Comments on: Know Your Enemy: The Houston Rockets

By: Chris J

Chris J — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:06:27 +0000

Houston looks good on paper, but they play in a tough division and a tougher conference; Yao and McGrady have consistently shown as much toughness as a roll of wet toilet paper; and Artest is never more than three seconds away from a season-wrecking meltdown.

Don’t forget that this guy once asked to take a month off to promote his rap album just a month into the season, a fact which was overshadowed days later by the brawl in Detoit. And Ron Ron had previously applied for a job at Circuit City while playing for the Bulls because he was bored and wanted discounted CDs. You can’t make that stuff up. (It was on “RealSports.”)

This is not the type of player who leads teams to titles in today’s NBA. I was very thankful the Lakers didn’t trade for him over the summer, and time will show he’ll tank the Rockets with his attitude — so long as the “Big Two” and their annual season-ending injuries don’t kill the team first.

I’m more concerned with the Hornets, Blazers and even the Jazz than I am Houston.

By: drrayeye

drrayeye — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:19:04 +0000

Brandon (11),

Odom’s comments suggest to me that he really doesn’t understand his situation. VladRad started at the 3 last year. Though Luke may not demand minutes in the beginning of the season, you can be sure that he also will be playing at the 3. Kobe may switch down to the 3. Phil mentioned increased playing time for Trevor at the 3–including starting sometimes–last year. This is to be Trevor’s make or die year.

It’s not just about starting. Odom must either be used at multiple positions–or spend some time on the bench.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:20:15 +0000

17. Kenny, Darius said it well in #22. There are just differrnt sets of rules for 17. Kenny, Darius said it well in #22. There are just different sets of rules for how you deal with your stars, with the face of the franchise guys. Bynum gets that treatment. Which means you work out a deal before Oct. 31, and not risk letting the resentment fester.

By: wondahbap

wondahbap — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:02:43 +0000

Darius & Kurt,

I agree. Phil said that to light a fire under Lamar. It he absolutely has to respond, big time. He has to be amazing this year. No less. It’s a contract year, following a Finals where his toughness was questioned. How LO responds to this challenge will determine his future. Shave the star in your head, be the star. I love Lamar and want to see him stay, and I never have placed the blame on him, but considering what is on the line, and what everyone wants to see from him, he has to have a “wow” type of year. He has to have a year like Carlos Beltran has a few years ago, or C.C. Sabathia and Manny had this year. When it was time to play, win and earn that contract, they were lights out.

By: wondahbap

wondahbap — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:51:30 +0000

McGrady says his shoulder is arthritic. He’s going to have surgery after the season. My money says he won’t last the season. Neither will Yao.

Being a Laker fan, I’m not knocking them for being hurt, because we all know about injuries too well, but this is the one thing this team seems to never be ableto over come. I expect them to be better, but not better than the Lakers, even if healthy, and itjust doesn;t seem like they ever will be healthy.

By: Darius

Darius — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:43:41 +0000

#17: Kenny,
Technically, you are correct. Bynum will be a RFA and the Lakers would have the ability to match. However, unless you’re a cheap team like the Hawks or the Clippers, you don’t ever let it get to that point with players you actually want to keep. When you do, you risk alienating/upsetting that player and creating a rift in the team/player relationship. I mean, look at the Hawks, they just did this w/ Josh Childress and he bolted to Europe. Look at the Clippers: when Maggette and Brand were RFA’s they let other teams sign them to offer sheets (Maggette w/ the Jazz and Brand w/ the Heat) and then they matched those offers. Good for the Clips right? In the short term, yes, but in the long term both Brand and Maggette left the team the first chance they could, with Brand even using an opt out clause to make it happen. In the end, extending the players you want to actually keep by offering them the money before they become RFA’s is the best route, I think.

By: Rich

Rich — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:56:34 +0000

Hey everyone, new to the site, but I come here everyday. Not sure if anyone is aware of this but it appears that Kobe actually can worsen his finger. Here’s a small quote from what the column states.

“And it would take an extreme, freakish play in which his finger got caught in a jersey and pulled for it to become dislocated again — essentially enough force to cause a new injury, not merely aggravate the current one.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?page=lakersphil-080926

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:46:15 +0000

Well check this out, Theus is going to run some triangle this year up in Sacramento:

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1276001.html

By: mike

mike — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:24:53 +0000

some extra troubles *** sorry about that

By: mike

mike — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:23:36 +0000

Don’t forget Steve Francis. If he can start playing like how he use to, then the Lakers might have extra some troubles.