Most exciting off season we have ever had? I don't know there have been some good ones but Daryl Morey has me so excited that every time I boot up my computer and log on to Clutchfans I expect to see some other significantly magical move made by the Rockets. At this point I would not be surprised if I logged on and found that Morey had traded John Lucas for Kobe Bryant. Anyway, we still don't know what the final product will look like since there are still some big decisions and obvious moves that have to be made before the summer is over. The Owner Les Alexander has at times been a bit cheep IMO. Refusing to budge even an inch beyond the luxury tax threshold to help make the team better. The Glen Rice to Utah deal was the biggest head scratcher that made just about everyone realize that all moves were not for the better of the team but for financial purposes only. Not that he is in the same category as Donald Sterling but certainly not George Steinbrenner or Mark Cuban either. This summer however it seems that Les has decided that going slightly over the luxury tax might be OK. With all the moves Les has made this summer it looks like he just pulled out his big 12 pounder and laid it on the table for all of the NBA to see. Splash! Splash! Splash! I know the Rockets will probably try to unload some players and salaries to try and keep the Rockets under the cap, but any time you take on enough salary to but you over the threshold you are certainly taking a chance that you can unload your unwanted salaries when in fact you could be stuck with them. Regardless of what the Rockets do this season I want to be on record as saying thank you to Les for giving us die hard Rockets fans a reason for some serious hope. The GM Daryl Morey is suppose to be a rookie GM right? Are rookie GM's suppose to be able to get players like Steve Francis, Mike James and Luis Scola for basically nothing? Are rookie GM's suppose to turn their noses up to public opinion as well as the opinion of the so called experts to draft an almost unknown that would turn into Aaron Brooks? I know Brooks has yet to play a single NBA game but tell me the pick has not won you over at this point. CD who? The Coach Rick Adelman will finally put in place an offense that looks like it has some direction and some rhythm. Yeah, I know JVG's offense had direction but everyone in the NBA knew what was going to happen before it happened and there was never any rhythm. That is why the JVG offense failed so badly and why it was so hard to watch. I believe the Rick Adelman offense will not only turn the Rockets into an offensive juggernaut but will also increase the longevity of Yao Mings career. As deadly as Yao Ming is in the low post he will be twice as deadly if you don't know if the guy is going to post you up down low or set up in the high post dishing out assists or nailing the little 15 to 18 foot jumper. The Players Yao Ming - Will be better this year in almost every way IMO. He will not be worn down from having to fight in the low post the entire game which will save ware and tare on him. The man is 7'6" and a very good passer, I fully expect to see his assists go into the 4+ range to go along with his 20+ points a game. I hope his rebounding can stay around 10 a game. Tracy McGrady - I am hoping to see a rejuvenated TMac in an offense that will be much more fun to play. I expect to see him continue dishing out assists at a high rate as well as his F/G% go up. Mike James - I don't know if he will start or come of the bench but he is the closest thing in the league to Bobby Jackson IMO. If he comes off the bench I think he could be up for 6th man of the year. Shane Battier - The fact that we have been able to upgrade the team with out moving him is mind blowing to me. Either off of the bench or starting he is going to be great to have on the team and not be the 3rd best player. Rafer Alston - I just don't see any scenario where he stays. With all of the teams needing point guards he is bound to be out of here by training camp. Bob Sura - So long Bob, 04-05 season was great thanks to you. Of course he will either be release for cap space or included in a trade. Steve Francis - Welcome back Steve. I can't wait to see him in RA's offense. I think we could see a rejuvenation of Steve's career and his most efficient year as a pro. Even if he is playing point guard I don't think he will be asked to run the offense much...I think that responsibility will be spread around to everyone, especially Yao and TMac. Kirk Snyder - I have no clue where he fits in. With his youth and athleticism I he could be a major contributer or stuck at the back of the bench. Either way I hope the Rockets keep him for the future. Jackie Butler - Intriguing pick up from SA. Athletic C/PF's that are young with talent are usually hard to get. I guess we will find out this year if he is a keeper. Luis Scola - Our lottery pick for this year. ROY candidate? Can anyone tell me of any rookie drafted this year that is more ready to perform and has this much talent. Bonzi Wells - After a year off Bonzi returns to the NBA to play for his favorite coach. I think he could find his way into the starting line up depending where TMac plays (SF or SG). Luther Head - There is lots of talk about him being traded but since we don't really need to trade him and 3pt shooters of his caliber don't just grow on trees I would like to see the Rockets keep him. Justin Reed - He can be traded after Aug 14th. I don't really know anything about him so maybe he is a keeper at the SF/PF positions. W/O knowing anything about him I would try to unload him. Aaron Brooks - PG of the future, someone that I think will get more and more playing time as the year goes on. Looks like he could be the steal of the draft this year. John Lucas III - So long JLIII Steve Novak - I had high hopes for Novak but unless he shows that he can be a player in training camp and pre season I cut my losses with this guy. Mike Harris - I really like the guys energy and athleticism but I just don't know if he has enough talent to stick with this team. Chuck Hayes - Will he be resigned? I would like to think so but if the Rockets unload some players for Jeff Foster or Udonis Haslem then I just don't see why the Rockets would resign Hayes. Deke Mutumbo - He is another guy that the Rockets might just have to say goodbye to depending on if they pick another player up in a trade. If Foster comes to the Rockets then I just do not see the need for Motumbo to be back. Carl Landry - I think this guy really has an uphill climb to make the team in training camp. Much like Mike Harris there are things to like about Landry but can he crack any portion of the team...especially if we resign Hayes, trade for another big or both. I'm thinking at least a year in Europe might be in his future. The Front Court I am really anxious to see who Rick Adelman starts in the front court. IMO the only starter for sure is Yao Ming. After Yao the next guy that is almost certain to start is Luis Scola, providing that he is NBA ready. The real decision IMO is at Small Forward, do you start Shane Battier or move TMac back to his more natural position and start him there. I believe it should be TMac at the 3 spot because I think he is most effective as a 3 and less effective as a 2. So my front court starters are: Center - Yao Ming Powe Forward - Luis Scola Small Forward - Tracy McGrady I think that is a lethal front court. Guys who can shoot, pass and defend. My primary front court subs are: C/PF - Jackie Butler SF/PF - Shane Battier SG/SF - Bonzi Wells Of course the question mark here is Jackie Butler but he could turn into a very good rotational player. We all know how good Battier is and I think he really is more suited as a sub where he can come in an affect the game with his defense and outside shooting. I would love to see Jeff Foster added to this mix via a trade. The Back Court We could almost put the back court players in barrel, shake them up and start which ever two falls out first. The first thing I think of when thinking of the back court is depth. I don't know if any team in the NBA can match our depth in the back court and by depth I mean quality depth. I guess we will just have to see how they fit together when training camp opens but as it stands now I think I would want to open the training camp like this: My Back Court Starters: Point Guard - Mike James Shooting Guard - Steve Francis Mike James is the better defender and the better shooter of the two...plus he seems to get the ball up the court faster than Steve just based on both players prior history with the Rockets. Essentially it is really more of a dual point guard system that I think would work good in Adelmans offense as both players are capable passers. Steve is not as good of an outside shooter (although he can get hot) but as Morey put it he is a top 10 guy in the league at driving to the basket. My Primary Back Court Subs: PG - Aaron Brooks SG/SF - Bonzi Wells SG - Luther Head SG/SF - Kirk Snyder So to break it down: My Starters are Yao, Scola, TMac, Francis and James. If you are the opposition who do you game plan for? Who is the week link? Is there a week link? Scola is still a bit of an unknown but we know that any of the other 4 can flat out take over a game and beat you single handedly. My Subs are Jackie Butler, Shane Battier, Bonzi Wells, Luther Head and Aaron Brooks. That group would challenge for a play off spot in the east and I did not even include Deke or Chuck Hayes if they are resigned. Are the Rockets the deepest team in the NBA? I'm not sure who can go deeper in the bench and find quality players and guys that can really effect the game the way our subs due. Dallas IMO goes about 9 deep with there primary back ups, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Devon Harris and Greg Buckner. They are the only team that I can think of that goes as deep as the Rockets at this point. The Spurs IMO only go about 8 deep and their primary subs Berry, Horry and Finely are just plain old, old old.. I can't help but wonder how many games they have left in them. I know they have some youth on standby waiting to come over from Europe but for now everyone outside of Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and Bowen look really old or weak. Front to back it just seems like the Rockets roster is as deep with quality players as any team in the league and I don't think they are through yet. I still think adding someone like a Jeff Foster if they could pull it off would just be icing on the cake. Whats Next Well obviously, IMO would be to trim the fat from the roster. Rafer Aston, JLIII, Justin Reed, Steve Novak look like guys that this team just does not need and may never crack the rotation. Trade them off for someone or nothing. I would like to see a quality big man added and Jeff Foster is the guy that I would love to see as a Rocket. I guess Haslem would be OK but I am really not excited about him. Do we resign Deke and Chuck? If we don't make a trade for another big man then definitely. Chuck IMO and possibly Deke as insurance for Butler should be resigned if someone like Foster is not acquired via a trade. The move I personally endorse more than any other is (as if it was not obvious) trading what we don't want for Jeff Foster. It trims the fat and keeps us from having to resign and add two additional players...Chuck and Deke. I gotta say that I am more excited about this coming season than any others since Dream was in his prime. This team really is stacked with players that can take the ball hard to the basket, post up, shoot from the arc, play defense, run the break and much more. We have a coach that is a proven winner and has a history of a great offensive philosophy as well as someone who has coached some good defensive teams as well. I cant wait for October and training camp!
very very nice read. i don't agree entirely with your starting 5, but then again it's more important which 5 finish the game rather than the 5 that start.
^^^^^Impressive Journalism skills^^^^^ As you have pointed out there is a lot to be encouraged by....we certainly have a promising team this year and hopefully for years to come!
Yeah, when I wrote it I already knew that the majority would probably want TMac at the 2 and Battier starting at the 3. I just think TMac is at his best as a small forward and not chasing aroung guards.
Adelman doesn't like 10 man rotations. He was known to run 7-8 man rotations when he was in Sacramento. In fact, I only know of one coach that ran a 10 man rotation and that was Hubie Brown for one year.
Please excuse my ignorance (seriously), but why do people always say it's about who finishes the game? I heard that on 610 and I seriously don't know what that means. Thanks in advance for the explanation.
The intensity tends to increase during the closing minutes of a game and you have to have some guys that can finish a team off. You just can not afford the mistakes in the last few minutes that you can during the rest of the game.
In a close 48 minute game, the players who finish have a much bigger impact on the outcome than those who start.
Thanks, so am I to assume that the players who finish are the best players? I'd always assumed that the starting 5 are your best players for the most part.
Not bad, not bad at all !! The only thing I would mention is that it is difficult to do this as the team makeup may still be changed. Also I consider Luther Head as a role player. who is a spot up shooter specialising in the three point shot, in the same way as Novac is . I just don't see him as the Shooting guard back up!
rudy t ran it in our championship days during the regular season. We aren't talking playoffs yet. this was one of the biggest complaints about jvg was he didnt use his bench. do you have proof thats what he was known for? here was his rotation in 2002: Mike Bibby Doug Christie Keon Clark Vlade Divac Lawrence Funderburke Jimmy Jackson Bobby Jackson Scot Pollard Peja Stojakovic Hedo Turkoglu Chris Webber all these guys got minutes, i left out b price, m cleeves, d jones, and g wallace
for the spurs ginobli comes off the bench. its important that your bench and starting lineup isn't a BIG GREAT DIFFERENCE, that the bench costs u the game. so some coaches have at least 1 good player on the bench. our best bench player was luther, and hes just a 3 point shooter under jvg's offense. with francis, james, bonzi, any one of them would be great off the bench for "instant offense"
As previously stated in many posts, Battier can start at the 3 and Tmac at the 2, and just have Battier guard the other teams SG and let Tmac play the other teams SF. This is basically what happened most of last year. How many times do you remember Battier guarding Dwade, Ben Gordon, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, all SG. He could also guard the other teams SF if he was the better offensive player then the SG, ie Lebron James, Ron Artest. Basically, the point is Battier is guarding the better player if he is on the court with Tmac, so Tmac is rarely running around chasing guards.
I don't like the idea of MJ and SF3 playing at the same time as Mac and Yao. While I do believe that Franchise has matured, I still worry about it. I also love that I can mention Steve Francis multiple times in a sentence and never call him the same thing twice. Nice.
