Chad Ford Article July 5th, 2005 Rockets: They also have been wooing Walker, hoping that Boston would be willing to take a player or two in the last year of their deals to facilitate a sign-and-trade. The Rockets have a number of tradable assets in the last year of their contracts, including David Wesley, Clarence Weatherspoon, Moochie Norris and Vin Baker. Stromile Swift and Bobby Simmons also have been targets. Nuggets: We're still scratching our heads over Cuttino Mobley's decision to give up more than $6 million in guaranteed money to opt out of his contract with the Kings. However, it sounds like he's found a suitor in the Nuggets willing to spend their full mid-level for his shooting abilities. Denver is also taking a hard look at Jaric. This to me does not make any sense. WHAT THE HECK IS WALKER GOOD FOR? Cat for the MLE is a steal!!!!
CAT for the MLE is NOT a steal. He's a one dimensional player. He can shoot it, but a lot of times he will shoot his team to a loss (trying to get hot). I think Bobby Simmons can do everything Cuttino does plus his growth curve has not stopped. Simmons comes without the baggage of Cuttino. He's a team oriented guy, hard worker.
I gotta disagree. Cat is not one dimensional. Cat ALWAYS took the hardest defensive assignments two years ago. His defense was definately underrated and, IMO, he even improved under JVG. Cat is: ...excellent off the dribble. ...excellent spot up shooter. ...very good defender (Jason Terry would not have killed us like he did Sura/Barry) ...can run the floor What else do you need from a 2-guard? Edit: Oh, and he already knows JVG's system.
And if there's anyone that knows crap when he sees it, it's Captain Pooper (of course i wholeheartedly agree....don't let walker anywhere near our team!)
Not having kept up with basketball news (hey, I just found out today we drafted Head), I've been feeling a cold chill for the last couple of day. Now I know why.
Since he was willing to defer to Fancy and Yao, there is no reason to think he would not defer to TMac and Yao.
I am really feeling nauseous at the thought of getting walker. He has looked slow over the past couple of seasons and looks older than 28. I think this will be a horrible addition unless he comes off the bench as a sixth man. I hope we all agree that just as most people dont really ever change, walker is not just suddenly going to stop being a ball hog and make good sound basketball decisions at crucial points innthe game. You either have it or you dont. He clearly does not have it. He has been kicked around from Boston to Atlanta back to boston for a reason guys!!!! Whew.
I really don't understand why some of you still hope to get Cat back. We have tried that experiment and it failed miserably. And I don't think you can blame the failure exclusively on SF. Plus I don't think Cat likes JVG and he had said some harsh words towards JVG after he got traded and burned some bridges. Bobby Simmons would be much better for this team - he is younger, taller, and more of a team player.
An article from around the beginning of the this season. http://www.slamonline.com/magazine/features/Antoine83/
Hmmm never thought of it that way. He HAS been thrown around as of late. Someone said he's a cancer to the locker room right? I'm not sure if thats true or not...but thats enough for me to be convinced in not wanting his jabroni ass. Ugh, what hideous shoes to go with such a crap player. I keed I keed.
Actually Cat would be the best SG for the Rockets. He played excellent under JVG. His Def PER was an amazing 13.6 un JVG and then when not expected to play defense in Sactown it went to 16.0. For comparison purposes Wesley Def PER was 15.7 while in Houston. So as you can see Mobley's defense when not trying is almost as good as Wesley, our defensive specialist at SG. Besides I would hate to see him in Denver. They would have a really good team. The big problem Cat had with JVG is his offensive while JVG had to change last year to keep his job. I don't think Cat would have a problem playing for JVG and Cat does live here so that always helps. If we get A. Walker I think this hurts our chance of getting a good SG because T-Mac & Yao are 1&2 and Walker has such a ball hog rep that any good SG would see Houston as a place he couldn't get shots at. If we get more of a role playing PF like Swift or Marshall this should be a problem. 4th option is not an option.
One thing’s for sure—Walker should get to handle the ball more than he did in Dallas. Obviously, that’s just fine with him. “Hopefully, Coach is just going to let me play the floor, and not necessarily have one position,” he says. “Hopefully I’m allowed to bring the ball up and do a lot of different things, because that’s when I’m at my best. I’m a guy who needs the ball in my hands to be productive.” Please don't touch the 'Toine CD.
Failed miserably...hardly. They were a good team...just not a great team...that suffered from bad timing and some big injuries (Steve, MoT and Rudy). Cat has improved every year he has been in the league and he continued to grow under JVG. I doubt it would happen because Cat's feelings were hurt when he got traded and at the time, he said that he wouldn't come back. Bobby Simmons sounds like he is going elsewhere. If he does, who's the next target? If Cat can be had, I wouldn't be disappointed. If we got somebody even better than Cat, GREAT! But getting Cat back on this team makes us better...not worse.
Now I think Antoine Walker has some good attributes he'de bring to the Rockets that we dont have. Seeing many a game of his you can tell right off he's a good interior passer when driving to the basket or posting up. He has very good court vision in finding the open guy. And if you have a 7'6 center in the paint or cutting to it , Walker would create lots of easy baskets for us with his underrated passing. He also would bring a much needed third scoring option. A third scoring option on a team is vital now that zones have been put in the league. Every top team needs a third guy who can fill it up or run the offense through. Suns have Stoudamire ,Marion,Johnson. Spurs have Duncan,Parker,Ginobli. Even the Sonics have Ray Allen,Lewis and Radmanovic.
with all that is said about walkers attitude we keep forgetting something very important: if we sign him then JVG is willing to work with him. JVG will not work with a guy that doesn't fit here.
