CBS Sports: Offseason Grade for Every Team. Rockets Are Worst at C-

Dont you think we will be improved by a lot just by virtue of not having ariza stifling our offense?

 

Why does Melo make us weaker defensively if he's not on the court in the big moments?

 

Impossible... these guys can't win 55 games or more because they're together. Being together is a weakness.

 

Basically this. They talk about the loss of Ariza and Mboute (whose contributions I agree will not be easy to replace).
But the way they dismiss the signing of Anthony shows how much of a net negative they consider him to be.
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So it goes. I'm just waiting for the season to start and to see if he can prove all the naysayers wrong.

 

...but but Triple Double!!! OKMe was actually better last year in only one sense because PG13 and Melo SLIGHTLY restrained Russ during the regular season. He plays no D and when he shoots over 15 shots they lose. He average 21. With Melo's shots gone, PG13 just became the new Oladipo whipping boy. When they don't win it's because Russ has no help and has to shoot 40 times. Shroeder actually could have helped if they would have moved Russ off the ball but that's never happening. Watch how they waste a talent that actually could have fixed a lot of their problems. Triple Double average for third straight season narrative incoming. Wins, not so much.

Harden and Melo are the most hated NBA figures by the media so it is no surprise the Rockets will be horrible including if they win the championship like they did this year. The Rockets were to be written as a fluke no matter what they did.

 

Trash article, Atlanta drafted a bust in Trae Young and they get an A. Memphis gets possibly the best player in the draft and they just get a B+.

Also doesn't have any foresight, he's the guy who underrated Ariza and Luc when Morey got him last year now he is overrating their significance like those two were franchise players.

 

Media Conspiracy

 

How does Cousins make the Warriors stronger defensively? We are going to torch the motherf*ck out of that guy. Ryno style payback.

 

but losing Ariza and Mbah a Moute hurts big time, as they provided the length and defensive versatility that made last year's Rockets team special.

"that made last year's Rockets team special."

Really?

You mean CP/Harden/Capela didn't make the Rocket special?

No disrespect to Ariza and Moute. Both players I like. But it is amazing how much WEIGHT is being put on them as "value add."

What made the Rockets "special" is still here. Harden & CP in MDA's system.

 

If they acknowledge that, they have to acknowledge that they were wrong last offseason about CP3s fit with the team. So they have to resort to overrating the contributions of Ariza & Luc. It's a continuation of last season's media narrative, where everyone talked up the additions of Tucker and Luc and glossed over the fact that we had added CHRIS FREAKING PAUL.

 

Spurs lost Kawhi, Ginobili, Green and Tony Parker...and end with a B+.

LMAO

 

And Kyle Anderson too.

 

and during wcf hardly anyone mentioned luc was injured and rockets missing his contributions

 

This is the part that most bugs me, too. Don't forget that last year we also added CP3 and PJ, who are both better defenders than Ariza and Luc. The argument could easily be made that THOSE two guys were the REAL keys to our improved defense (and I suspect Morey and MDA know this).

The only thing that worries me about them being gone is that I'm guessing Trevor was a key on-court communicator while on defense. Someone else will have to step into that role. PJ and CP3 seem like the right guys for now, maybe Ennis down the road a ways, once he learns the system.

That said, with Luc's bum shoulder and Trevor needed retirement money, Morey did the absolute correct thing in letting them walk.

And what everyone in the media seems to be missing is (ZBoy: Stop reading here!) that we added a 10-time All-Star who has played on FOUR teams that won titles. Now he'll finally be surrounded by guys who can utilize him to his best capabilities.

Once again...

Thunder

• re-sign big FA
• add backup PG
• add backup C
• lose 10-time All-Star

Grade: A+

Rockets

• re-sign TWO big FAs
• add backup PG
• add backup PF/C
• dump giant useless contract
• add 10-time All-Star at vet minimum

Grade: C-

Sounds about right.

 

Facts. The "communication" aspect is real. PJ was GREAT with that. But he isn't playing 48 minutes. I think this is where Capela has to continue to improve. He got better at this, but they probably expect him to take more strides in this this season as well.

 

Right. And CP3 as well. Hopefully, between PJ and CP3, we can cover most of the 48 minutes.

 

And Kyle Anderson.

 

Yeah, but what are those five players compared to Ariza and Luc?