow him to initially survive and than to prosper. Langhi will push Walt and that's a good thing. It's nice to read some positive things about our SF duo. I feel the success of the Rockets this year is a combination of Cato stepping up, Dreams health, Mo T being productive from a team standpoint, Shandon keeping his trend of yearly improvement AND the productivity at SF. Just waiting for October 10th........... ------------------ GATER
Nice post Doctor. I too think Walt and Langhi will surprise, but I think you are wrong about Langhis defense. Dan is a quick, long athlete that will be able to defend the 3. In fact, I think Dan will become known as a solid defender. He is a good athlete who is also very aggressive. I don't think he could have led his team in scoring (on his way to being the SEC MVP), while facing double teams, is Dan did not have a nasty streak. ------------------
I see Wizard averaging around 13 ppg and Langhi 10 ppg. Not too shabby. ------------------ Cheerleaders are just dancers who've gone r****ded. visit www.swirve.com
Langhi is the answer, from what I have seen of this guys game, he can play and possibly STAR in the NBA. Think about this for a moment. He scored over 20pts a game at Vandy...VANDY !!! He was their only good player, you know teams came in to shut him down, and could not do it. What Langhi learned is how to get open off the ball, how to get shots for himself with the ball, and how to play the game the RIGHT way. Langhi will excel, I can feel it. DaDakota PS. and about Walt, well...nice suit. ------------------ All you MO-FO's better stop ripping off my lines !!
HEY NOW.... Easy with the Vandy jokes, we had a hell of a team last year. Here's a little more to think about with Langhi. To correct Dakota... Last year at Vandy ALL of his points came out of the offense. Honestly, the guy NEVER created on his own. Not that he does not have the ability to do so, but that Coach Stallings would bench his ass if he went away from the offense. The guy is a dead eye shooter and will definitley contribute this year, but i think he has a way to go before he becomes a "star". Anyways, I am curious to see how aggressive he'll be in the pros, since he definitley seemed hesitant at times in college. I guess we'll find out the truth in the next couple of months though! ------------------ Langhi has got to still be pissed that Vandy didn't get into the big dance.
Dr. Robert it sounds like you need a head Doctor after making a foolish statement like that. How in the hell can Langhi and Williams be one of the best duo's in the NBA
Langhi will be one of the best "gunners" in the league. Somebody with his height that can shoot the ball like he does is rare. He's going to be one of the steals of this draft if how he played in the RMR is any indication (and there's nothing that says it really is any indication). His 'tude is going to help him, too. ------------------ I got nothin'.
There's a difference between a "two-headed monster" and a "duo". Think platooning in baseball. ------------------ I got nothin'.
And just like baseball, you would much rather have one superior all around player that beats out the platooners. You platoon because both guys brings something to the table but neither is good enough to be a mainstay. I am hopeful Langhi will contribute. But if Walt does anything it won't be a surprise. He has been in the league for quite a few years and everyone knows what he can/can't do. With Walt what you see if what you get--a very good shooter and pretty good overall offensive player, with major weakness in all other phases of his game. He is better off the bench, but you need a better all-around player to put him there. Langhi may be the guy, but I am pretty sure not this year. If there is a major surprise that works for us, it will be that other teams quicker and more athletic three's stumble over their feet because they have the kind of open space against us they are not accustomed to against other teams. Make no mistake, unless Shandon is our 3 this is by far a weakest roster spot. In fact there are at most a handful of teams with a weaker combined 3 spot-again if you take Shandon out of the picture. [This message has been edited by Desert Scar (edited October 05, 2000).]
oh yeah Williams 13 Francis 22 Langhi 10 Cato 9 Mobley 16 Taylor 17 Anderson 12[/list=a] = 99 points per game for the seven man rotation ------------------ This signature space for rent call 555 ...
What NO DREAM !!! Dream will average at least 12 and more likely 15 points a game. DaDakota ------------------ All you MO-FO's better stop ripping off my lines !!
DR, I am not quite sure of your point. Is it that because we signed Mobley we can slide SA down to the 3 and thus we have a much better starting (or more importantly, finishing) five? If this is your point I completely agree, and this is why I qualified the weakness of of 3 spot depends on how we play SA. However, if the point is that because Mobley is a back-up thus why did we value him so much then I am not sure the merit of this argument. CM is our third best overall player (again my point is come deep in the playoffs you want the 5 best overall players basically) and only in his 3rd year, he had immense value that we couldn't afford to lose for nothing. Further, Mobley has the kind of all-around skills (again the asset I want out of players) that we will need when you finish our close games--regardless of whether he is starting or not. Again, 1 dimensional players can make fine bench players, but you don't want them starti..., err, finishing. [This message has been edited by Desert Scar (edited October 06, 2000).]
