Don't the Rockets need swingman depth (Dragic?) more than another PF???

I'd rather Ersan defend the 3/4 position than dragic at the 2..

Remember we have Brewer, he just doesnt get used (and i dont see the point in his signing, playoffs?) for the 2/3/4

We still need a stretch 4 regardless and Asik wants and deserves to be a starter, wherever that may be

 

If it was the Rockets decisions I believe they also would choose to keep Asik. He's worth more to the team as a backup center and as PF against playoff teams like OKC, Spurs, Grizzlies, Pacers than anything they could get via trade. However if Asik really, really wants to go and starts creating problems then management may have no choice...

 

The backcourt is fine. Why bring in Dragic who has the same contract that was rejected a few years ago? When is he gonna play with Harden, Beverley and Lin all deserving playing time? How would he improve the team when the guard position is probably the most solid spot on the team?

 

Dragic makes no sense unless you move Beverley or Lin.

Moving Lin is basically a near lateral move in basketball terms, a lose in marketing terms.
Moving Beverley makes more sense but salaries don't match unless you throw in more players. Possible, but filling the 4 spot is higher priority.

That said, *if* Morey moved Beverley, then you have a PG Lin and Dragic to play the PG position and swing 1/2 ... though you'd be giving up a defensive wing which isn't ideal either.

 

Good analysis, OP!

I still can't believe McHale is abandoning Twin Tower without knowing the cause.

1. Twin Tower (TT) worked in the preaseason when our 3's were falling.

2. TT played exclusively with Beverley, Parsons, and Harden and all of them shot an abysmal of 26% 3's.

Probable cause #1: It was not TT's job to make 3's. If anything, it was failure of three other perimeter shooters. Imagine Bev, Parson, and Harden all were making 3's at a high clip, and what different outcome would that be?

I think after 7-8 games, TT was among the top two-man lineups in the second halves. So it was actually working in the regular season BUT only half the time.

Probable cause #2: lack of pre-game preparation or excellent half time adjustment, whichever you look at.

Statistically, Asik is our best player for the second halves. His Net Rating is outstanding at +15.3 (click).

Asik is a better man-to-man defender than Dwight. He was the key to our win against Aldridge and Blazers. Dwight does NOT like to play outside the paint! Unlike Dwight, Asik will play all the way to the arc. Hawes kept making outside shots, why not playing Asik when Dwight was getting burned?

The rule of thumb is this: When you are the better team, make others adjust to you; you don't adjust to others! Why adjust to opposition strength? Our biggest advantage was our size, USE IT!

I also agree with OP that Dwight does not give 100% effort on all plays. Remember when he 'promised' that he would get 30 rebounds, even with Asik's 14, he still tied his career best with 26. Think about that...he fully controls his effort on the court. My question is this:

Why can't he bring the same season-opener effort for EVERY SINGLE game?

 

TT are great in paint protection which means opponenst will have to find a way to score at the perimeter. Bev and parsons shouldn't have any problem but harden...If we cant lose harden, it mean we have to give up TT.

 

TT was the best situation to beat teams like Memphis and The Spurs.
I don't see Illyasova guarding Duncan or Randolph.
That 1 important argument to like LMA.

 

No, it's not. Dragic & Lin may be similiar. While Lin is the better scorer, they're not the same. The reasons not start Lin wouldn't apply.

It's not only because of an ill fit with Harden, but Dwight too.

With Harden there are the well known problems on both ends of the court. Mostly because Lin needs the ball in his hands to be effective, as we've seen. Dragic can play off the ball. The Bledsoe-Dragic backcourt is working well and that should translate in a Harden tandem.

Dragic sharing the PG position with Bev could possibly work well too. In McHale's first year, the Rockets were 3rd in the league at stopping opponents' 3P shots. In that year Lowry & Dragic split the starter PG role at around 60-40.

Now the fit with Dwight, not mentioned as much as Harden's, but maybe it should be? Simply Howards fouls a lot. He's alway been like that. Big need to be protected, the PG has to stay with his man, stop the dribble penetration. All NBA coaches talk about stopping dribble penetration. It's like a mantra.

Nothing good happens when a small guy with a head full of steam goes at a big. It's just like when the Rockets needed that trade for David Wesley to help Yao and save their season.

Dragic & Lin aren't that dissimiliar on D but it's Dragic's lateral speed which Lin doesn't have, allows him to stick to his man He's even able to recover, ie get back on his man when he goes under the screen. Again similiar, but not the same result.

Also Dragic's contract will be easier to trade in free agency.

What would be interesting in dealing with the Suns is somehow snaring Miles Plumlee and one of their four 2014 picks.

It's all about asset accumulation. Trading for Aldridge is only a matter of time. I can feel it.

 

Iggy is also a LOCK DOWN PERIMETER DEFENDER. Something Dragic is not and that's what the Rockets need... The offense is fine with James and Jermey but they need a defender out there with them. If you bring in Dragic _ same situation.

 

The Rockets were 3rd in the league in stopping oppenents' 3P shots in McHales first year here.

Dragic has the lateral quickness to stick with his man.

 

not surprise by horoos of the board. Lin is here, deal with it.

Mchale is not the owner and the Gm of the Rockets.


"it took me the longest time to get your name right it ends with an itch sound la la la la "

i'm not a fan of our coach but what can I do? Just to accept he is here and hope he eventually learns from the mistakes and soon, win it all.

 

Parsons was a much better defender his rookie year. He was a dog on defense _ now he's a mut.

And who are you saying the Rockets should trade for Dragic...???

 

Another YOf turned LOF onto my ignore list.

Sometimes it's about the combinations.

 

Yeap. The same combinations they were getting beat down with by the end of the season when making the playoffs was on the line (I think by a couple of teams under .500). I won't argue if Goran is better with Harden over Lin. He is the better defensively. But I'll take Jermey. Anybody who can step out there and give me 30 is good with me. And plus Isaiah is off to a hot start in the D-League so Beverley better step his game up. The point guard position is not an issue. And if Morey didn't won't to sign Goran for that contract as a free agent _ I seriously doubt he'll trade for it. That's non productive.

 

If/when we trade Asik, we need a 3rd best player. In fighting with Lin, and Parsons, at PF or on the wings.

So our end of game lineup can be Dwight- Parsons or PF- Parsons or Swing- Harden- Lin or Bev.

Our end of game lineup counts, TJones can start. Defensively, he's actually quite good. Offensively, he's progressing. Casspi is not an end of game player. He's a 20mpg reserve, not the 6th man that will be the 5th starter in the lineup.

 

No. The Rockets need a legit starting PF more than anything else at the moment. We have Brooks and Brewer if we need help at the 1-3.

 

Who was confused why the Warriors got Iguodala?

He's probably their best defender, 2nd best playmaker, and an excellent teammate. He adds to that team immensely.

 

Two things killed them. Lowry coming back from injury and the frontcourt problems.

Lowry wasn't match fit, ready to play at all. Remember, he had a a long lay off, but the Rockets had to give him quality minutes, if they were to have any hope if they made the playoffs. He was also a little bit sulky about playing off the bench.

The front court was horrendous on defense and kind of imploded at seasons end. McHale decided to ride Camby but he was so banged up at the end but his appendages were hanging by the skin. Both Dalembert & Camby were so ineffective at defending against the PnR the Rockets best defensive numbers came when Scola was at the 5. Bad things happen with that option.

Probably should have stuck with Dalembert & Scola as they were starting to gel at that point but I think there some rumors about behind the scenes problems that finally blew up with Dalembert and gave Camby the starting role.

 

TJ has been doing darn good for his first few starts. Rebounding, playing defense, he's a certified shot blocker, and he can knock down the 3. I think he just needs more time to get comfortable and build his confidence. I think the Rockets could use a strong perimeter defender who can play the 2-3 and isn't a liability on the offensive end. I like Casspi and Garcia but they are not lock down defenders and neither is Parsons. The Rockets perimeter defense is a bigger issue than the 4 spot IMO.