Post by jpripper88 on Jul 9, 2010 1:42:42 GMT -5
Here at the Chronicle we relish the opportunities to get real insight from those at the top level. In a rare full access interview, we sit down with the Rockets General Manager for a direct assessment of each of the new players as well as a question and answer session with full candor.
Player Breakdowns
Vince Carter – Obviously Vince is a player that the Rockets expect to build around. He is a great offensive player, but he also is a player that defends his position quite well. We feel like the sky is limit for Vince and even there he clearly flies above the competition. Vince can be the best and most exciting player in the NBA and we believe that will ring true as we build around him. He is also a pioneer of the internet that puts Al Gore to shame as he was the second player ever to have a website dedicated to him. We also look forward to a few reenactments of “le dunk de la mort”.
Zydrunas Ilgauskaus – Z is a true post. He can score inside, but his game starts with the ability to defend the interior and rebound. The Rockets have a history of top quality Centers and we believe that Z will continue this tradition into the new millennium. There is no doubt in our minds that he is a piece that separates the Rockets from most of their competition.
Shane Battier – This is a player the Rockets are really excited about. He is young with lots of potential, but he is also a player that comes ready to contribute right away. He comes from a program that has taught him how to work and how to win. He will come into the league ready to defend and as he progresses should become a very solid offensive force as well.
Kurt Thomas – He is a veteran presence who we feel can stabilize the PF position and teach a young Kirk Haston who we believe has a lot of potential, despite being overlooked (and mis scouted) by much of the league. He is the quintessential pro and a perfect complimentary PF that can score inside, defend and rebound.
Donyell Marshall – Donyell is a versatile wing who can spend time at PF, but will mostly be manning the wing alongside Shane Battier. He is equally solid scoring the ball inside and outside. The thing we are most excited about is his ability to defend and rebound the ball from the SF position. He is an ideal model for Shane Battier to learn from. His time in Utah playing alongside two all time greats (Malone and Stockton) has certainly shown him the winning ways and that is something we look forward to him bringing to Clutch City.
Alvin Williams – Alvin is a consistent PG with a great handle and a true feel for the finer points of the game. He is a coach on the floor and someone who we feel will do a tremendous job setting up his teammates. He is also a good perimeter defender that we believe still has room to grow in all phases.
Mitch Richmond – There is not much I can say on Mitch Richmond that people don’t already know. He is a two time Olympian and a gold medal winner. He was Rookie of the Year and perennial All Star through the 1990’s. We expect him to be a veteran leader off the bench and provide a scoring jolt for our second unit. Mitch is a guy that can really teach Vince to take that next step towards the top of the league.
Moochie Norris – A solid veteran PG who can stabilize the team in either a starting role or as a key reserve. Moochie has been with the Rockets before and has been a very solid player. He is a guy that we believe in as solid contributor and first class teammate.
Jahidi White – Jahidi is a solid big who we think can play solid minutes at the post and help us rebound the basketball. He needs to improve on the defensive end, but we believe he can and we look forward to seeing that progression, but at the same time getting valuable production.
Kirk Haston – This is a PF prospect we are very intrigued by. We were shocked he was around for so long. He comes knowing how to score the basketball in the painted area with an impressive sky hook and with a solid touch from the outside. As with many young bigs he has to learn the finer points on defense, but with work he can get there. This is a kid who seems to be mis-scouted by many (maybe all) teams in this creation draft. He is a former 16th overall pick and learned in college from one of the best in Bob Knight. Kirk is someone we feel was a great value and has a much higher potential than many were giving him credit for.
Donnell Harvey – Donnell has some potential that excited us enough to add him and see where we can get him. He is a player with potential in all aspects, but someone that will take some time to develop. We feel we have a good mix of veterans that can help him with that and allow him a chance to improve, while also providing relief minutes when needed.
Don Reid – A solid big that can rebound and has some skill as a defender and scorer in the paint. He is better than just an end of the bench piece despite that being the price we had to pay for him. Don is another kid who played for an outstanding coach in college at Georgetown under John Thompson. We strongly believe that players with this kind of background will help define our team and create a winning atmosphere in Houston.
(All player analysis by the Rockets’ GM as told to the Houston Chronicle)
Questions and Answers
Houston Chronicle: Who were some of the players that the Rockets scouted heavily, looked to bring in, but ultimately were unable to position themselves to select?
Rockets’ GM: Well I think our efforts to position ourselves for Elton Brand have been well documented (more on that in question 2), but there obviously were several other players who we thought could help us, but ultimately went elsewhere. In the 2nd round Alonzo Mourning, Chris Webber, and Antonio McDyess were some of the post options that really intrigued us, but who went just before our 2nd pick. I am sure their franchises are all very happy to have added them. The 5th round is another round which we saw our board disappear right from under us. We had the 8th pick of this round and a short list of players. After 3 picks our top 3 guys were still on the board. To say we were excited would be an understatement. Of course as it happens they (Jalen Rose, Rodney White, and Al Harrington) were the next 3 selections. Luckily we got the next player on our board in Donyell Marshall and feel that he will be a valuable addition. Tyrone Hill and Jon Barry were a couple of late round veterans we had our eyes on, but ultimately just missed the chance to select.
HC: You touched on the attempt to trade for a pick to acquire Elton Brand. What happened to prevent the Rockets from acquire that pick and ultimately Elton Brand?
RGM: Well as many know we thought we had a deal in place to acquire (from the Detroit Pistons) pick #17 and ultimately select a player that could serve as a cornerstone of our franchise for years to come. However, Detroit was in the midst of an ownership change and ultimately their new ownership group did not agree with the value they were getting back from us in exchange for the pick. They felt that opportunity to select a local collegiate star in Jason Richardson far outweighed the benefits of trading the selection. These things happen and you have to regroup quickly. Interestingly enough we thought we had an agreement with the Bulls earlier in the draft for the #12 pick, but they decided the best thing for their franchise was to select a young wing in Tracy McGrady and we wish them luck with their franchise moving forward.
(Editor’s Note: Tracy McGrady is the cousin of Rockets’ SG Vince Carter. The two played together in Toronto for 2 years and share a unique bond as former teammates and family members.)
HC: One trade the Rockets did make was with the Boston Celtics. You moved down 27 spots in the draft from the 4th round to the 5th, but acquired a future (2003) draft pick in the process. What was the motivation for that move?
RGM: We felt that the players available to us with the 22nd pick (in the 4th round) and our first 5th rounder (the Rockets’original pick 5.8) would not be a substantial difference and that the same would be true in regards to what would be available from 5.8 to 5.22. In the process we acquired an asset that could be very valuable to our franchise moving forward. Unfortunately we did miss out on a couple targets (see question 1 of the Q&A section) because of this slide down, but even still we believe the value of the (future 1st) pick made up for any missed opportunity in regards to the creation draft.
HC: You just went through the pre-season and had some success. What can you take out of that as you further prepare for the regular season?
RGM: I think we can see that we have a team that has the pieces to win some games (the Rockets were 11-8 in 19 pre-season games). We experimented some with players playing different roles and got to see how this new group can work together. Certainly it has given the guys some confidence, but at the same time there certainly things that clearly can be improved.
HC: What did you notice that needs improvement?
RGM: I think clearly we had some defensive lapses and as an area we focused on that is something that is somewhat disconcerning. However, we feel it is more a product of a lack of chemistry as players are getting used to their teammates than a lack of either talent or desire. Also, we need to focus more attention inside and take advantage of the fact we have one of the best young centers in the game. With those two focuses moving forward there is no doubt we can contend now and in the future.
HC: Contention. What do you think of the Rockets’ chances to contend right away?
RGM: Oh, we expect to contend right away. In Houston we always expect to contend. The Rockets’ fans expect us to contend and that is something that will be our focus. However, we are not a franchise that will be short sighted and set ourselves for disappointment in the future. In the NBA you have to be constantly evaluation your position not only in the present, but also moving forward.
HC: You expect to contend, but who do you see as your main competition in the Midwest Division as well as the Western Conference?
RGM: Well in Houston we know that you don’t expect to get out of the West and more precisely the Midwest division without a fight and I think for us that starts in the state of Texas. Certainly the Mavericks have assembled an impressive group of stars that will battle and give many teams issues. The Spurs have an interesting mix of potential and experience and although they don’t look to be favorites they will certainly battle. The Memphis Grizzlies are another franchise that has positioned themselves to be a very tough team in the Midwest. They have a core of players that are very talented in Mourning, Miller and Stockton. The Pacific is also chock full of good teams and both LA squads as well as Sacramento seem to be the teams to be from the far West coast.
HC: Are there any teams in the East that jump out at you as favorites or intriguing moving forward?
RGM: Hah, well obviously the Raptors are a team that are built for the present and seem to be favorites if they hold up. The Hawks, Magic, Nets, and Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets also look like teams that will challenge Toronto and make their goal of instant success more than a cakewalk. The Bulls and Pistons are two teams that look to have a bright future building around young potential stars.
HC: Are there any teams, perhaps in Wisconsin, who you feel might have missed the boat with some evaluations and draft picks?
RGM: Haha…you are trying to get me in trouble…haha…let’s just say that with any draft there are picks that make you scratch your head. But, hey I have seen some of those picks turn out to be huge hits. You never know.
HC: Finally, any predictions in regards to titles?
RGM: Well we believe we have set ourselves up to contend, but certainly there are a lot more variables that are unknown which will evolve our team as well as the league. One title we do think we are favorites for is the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star week. We plan to promote Vince in that competition and know he has the talent to win it.
Chronicle Predictions
For obvious reasons the Rockets GM would not commit to rankings or predictions, but that won’t stop us here at the Chronicle. We have examined all 29 teams (including your Houston Rockets) and have predicted each conference as well as the potential matchup for the NBA finals.
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors
2. Atlanta Hawks
3. Orlando Magic
4. New Jersey Nets
5. New York Knicks
6. Charlotte Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Washington Wizards
Western Conference
1. Memphis Grizzlies
2. Utah Jazz
3. LA Clippers
4. Houston Rockets
5. Sacramento Kings
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Seattle Supersonics
8. Portland Trailblazers
NBA Finals: Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz
The Jazz upset the Grizzlies and punch their ticket to the Finals, but the veteran Raptors are too much as Jordan adds a 7th title and Malone gets his 1st. The question really is not if they Raptors can win the title in 2001, but if there will be anyone left in 2002.
Raptors in 5 games.
Pre-Season Recap
The Rockets went 11-8 in their 19 game pre-season run through. No doubt it is a showing that gives hope for the year, but not a result that comes without some trepidation that there are holes.
As expected Vince Carter lead the way averaging more than 27 points and adding almost 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per contest. Donyell Marshall was behind him averaging a double with 13 and 10. Young players Shane Battier and Kirk Haston put up quality numbers, but did so with suspect shooting averages. It is something that they will have to work on. Alvin Williams looks promising and the tandem of him and Norris at PG should be a steady albeit understated pairing for the Rockets. One thing the Rockets do need to do a better job of, is giving Ilgauskaus a chance to score in the paint. He can wear down the defense and provide space to slash for Carter and room for Battier to shoot from the corners and wings.
As a team the Rockets averaged 102.4 points per game, but surrendered 100.1. As a team built to defend as well as score the fact that only the scoring was up to their standards was somewhat discouraging. However, the belief is that as Battier matures and the team grows together that the defense will come along and the offense will blossom as well.
Kurt Thomas was limited in the pre-season, but the expectation is that he will be ready for the season and his absence is believed to be a big reason why the Rockets were not quite as crisp as they (and many experts) expected.
As always folks check in with the Chronicle for all of your Rockets’ news and updates as well as coverage of the entire league. We hope you think of our coverage as the Vince Carter to the competitors Frederic Weis (or should we say Eric Chenowith) as we strive to leap above the competition and slam home the best analysis in the business.
Player Breakdowns
Vince Carter – Obviously Vince is a player that the Rockets expect to build around. He is a great offensive player, but he also is a player that defends his position quite well. We feel like the sky is limit for Vince and even there he clearly flies above the competition. Vince can be the best and most exciting player in the NBA and we believe that will ring true as we build around him. He is also a pioneer of the internet that puts Al Gore to shame as he was the second player ever to have a website dedicated to him. We also look forward to a few reenactments of “le dunk de la mort”.
Zydrunas Ilgauskaus – Z is a true post. He can score inside, but his game starts with the ability to defend the interior and rebound. The Rockets have a history of top quality Centers and we believe that Z will continue this tradition into the new millennium. There is no doubt in our minds that he is a piece that separates the Rockets from most of their competition.
Shane Battier – This is a player the Rockets are really excited about. He is young with lots of potential, but he is also a player that comes ready to contribute right away. He comes from a program that has taught him how to work and how to win. He will come into the league ready to defend and as he progresses should become a very solid offensive force as well.
Kurt Thomas – He is a veteran presence who we feel can stabilize the PF position and teach a young Kirk Haston who we believe has a lot of potential, despite being overlooked (and mis scouted) by much of the league. He is the quintessential pro and a perfect complimentary PF that can score inside, defend and rebound.
Donyell Marshall – Donyell is a versatile wing who can spend time at PF, but will mostly be manning the wing alongside Shane Battier. He is equally solid scoring the ball inside and outside. The thing we are most excited about is his ability to defend and rebound the ball from the SF position. He is an ideal model for Shane Battier to learn from. His time in Utah playing alongside two all time greats (Malone and Stockton) has certainly shown him the winning ways and that is something we look forward to him bringing to Clutch City.
Alvin Williams – Alvin is a consistent PG with a great handle and a true feel for the finer points of the game. He is a coach on the floor and someone who we feel will do a tremendous job setting up his teammates. He is also a good perimeter defender that we believe still has room to grow in all phases.
Mitch Richmond – There is not much I can say on Mitch Richmond that people don’t already know. He is a two time Olympian and a gold medal winner. He was Rookie of the Year and perennial All Star through the 1990’s. We expect him to be a veteran leader off the bench and provide a scoring jolt for our second unit. Mitch is a guy that can really teach Vince to take that next step towards the top of the league.
Moochie Norris – A solid veteran PG who can stabilize the team in either a starting role or as a key reserve. Moochie has been with the Rockets before and has been a very solid player. He is a guy that we believe in as solid contributor and first class teammate.
Jahidi White – Jahidi is a solid big who we think can play solid minutes at the post and help us rebound the basketball. He needs to improve on the defensive end, but we believe he can and we look forward to seeing that progression, but at the same time getting valuable production.
Kirk Haston – This is a PF prospect we are very intrigued by. We were shocked he was around for so long. He comes knowing how to score the basketball in the painted area with an impressive sky hook and with a solid touch from the outside. As with many young bigs he has to learn the finer points on defense, but with work he can get there. This is a kid who seems to be mis-scouted by many (maybe all) teams in this creation draft. He is a former 16th overall pick and learned in college from one of the best in Bob Knight. Kirk is someone we feel was a great value and has a much higher potential than many were giving him credit for.
Donnell Harvey – Donnell has some potential that excited us enough to add him and see where we can get him. He is a player with potential in all aspects, but someone that will take some time to develop. We feel we have a good mix of veterans that can help him with that and allow him a chance to improve, while also providing relief minutes when needed.
Don Reid – A solid big that can rebound and has some skill as a defender and scorer in the paint. He is better than just an end of the bench piece despite that being the price we had to pay for him. Don is another kid who played for an outstanding coach in college at Georgetown under John Thompson. We strongly believe that players with this kind of background will help define our team and create a winning atmosphere in Houston.
(All player analysis by the Rockets’ GM as told to the Houston Chronicle)
Questions and Answers
Houston Chronicle: Who were some of the players that the Rockets scouted heavily, looked to bring in, but ultimately were unable to position themselves to select?
Rockets’ GM: Well I think our efforts to position ourselves for Elton Brand have been well documented (more on that in question 2), but there obviously were several other players who we thought could help us, but ultimately went elsewhere. In the 2nd round Alonzo Mourning, Chris Webber, and Antonio McDyess were some of the post options that really intrigued us, but who went just before our 2nd pick. I am sure their franchises are all very happy to have added them. The 5th round is another round which we saw our board disappear right from under us. We had the 8th pick of this round and a short list of players. After 3 picks our top 3 guys were still on the board. To say we were excited would be an understatement. Of course as it happens they (Jalen Rose, Rodney White, and Al Harrington) were the next 3 selections. Luckily we got the next player on our board in Donyell Marshall and feel that he will be a valuable addition. Tyrone Hill and Jon Barry were a couple of late round veterans we had our eyes on, but ultimately just missed the chance to select.
HC: You touched on the attempt to trade for a pick to acquire Elton Brand. What happened to prevent the Rockets from acquire that pick and ultimately Elton Brand?
RGM: Well as many know we thought we had a deal in place to acquire (from the Detroit Pistons) pick #17 and ultimately select a player that could serve as a cornerstone of our franchise for years to come. However, Detroit was in the midst of an ownership change and ultimately their new ownership group did not agree with the value they were getting back from us in exchange for the pick. They felt that opportunity to select a local collegiate star in Jason Richardson far outweighed the benefits of trading the selection. These things happen and you have to regroup quickly. Interestingly enough we thought we had an agreement with the Bulls earlier in the draft for the #12 pick, but they decided the best thing for their franchise was to select a young wing in Tracy McGrady and we wish them luck with their franchise moving forward.
(Editor’s Note: Tracy McGrady is the cousin of Rockets’ SG Vince Carter. The two played together in Toronto for 2 years and share a unique bond as former teammates and family members.)
HC: One trade the Rockets did make was with the Boston Celtics. You moved down 27 spots in the draft from the 4th round to the 5th, but acquired a future (2003) draft pick in the process. What was the motivation for that move?
RGM: We felt that the players available to us with the 22nd pick (in the 4th round) and our first 5th rounder (the Rockets’original pick 5.8) would not be a substantial difference and that the same would be true in regards to what would be available from 5.8 to 5.22. In the process we acquired an asset that could be very valuable to our franchise moving forward. Unfortunately we did miss out on a couple targets (see question 1 of the Q&A section) because of this slide down, but even still we believe the value of the (future 1st) pick made up for any missed opportunity in regards to the creation draft.
HC: You just went through the pre-season and had some success. What can you take out of that as you further prepare for the regular season?
RGM: I think we can see that we have a team that has the pieces to win some games (the Rockets were 11-8 in 19 pre-season games). We experimented some with players playing different roles and got to see how this new group can work together. Certainly it has given the guys some confidence, but at the same time there certainly things that clearly can be improved.
HC: What did you notice that needs improvement?
RGM: I think clearly we had some defensive lapses and as an area we focused on that is something that is somewhat disconcerning. However, we feel it is more a product of a lack of chemistry as players are getting used to their teammates than a lack of either talent or desire. Also, we need to focus more attention inside and take advantage of the fact we have one of the best young centers in the game. With those two focuses moving forward there is no doubt we can contend now and in the future.
HC: Contention. What do you think of the Rockets’ chances to contend right away?
RGM: Oh, we expect to contend right away. In Houston we always expect to contend. The Rockets’ fans expect us to contend and that is something that will be our focus. However, we are not a franchise that will be short sighted and set ourselves for disappointment in the future. In the NBA you have to be constantly evaluation your position not only in the present, but also moving forward.
HC: You expect to contend, but who do you see as your main competition in the Midwest Division as well as the Western Conference?
RGM: Well in Houston we know that you don’t expect to get out of the West and more precisely the Midwest division without a fight and I think for us that starts in the state of Texas. Certainly the Mavericks have assembled an impressive group of stars that will battle and give many teams issues. The Spurs have an interesting mix of potential and experience and although they don’t look to be favorites they will certainly battle. The Memphis Grizzlies are another franchise that has positioned themselves to be a very tough team in the Midwest. They have a core of players that are very talented in Mourning, Miller and Stockton. The Pacific is also chock full of good teams and both LA squads as well as Sacramento seem to be the teams to be from the far West coast.
HC: Are there any teams in the East that jump out at you as favorites or intriguing moving forward?
RGM: Hah, well obviously the Raptors are a team that are built for the present and seem to be favorites if they hold up. The Hawks, Magic, Nets, and Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets also look like teams that will challenge Toronto and make their goal of instant success more than a cakewalk. The Bulls and Pistons are two teams that look to have a bright future building around young potential stars.
HC: Are there any teams, perhaps in Wisconsin, who you feel might have missed the boat with some evaluations and draft picks?
RGM: Haha…you are trying to get me in trouble…haha…let’s just say that with any draft there are picks that make you scratch your head. But, hey I have seen some of those picks turn out to be huge hits. You never know.
HC: Finally, any predictions in regards to titles?
RGM: Well we believe we have set ourselves up to contend, but certainly there are a lot more variables that are unknown which will evolve our team as well as the league. One title we do think we are favorites for is the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star week. We plan to promote Vince in that competition and know he has the talent to win it.
Chronicle Predictions
For obvious reasons the Rockets GM would not commit to rankings or predictions, but that won’t stop us here at the Chronicle. We have examined all 29 teams (including your Houston Rockets) and have predicted each conference as well as the potential matchup for the NBA finals.
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors
2. Atlanta Hawks
3. Orlando Magic
4. New Jersey Nets
5. New York Knicks
6. Charlotte Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Washington Wizards
Western Conference
1. Memphis Grizzlies
2. Utah Jazz
3. LA Clippers
4. Houston Rockets
5. Sacramento Kings
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Seattle Supersonics
8. Portland Trailblazers
NBA Finals: Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz
The Jazz upset the Grizzlies and punch their ticket to the Finals, but the veteran Raptors are too much as Jordan adds a 7th title and Malone gets his 1st. The question really is not if they Raptors can win the title in 2001, but if there will be anyone left in 2002.
Raptors in 5 games.
Pre-Season Recap
The Rockets went 11-8 in their 19 game pre-season run through. No doubt it is a showing that gives hope for the year, but not a result that comes without some trepidation that there are holes.
As expected Vince Carter lead the way averaging more than 27 points and adding almost 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per contest. Donyell Marshall was behind him averaging a double with 13 and 10. Young players Shane Battier and Kirk Haston put up quality numbers, but did so with suspect shooting averages. It is something that they will have to work on. Alvin Williams looks promising and the tandem of him and Norris at PG should be a steady albeit understated pairing for the Rockets. One thing the Rockets do need to do a better job of, is giving Ilgauskaus a chance to score in the paint. He can wear down the defense and provide space to slash for Carter and room for Battier to shoot from the corners and wings.
As a team the Rockets averaged 102.4 points per game, but surrendered 100.1. As a team built to defend as well as score the fact that only the scoring was up to their standards was somewhat discouraging. However, the belief is that as Battier matures and the team grows together that the defense will come along and the offense will blossom as well.
Kurt Thomas was limited in the pre-season, but the expectation is that he will be ready for the season and his absence is believed to be a big reason why the Rockets were not quite as crisp as they (and many experts) expected.
As always folks check in with the Chronicle for all of your Rockets’ news and updates as well as coverage of the entire league. We hope you think of our coverage as the Vince Carter to the competitors Frederic Weis (or should we say Eric Chenowith) as we strive to leap above the competition and slam home the best analysis in the business.
