<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Stromile Swift doesn't back down from the belief of many that he has underachieved in his first five seasons in the NBA. But the former first-round pick of the Grizzlies views his new opportunity with the Rockets as a chance to right those disappointments. Swift, a 6-9, 230-pound power forward, signed with the Rockets on Tuesday, the first day NBA teams were allowed to sign free agents and announce trades under the new collective bargaining agreement. The deal, which a source says is a four-year contract, had been on the table but did not become official until Tuesday. "I don't think (my career) has gone as well as I planned or wanted it to go, but I've kind of improved every year," said Stromile, 25, who has averaged nine points, five rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots in 352 games with the Grizzlies after the team ? then in Vancouver ? made him the second overall pick of the 2000 NBA draft. "That's all I can ask of myself is to get better every year. The process has been slow, but hopefully now it will take off." The major part of the obstacle with the Grizzlies was never being able to crack the starting lineup over Pau Gasol. And Swift also was out of position as a 6-9 post player. But he comes to the Rockets with a chance to start and be a third of one of the most exciting young frontcourts in the NBA alongside forward Tracy McGrady and center Yao Ming. For the most part it's a best-case scenario for the high-flying athleticism Swift brings. Unlike his situation with the Grizzlies, Swift will be teamed in the frontcourt with two All-Stars who regularly draw double teams. That should open up his game around the basket where he can rebound and score on lob passes and putbacks. "I think it's going to make the game a lot easier for me," Swift said. "I know guys are going to have to double-team Tracy and Yao so that leaves me there to get offensive rebounds and putbacks and things like that. And when guys start to play off of me in the half court, I can step back and hit that 15-foot jump shot. If I can continue to do that, then I will be pretty good."</div> Source
Alot of Stro's haters think he wont try hard in Houston. There is always that risk with a player like him. I'm very optimistic about him because he admits he has aomething to proove, and The Rockets is the right place for him to proove that. They will give him enough minutes at his natural position, and Stro should cherish and work to silence his critics while trying to win a title.
Thats great to hear, he doesn't seem as cocky or arrogant as he does when he's on the court, he knows his role on this team and that's already a good sign, we're going to be an exciting team next season, and before anyone says excitement doesn't bring championships i'll just say that I agree but it will lead to more seats being sold and more seats meaning more noise and more noise meaning more adrenaline in our players which will get them pumped up, which in turn will make them play better which will result in more wins which gives us a better seed which gets us higher in the playoffs resulting in a finals game and a championship! Maybe i'm getting ahead of myself...
Nice one Dan. The offseason ain't finished yet, and although we don't have the money to sign big names, this team can still get mroe exciting to watch.
Having big names doesn't always equal success. But having a talented enough group of players who work extremely well together will.
I think you will find swift isnt real big on team play....he is just out there to do his own thing and really never got involved with the offense in memphis. He can really be a dynamic player and I hope he does well for you guys....with yao in the center it will defiantly give him good looks from the PF position.
