Who's Hot: Steve Francis: He does it all. Ask him to score 30ppg and he'll do it easy. Ask him to make 10 assists in a game and he'll do it. Ask him to do both in a regular game, and we're stumped... Shandon Anderson: Can you say "Biatch!!??" Shandon has been quietly building his #s, and his defensive prowess alone would seem to secure his place here. Cuttino Mobley: Our favorite player. The man who misses 60% of his shots but who hits 40% from the arc to count... Mo Taylor: Seems to be a powerful 1st quarter offensive force... Judges are out. Moochie: CBA Gold. Praise the Man that he fell into our laps. Kenny Thomas: almost like a small Barkley... Undersized, but agressive. Fast moves, needs to stop shooting 3's. Winning instinct. Who's Cold: Hakeem, for 3 years running. Walt, despite the occasional 20+pt game. Cato - this guy either has to play or get out of the NBA. Cato - we all know he can play, bounce, bang, and he can get a 7-8mil contract. But dammit, does he deserve it? He certainly hasn't earned it. Hakeem - obviously the hardest part to let go. Still not sure he WILL be let go. I think he'll stay. Carlos Rogers - "Los" - Let the man play. We pulled the trigger two years ago. Let's see where the hole goes. ------------------
How can you say Hakeem has been cold for three years running? He averaged 19-9 when Pip and Bark were on the team. He was 16-10 before that. Last year he had a bad year, and this year his role is different. Still, 19-9 is hardly cold. During the lockout season, Hakeem was still recognized as the best center in the league. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
I think times have changed. The team has changed. The league has changed... The rules now favor fast guards who can finish. I don't know any more direct way to say it, but a winning team has to have at least one (probably two) star guards, who will compliment a large star... Without a franchise guard, and without a star Center, Houston stagnates. But without a Center AND with a star SG (Cuttino) AND a potential star SF in Shandon Anderson... And a great backup PG in Mooch... We can still fall back on Stevie to toss in the gamewinner... And not care. ! ------------------
