Is Houston stupid?
Chas
I hope this is the finished deal, because it's stupid. Why?
1) glut at the 2/3 positions with Horry, Maxwell, Elie, and now Drexler
2) Drexler is not exactly known for intelligent decision-making
3) Thorpe does one of the best jobs defending Barkley - Herrera or Horry have
no shot
4) now their only backup for the 4/5 is Pete Chilcutt
5) Barkley will no longer have to waste defensive energy on Thorpe and
can help out on Hakeem without getting dunked on by Thorpe like what
usually happens
With or without D. Manning, Houston is the only team that can beat us
in a series, and now I'm not even positive about that. What's the
point of trading veterans on the downsides of their careers for each
other? I can't help but wonder if this isn't a prelude to trading
Robert Horry, who is not happy there, for a power forward, but if it's
not I feel much better about our chances.
Of course Portland may even be more stupid. I fail to see how Otis
Thorpe is going to help them rebuild. Somehow I don't think this is
the end.
-Charles
Charles Walter <cwa...@nmsu.edu> | How I waste my time:
Graduate Assistant II (impressive, huh?) | http://charon.nmsu.edu/~cwalter/
New Mexico State University |
Department of Astronomy |
au...@imap1.asu.edu
: On 15 Feb 1995, Chas wrote:
: > Just heard the news: Drexler and Tracy Murray to Houston for Otis Thorpe.
: >
: > With or without D. Manning, Houston is the only team that can beat us
: > in a series, and now I'm not even positive about that.
I will preface this next comment that I am a die-hard Suns fan, so I feel
that I must inject a little reality into this discussion about who could
take the Suns in a series. I believe that if properly motivated the
Lakers have a shot at causing a problem for the Suns. With Houston
somewhat hurt by this trade, this only opens up this possibility since
the Lakers were able to beat the Rockets with Thorpe. It is ridiculous
to assume that some teams will just roll over to the Suns. I think that
this was what hurt us last year when we went up 2-0 to the Rockets; we
waited for them to roll over and we got our butts kicked.
: To answer your question, yes Houston is stupid. I agree that this trade
: is superb news for the SUNS. The only coherent explanation I've heard so
: far as to why Houston would want to do this is that they thought that
: reuniting the old Houston Phi Slamma Jamma team would help fan interest.
: If this is true, it's a bit sad.
Picture this as the starters for the Rockets. At off, Drexler; at point,
Smith; center, Hakeem; and the forwards Horry and the other no name. The
matchup would have to be KJ on Smith, Majerle on Drexler, Barkley on
Horry, and Tisdale on the other forward, and Kleine on Hakeem. Everyone
must still play defence because this team can still score points.
Also one must not count out the Spurs; they still might do something.
Also what about the Jazz? What the Suns have to do is play every game as
if it meant life or death and realize every team will be gunning for them.
Chris
: Waiting for the Tisdale explosion,
: -Mark
Adam Beechen
ssl...@ix.netcom.com writes:
>WRONG wrong wrong. Phoenix's problem with Houston was never Thorpe,
>it was Hakeem.
Hakeem gives everybody problems. The Suns don't treat him any
differently than any other big-name center who gets thirty points and
twelve rebounds a night. Thorpe was a huge problem for the Suns. He
played terrific defense, and had some big games against them, especially
on the boards.
And now that Drexler is hanging around waiting to slice in
>and score or pass off, the triple team on Hakeen won't work as well.
The Rockets always doubled on Barkley anyway - they'll still do it.
The triple-team might be more effective, actually. There won't be as
many garbage putbacks that Thorpe, a terrific rebounder, always seemed to
convert against Phoenix. And as for the Rockets doubling Barkley,
they'll begin the double team with a player who isn't as strong in the
post. That'll help Barkley immensely. Thorpe is one of the strongest
guys in the league, and one of the few who can hold a spot against
Barkley in the blocks. As Dave Cowens once said during the 1976 playoffs
about going from playing Nate Thurmond to playing against Alvan Adams,
"It'll be like having a wall removed."
>
>Thorpe is great - went to the allstar game once. Drexler is super -
went to
>the all star game 8 times, a dream teamer.
Interesting use of past tense...in both cases.
>
>In the matchups above the Suns win KJ, lose Majerle, win Barkley, tie
Tisdale,
>and lose big with Kleine.
I would change that to "win big" with Barkley. The Majerle/Drexler
matchup is a close one. And Tisdale, depending on how he responds in the
second half, should be a win instead of a tie. And you forgot the bench.
AC Green, Elliott Perry, Danny Ainge. I like the Suns' chances against
the Rockets much better than before.
Adam
Adam Beechen
ssl...@ix.netcom.com writes:
>I don't want to demean Thorpe's defensive ability, but the wall in the
>middle for the Rockets is Hakeem.
Hakeem doesn't guard Barkley.
>>>Thorpe is great - went to the allstar game once. Drexler is super -
>>went to
>>>the all star game 8 times, a dream teamer.
>>
>>Interesting use of past tense...in both cases.
>
>You normally base your analysis on what has happened in the past. They
>are both 32 years old. Most of their playing time is in the past.
If they're looking for a guy with an all-star past, I hear Havlicek's
available. (Just funnin' ya, Scott. Hold yer flames.)
Most of what I've read regarding both players seems to suggest that
Drexler's skills have faded more than a little (probably owing in part to
his bad knees, and maybe owing in part to his unhappiness in Portland),
while Thorpe has never been described as anything but a workhorse. His
numbers have dipped from his first years in Houston when Buck Johnson was
around, but Houston's offense has changed. And I haven't seen or read
anything to suggest Thorpe isn't still capable of playing at a high
level. Perhaps the change of scenery will rejuvenate Drexler. As a Suns
fan, you can't blame me for hoping not.
>As far as matchups go, the Rockets will have more of a problem with
>Barkley without Thorpe.
And AC, and Tisdale (knock on wood).
>
>As far as Majerle
>goes, well, he has always disappeared at inappropriate times - like
>in the playoffs, and every time he plays the Rockets. I have very
>little respect for Majerle - feel he is incredibly overrated. His
>outside shot is inconsistent and his defense is mediocre. Clyde has
>a consistent, though unspectacular outside shot but his defense is
>great, he gets 5-6 rebounds a game, drives to the basket well, and is a
>tremendous assist man.
I agree with you on the point about Majerle, who seems to be his playing
hios way out of town. But he's always played well against Drexler.
Hakeem is The Man who anchors the interior defense, it's true, but don't
underestimate Thorpe's part in it. When Hakeem went for the block,
Thorpe's assignment was to step in behind him and cover the dish-off or
play the boards.
I can't help but feel the Rockets aren't done moving yet. But Peter
Vecsey said today all they're willing to give up is Elie and
Brooks...which may not be enough to land them a quality front line backup.
It'll be interesting, for sure.
Adam
rk...@ivory.trentu.ca
>I agree that Majerle does disappear at the worst possible times, but with KJ,
and now Manning down with injury, his 17 or so points per game are looking
pretty good. I'm a Phoenix fan living in Toronto, so I haven't seen or heard
much about Wesley Person, but what I have seen doesn't suggest that he's ready
to replace Majerle.
And as for the Rockets- will they have that much trouble handling the likes of
Barkley, AC and Tisdale? Horry is not an Otis Thorpe, but he has always had a
decent enough inside game, and he is a shot blocker. But what will they do
with Maxwell, that what I'd like to know? Houston might destroy themselves.