yea.. BRIGGS, I generally like reading your posts but that was pretty sad. This isnt McDyess signed here. This guy has never been hurt before, or givin himself proper time to heal. Considering he's played at a very high level this year WITH the bum knee thats a ridiculous statement.

As for the value he brings is Reggie Miller valueable to the Pacers? Houston changes the game when he steps on the floor. The thing is if he can play 28-32 minutes a game the next 3 years for us and do what he does best... fire away one of the best jumpers in the league and hit clutch shots.

Posted by fishmike:

The thing is if he can play 28-32 minutes a game the next 3 years for us and do what he does best... fire away one of the best jumpers in the league and hit clutch shots.

Amen.

Posted by fishmike:

The thing is if he can play 28-32 minutes a game the next 3 years for us and do what he does best... fire away one of the best jumpers in the league and hit clutch shots.

Amen.

If things hit right, if we have some LUCK +some additional and current things workout for us, I think it is plausible for us to be considered a contender within 2 years. Its possible and its also possible we could be in the lotto -- BUT I dont see H20, who would be 35---going on 36 as a staple of what we are trying to do. 1 reason why we were able to retool a bit and get back to the finals in 99 was mainly that we traded off our 30 somethings oakley starks and brought back sprewell and camby. I dont want AH to be hurt, but I dont see him as a fit anymore. This guy is not young and his knees are not responding to anything. Its likely that he will have to endure another--probably more invasive knee surgery to see what the heck is going on. We need to, as an organization, move on from him. The best outcome for the organization--unless this guy has a miracle recovery, is permanent injury status. If he can comeback 100% that would be great, but at his age Im doubting it very much. H2O still gets his money and we would have an additional MLE+ insurance picks up 85% of his salary giving the knicks wiggle room to spend. Some times things sound cold, but its just reality.

Here's the thing. Even at 33-38 years old I think Houston fits perfectly in what we do. EVERY team needs a shooter, plain and simple. Just like a low post presence creates space so does that shooter. The teams that are great usually have both. Houston doesnt have to be a run and jump vince carter to play a critical role in what we are trying to do. There is nothing wrong with having a veteran clutch shooter like Houston hanging around. Obviously you dont want him making $20 mill but that Layden's mistake we have to live with.

The other thing is Houston *DID* come back. He got sidelined again because he collided with another player and took a knee right to the already hurt leg. He average 20 points in 40 mins and was playing great before he got whacked. Its not like Dice where he just jumped for a ball and his leg broke.

I dont see any reason Houston wont heal. These are all assumptions on your part.

Briggs -you must be very young or very immature for such utterances. There was a baseball player by the name of Smoky Burgess who couldn't run throw or catch very well but he sure could hit. It was oce said that he could hit if they rolled him out in a wheelchair. Well it never came to that but until he could no longer hit they sent him up to pinch hit and he delivered.

Alan Houston is still in his prime basketball years-he was never too fast and while never a great defender learned how to stay in front of his man and became an adequate defender. He could rebound occasionally and could score on a drive or post up but most of all he could shoot. He can still shoot and will be able to shoot as long as he can stand-he's much like Reggie Miller.

Don't write him off even if his knee never fully recover. BTW it probably will and you will see a better player feeding off Stephon's drives and Sweets rebounds. How many players would you rather see taking a three or a long jumpshot contested or otherwise. He has generally delivered when call upon.
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So pipe down young man and give credit to a man who has proven his worth. You may like the speedy, tall, strong, quick athletes you tout but tell me over the past ten years- out of the hundreds of physical specimens drafted how many reached the all star level which Houston has reached.

Sorry to run off

[Edited by - TheSage on 04/13/2004 17:55:39]

[Edited by - TheSage on 04/13/2004 19:31:56]

[Edited by - TheSage on 04/13/2004 19:33:01]

Yeah....Bernard King wasn't suppose to come back from his surgery and he proved a lot of nay sayers wrong.

IMO, it may be a matter of trade days. I like H20, KT and Nazr for Mo Diesel as my # 1 option.

i don't know but H2O sounds like he is shot if you listened to him on sportsdesk, he said he needs a cast or something to that ilk. I think it is becoming obvious that H2O is going down for the count--if he was 23-28 OK he'd have some time on his side, but 33 after having surgery last summer and pain all year to the point where he cant play doesnt bode well. hes done everything you can do to relieve the pain, but obviously he needs more extensive surgery to the same knee. if you add up every factor, the reality is I dont know how we can go forward counting on H2O to start 2G in the NBA for 80 games 35 minutes a night. and to be a winning team, you need to be able to count on guys. maybe if things workout with H2O physically?????? that he shoulkd come off the bench and we go forward perhaps even using our MLE to entice a young 2G. right now andersen is a guy who plays well at times but really shouldnt be a starter and then we have marbury shifting over. there is no doubt about it that 2G becomes almost a primary need--although i would always start with trying to improve the 5 myself:>)

Good points Fish