Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:09 pm
Uhhh...tough loss...The Fantastic 3 Killed you (iverson, Smith and Carmelo)
Anyway keep up the good work!
Anyway keep up the good work!
Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:38 am
Its_asdf - yeah no doubt; JR Smith's solid game made me wanna trade for him too lol; I was kinda bummed YAO couldn't get two more blocks... then again each one after the third was just awesome; Marvin's doing well and he's more important than you know; stay tuned 
looser - thx man; yeah the big 3 hurt, but their freakin' bench stepped up too which made it crazy tough and not the usual slow-down/grind-out half court game that the Rockets are better at; in hindsight maybe starting the quicker Williams instead of the slower Jafari Cotton at PF was playing into the Nuggets hands right from the get go; ah well, i blame Phil Jackson
looser - thx man; yeah the big 3 hurt, but their freakin' bench stepped up too which made it crazy tough and not the usual slow-down/grind-out half court game that the Rockets are better at; in hindsight maybe starting the quicker Williams instead of the slower Jafari Cotton at PF was playing into the Nuggets hands right from the get go; ah well, i blame Phil Jackson
Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:15 pm
BLAZERS VS ROCKETS "Injury Bug Outbreak in OT Loss"
Thurs Jan 17, 2008 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
The injury bug bit early and often as the Houston Rockets hosted the visiting Portland Trailblazers in a exciting but costly grudge match at the Toyota Center. Up til now the Rockets' luck at remaining relatively injury-free had been an attributing factor to the team's early season success; their luck, however, took a tailspin for the worst in a tough, physically punishing first half
Tracy McGrady, only minutes into the game on a drive to the basket, took a hard shot foul by Portland's Center, Jamaal Magloire, and immediately grabbed for his lower back, much to the chagrin of longtime fans aware of his injury history. Only moments later, karma caught up with Magloire as he came down awkwardly on Yao Ming's foot, injured his leg and needed to be helped off the court himself
McGrady sat and received treatment most the first half as a rotation of Gerald Green and Eduardo Najera covered his role. Unfortunately, the injury bug would strike yet again, this time in the 2nd quarter with Green. Driving to the hole, Green collided mid-air with Portland's rock-solid Power Forward, Zach Randolf, and came away holding his back as well. McGrady returned to play as did Magloire for the 'Blazers but Green's injury sent him to the locker room, done for the night. Green left with 4 points and 2 assists in 10 minutes of play
The second half would be no less physical as both teams looked to their front courts to carry their teams. Marvin Williams once again started at Power Forward for the Rockets and didn't disappoint; he collecting a double-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 2 steals including a critical offensive rebound put-back to tie the score 86-86 with 12.9 remaining in regulation. Williams' shot conversion eventually forced an overtime period as Portland couldn't convert in it's final possession of regulation
In overtime, Yao Ming carried the Rockets' on his broad shoulders and finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocks including a huge mid-ranged jumper for the tie after trailing 98-96 with 16.7 seconds remaining. After Yao's conversion, the teams seemed to be headed for a second overtime, however, Portland's Power Forward juggernaut, Zach Randolf, wouldn't allow it
Randolf used his girth, strength and indomitable will to physically impose himself the entire game, scoring at leisure and giving the 'Blazers several second chance opportunities all night. Randolf's stellar performance could be summed up by the last play of the game: off an errant missed shot attempt for the win by teammate Darius Miles, Randolf battled past Houston's slow-footed rookie, Jafari Cotton, for the offensive rebound and tipped the ball in with 0.4 seconds on the clock for the shocking road win
"I thought I had him boxed out," Cotton said post-game. "He's a lot stronger than you can imagine but that's no excuse; he just wanted it more and took it away. I didn't do my part. This loss is going to hurt for a while."
"No. There was no way," said Randolf. "There was no way I was gonna let that go into another overtime. The guys look to me as the leader of this team so when Darius took the shot and I saw it coming off the rim, I knew I had to go get it no matter what." Randolf finished a monster night with 40 points, 14 rebounds, 6 of which came off offensive boards
Phil Jackson commented after the game, "This was a tough loss for our team on many levels. The injuries to Tracy and Gerald definitely hindered us but hopefully it's nothing too serious. I'm more concerned that we keep the confidence of our younger players in tact; if we lose Tracy for a few games, we'll need everyone to step up"
Next, the Rockets pack their bags and headout for hot and humid Florida to take on Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat
BOXSCORE
POR 100
HOU 98 Final OT
Players at the Half
Player of the Game
McGrady doubled over in pain - a sight not welcome for Rockets fans
Magloire hobbles to the sidelines after landing awkwardly; he would return later in the 2nd quarter
Mike James connects with Gerald Green on the ally-oop | Yao gets physical with Zach Randolf
The third victim of the injury bug - Gerald Green; he would not return to play
Marvin Williams with a solid 14 pt, 14 rb double-double including this offensive put back to send the game into OT
Randolf upstoppable in the post the entire game
Mike James strips Martell Webster towards the end of overtime
Yao's mid-range jumper with 16.7 left in OT connects for the 98-98 tie| Portland Coach Nate McMillan sets up a final play
Portland's Zach Randolf with the game winning tip
___
INJURY UPDATE
Jan 17, 2008
Test results:
T. McGRADY (HOU), Bruised Rib, out for 13 days
G. GREEN (HOU), Sore Back, will not miss any games
J. MAGLOIRE (POR), Bone Spur in Ankle, out for 3 weeks
___
ROCKETS VS HEAT
Sat Jan 19, 2008 American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
BOXSCORE HOU 87 MIA 92 Final
Player of the Game
Leading MVP Candidate, Shaquille O'Neal, collected 8 points in the final 5 minutes and helped power the Miami Heat to a 27-18 4th quarter while handing the Houston Rockets a 3rd consecutive loss of the season in the process. O'Neal ended the night with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while Allstar teammate, Dwyane Wade, racked up a team-high 23 points and dished 5 assists
Without Tracy McGrady, the Rockets relied on a balanced offensive attack to stay in the game while Center, Yao Ming, struggled to find his rhythm. Yao contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks but was hampered by back spasms after a hard foul by O'Neal midway through the 3rd. He returned to play later in the 4th but only for limited minutes
Houston's, Marvin Williams, continued to impress with his 3rd consecutive double-double, finishing the night with 12 points and a team-high 17 rebounds while teammate, Joey Graham, led the way in scoring for Houston with 19 points, 3 boards and 4 assists
The Rockets continue their road trip on Monday night facing Pau Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies
Rookie Jafari Cotton takes it strong against Shaq but gets easily burnt by the speed of Wade
Eduardo Najera with the basket-and-1 | Coach Jackson watches his current vs former big men
Williams with another impressive double-double night attacked the basket for 12 points while collecting 17 rebounds
Stuggling offensively, Yao turned up the D with a team-high 5 rejections
A scary moment in the 3rd as Yao collided with O'Neal and appeared to injure his back; he would return to play
Dwyane Wade began to shine in the 4th quarter
Shaquille dominated the closing minutes to seal the Miami victory
___
Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:05 am
how does T-mac have an unplayable injury if he came back during the portland game to paly while Green couldn't return yet he wont have to miss any games? Wow!
Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:27 am
Terrible loss to Portland (those games definitely break your heart), but even worse considering you lost both McGrady and Green. Kind of ironic how Green was/still is compared to McGrady and is injured in the same game as he was.
And nbarulez, it's simply a matter of crappy A.I. logic sometimes. After finishing the game, sometimes players won't be able to be playable after sustaining an injury that they can play through. It's happened to me a few times before.
Marvin Williams is the shiznit. Looks like Cotton's slowly being pushed out of the rotation.
And nbarulez, it's simply a matter of crappy A.I. logic sometimes. After finishing the game, sometimes players won't be able to be playable after sustaining an injury that they can play through. It's happened to me a few times before.
Marvin Williams is the shiznit. Looks like Cotton's slowly being pushed out of the rotation.
Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:44 pm
nbarulez - i was just going to say, "because TMac is just TOUGH like that!" but i think asdf's answer is more accurate;
Its_asdf - what can ya do? Randolf was the baddest o' the bad that night. Williams is absolutely GOIN' OFF! he was like Rodman out there against the Heat and even shutdown Shaq a few times; didn't even have to whisper any lewd comments at him either like Rodman used to do with O'Neal to take him outta his game
Its_asdf - what can ya do? Randolf was the baddest o' the bad that night. Williams is absolutely GOIN' OFF! he was like Rodman out there against the Heat and even shutdown Shaq a few times; didn't even have to whisper any lewd comments at him either like Rodman used to do with O'Neal to take him outta his game
Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:24 am
ROCKETS VS GRIZZLIES Jackson, Rockets 'in a pinch'
Mon Jan 21, 2008 FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
BOXSCORE HOU 100 MEM 105 Final
Player of the Game
Injury woes continued to plague the Houston Rockets as they traveled to Tennessee to take on Paul Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies
Early in the 1st quarter, Houston's Guard, Joey Graham, suffered an arm injury on a hard foul from Memphis Forward, Stromile Swift. Graham left to the locker room done for the night with 2 points in only 3 minutes of play
While still injured with a sore back, swingman Gerald Green, would step up to lead the Rockets, elevating his game with a 'McGrady-like' outburst in the second half including an exceptional 3rd quarter where he shot a blistering 6-of-7 from the field. Green ended the night with a team-high 25 points, 2 rebounds but also led with 4 turnovers
"I see a little T-Mac in him," said Yao Ming of Green following the match. "He's got nice handles and can break down his man off the dribble; if he keeps developing his jumpshot and learning from Tracy, he could be something real special." Yao struggled against Memphis' quicker big men but managed a double-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists
Center, Pau Gasol, led the way for Memphis with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks
Coach Phil Jackson commented about Houston's current 4-game losing streak after the game, "The rash of injuries has us in a pinch right now. Our guys are going to have to step up and we'll need to explore all other options; we're in an extremely tough conference and we can't afford to slip too far"
___
TRADE RUMORS: JC on the Trading Block?
With the Rockets' new "It's Time" philosophy and the steady emergence of 2nd-year pro, Marvin Williams, as a legit, starting Power Forward, rumors have begun to circulate that Houston may not be willing to wait for the development of rookie, Jafari Cotton, and that he could be involved as part of a package deal to bring in verteran help at the point/shooting guard or small forward position
Due to his potential and high basketball IQ, however, JC seems to be a favorite of coach Phil Jackson, so whether a trade occurs before the February deadline remains to be seen
Joey Graham's night ended early as he suffered an arm injury in the 1st quarter and did not return
JC showing signs of getting his groove back with a nasty put-back flush | Pau vs Yao on the move
Gerald Green took over the 3rd | Back on Earth, Stoudemire can only watch and ask, "Who is this kid?"
Gasol on the attack all night | Stromile Swift threw down a wicked reverse jam forever posterizing Eduardo Najera
Ridnour's trey with 17.6 left brought Houston within 2 but it wasn't enough | Just too much Pau
Mon Jan 21, 2008 FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
BOXSCORE HOU 100 MEM 105 Final
Player of the Game
Injury woes continued to plague the Houston Rockets as they traveled to Tennessee to take on Paul Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies
Early in the 1st quarter, Houston's Guard, Joey Graham, suffered an arm injury on a hard foul from Memphis Forward, Stromile Swift. Graham left to the locker room done for the night with 2 points in only 3 minutes of play
While still injured with a sore back, swingman Gerald Green, would step up to lead the Rockets, elevating his game with a 'McGrady-like' outburst in the second half including an exceptional 3rd quarter where he shot a blistering 6-of-7 from the field. Green ended the night with a team-high 25 points, 2 rebounds but also led with 4 turnovers
"I see a little T-Mac in him," said Yao Ming of Green following the match. "He's got nice handles and can break down his man off the dribble; if he keeps developing his jumpshot and learning from Tracy, he could be something real special." Yao struggled against Memphis' quicker big men but managed a double-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists
Center, Pau Gasol, led the way for Memphis with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks
Coach Phil Jackson commented about Houston's current 4-game losing streak after the game, "The rash of injuries has us in a pinch right now. Our guys are going to have to step up and we'll need to explore all other options; we're in an extremely tough conference and we can't afford to slip too far"
___
TRADE RUMORS: JC on the Trading Block?
With the Rockets' new "It's Time" philosophy and the steady emergence of 2nd-year pro, Marvin Williams, as a legit, starting Power Forward, rumors have begun to circulate that Houston may not be willing to wait for the development of rookie, Jafari Cotton, and that he could be involved as part of a package deal to bring in verteran help at the point/shooting guard or small forward position
Due to his potential and high basketball IQ, however, JC seems to be a favorite of coach Phil Jackson, so whether a trade occurs before the February deadline remains to be seen
Joey Graham's night ended early as he suffered an arm injury in the 1st quarter and did not return
JC showing signs of getting his groove back with a nasty put-back flush | Pau vs Yao on the move
Gerald Green took over the 3rd | Back on Earth, Stoudemire can only watch and ask, "Who is this kid?"
Gasol on the attack all night | Stromile Swift threw down a wicked reverse jam forever posterizing Eduardo Najera
Ridnour's trey with 17.6 left brought Houston within 2 but it wasn't enough | Just too much Pau
Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:06 pm
This question is kinda late but... Why did you have JC in the final possession against the blazers when Williams was starting? Anyways good luck..
Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:04 pm
nbarulez wrote:This question is kinda late but... Why did you have JC in the final possession against the blazers when Williams was starting? Anyways good luck..
that was just the way the sub pattern ended up; sometimes i'll take over subs in the final stretch (like TMac for whoever or Yao for Mutombo if the game's on the line) but usually i just let it play through for everyone else; Williams played most the minutes and i think he was spent in the OT so JC had the assignment vs Randolf but unfortunately missed it
KG downs Rockets; 5th straight L
Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:41 pm
T'WOLVES VS ROCKETS, "KG downs Rockets; 5th straight L"
Thur Jan 24, 2008 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
BOXSCORE MINN 93 HOU 87 Final
Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves used a decisive 28-13 1st quarter burst and held off Houston's 3rd quarter surge to down the Rockets 93-87 at the Toyota Center
The T'Wolves portrayed a well-balanced attack that saw all five starters score in double-digits. They were led by 10th-year guard, Ricky Davis, and 2nd-year Center, Basil Johnsson, who each collected 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals with Johnsson also adding 2 blocks on the night. Garnett had a quiet offensive game with just 15 points but led the T'Wolves with 10 rebounds
The Rockets battled back from their early game deficit after halftime led by 3rd-year guard, Joey Graham. At game's end, Graham would contribute 22 points, 5 boards and 5 assists but fouled out in a valiant but losing effort. 3rd-year swingman, Gerald Green, saw only 10 minutes of play time as he re-aggravated his sore back midway through the 2nd quarter and left the game as a precautionary measure finishing with only 4 points
The Rockets suffered their 5th consecutive loss, their longest losing streak of the '07-08 season, and were again without Allstar swingman, Tracy McGrady, who continues to recover from a bruised rib injury
Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks prepare to host the visiting Rockets on a back-to-back tomorrow night
A T'Wolves fast start finds the Rockets in an early hole | from bad to worse - even "Maddog" Madsen throws it down
Green finds a cutting Yao for the ally-oop flush | Green's highflying show is cut early due to a re-aggravated lower back injury
Garnett only had one block on the night, but for Yao, it's one too many | Ricky D taking flight
Thur Jan 24, 2008 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
BOXSCORE MINN 93 HOU 87 Final
Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves used a decisive 28-13 1st quarter burst and held off Houston's 3rd quarter surge to down the Rockets 93-87 at the Toyota Center
The T'Wolves portrayed a well-balanced attack that saw all five starters score in double-digits. They were led by 10th-year guard, Ricky Davis, and 2nd-year Center, Basil Johnsson, who each collected 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals with Johnsson also adding 2 blocks on the night. Garnett had a quiet offensive game with just 15 points but led the T'Wolves with 10 rebounds
The Rockets battled back from their early game deficit after halftime led by 3rd-year guard, Joey Graham. At game's end, Graham would contribute 22 points, 5 boards and 5 assists but fouled out in a valiant but losing effort. 3rd-year swingman, Gerald Green, saw only 10 minutes of play time as he re-aggravated his sore back midway through the 2nd quarter and left the game as a precautionary measure finishing with only 4 points
The Rockets suffered their 5th consecutive loss, their longest losing streak of the '07-08 season, and were again without Allstar swingman, Tracy McGrady, who continues to recover from a bruised rib injury
Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks prepare to host the visiting Rockets on a back-to-back tomorrow night
A T'Wolves fast start finds the Rockets in an early hole | from bad to worse - even "Maddog" Madsen throws it down
Green finds a cutting Yao for the ally-oop flush | Green's highflying show is cut early due to a re-aggravated lower back injury
Garnett only had one block on the night, but for Yao, it's one too many | Ricky D taking flight
Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:54 am
Shorthanded and losers of 5 straight... What more can go wrong? You gotta pull through man, especially with that tough western conference of yours. At least this gives the young guns some good playing time.
Joey Graham for MVP!
Joey Graham for MVP!
Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:07 pm
wow. It's one of the best dynasty stories! Good work, BoomDizzle#5!!!
P.S. NBA LIVE 06 rulezzz!
Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:28 am
Its_asdf - yeah, definitely a tough stretch right now; the young guns are doing what they can but it may not be enough since we're not a very deep team; Joey Graham... for MVP? :lol: that's right, you're a Raptors fan! well, can't gaurantee MVP this season but he and Gerald Green must have a decent shot at MIP - their #s are way up from last season, especially Graham since he's starting SG
Bask - hey thx man! there's a lot of nice ones for sure so if my Rockets made the top 10, that's cool with me
Anyway, sorry all for the lack of regular updates; had a friend in town for about a week and i am in the process of moving (AGAIN!) sigh but after tonight i get settled in and hopefully able to post more; already played out the next week and just need to recap; expect some crazy HUGE developments over at Rockets camp coming soon...
Bask - hey thx man! there's a lot of nice ones for sure so if my Rockets made the top 10, that's cool with me
Anyway, sorry all for the lack of regular updates; had a friend in town for about a week and i am in the process of moving (AGAIN!) sigh but after tonight i get settled in and hopefully able to post more; already played out the next week and just need to recap; expect some crazy HUGE developments over at Rockets camp coming soon...
Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:37 pm
ROCKETS VS MAVERICKS "6th loss: Houston...WE HAVE A PROBLEM"
Jan 25, 2008 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
BOXSCORE HOU 93 DAL 104 Final
Player of the Game
The Dallas Mavericks cruised to an easy victory over the struggling Houston Rockets who continued a 6-game slide, losing 93-104 on the road at the American Airlines Center
The Mavs were lead by their big guns, versatile Allstar Forward, Dirk Nowitzki, and Guard, Jason "Jet" Terry, who each scored 27 points and combined for over half of the Mavericks 104 points
"Both Jet and I got into good shooting rhythms early in the game," said Nowitzki after the game. "plus our bench guys really stepped it up for us. Of course they're a different team without Tracy, no question, but then again we were also without Josh (Howard) who usually does a great job on T-Mac. I know people were ready to write us off earlier in the season because we were struggling but now we're getting healthy, finding our groove and the guys are excited; you can expect this kind of effort from us every night from here on out."
Houston continued to search for answers carried on the huge shoulders of Center, Yao Ming, while Allstar, Tracy McGrady, was once again unavailable due to injury. Yao collected 28 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists off a stellar 11-of-13 shooting night but was obviously concerned about the loss
"I'm not sure what else to do," Ming said following the match. "We're just not playing with the same fire we had during the beginning of the season and other teams are abusing us for it; it's very frustrating."
Phil Jackson shared Ming's sentiments and addressed some team issues, "Our lack of depth has become a glaring concern right now. Teams are running at us, getting guys into early foul trouble and taking them out of rhythm and as a whole, the intensity just isn't there."
The Rockets will look to end their 6-game losing streak at the Toyota Center against the 2007 #1 draft pick, rookie sensation Point Guard, Sergei Tankosic, and the visiting Utah Jazz
'The Jet' attacked the Rockets all night as well as created havoc on the defensive end
Yao tried desperately to rally the troops into action | Coach Jackson even tried the taller defender Green on Terry but to no avail
Stackhouse off the bench kept the pressure on | Dampier had a terrific night and sends Williams shot attempt into the third row
___
Jan 25, 2008 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
BOXSCORE HOU 93 DAL 104 Final
Player of the Game
The Dallas Mavericks cruised to an easy victory over the struggling Houston Rockets who continued a 6-game slide, losing 93-104 on the road at the American Airlines Center
The Mavs were lead by their big guns, versatile Allstar Forward, Dirk Nowitzki, and Guard, Jason "Jet" Terry, who each scored 27 points and combined for over half of the Mavericks 104 points
"Both Jet and I got into good shooting rhythms early in the game," said Nowitzki after the game. "plus our bench guys really stepped it up for us. Of course they're a different team without Tracy, no question, but then again we were also without Josh (Howard) who usually does a great job on T-Mac. I know people were ready to write us off earlier in the season because we were struggling but now we're getting healthy, finding our groove and the guys are excited; you can expect this kind of effort from us every night from here on out."
Houston continued to search for answers carried on the huge shoulders of Center, Yao Ming, while Allstar, Tracy McGrady, was once again unavailable due to injury. Yao collected 28 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists off a stellar 11-of-13 shooting night but was obviously concerned about the loss
"I'm not sure what else to do," Ming said following the match. "We're just not playing with the same fire we had during the beginning of the season and other teams are abusing us for it; it's very frustrating."
Phil Jackson shared Ming's sentiments and addressed some team issues, "Our lack of depth has become a glaring concern right now. Teams are running at us, getting guys into early foul trouble and taking them out of rhythm and as a whole, the intensity just isn't there."
The Rockets will look to end their 6-game losing streak at the Toyota Center against the 2007 #1 draft pick, rookie sensation Point Guard, Sergei Tankosic, and the visiting Utah Jazz
'The Jet' attacked the Rockets all night as well as created havoc on the defensive end
Yao tried desperately to rally the troops into action | Coach Jackson even tried the taller defender Green on Terry but to no avail
Stackhouse off the bench kept the pressure on | Dampier had a terrific night and sends Williams shot attempt into the third row
___
Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:13 pm
Ouch man. Another tough loss, but at least you're still 6 games above .500, and the season is young. You'll bounce back once T-Mac gets healthy.
As for this proposed Jafari Cotton trade, make sure Joey Graham is included in it, too. As an avid Raptors fan, and I'm sure It's asdf will agree with me on this, Joey Graham scares the shit out of me every time he steps on the court. You just never know what to expect from him. The best thing about Toronto's acquisitions of Kapono and Delfino is that hopefully, Graham will hardly have to play.
I'd look to package JC and Graham for a rebounding/defensive big and a defensive wing player, cause your offense is set with T-Mac, Yao, Ridnour, James, and Green.
As for this proposed Jafari Cotton trade, make sure Joey Graham is included in it, too.
As an avid Raptors fan, and I'm sure It's asdf will agree with me on this, Joey Graham scares the shit out of me every time he steps on the court. You just never know what to expect from him. The best thing about Toronto's acquisitions of Kapono and Delfino is that hopefully, Graham will hardly have to play.
I'd look to package JC and Graham for a rebounding/defensive big and a defensive wing player, cause your offense is set with T-Mac, Yao, Ridnour, James, and Green.
Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:44 am
Well, another tough loss. You need to find a rhythm in the game, possibly grit it out until McGrady comes back.
Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:49 pm
so what are these big developments...
Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:51 am
TheMC5 wrote:The best thing about Toronto's acquisitions of Kapono and Delfino is that hopefully, Graham will hardly have to play.
ouch! yeah Graham can be nerve wracking in reallife but actually in my bizarro league, he's got his sh!t straight and is ballin' his A$$ off (at the moment anyway):
Graham, Joey (overall 74)
- '07-08 (current) ppg 12.9; rpg 2.1; apg 2.7; spg 0.67; bpg 0.09; fg% .47; 3p% .21; ft% .85
'06-07 (last year) ppg 4.8; rpg 1.6; apg 1.4; spg 0.59; bpg 0.12; fg% .47; 3p% .34; ft% .81
his only real drop off has been 3pt shooting, but then again the entire team is way down in 3pt accuracy and steals; freakin' gameplay sliders...
anyway, Graham's unpredictable at times or sometimes won't pass to Yao camped out in the paint, but at 6'7" 225lbs, he'll usually just take it in himself and yolk it over the opponent's smaller 2-guard so it's all good; i think currently Graham is the third scoring option and on decent pace for a run at MIP i'd say;
JTF, 'rulez - TMAC's almost healthy and ready for return so that's some good news on the horizon
Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:50 am
JAZZ VS ROCKETS "Rockets' plummet continues - 7th Loss"
Mon Jan 28, 2008 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
BOXSCORE UTA 103 HOU 100 Final
Player of the Game
Utah's rookie sensation point guard, Sergei Tankosic, this season's surprising #1 overall draft pick, stepped up to hit 2 clutch free throws in the closing seconds of the game for a 103-100 victory over Houston at the Toyota Center. The defeat marked the Rocket's seventh consecutive loss, continuing their longest losing streak of the season
"Normally I look to set up the offense for my teammates; but tonight I had the hot hand so they kept looking for me," said the young rookie Point Guard from Beirut, Lebanon. Tankosic took advantage of the Rockets' backcourt with his impressive shooting skills and tough defense, finishing the night with 25 points, 2 assists including 4-of-8 from downtown and the game winning free throws with 11.8 seconds remaining, as the Rockets were unable to capitalize on their final possession
Teammate Power Forward, Carlos Boozer, wrecked Houston in the paint with a 20 point, 14 rebound, 4 assist performance and commented, "It's a great win for us. Right now we're not really in sync as a team but we're slowing finding our way. "Tank" really stepped up for us tonight; he may be a rookie but he's a little older and more experienced than most rooks and facing the hardships he did while growing up has made him nothing but tough."
The Rockets were without McGrady for the 5th straight game and once again relied on Center, Yao Ming, to carry the load. Ming would have solid night with 26 points off an impressive 11-of-16 shooting night as well as 7 rebounds, 3 steals but it would not be enough to match Utah's intensity down the stretch
Houston's rookie Power Forward, Jafari Cotton, the #2 overall draft pick acquired by trade from the Atlanta Hawks had a quiet 6 points off 3-of-4 shooting plus 4 rebounds, 2 blocks in 14 minutes of play. "JC," as he is nicknamed, had been recently replaced by coach Jackson in the starting lineup by the quicker more well-rounded 3-year Forward, Marvin Williams, but neither was a match for Utah's stronger, more aggressive Boozer
Houston had a particularly tough shooting night from three-point range, tallying a dismal 2-for-18 from beyond the arc as a team
"Well, obviously things can't go on like this," Rockets' Head Coach, Phil Jackson, said with conviction following the game. "Right now we've got a light schedule ahead of us... 8 days off till our next game, I think. We've got to use this opportunity to refocus, regroup and get things back on track; try and build some momentum going into Allstar weekend"
The good news for the Rockets is that McGrady's injury recovery is ahead of schedule and early reports project he will be available to play after the short break, when Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards come to town
Najera buries a rare Rockets' trey | Yao attacking the rim
Strong contribution for the Jazz from veteran D-Fish | AK47 strokes one from downtown
Boozer throwing down a monster dunk | rookie sensation Tankosic with a more subtle approach
D-Fish again, this time for three and gives former coach Jackson a wink
Sick facial by Boozer, this time over the rookie Cotton | Tankosic's clutch free throws cap the road victory for the Jazz
___
Mon Jan 28, 2008 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
BOXSCORE UTA 103 HOU 100 Final
Player of the Game
Utah's rookie sensation point guard, Sergei Tankosic, this season's surprising #1 overall draft pick, stepped up to hit 2 clutch free throws in the closing seconds of the game for a 103-100 victory over Houston at the Toyota Center. The defeat marked the Rocket's seventh consecutive loss, continuing their longest losing streak of the season
"Normally I look to set up the offense for my teammates; but tonight I had the hot hand so they kept looking for me," said the young rookie Point Guard from Beirut, Lebanon. Tankosic took advantage of the Rockets' backcourt with his impressive shooting skills and tough defense, finishing the night with 25 points, 2 assists including 4-of-8 from downtown and the game winning free throws with 11.8 seconds remaining, as the Rockets were unable to capitalize on their final possession
Teammate Power Forward, Carlos Boozer, wrecked Houston in the paint with a 20 point, 14 rebound, 4 assist performance and commented, "It's a great win for us. Right now we're not really in sync as a team but we're slowing finding our way. "Tank" really stepped up for us tonight; he may be a rookie but he's a little older and more experienced than most rooks and facing the hardships he did while growing up has made him nothing but tough."
The Rockets were without McGrady for the 5th straight game and once again relied on Center, Yao Ming, to carry the load. Ming would have solid night with 26 points off an impressive 11-of-16 shooting night as well as 7 rebounds, 3 steals but it would not be enough to match Utah's intensity down the stretch
Houston's rookie Power Forward, Jafari Cotton, the #2 overall draft pick acquired by trade from the Atlanta Hawks had a quiet 6 points off 3-of-4 shooting plus 4 rebounds, 2 blocks in 14 minutes of play. "JC," as he is nicknamed, had been recently replaced by coach Jackson in the starting lineup by the quicker more well-rounded 3-year Forward, Marvin Williams, but neither was a match for Utah's stronger, more aggressive Boozer
Houston had a particularly tough shooting night from three-point range, tallying a dismal 2-for-18 from beyond the arc as a team
"Well, obviously things can't go on like this," Rockets' Head Coach, Phil Jackson, said with conviction following the game. "Right now we've got a light schedule ahead of us... 8 days off till our next game, I think. We've got to use this opportunity to refocus, regroup and get things back on track; try and build some momentum going into Allstar weekend"
The good news for the Rockets is that McGrady's injury recovery is ahead of schedule and early reports project he will be available to play after the short break, when Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards come to town
Najera buries a rare Rockets' trey | Yao attacking the rim
Strong contribution for the Jazz from veteran D-Fish | AK47 strokes one from downtown
Boozer throwing down a monster dunk | rookie sensation Tankosic with a more subtle approach
D-Fish again, this time for three and gives former coach Jackson a wink
Sick facial by Boozer, this time over the rookie Cotton | Tankosic's clutch free throws cap the road victory for the Jazz
___
Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:15 am
Damn, another tough loss. Something's gotta give.
If you shut down Gilbert, you should have a chance of winning.
If you shut down Gilbert, you should have a chance of winning.
Sat Oct 06, 2007 3:18 pm
I agree with Jon, if you can take out Gilbert and possible Jamison, I don't think that the Wizards will be a problem. Dallas looks tough though. They're definitely a pick your poisin type of team with Howard, Terry and Disco Dirk burying jumpers from all over the place.
Joey's definitely an inconsistent guy, but I really liked how he played in latter half of the season. He was aggressive, gritty inside and actually hit a few mid range jumpers off the dribble which is something he wans't really good at before. Graham blew in the playoffs, but he got the jitters just like most of the inexperienced players on our team. He's a definite gym rat and he's got the body, so I think this year its finally going to click for him or he's definitely headed out by the trade deadline this season. With that being said, I kind of like Graham on the Rockets.... I can still root for a semi-productive Graham in this dynasty if the real one turns out to be shit
As an avid Raptors fan, and I'm sure It's asdf will agree with me on this, Joey Graham scares the shit out of me every time he steps on the court. You just never know what to expect from him. The best thing about Toronto's acquisitions of Kapono and Delfino is that hopefully, Graham will hardly have to play.
Joey's definitely an inconsistent guy, but I really liked how he played in latter half of the season. He was aggressive, gritty inside and actually hit a few mid range jumpers off the dribble which is something he wans't really good at before. Graham blew in the playoffs, but he got the jitters just like most of the inexperienced players on our team. He's a definite gym rat and he's got the body, so I think this year its finally going to click for him or he's definitely headed out by the trade deadline this season. With that being said, I kind of like Graham on the Rockets.... I can still root for a semi-productive Graham in this dynasty if the real one turns out to be shit
Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:31 am
It's_asdf - ahhh Dallas. such a thorn in my side; but hang on, first things first; things about to get crraaaaazy
JTF - "Something's gotta give" is right!
JTF - "Something's gotta give" is right!
BLOCKBUSTER MID-SEASON TRADE: 5 TEAMS, 13 PLAYERS
Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:50 am
BLOCKBUSTER MID-SEASON TRADE: 5 TEAMS, 13 PLAYERS
Friday February 1st, 2008
History repeated itself with the trade deadline looming only weeks away, as five franchises struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive participated in a blockbuster multi-team deal. The trade matched the previous All-Time Largest Trade in NBA History: a five team, thirteen player swap back on August 2, 2005 and became the largest mid-season deal before the trade deadline, which was previously set by a nine player swap between New Jersey and Dallas back on Feb 17, 1997 (cool trivia http://www.nba.com/history/largest_trades_030819.html)
The following is a recap of "Big Friday's" blockbuster deal:
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (15-30, last in SE div, 2-game losing streak)
Acquired: Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman (LAC)
Traded: Brevin Knight, Sean May, Kojo Kwok
Starting 5: Kaman - C, Okafor - PF, Maggette - SF, Wagner -SG, Felton - PG
As part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, professed he would do, "Whatever it took" to get the 'Cats onto a winning path; but so far the season hasn't gone according to MJ's wishes
True to his word, Jordan shook up the franchise by negotiating what many argue to be the sweetest upgrade of all the deals of the 'Big Friday' trade. The Bobcat's acquired the tough, offensive-minded, Corey Maggette for a boost at the SF position and moved Gerald Wallace to sixth man. "I talked to Gerald before we made the move," said Jordan. "Told him what I needed from him - to give us solidity for our second unit much like Manu does for the Spurs. Gerald's a winner, a professional, and said he'd do whatever it takes to get us back on track"
With rugged Chris "Caveman" Kaman joining shot-blocker, Emeka Okafor, in the frontcourt, Maggette's punishing offensive game on the wing and defensive stopper, Gerald Wallace coming off the bench, look for the 'Cats to make a wild late season push
___
UTAH JAZZ (20-24, 3rd in NW div)
Acquired: Gerald Green (HOU), Kojo Kwok (CHA)
Traded: Deron Williams
Starting 5: Okur - C, Boozer - PF, Kirilenko - SF, Green - SG, Tankosic - PG
Initially ill-received as the 2007-08 #1 overall draft pick, the talented rookie, Sergei Tankosic, has since established himself as a crowd favorite and already one of the league's premiere PGs averaging roughly 22 points, 4 boards, 6 assists and 2 steals per game
Yet a frustrated Coach Jerry Sloan saw his middle-of-the-pack Jazz with the talent capable of winning games but not making the push and now teetering between playoffs or an early summer. It's no surprise all fingers pointed at former starter, Deron Williams, whose production had dropped by nearly 12 points, 2 boards and 6 assists since last season; though not publicly vocal about the situation, Williams' message to Sloan was clear - I want out
With the trade Sloan saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: 1) release a disgruntled player and 2) add instant firepower while strengthening his bench
The raw, talented Gerald Green, often compared to a younger Tracy McGrady, will immediately replace Gordon Girecek at starting SG and provide Utah with an explosive, above-the-rim, scorer who will benefit tremendously from Tankosic's playmaking ability
"I'm hoping for a Kidd/Carter combo - only younger, " joked an optimistic Jerry Sloan. "But seriously, I'm really excited to steal this kid, Green. He's shown the ability to create his own shot with terrific ball-handling and explosiveness going to the basket as well as nice passing ability to involve his teammates. We're very exciting to have him on board and he's still learning and growing; literally… the sky's the limit with him"
___
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (12-36, worst record in the league; 3-game losing streak)
Acquired: Quinton Ross (LAC), J.R. Njinkeu (HOU)
Traded: Martell Webster
Starting 5: Lafrentz - C, Randolf -PF, Miles - SF, Jones - SG, Jack - PG
18.5 games behind 1st in their division and current owner of the league's worst record, the 'Blazers are lotto-bound and basically looking to rebuild. It's unlikely that bringing the low-scoring but tough, perimeter-defense-minded, Quinton Ross, will have an impact this season but if they've gotta start rebuilding somewhere, the defensive end is as good a place as any
___
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (12-31, 2nd worst record in the league; 6-game losing streak)
Acquired: Luke Ridnour, Eduardo Najera, Jafari Cotton (HOU)
Traded: Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Quinton Ross
Starting 5: Brand - C, Cotton - PF, Hardaway - SF, Buford - SG, Ridnour - PG
With the second worst record in the league, the Clippers are hoping the 2007-08 #2 overall draft pick, Jafari "JC" Cotton teamed alongside the powerful, Elton Brand, in the frontcourt becomes a future winning combination for years to come. Luke Ridnour's presence should provide leadership and a role-model for younger PG, Shaun Livingston, while Eduardo Najera brings versatility off the bench. Their 07-08 season may be bleak, but if the team can gel, watch for them to be a headache for other teams on the playoff bubble
___
HOUSTON ROCKETS (24-19, 4th in SW div; 7-game losing streak)
Acquired: Deron Williams (UTA); Brevin Knight, Sean May (CHA); Martell Webster (POR)
Traded: Luke Ridnour, Eduardo Najera, Gerald Green, Jafari Cotton, J.R. Njinkeu (re-signed)
Starting 5: Yao - C, M. Williams - PF, McGrady - SF, Graham - SG, D. Williams - PG
In the midst of a seven game slide, Rocket's owner, Les Alexander together with Phil Jackson took the biggest risk in a bold but decisive roster shakeup that saw the departure of 5 players and addition of 6 new faces
"Sometimes the pieces just don't fit," Alexander said as he announced the recent acquisitions and newly departed. "Since the beginning of the season, Phil and I have been evaluating and discussing the team's problems and needs extensively; I'm confident time will show we've made the right decisions to address these needs."
"It's always a difficult decision," added Jackson. "You begin to build a rapport with your players before the season even begins, so a major roster shakeup like this is tough and always risky. At the same time, with the thin roster we had coming into Allstar Weekend and the Trade deadline, our shot to make a legitimate run at the playoffs was questionable. We believe we've now made the necessary changes and added depth and versatility to get us back in a winning way. As Les said, time will tell."
Deron Williams was the Rocket's biggest, yet most questionable trade acquisition. With his significant production drop-off from last season, Rocket fans were more than surprised to see Ridnour depart (Ridnour, however, has seen his own scoring fall by nearly 9 points a game since last season); the Rocket's are banking that Williams will be revitalized to budding Allstar-form once re-inserted into the starting PG role but that remains to be seen; if he is, he'll add a toughness and rebounding presence that Ridnour lacked
Mike James struggled as backup PG and will most likely be shifted to 3rd option PG and take on a more comfortable backup SG role; veteran Brevin Knight joins the team and should keep the 2nd unit running fluidly with his exceptional passing ability and leadership on the floor
Big man Sean May, back from an extensive off-season of rehab, will put knee to the test and try to fill the hole left by the big shoes of departed rookie, Jafari Cotton, while a young but promising swingman, Martell Webster, will look for a fresh start from his dismal days with Portland and try to establish himself in the shadow of former crowd favorite, Gerald Green
The Rockets also used the opportunity of freed salary cap space from the 'Big Friday' trades to sign undrafted rookie sharpshooter, Garrick Briggs, and offensive-minded rookie Forward, Anthony Sato, bringing their roster to 12 and adding much needed depth to their lineup
With the bitter aftertaste of being replaced by Tankosic still fresh in Williams' mouth, along with the Green/McGrady comparisons and Green's new role as Utah's starting SG, watch for March 18th - Jazz vs Rockets in their final meeting of the season - to be the birth of a heated Western Conference rivalry for years to come
Friday February 1st, 2008
History repeated itself with the trade deadline looming only weeks away, as five franchises struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive participated in a blockbuster multi-team deal. The trade matched the previous All-Time Largest Trade in NBA History: a five team, thirteen player swap back on August 2, 2005 and became the largest mid-season deal before the trade deadline, which was previously set by a nine player swap between New Jersey and Dallas back on Feb 17, 1997 (cool trivia http://www.nba.com/history/largest_trades_030819.html)
The following is a recap of "Big Friday's" blockbuster deal:
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (15-30, last in SE div, 2-game losing streak)
Acquired: Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman (LAC)
Traded: Brevin Knight, Sean May, Kojo Kwok
Starting 5: Kaman - C, Okafor - PF, Maggette - SF, Wagner -SG, Felton - PG
As part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, professed he would do, "Whatever it took" to get the 'Cats onto a winning path; but so far the season hasn't gone according to MJ's wishes
True to his word, Jordan shook up the franchise by negotiating what many argue to be the sweetest upgrade of all the deals of the 'Big Friday' trade. The Bobcat's acquired the tough, offensive-minded, Corey Maggette for a boost at the SF position and moved Gerald Wallace to sixth man. "I talked to Gerald before we made the move," said Jordan. "Told him what I needed from him - to give us solidity for our second unit much like Manu does for the Spurs. Gerald's a winner, a professional, and said he'd do whatever it takes to get us back on track"
With rugged Chris "Caveman" Kaman joining shot-blocker, Emeka Okafor, in the frontcourt, Maggette's punishing offensive game on the wing and defensive stopper, Gerald Wallace coming off the bench, look for the 'Cats to make a wild late season push
___
UTAH JAZZ (20-24, 3rd in NW div)
Acquired: Gerald Green (HOU), Kojo Kwok (CHA)
Traded: Deron Williams
Starting 5: Okur - C, Boozer - PF, Kirilenko - SF, Green - SG, Tankosic - PG
Initially ill-received as the 2007-08 #1 overall draft pick, the talented rookie, Sergei Tankosic, has since established himself as a crowd favorite and already one of the league's premiere PGs averaging roughly 22 points, 4 boards, 6 assists and 2 steals per game
Yet a frustrated Coach Jerry Sloan saw his middle-of-the-pack Jazz with the talent capable of winning games but not making the push and now teetering between playoffs or an early summer. It's no surprise all fingers pointed at former starter, Deron Williams, whose production had dropped by nearly 12 points, 2 boards and 6 assists since last season; though not publicly vocal about the situation, Williams' message to Sloan was clear - I want out
With the trade Sloan saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: 1) release a disgruntled player and 2) add instant firepower while strengthening his bench
The raw, talented Gerald Green, often compared to a younger Tracy McGrady, will immediately replace Gordon Girecek at starting SG and provide Utah with an explosive, above-the-rim, scorer who will benefit tremendously from Tankosic's playmaking ability
"I'm hoping for a Kidd/Carter combo - only younger, " joked an optimistic Jerry Sloan. "But seriously, I'm really excited to steal this kid, Green. He's shown the ability to create his own shot with terrific ball-handling and explosiveness going to the basket as well as nice passing ability to involve his teammates. We're very exciting to have him on board and he's still learning and growing; literally… the sky's the limit with him"
___
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (12-36, worst record in the league; 3-game losing streak)
Acquired: Quinton Ross (LAC), J.R. Njinkeu (HOU)
Traded: Martell Webster
Starting 5: Lafrentz - C, Randolf -PF, Miles - SF, Jones - SG, Jack - PG
18.5 games behind 1st in their division and current owner of the league's worst record, the 'Blazers are lotto-bound and basically looking to rebuild. It's unlikely that bringing the low-scoring but tough, perimeter-defense-minded, Quinton Ross, will have an impact this season but if they've gotta start rebuilding somewhere, the defensive end is as good a place as any
___
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (12-31, 2nd worst record in the league; 6-game losing streak)
Acquired: Luke Ridnour, Eduardo Najera, Jafari Cotton (HOU)
Traded: Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Quinton Ross
Starting 5: Brand - C, Cotton - PF, Hardaway - SF, Buford - SG, Ridnour - PG
With the second worst record in the league, the Clippers are hoping the 2007-08 #2 overall draft pick, Jafari "JC" Cotton teamed alongside the powerful, Elton Brand, in the frontcourt becomes a future winning combination for years to come. Luke Ridnour's presence should provide leadership and a role-model for younger PG, Shaun Livingston, while Eduardo Najera brings versatility off the bench. Their 07-08 season may be bleak, but if the team can gel, watch for them to be a headache for other teams on the playoff bubble
___
HOUSTON ROCKETS (24-19, 4th in SW div; 7-game losing streak)
Acquired: Deron Williams (UTA); Brevin Knight, Sean May (CHA); Martell Webster (POR)
Traded: Luke Ridnour, Eduardo Najera, Gerald Green, Jafari Cotton, J.R. Njinkeu (re-signed)
Starting 5: Yao - C, M. Williams - PF, McGrady - SF, Graham - SG, D. Williams - PG
In the midst of a seven game slide, Rocket's owner, Les Alexander together with Phil Jackson took the biggest risk in a bold but decisive roster shakeup that saw the departure of 5 players and addition of 6 new faces
"Sometimes the pieces just don't fit," Alexander said as he announced the recent acquisitions and newly departed. "Since the beginning of the season, Phil and I have been evaluating and discussing the team's problems and needs extensively; I'm confident time will show we've made the right decisions to address these needs."
"It's always a difficult decision," added Jackson. "You begin to build a rapport with your players before the season even begins, so a major roster shakeup like this is tough and always risky. At the same time, with the thin roster we had coming into Allstar Weekend and the Trade deadline, our shot to make a legitimate run at the playoffs was questionable. We believe we've now made the necessary changes and added depth and versatility to get us back in a winning way. As Les said, time will tell."
Deron Williams was the Rocket's biggest, yet most questionable trade acquisition. With his significant production drop-off from last season, Rocket fans were more than surprised to see Ridnour depart (Ridnour, however, has seen his own scoring fall by nearly 9 points a game since last season); the Rocket's are banking that Williams will be revitalized to budding Allstar-form once re-inserted into the starting PG role but that remains to be seen; if he is, he'll add a toughness and rebounding presence that Ridnour lacked
Mike James struggled as backup PG and will most likely be shifted to 3rd option PG and take on a more comfortable backup SG role; veteran Brevin Knight joins the team and should keep the 2nd unit running fluidly with his exceptional passing ability and leadership on the floor
Big man Sean May, back from an extensive off-season of rehab, will put knee to the test and try to fill the hole left by the big shoes of departed rookie, Jafari Cotton, while a young but promising swingman, Martell Webster, will look for a fresh start from his dismal days with Portland and try to establish himself in the shadow of former crowd favorite, Gerald Green
The Rockets also used the opportunity of freed salary cap space from the 'Big Friday' trades to sign undrafted rookie sharpshooter, Garrick Briggs, and offensive-minded rookie Forward, Anthony Sato, bringing their roster to 12 and adding much needed depth to their lineup
With the bitter aftertaste of being replaced by Tankosic still fresh in Williams' mouth, along with the Green/McGrady comparisons and Green's new role as Utah's starting SG, watch for March 18th - Jazz vs Rockets in their final meeting of the season - to be the birth of a heated Western Conference rivalry for years to come
Last edited by Clutch on Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:03 am
Woah. Huge trade, alright. Your team definitely looks better on paper now, though. Looking forward to that matchup with Utah.
Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:54 am
Wow u were able to pick up deron williams , Super nice trade