[Yahoo!] Carmelo privately expressing more enthusiasm to join Rockets than Knicks

I call BS on this. Seeing how there are "superteams" around the league, what superstar is there on the Rockets that enticing for Melo? None.

It looks like a leverage move from the Anthony camp and threaten about a possible move by Melo to a Western Conference rival. pretty sure they don't want that. He wants to pair up with Amare

 

Loaded with a ton of mediocre talent.

 

You know what if Chase Budinger steps up and plays even better than what he played last year and we can limit Battier's minutes (even if he starts... give more to Chase) then we could get away with what we have at the small forward position. But Chase Budinger would have to play a bigger role because I don't expect Battier to play any better than what he played last year. I know it sounds like I'm slamming Battier but I just don't expect him to play like the starting small forward we need on this team anymore. He's great locker room leader though!

 

Yeah, 3 - 20ppg scorers, one a dominant 20-10 center.....a 17-9 rebounder, and loaded with young up and coming players.

Mediocre my ass !

DD

 

You can't cherry pick stats from players on a bad team and pretend like that is what they will average for an entire year. With Yao in the picture, Brooks will not come close to last season's PPG average. Martin will take a hit as well. Scola won't get as many rebounds as he did when he was competing with 6'6 Chuck Hayes.

 

There IS a reason why Morey pursued Bosh so vigorously... Maybe a few years back this team would've been able to be easy contenders but look around.. Teams have built rosters with incredible talent. It seems as if the "big 3" term is being used regularly now a days.

Acquiring Melo would more than push off over the line, I don't understand why you would settle for this roster when you no we cannot make past the 2nd round...

 

All I am saying is those guys are not mediocre talent.

Yao is a legitimate All star NBA player...and best center in league when healthy.

Martin is an all star level SG.

Brooks is just below all star level as a starting PG.

Scola is about on the same level as Brooks.

Shane is an all NBA defensive player.

Then you add in young up and coming players in Chase, Hill, Lowry, Lee, with another backup all star center in Brad Miller.....and that is not a team of mediocre players.

That is a team of quality from top to bottom........only one potential elite player in Yao but several damned good ones....

It is staggering the people here who constantly downplay a team that won over 50 games repeatedly with less talent than what this team has now.

This is the best overall talent this team has had since the championship years.....

Top to bottom they have good players.

And with a little more improvement from Brooks, Budinger, Lowry and Hill, and a return to form of Yao and they are top 2 or 3 in the Western Conference, which puts them in that "CONTENDER" category.

There sure is, it is called marketing for the masses. Look out world, here comes the Toyota caravan, gonna reel in Bosh.....PUHHHHHLLEEAASSSEEE !

I am not saying they didn't want Bosh, but I think they knew going in they really had almost no shot. Morey did his homework, he knew the score.

DD

 

Uh uh.

 

What is it with some folks always against others adding to our teams? Not just minor player moves but huge free agent signings and trades that would no doubt move us into contention? That has got to be the most odd occurence among a fanbase that supports their team. There is a guy clearly that would help your team and elite level play to a spot? Same people come in against the move every single time. What is going on? Bosh and Carmelo arent good enough to be Rockets? Unbelievable.

 

Not to some who are in fear of losing the players they've slobbed on for months.

 

too bad they are homers with massive favoritism.

one thing I really dont get on this board is, sure, blue-collar hard works are great, they play hard and give it their all on the court. But its lyk...wtf??!!!!! they can play their asses and their wifes asses off on the court and they are still miles away from anything resembling the "casual" play of a superstar. Carmelo could probably score 100 on Chase Budinger on cruise control. Yeah man sure Budinger sweated and toiled in there and got his training singlet soaking wet...and yea ok lets applaud his efforts...but who won exactly??

 

Yao IS a legitimate all-star.. when he's healthy. But at this point in his career, with all of his injury history, you just can't assume the Rockets will have that legitimate all-star for an entire year. It's sad, but it's the truth.

"All-star" level is completely arbitrary and doesn't really tell me much -- fans vote for all-stars. Martin is a scoring SG who has never carried his team to the playoffs as the lead dog. In fact, the only one time he has been in the playoffs, he shot worse from the field and 3-point line than he did in the regular season. Small sample size, not a great indicator, but also nothing that assures me that he could be the #2 on a "100%" championship team.

Brooks is not close to being in the top tier of point guards. He was recently ranked the 21st best point guard in the league. While he has strengths over other players (quickness, shooting), he equally has as strong of weaknesses (defense, court vision, drawing contact). I don't mean to blindly say court vision as if he doesn't have any -- but clearly he doesn't possess the feel of the game that a true PG does. That's not something you develop, you either have it or you don't. Brooks will play in the league for a long time -- but the best we can hope for is Jason Terry, IMO.

I think, compared to players at their position, Scola is clearly a better player than Brooks. We're lucky to have him. Hypothetical: Brooks traded for Westbrook -- there is a noticeable upgrade. Scola traded for Boozer -- not as noticeable.

Shane Battier is a 2x second team all-defensive NBA player, the last award being two years ago. He's a solid role player, but nothing you really worry about when preparing for the Rockets.

Backup all-star center? DD, the last time Brad Miller was an all-star was six years ago. I know you're trying to argue your point, but citing 6 year old Brad Miller accomplishments is not the way to go about it.

We're two deep at every position, but each also comes with their weaknesses. Brooks, Martin and Budinger are all below-avergae defenders. Our best defensive player has zero offense. And the one player who is a complete package can't stay healthy for a full season. You gave a very glowing review of the currently constructed team, and I may be playing a little bit of devil's advocate to help bring that perception more towards the middle ground.

But we won 50 games repeatedly with two elite stars -- McGrady and Yao. Right now, we don't even know if we have one.. who knows if Yao will ever be the same. Adding Carmelo would give us another elite star we could rely on. Keep in mind, we're talking about a freshman who led his team to a NCAA championship -- and then has led his team to the playoffs every year since he was drafted.

Most talented team we've had since the championship years? Les.. is that you?

When every team that made the playoffs in the West won 50 games, and the Rockets won 42 games without Yao, I think it's naive to assume that this team will suddenly win 13 more games with him to put them into the contender talks. Especially when you consider our legitimate injury concerns (Yao, Martin) and the fact that all the young teams that DID make the playoffs are only getting better as they grow together (Thunder, Blazers).

 

Budinger is sadly overrated.
Taylor is DEFINITELY overrated.

Just to let you know, everyone on this team except Yao is expendable.

 

After reading a number of articles in sports media and a ton of posts on this site, I have come to a conclusion. Melo is most likely going to end up in New York which, if it occurs, is not good news for the Rockets at several levels. I am moving on to other discussions.

 

Is this all you have left in the tank? What happened to the quick witted comebacks and humor, you are serioulsy off your game.

Yeah yeah we get it, I post a lot, now do you have anything substantive to say that is germine to the topic?

LTF,

Honestly you make a lot of good points, but I just happen to see it a bit more rosy than you do.

I think they are a 55+ win team as assembled and believe the doctors got it right with Yao's foot.

If not, they still win 50 with Brad Miller and Hill at the center position.

Either way, I am jazzed about this season, and think the Rockets will prove a lot of pundits, and some jaded fans wrong.....



DD

 

What articles are you talking about? Only thing i've read is the income tax is in our favor, which came from a NY media outlet, The Times. I believe WOJ.

 

You're not alone...

 

You really think so?

From all the recent articles I've read from local to national, they all have come to the conclusion that Melo has no desire to play in New York, whether it be for financial, personal, or business reasons.

Couple that with the fact that New York has no assets to trade for him and I can safely say Melo will not be in a Knicks jersey.

 

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/state_tax_may_cost_knicks_shot_at_gWkBoCV3lWVV72urVcLP6H

 

Yep. I am a bit worried about the Nets, although Carl Herrara's last post in this thread made me feel better.