Rockets fans have every right to be angry. They've been lied to. More youth and athleticism, right? I guess we shouldn't be stupid enough to actually believe them. And you better believe that every team is relieved that they didn't have to deal with T-Mac-Yao-Gay. Now they just have to deal with the same old duo that can't do it all on their own. Plus another role player. Yes the role player everyone loves to love. The smart, articulate Shane Battier. Watch him give a speech on the importance of reading and education! Marvel at his abilities to take charges! Cheer as he completely disappears in the playoffs like he always does, being just another nonfactor on a team which desparately needs a 3rd option. He's a winner! Shane Battier may get this team back to 50 wins, but so what? He isn't a difference maker. He is a stopgap that will only play for another few years before breaking down like every other Rocket swingman that management loves. Do the Rockets think they are the Spurs? That veteran guys will make them Championship contenders? The Rockets haven't been out of the first round in nearly a decade, this arrogance is sickening. Did I miss the memo that Tracy McGrady is 35 years old? What if he recovers from his injury? So now Rudy Gay falls into your laps. A guy I have as a top 3 talent from a big program with a proven track record. A guy who's played for a hall of fame coach and led a 30-win team in scoring. He can block shots, make incredible steals, lock a man down, finish on the break, and hit a jump shot. He'd be stepping into a situation where he wouldn't have to be a man. Where he could grow at his own pace. And you trade him for Shane Battier. Exactly how long did the Rockets expect Rudy Gay to take to develop? Most rookies contribute big by their second year, and Rudy has all the skills to contribute in a supporting role by day 1. He is a pure talent from a terrific program that has been proven to produce immediate contributors. Some guys act like Tracy will be retired by the time Rudy can start being a major player, a premise which is ridiculous and short-sighted. "Oh, Like A Breath, it's so easy to be an arm-chair general manager." ****ing right it is, when you have the chance to criticize these clowns. Get ready for years upon years of first round knockouts. Hey, Battier's used to it. He's only lost about 16 straight playoff games. But he's a winner. He's a winner.
Great post man. But please change the damn title. Do you realize the wonderful feeling I got reading that title thinking that you were some insider with info stating the trade was bogus or we were getting Shane Battier and some stud. Well let me tell you crashing back to reality once again after suffering so much tonight is just too painful. I think I am going to throw up.
great post. I agree wholeheratedly, our management is too shortsighted. The team has issues because we never have young talent developing. Most teams are chock full of young players developing while we can only find vetrans 1-12. Even if it takes Gay until the 4th year of his contract to reach his full potential, i'm pretty sure he could provide around the same impact as a marvin williams did last season, and he scored 8.5 points 4.8 rebounds in 24 minutes a game. With the NBA going to playing small ball he would be a great matchup against a power forward like Shawn Marion, a team we may need to beat to advance in the playoffs. Even gay of the bench could give us some of that extra scoring punch we lacked, our starting 5 couldn't score, and the bench was even more inept. I see a team like Dallas and San Antionio that is always drafting and developing young talent to replace aging stars and role players. The fact that Dallas got as far as they did losing the backcourt of Finley and Nash is a testament to their strategy. When houston's 2 stars get past their peak this team will collapse extremely fast, and as shown this season losing one is catastrophic too. Miami is supposed to the be model and look how many weapons they had.
And what was on their mind? Well, more of the same JVG ugly ball. Not even a thought toward the future. I for one did get fooled. I thought they were sincere about acknowledging the need for athleticism and some shooting. Why? Because is it is a glaring need. I won't trust them again even as far as I can throw them. And that ain't far.
anyone who thought we'd actually go younger and more athletic with Yao and TMac on our roster was just naive. It's obvious we're following Miami's blueprint. This team needs veterans and stability; not youth and spontaniety. Aside from Roy, no other player would have been prepared to contribute significantly right off the bat.
Miami won because Dallas choked.Our offence will be more based around the center rather than the guard also.
Managment stinks. That's ALWAYS the case. They don't know what they are doing. Right. They wanted Roy and made no bones about it. 4 years of college is the requirement for this coach. Gay is no King James. He is 19 and may have the tools but not the mental make-up to be special now. He may be great.... or he may be 2nd coming of EG. No one here knows. This is a weak draft and he ended up #8. Hmmmm. The biggest part of Gay's problem is that for a guy with his talent. He didn't didn't take over the team. The next guy from UConn was taken late in the first round. Gay has the talent but didn't show it when it counted. Besides, if you are going to ask a coach to win now, then he is going to ask for "established talent". Is this Battier guy what the doctor ordered for the Rockets? I don't know but we all for sure thought Slowmile was "perfect" for this team. Well he wasn't and it was a hugh mistake to even give him MLE. I say good luck to the Rockets and for those of you who thinks Yao Ming is going to be great for the next 5 to 10 years, you are kidding yourselves. Both 11 and 1 have about a 3 year window to do something great here and that's about it. After 2008, when China had it's Olympic run, if Yao Ming helped China Medal or worse, get the Gold, the man may be calling it quits. In another 4 years, he will be too old to help his country. Helping China win is and always will be his #1 priority. If he helps the Rockets win a few, that would be great too.
Hilton Armstrong was picked 4 picks later at 12. Where did he go to school, again? Tell us how well your blind faith in management is going. Nobody said Gay is King James, I'm just saying he has a 99% chance to be better than Battier very, very soon.
Miami is a one-time phenomena. But at least they built a team around aging all-stars(asided from Wade). All we got was mediocrity. Houston management has zero vision. I guess their strategy is to build a team around Yao and T-mac, and some solid off-the-bench players like Alston and Battier. I am disgusted with our lack for finding and developing talent. We truly needed an injection of talent and energy.
