Throw in Artest and Mutombo to harass any subs like Josh, Dmo or Brewer. We had an extremely solid team there. At the time, it wasn't evident that both Yao's and TMac's careers were at an end.
09 team was much better, just had more important injuries. TMac that year sucked, if that team had a healthy TMac from 05 or even 07 that'd be a championship team right there, if Yao doesn't break is foot.
Sorry, I love Yao, but Howard is miles ahead as a rebounder and defensive anchor. This makes a big difference in the playoffs, as this year's run has shown. I would love to have an Artest or Battier on this team though, no question.
Nah, you're massively underselling Yao's defensive presence. He had his issues with PnR, but he was an elite rim protector.
I don't mean to pin the loss only on Yao, but if he gets 1 defensive rebound in the last minute of the 2007 Jazz series, the Rockets win. Yao struggled with rebounding for a guy his size.
Okur and Booz killed Yao that series IIRC. Just a bad match up for him. Dwight is definitely superior at rebounding, but to say he's miles ahead of Yao as a defensive anchor is just wrong. Also, never liked the 'if you're tall, you have to be a great rebounder,' argument.
Brooks/Lowry Artest/Wafer Battier Scola/Landry Yao/Hayes VS. Terry/Prigioni Harden Ariza/Brewer Jones/Smith Howard/Capela I think 2009's PGs would eat up our guards. Artest and Battier would give Harden fits, but I feel he would get his as well. Scola would bamboozle Jones. Yao would likely get the upper hand on Howard. Brewer and Smoove have the edge over Landry and Wafer IMO. Hayes brings defense, Capela brings height. It isn't a stretch to say '08-'09 was one of our best teams ever.
I will say that Yao was light years ahead of Howard as an offensive player, and that he definitively proved he could be the focal point of a successful team, especially with his performance in the 2009 playoffs.
I knew I wasn't crazy...I remembered there being a report for a McGrady-Carter swap. Lord... that year hurts man.
Let me refresh your memory http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3913836 On Monday, sources said the Rockets had been pushing a trade that sends*Tracy McGrady*to the Nets for Carter and Trenton Hassell. However, on Tuesday, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said that McGrady wouldn't be dealt before the deadline.
Are we talking about the team with healthy Yao and Deke or are we talking about the team after the too big guys went down, the team that took the Lakers to 7 games?
That team had at least one thing this team doesn't: consistent hustle from a lot of players. We have Ariza, Dwight to a certain degree (he takes possessions off and points fingers) and an occasional other player truly hustle and go after things. Beverley of course is #1 in that category. Look at that 2009 team and we had: Landry, Scola, Hayes, Battier, Artest and to a certain degree Yao who would give it their all, dive for lose balls and just bring 110% every game. We now have Beverley, Ariza and Dwight. That's a huge difference maker, because talent wise this play-off roster should have the edge (so no T-mac, but still a healthy Deke). Still that 08-09 team could definitely win based on hustle and grit.
One thing about Yao defensively, he didn't really even need to leave his man in the paint to defend potential driving players, he was the figurative Great Wall of China, a giant presence that with just arms out would change shots in the paint without the need to jump for blocks.
ahhh that was the year i was a red rowdy. i'd have to say that team was better. way better D. Still love this years squad though
