shorttexas1

I agree that he is on the downhill side of his career and the Rockets need to start to look towards the future... That is why I did not like the Battier for Swift and Gaye trade!

i'm not sure, it's a thought. was he terrible in the 4th quarter during the regular season too? OK!!! Lets look at the truth!!! Utah has two allstar players in Boozer and Kirilenko, Williams will be one next year. Okur Is one of the top 15 Centers in the league. And there are players are 6'7 and better players to throw at T-MAC. You basically had T-MAC and 4 role players on the court at all times... The second best player on the court was Rafer and he missed 3 1/2 games this series. And Rafer is NOT a star. You can't expect T-Mac to beat this team alone. Last... KOBE was missing the playoffs when he had only Lamar Odom. When T-Mac had only Rafer Alston he was winning 23 straight games. Rafer is NOT as good as Odom!!! So who is the REAL star! He had Yao for the first 13 of those games. It was still an impressive streak, but once they lost the momentum of the streak, T-Mac only led them to a .500 record for the rest of the season counting the playoffs. McGrady is a very talented player, but there are plenty of superstars in this league who carry a big load on their team and still manage to perform in the 4th quarter. The argument about his supporting cast would hold more water if McGrady was playing well in the 4th and they were still losing. As it was, he underperformed in the 4th quarter of several winnable games. I don't buy the argument that he was tired. There are several players in this league playing the type of minutes he plays who are just as central in their teams' schemes as he is. Comparing Kobe to T-Mac is not comparing apples to apples. It's like comparing hundred dollar bills to fifty dollar bills. Both are nice to have, but anybody in their right mind would rather have one more than the other. Plenty??? Naw I don't agree... Only Leron is close to as alone a T-Mac. And that is because Yao can't stay healthy. I will name the ones that carry a load. Chris Paul has David West and Chanlder Kobe has Gasol, Bynum and Odom D Williams has Boozer and Kirilinko Iveron has Carmelo and Camby Dwight Howard has Rashard Lewis and Turkilo (spelling) Duncan has Parker and Ginobli KG has Pierce and Allen Dirk has Kid and Howard Nash has had Marion, Stodimire, Shaq, Grant Hill, and Joe Johnson Joe Johnson has Al Horford and Josh Smith and Marvin Williams Bosh has Ford and Caldron B. Diddy has Stevie, Harrington, and Monta Ellis Chancy Billups has Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace The only players that are doing alot with less is Lebron and A. Iguodala. Where did this plenty you speak of come from. Not even the great KOBE could get to the play-offs or win a series with developing some peices and Getting Gasol. T-MAC has Yao and Rafer (who finally stepped up late this year) and Scola stared playing well late in the season. Yao has been out! Landry began playing well afet that but he is a Rookie. Battier cannot be counted on to score. I don't think he is soft... SNAKE BITTEN maybe but not soft! They have nothing but injuries. And IF Jerry Sloan would have allowed a Rockets team without Alston and Yao to win close games he would not be the future Hall of Fame coach that he is! No way a team with three Allstar caliber players allows a team with one Allstar to beat them in a play-off system!

The Spread is a Gimmic offense... I think Colt McCoy would be GREAT in a pro style!!! Personnally I canot stand the spread and I wish it would fall into the abyss... Instead it keeps growing and it won't be long before someone finds a variation that works in the Pro's!

Depends on his career ambitions.... Does he want to be known as one of the best High school coaches of alltime and probally eclisp everyone on the most wins list? Or Does he want to eventually be a college head coach?

Not by any means... Just comparing red apples to green ones... Still good but you cant beat a good ole red (KOBE) one!!!!

i'm not sure, it's a thought. was he terrible in the 4th quarter during the regular season too? OK!!! Lets look at the truth!!! Utah has two allstar players in Boozer and Kirilenko, Williams will be one next year. Okur Is one of the top 15 Centers in the league. And there are players are 6'7 and better players to throw at T-MAC. You basically had T-MAC and 4 role players on the court at all times... The second best player on the court was Rafer and he missed 3 1/2 games this series. And Rafer is NOT a star. You can't expect T-Mac to beat this team alone. Last... KOBE was missing the playoffs when he had only Lamar Odom. When T-Mac had only Rafer Alston he was winning 23 straight games. Rafer is NOT as good as Odom!!! So who is the REAL star!

You are so blind!

Oh yes! I am 29 yrs young and loving it!.... I still use Keep it Simplie Stupid at my job today... And I am an Engineer... Do me a favor and look at what Northshore, Westlake, Duncanville, Katy, Smithson Valley run... Those teams use everyone on the field... The WR, TE, RB, and QB... They run a variety of plays... Usually sticking to 5-7 plays doing the course of the game with a few more sprinkled in DURING special situations... See those teams have situational plays for third and long or 2nd and short, you know things like that.... But we don't have that... It is the same play every time. I agree that you should not run 20 different plays in a game... The pros average about 20... But I do think you need some variations for certain situations... That is the one thing we don't have... A high School kid should b intellemgent enough to run at leats 10 plays a game. We always act as if our kids can't learn... WE HINDER THEM SO MUCH.

Actuall Novak should be in the game for his scoring ability offf the bench... Especially when Landry and/or Hayes comes in he cold play the 3... He would be good to offset the size disparity. Rockets could go at least nine deep if they would devlop Landry, Novak, Hayes, and Brooks. I personally don't think Head or Woods will get better... And Jackson is up there in age. Mutombo is 80! But I don't think Novak is the answer!

You are gaining my respect for you. "Player recognition!" You are a true guru if you're getting into the technical side of this part of the game. The mental aspect of the game is the hardest part of any sport to overcome or understand. Many have the physical abilities but no sense of the mental side of the game. You gotta know your teammates and what their limitations are in any given situation on the court. Thank you Dove... Dickie I did say J. Brown had the ability to play the point. Vision, handle, and skill.... But his mindset at this point in his career is not there.... That is why he compares well to Boobie Gibson. It took many years before Daniel could break his too guard mantality.... Up until the NBA Boobie was turn-over prone and had poor recognition skills of defenses. He actually lost the starting PG job at Texas to Abrams. It is uncanny how the High School games of J.Brown and D.Gib mirror. They both shot alot of threes, freethrows, and lay-up... Neither would dunk... both have a need to be cool on the court... The big deferense is the Gibson is coachable and has a great attitude (he is a good kid)!

I'll say this again in hopes that you read it this time! In the 2006 season our offense was ranked #1 in the district and one of the tops in 4A....running base dive with one read play in the scheme! But as far as HC go, you know the old saying, "Defense win championships!" Offense puts people in the stands though! Nobody wants to see a defensive game. Co Stowers has done things no other coach took time to do while I was in school! He and his staff are going into the home of kids and meeting with their folks and giving them the layout and what he's expecting this season. They are involving the kids in FCA doing what my brotha calls "character enhancement." You are right, it does take influence from the home to git er dun, but some parents are reluctant b/c they work a lot or really don't care! That's when we need to step in and be that village that helps raise em. Thank you for that snipit... Yes that was a good year with Brandon, Frog, and That lttle Thomas at RB. They did big things and put up big scores. But they could not do it when the competition was smarter and had good athletes. Central was just more talented than everyone they played that ONE year. Talent drove that team. But when they saw teams that were just as Athletic and with smart coaches the outcome was different... That one "DIVE" play with those "FEW" Options did not win big games. That is why Dayton, Barbers Hill, and LaMarque were able to play with us and two of them beat us... Any good coach with enough talent will not allow you to beat them with such a suspect playbook consisting of three to five plays!!!! You even said it yourself that the play book was basic and simplistic. When you get into the playoffs there are teams with defense and offense.... Yes Defense wins Championships but you can't win when you don't put numbers on the score board. So if you READ and COMPREHEND what I am telling you..... I know Stowers is good, so was Enoch... Both had shutdown Defenses... Neither has an offensive scheme... And both are usually sitting at home week three of the playoffs.... Use you intellegence when breaking down football not your emotions... Brandon's senior year Central had more than enough pure TALENT to win it all.... But not enough coaching to get them there!

Yes! I will admit it... I am jealous!

You said that BC.... We have never had a good or even decent Offensive coordinator!

Home court advantage is too strong for Boston!

Thanks Nos... Actually I am a Chemical Engineer, but in college I tutored in schools all over Beaumont; Elementary to High School. My mother is a Secretary at one of the highest performing minority elementaries in town. My new wife is a new educator and she confirms me that nothing has changed. I have had so much hands on experience with schools that I just know what goes on.

No way in the world you can call Swift trash and then mention Loren Woods name... This Cat wasn't even in the NBA or the D-league when the Rockets signed him... He was sitting at home. I am talking stats as well as talent. Gaye is a good on ball defender and could be better with the right coaching. Gaye is the type of player that can be the the number two guy if McGrady or Yao goes down and he could be a T-Mac successor once he retires. Who else on the team could be that? Battier? The Grizzlies have poor coaching and a young team and are in the strongest division in Basketball. They play with Houston, SA, Dallas, and NO; not to mention they are in the WEST! I also said we have our forwards but not our CENTERS... Please read before you reply. All we have is Yao and no back-up. And we are extremely small up front off the bench (6'6" and 6'7"). Mutombo is old as dirt so Stromile would have been good enough to be a BACK-UP. That is what I said! And who besides McGrady is super athletic? Please don't say Battier... Maybe Landry and that is it! All of our bench guards are small too. So when the bench comes in we are a High School Program. We are missing a third guy who can create his own shots. Rafer has gotten better but Gaye would have been that man.

Battier is arguabaly the best defender in the NBA. He guards the big guns like Kobe and Lebron we need that kind of defender. And Swift sucks. Rockets just need another playmaker to come off the bench. somebody who can not only shoot just 3's but can drive to the basket and create his own plays... Gaye was a rookie... He was there for the molding. He is a 6'9" long guy who has all the tools to be a great defender, i.e long arms, way more athletic than Battier, good lateral quickness, and sick hops! The problem with the Rockets this year wasn't defense. They played great TEAM D. Not indivisual D. And Gaye is not a BAD defensive player. The thing that hurt the Rockets was lack of scoring and just look at Gayes Stats. FG% FT % REB STL BLK A PTS Gaye .46 .79 6.2 1.37 .98 2 20.1 Battier .43 .74 5.1 .96 1.13 1.9 9.3 Remember Gaye shoots more and has better percentages, He!! he has better percentages than T-Mac. He is not a jacker! He shot 600 more shots and 200 more free throws than Battier. Blocks and steals offset. Gaye is a better rebounder and scorer. Only a fool would take Battier over Gaye. The other issue for the Rockets was Athleticism. True they groomed 6'7" Carl Landry and 6'6" Chuck Hayes to play back-up power forward, but they had no back-up center beside Mutombo who is at the end of his career. The on thing that Swift could do was come off the bench and block shots and just be a presence. He is 6'10" athlete off the bench who could have played back-up center too. And he always could score in spirts. Remember the knock on the Rockets was athleticism and size off the bench. Looks like that would not be an issue for these two guys. And Gaye by far is a better started than Battier. When Yao went down the Starting line-up would have been. Swift Scola Gaye T-MAc Alston Which is way stronger than Mutombo for hopefully 20 mins. Scola Battier T-Mac Alston

The kid is 6'2" and his true position is the point... He has a great handle and d@mn good court vision. He has a high basketbal IQ and an incredible amount of competitiveness. He has a good jumper as well. His game's draw backs are recognizing good shot selection, DEFENSE, athleticism (kinda on the Daniel Gibson level), and player recognition. He has played with his current teamates for years and still doesn't know who can handle hot passes and who can't.

Think about what you said. YES travel is (and always will be) a problem in West Texas. Nothing can change that. However, WHY FORCE A TRAVEL PROBLEM STATEWIDE?? This will be a problem by choice. This will be regreted. Mark my words. All the teams that I named are EAST Texas and Northeast Texas.

Are you kidding? That kid is gone after the first year if he stays and has a good season. Gone in sixty seconds. :'( You will still see him play;Only it will be in a larger arena He is not a one and done kid... If he does it will be second round action maybe for him!

i beg to differ Isadore is getting the same if not more attention then him........ Dude please! Go the the 5A website and look at top backs next year rankings, Micheal's name is at the top of the list. You have guys all over the state that route for other teams saying that Micheal is the top back in the state. Isadore's name isn't even in the top 10 LB rankings, let alone top prospects. Only in your blue and yellow mind. Be happy the kid got offered from Auburn, but lets not start typing ridiculous statements like this! Beard makes Michael look week ! You'll see he will lead Lumberton deep into the playoffs. With all due respect to Beard, Michaels is on a totaly different level. Sorry, there is no argument here. Make him look week? You mean he would be a week behind Micheals in a foot race. Man the word is weak and you have no one in Lumberton that make Michaels look WEAK!!!!

you guys need to wake-up. Distance has always been a problem. We have been spoiled in the 4A and lower brackets in this area because the abundance of shools and small towns in this area. THIS is not the case Statewide. We have seen it differently with the 5A schools in the area traveling 80 plus miles to get to Humble, Northshore, Channellveiw, Westfield, Spring, Northshore, Deerpark, etc. Travel has BEEN a problem and the difference is now we will see it in our own districts. For example currently Lufkin Plays the Conroe Teams 90 + miles Tyler playing in Desot0 190 + miles Port Lavaca Beeville 110 + miles Corpus Christi to Loredo 150 + miles

It wont work because Central has a high enrollment than the Triangle schools... They are all in D2. But at least put them with the houston schools... We have Livingston this year without that alignment, so there is really no difference. Every year there is some school in some district traveling so that is not the biggest disadvantage. I kind of like this idea!

For one Yao needs to stay and stay healthy. (The Rockets don't play one on one ball and if you thinks so you don't know basketball) Second we would be great if we would have kept Rudy Gaye and Stromile Swift instead of trading for Battier... but that is another story. So the true second is getting a big guard or small forward that can give valuable minutes and be able to score. Third we need one big (6'10" or bigger) athletic body in the middle off the bench. He doesn't need to be a TRUE Center... It is only about 9 significant TRUE centers in the league and we have one of them. And Shaq may be insignificant! So if you see what I mean we are looking for an impact 6th man and front court intimidation on defense.

lol! Yeah he might but the test is a basic skills test, So u must know basic skills! Plain and simple. It is not a black test nor is it a white test. It is not even a tough test.