The Rockets Pursuit of Dwight Howard

Posted on June 26, 2012 by wcornblatt

What are the Rockets doing? Have they been brainwashed so thoroughly by recent free agent bonanzas that they think trading a future for Dwight Howard is enough to win a championship? They’ve been trying to trade draft picks and Kyle Lowry to assemble a package of picks so compelling that the Magic trade them Howard.

And then what?

I’m sure Houston isn’t the glamorous big city that Howard was looking for, so the Rockets can look forward to a melancholy big man who’s star personality overshadows the team dynamic. Even if he commits himself to being a productive teammate, his supporting cast isn’t dramatically better than the one in Orlando. However because teams are convinced the way to win in the NBA is to add the big free agent at any cost, their mission continues. What they aren’t realizing, justifiably, is that securing Howard isn’t securing a future. If he doesn’t win in Houston, which I simply can’t see happening considering how dominant the Heat and Thunder looked, he’ll be looking for another contract in four years after his southern experiment is over. Oh, and he had surgery at the end of last season.

So you have a 26-year-old who is the best big man in the league, but injury and personality problems make him a questionable prospect. Do you really want to bring that drama to your team if you’re the Rockets? Do you really want to sacrifice a bounty of draft picks and one of your best players to put you into immediate playoff contention for the next five years? It’s a question of goals, if you’re aiming to just make your franchise competitive again to sell tickets and increase intrigue, then Howard’s your guy. He’s funny and charismatic when he isn’t destroying your locker room. People would flock to watch him, but if you’re looking to establish your team for the distant future and keep the locker room controllable, then he isn’t your guy.

The Rockets had a good season and showed they had a lot to build on, but by attempting to add Dwight Howard they’re destroying the cohesiveness of a young core that is sure to succeed eventually.

NBA Western Conference Upsets

Posted on March 30, 2012 by wcornblatt

The NBA playoffs tend to be the most predictable postseason in sports, but still first round upsets surely await. Last year’s one-seed in the West, the Spurs, got beat by a more physical and youthful Grizzlies team. This year, the fight begins with the bottom of the Western Conference. The Nuggets, Rockets and Jazz are all tied, occupying the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th positions in the playoff picture. Phoenix is two games back, Minnesota is two and a half and Portland is three. When looking for upsets, there’s always that “wildcard” team that nobody wants to play. Last year, the Grizzlies win wasn’t a shock. Most NBA followers can look at a match-up and identify the dangerous teams. This year, the Nuggets look like that team.

Their erratic play is ironically an asset come playoff time. All it takes is one run, and the Nuggets have proven they can beat some very good teams. Wins over the Knicks, Sixers, Lakers, Mavs, Clippers and Celtics demonstrate the resilience and character the Nuggets can show at times. Other times though, they look over-matched by mediocre or even poor teams. However in the playoffs, it isn’t about beating up on bad teams.

The Rockets have also performed well against the top of the West. Wins over the first 2 seeds (Spurs and Thunder) must give the Kevin McHale coached squad some confidence. The problem may be the strength of the Thunder is just too much to overcome, especially with their intense home court advantage.

Nevertheless the Spurs, who truly don’t deserve to be underestimated, still feel like an upset waiting to happen. They’ve done nothing but perform excellent, but inside most fans is a feeling that their age might get to them with a potential match-up against the Rockets or Nuggets. First things first for the bottom of the Western Conference standings; get in the playoffs. Once two of these teams do, they’ll have a chance to remind every fan why we watch sports, for the underdog!

Honoring Derek Fisher

Posted on March 16, 2012 by wcornblatt

Derek Fisher is a different kind of basketball player. He isn’t going to lose a defender with a quick move, or look away while he throws a pass to an open big man. Ironically, he’s different because he’s average, he’s got an old school game. Fisher would never draw your attention if you watched a random game on TNT earlier this year, but for an average player he’ll stand out in a long and glorious history of Lakers. He won five championships, and perhaps he’ll be best remembered for his shot against the Spurs in the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals with .4 seconds left that won the Lakers the game and eventually the series. Or maybe he’ll be remembered for his two clutch three-point shots against the Magic in the 2009 finals to send the game to overtime and eventually win. Then again, maybe he’ll be remembered for his ridiculous 11-point fourth quarter in game 3 of the 2010 finals against the Celtics that helped seal a victory. Or he’ll just be remembered for being one of the toughest players of our generation. Fisher never stood out because he didn’t need to throw a circle around his eye after a 2^nd quarter jumper. He never holstered his guns after a big shot. Derek Fisher played every game with a tenacity that is the embodiment of true NBA play, and it’s a shame he’ll end his career with a team other than the Lakers. Maybe we’ll remember Derek Fisher the man, who had to leave the Utah Jazz to care for his daughter who had a rare form of eye cancer. Where were the best doctors? Los Angeles. So Fisher ended up right where he should, with the Lakers, desperately praying and caring for his child. He’s as articulate and classy as any NBA player is, and will always be a gold standard for behavior for youngsters coming into the league. Derek Fisher might have ended up in Houston, but he’ll always be a Laker, and he’ll always be the perfect type of NBA player.

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Tag Archives: Houston Rockets

The Rockets Pursuit of Dwight Howard

NBA Western Conference Upsets

Honoring Derek Fisher