SI.Com-Rox one of five teams that have taken a step backwards this offseason

It isn't that TM and SB can't coexist but that their natural spots on the floor are the same.

Let's not pretend we're set at the 4 or the 2.

Would TM get traded? Could he be? And if so, when? Hell, I got a call from the Rox tix office hitting me up for season tix; their job is hard enough w/o TM to help sell them.

Just idle speculation that won't come to pass. That would be my article to get slammed: having 16 mil tied up in one player, no matter how talented, can't be a good thing, and you should at least (quietly) explore just how banged-up the rest of the league thinks he is.

We keep talking versatility but having a starting SF "who can play the 2" and another starting SF "who can play the 4"....Well, what about the real 4? (Juwan.) The real 2? Snyder and Head.

The team isn't done dealing.

 

First Off, here is a post form RealGM.com

Preparation for becoming an NBA championship contender is never an easy job. Just when you think you’ve made the correct transactions that allowed your team to compete with the elite, it never works out quite as you would have liked.

The Houston Rockets are a prime example of such a scenario.

Last offseason, the Rockets made a few moves that would have suggested that they were ready to become a formidable team that could go deep in the Western Conference. They acquired prized forward Stromile Swift with their mid-level exception. They signed guard Derek Anderson. They re-signed their own significant free agents, Jon Barry and Dikembe Mutombo.

To capitalize on such movement, they had even drafted a diamond in the rough in guard Luther Head with the 24th pick in the 2005 NBA draft. It seemed as if all was well and the Rockets were one of the few teams mentioned who could possibly give the San Antonio Spurs a run for their throne.

But as is often the case in the cruel and unforgiving world of professional sports, things did not work out in the Rockets’ favor. Tracy McGrady missed 35 games due to a lingering, chronic back injury. Yao Ming was also held out of action for most of the season, participating in only 57 games, most due to the inflammation of a toe.

That led to a 34-48 season, and placed Houston in the draft lottery for the first time in four years. It also signaled yet another important offseason for the Rockets as their window of opportunity seems ready to slam shut at any moment’s notice.

Unfortunately, what took place was a horrific series of player movement that, if nothing else, verifies that Rockets management knows not of what they’re doing.

After a questionable draft night in which Houston traded their No. 8 selection—Uconn hyper-athlete Rudy Gay—and reserve forward Stromile Swift for Memphis’ Shane Battier, it appeared the Rockets were quickly looking to add defense, shooting and veteran leadership to a fragile rotation that, aside from McGrady and Yao, was overwhelmed with inexperience and/or the inability to provide consistant contributions on both ends of the floor.

"I got all kinds of calls from people in the basketball world who congratulated us on a great pickup because they know want Shane can do for us," Rockets GM Carroll Dawson said. "I understood why fans reacted the way they did to the trade, but Shane is going to become a very popular player in Houston for many years to come."

That fan reaction was based on how the Rockets could possibly trade a young, athletic swingman who can run the floor, as well an athletic forward who could block shots and provide a dose of energy, for a veteran swingman who has put up steady impact, but whom, according to fans, would not have as dramatic of an impact on the Rockets as Gay would.

For the following few weeks, Houston then tried to pursue free-agent guard Mike James, formerly of the Toronto Raptors. In the irony of ironies, the Rockets had traded James prior to training camp last season, and now desperately demanded his services as a potential third scorer for the team. Rockets management, and fans alike, felt James could bring them a spark and revive a cold and dreary offense that has been amongst the league’s worst since the departure of Rudy Tomjanovich.

Instead, James proved he has a lasting memory and essentially played the Rockets, using the club to up his asking price, which he did successfully. Minnesota offered James a trade-kicker clause in his contract that Houston, nor the Dallas Mavericks, were willing to include.

The action since then? Trading cash and future draft considerations for Hornets swingman Kirk Snyder (6.5 ppg on 41.9% shooting for his career), signing Euro guard Vassilis Spanoulis to a 3-year deal and coming to a verbal agreement to sign guard John Lucas III, who, at this point of his career, has shown nothing more than to be one of the best players in the history of summer league basketball.

All in all, not a promising offseason for the red and silver.

"Getting Shane Battier, getting Kirk Snyder and getting (2006 second round pick) Steve Novak fills a lot of holes that were on the board," Dawson said. "We've still got the whole summer to improve the team and we're still looking to trade. But we're real happy with what we have done so far."

Of course they are. But the Rockets have made moves out of desperation. They lost out on James, so what do they do? Acquire Snyder, who is not significantly better than last season’s token backup swingman, Keith Bogans. The Rockets took too long to decide if they wanted point guard Marcus Banks—who would have added speed, quickness and defensive ability—so they let him head to Phoenix and instead pen Lucas, who is, essentially, a poor man’s Banks.

Prior to the end of the 2005-06 season, coach Jeff Van Gundy listed assets that the Rockets would covet during this offseason. He wanted a range-shooting big man who could space the floor and be deadly in pick-and-roll situations. He wanted speed and athleticism. He desperately wanted depth in case the injury bug of last season bit again.

Battier is the only new acquisition who will make an immediate impact on the club. Snyder will be in and out of Van Gundy’s doghouse. Bogans worked hard at his craft, despite his limitations. Snyder’s work habits have been called in question by two coaches who have histories of winning—Utah’s Jerry Sloan and the Hornets’ Byron Scott. Novak is a solid shooter but suffers on the defensive end. Lucas—at 5’10”—is too short to make a drastic impact. He’s effective in short 5-10 minute stints but other teams will post their bigger guards on him time and time again. No one is sure of what Spanoulis can do.

Perhaps Dawson still has a few more tricks left in his deck of cards. At this point, however, with the free agent frenzy a month in, it appears that he’s played this offseason as a Joker.

 

A 50 win over 34 last season is mainly because TMac and Yao are back healthy. Your argument doesn't hold that well, however, that doesn't mean we are actually a step back though. I like all the moves so far except we paid too much for Battier.

 

OK, let me first say I agree with both articles.

The Rockets keep making baby steps while other teams are making leaps and bounds. I don't know what they are thinking.

As far as Morey goes, man screw this whole moneyball concept. He came from a team that struggles every year. What has Boston done to justify getting Morey. I am ready to see CD go but I don't think we are getting any better.

I am a die hard Rockets, but I am tired of seeing these little mediocre moves while everybody else is at least attempting to do more.

I think getting Gay would have been a golden opportunity. Could he have been a bust? Definately. But he also could have been great. I absolutely love the aquisition of Shane Battier but not for what we gave up. And I also believe we should have aquirred more for Stromile. Although his stock definately dropped, seeing how teams are going for Wilcox, and Songaila and giving NeNe ten mil, we could have gotten a decent swing man for him.

Kirk Snyder, we i won't trip because we did get him for little to nothing but I don't think he is that much better than Bogans. If JVG can't get it right with Derek Anderson he won't with Snyder.

Novak in the second round I like. If he can step up his D then that will be a steal.

Chuck Hayes i like a lot but he is not the answer at PF.

V-Span, well, the jury is still out on him. I am not in awe with him especially for 5 mil over 3 years but I haven't really seen him.

JL3 I like. Fast, a shooter and a great passer and slasher. But we haven't done anything significant. I mean neither did San Antonio but they have a much better team. If T-Mac goes down we are marginal once again.

Granted the offseason is not over. Maybe CD will pull off a sign and trade for Wells or somebody else. Maybe he will get Reggie Evans. Maybe he will pry someone nice with the 4.2 TE. Maybe he can find a way to unload Howard. But until then I will curve my enthusiasm.

You want to make a big move CD, rid us of JVG and get Ewing off my bench.

 

These articles could not be more wrong.

Building a basketball team is not about who can jump the highest or dunk the hardest. It is about chemistry, putting players on the floor who can play well together, play the team game on both offense and defense.

The Boston Celtics of the 80s were not very fast, in fact most of them were athletically challenged, yet they were one of the best fast breaking teams in the league, and their games complimented each others skills perfectly.

The Houston Rockets have a VERY strong inside force in Yao Ming, and a VERY strong wingman in Tracy McGrady. Together they are better than Shaq and Wade who just won the NBA championship.

Where the Rockets fell apart, outside of injuries was in the lack of complimentary players.

Yao and Tmac make plays for themselves as well as others, but when the other players are unable to take advantage of those opportunities it allows the defense to ignore them and concentrate on shutting down Yao and TMac.

So, the complimentary players do not need to be great, but their skillsets need to take advantage of the opportunities created by Yao and Tmac. Several which have been solved this offseason.

1. Outside shooting - last year the Rockets players could not hit the broadside of a barn, we needed to space the floor and our starting 2 guard and PF particularly could not take advantage of all the wide open shots that Yao and Tmac provided. Swift was not a range shooter, and Bogans, well, he has Acme tatooed to his forhead. This year we have Battier & Novak to stretch the defense.

2. Perimeter defense was sorely lacking last year. This was causing Yao to have to cover for poor footspeed and occasionally getting him into foul trouble. While Rafer remains, and Luther backs him up, Synder is a very good upgrade at the 2 position, and Battier is a better team defender than anyone on the last years team.

Snynder in particular has always been on a team that did not have a superstar player or leader and thus tried to do too much, as most young players do, but put them on a team with clear leaders and a clear agenda and they generally improve by leaps and bounds. He will not be asked to do things that he is not good at, which will help him and the Houston Rockets immensly.

3. Role players that played within themselves. Last year they were all trying to do too much which caused them to struggle mightily. Rafer asked to shoot too much, Bogans the same. This year, Rafer has 4 legitimate scoring options on the floor with him, playing to his strengths. Hayes can get back to just rebounding and putbacks, and JL3, Novak, & V-span can all provide various adjustments or looks off the bench.

Yes, this team has a lot of unknowns, but chemistry wise, I actually feel the Rockets are going in the right direction, we did not need Rudy Gay, a player who could be great.....we do not need another star player, we need complimentary role players who fit in with our 2 superstars, and that is EXACTLY what this team got.

We have 2 guys who are going to dominate the ball and create for their teamates, now we have teamates who can take advantage of those opportunities.

Adavantage CHEMISTRY !!

Advantage Rockets !!!

58 wins baby....WC finals or better if everyone is healthy.

DD

 

Optimism is nice but it makes reality hurt more when it happens.

 

Where exactly did that quote come from, or did you just make that up. Pretty funny though.

Synder will fit in and do what he is good at and nothing more, which will make him more efficient as well as his team.

DD

 

On some things I agree with you and on somethings i don't.

First of all: Battier and Novak are NOT real POWER FOWARDS. Battier excelled at SF so playing him out of position will damper his effectiveness. Novak does not have the defense or sixe to play PF in the West.

Secondly realize that the 80's Boston Celtics played in the 80's. If you are not athletic you will not complete and win in this generation. You will not beat Phoenix, Dallas, or the Spurs if you are not athletic.

Thirdly i have actually watched Snyder play. His defensive isn't what we are hyping it up to. He plays with defensive intensity but not all that affective. I don't think defense was our problem last year. It was offense and i don't think we addressed that area. We did not add a third scorer.

Forthly. Lets be honest. Tracy McGrady will miss time this year at some point. Its going to happen. But if he does we are shyt out of luck again. And I still believe that Juwan Howard has to go.

 

Guys, can we at least let the team play together first? When we got Sura, Wesley and Barry, no one thought those were major moves. No one thought Mutombo had much left in the tank prior to that season. We were fortunate that the 2004 squad had chemistry on the court. That's what made them successful.

Hell, can we at least finish the offseason?

 

I totally agree with you.

 

Uh, no. The post that solid was referring to was mine and he agreed with what I said. Like him, I never said that Howard and Alston didn't belong in the league; I just said that they weren't good enough to be starters, especially on the elite teams. Re-read my post again, if you don't believe it. But don't pass the buck on me.

 

Actually rserina, I'll post that post of mine for you to read...

I guess that makes "your bad" two times.

 

I disagree completely with Dwyer, but I respect him and think he's an infinitely better analyst than Steve Kerr. Everyone has argued to death how the Rockets have or haven't gotten better.

Here is my question: How have the Spurs not taken a step backward in this off-season? They have replace Nazr and Rasho with a Euro rookie center, and have done nothing to address their biggest (only?) issue, age. I know that they are the Spurs, and even with a step back, they will be competitive. But even so, it must be acknowledged that they aren't moving forward.

 

On nights we play the Dirk Nowitski type of PF, Battier plays more, on nights we play Tim Duncan, Juwan plays more, it is about flexibility and the Rockets are MUCH more flexible than last year.


Manny....we have FIVE solid starters and Synder could make it 6.....not every starter is a great player some are role players.

I guess we will just wait and see, but I am gonna open up one HUGE can of TOLD YA SO, when we get out to that fast start and things are rolling.

DD

 

I somewhat agree, although I can not concern myself with one team. Hell, the Suns have not done much to improve. Dallas has to a certain extent. San Antonio has stood still while loosing both centers. Memphis has possibly improved and Denver to me hasn't done a lot. Minnesota however has improved to a degree, as has Utah and the Clippers.

But who care what they do becuase the Rockets have not done much either. I like the Battier addition but thats about it. All of those teams still have PFs we must defend that we have not adressed. I don't think we can outscore any of those teams through the whole season with maybe the exception of Utah.

Bottom line is Dallas is still the team to beat in the West and they did not suffer a blow.

Phoenix has Amare back and San Antonio still has their starting line up in tact with Horry, Duncan, Ginobli, Parker, and Bowen.

 

Juwan Howard on Duncan? Hell no. Juwan has no D and needs to up his rebounding. Granted the SPurs lost both their centers so I might put Yao on Duncan.

And who are 5 SOLID starters again?

 

we have 3 solid starters, two of whom both play SF.

Everybody else? Not so solid.

 

NBA starters on the Rockets

Stars - Yao, Tmac
Good - Battier
Average - Alston, Howard

Potential starters - Head, Synder

Future starters - V-span, Novak

Bench Role players - Hayes, JL3

This team has 5 solid starters, 2 possible starters and a bunch of potential players.

And TONS Of flexibility.

DD

 

All of this only depends on Mcgrady and yao....I've said it before and I'll say it again....Lets say hypothetically, we kept Gay and didn't get Battier. Lets also say we signed Mike James. All the other moves we made stayed the same. Everyone on this site would be so exicted about next season. We would be predicting championship, etc.....

However, even with those moves, if Mcgrady goes down for 20+ games, we are marginal at best. Now, with Battier and the moves we made (no james), if we lose Mcgrady, we are still marginal.
My point is, none of the moves we made or should have, could have made will mean !@#$ if Yao and Tracy go down. If they stay healthy, I like the moves we made. I think the moves were made to win now and for chemistry, so I can't fault the rockets front office for that.

I so belive we need to pick up a few more pieces in teh summer though. A back up center and get rid of Howard for something. If we can do that, and Sura comes back, I think its a very successful offseason. Maybe I'm an opotimist, but I guess thats why they call us fans. We are supposed to always believe that our team will be successful.

 

Alston and Howard are not "average starters".

In fact they are far below average - among the very worst starters in the league at their positions, and their PER's and Roland Ratings indicate this and how they were badly outplayed by their opposing counterparts (collectively, the "average starter" last year.)

(note, 15 at PER is "league average")

Rafer's PER at PG: 13.7
Opposing PER vs. Rafer 17.3
Net -3.7

Howard's PER at PF 13.3
Opposing PER vs. Howard 16.4
Net -3.1

http://www.82games.com/0506/05HOU2D.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0506/05HOU16D.HTM

That is why the Rockets (despite having no depth or quality back-ups) managed to play better in terms of efficiency with them OFF the floor last year (a lot more so for Howard, than for Alston, but they're both net negatives).

As for the rest, you've got a pile of assumptions and I'm afraid to even ask the difference between a "potential starter" and a "future starter".