Our role players aren’t giving us enough this year

HOW DO YOU BEAT/defend THE ROCKETS?

Double, smother and shadow Harden and CP3
Hold, block smother Capela on the Roll
Cover Tucker in the Corner

and let the rest of the team shoot all they want
We will live with the results. . . . ..
and the results are 50-50

Rocket River

 

James ennis is trash..

 

No, he's really not. Ennis is not the problem. He's supposed to be a Luc replacement - 10-15 minutes off the bench, hit some 3's (He's shooting 38%), play defense (spotty).

If he doesn't play up to par, he gets out of the rotation. However, we don't have anyone else IN the rotation. Our team is basically four deep at this point. Everyone else has been total garbage.

 

he can't score much

 

From a "macro view", this is the Rockets roster as I see it.

STARTERS
PG: Paul
SG: Harden
SF: {VACANT}
PF: Tucker
C: Capela

BENCH
PG: {VACANT}
SG: Gordon / Green
SF: Ennis / {VACANT}
PF: {VACANT} / House / Clark / Zhou
C: Nene / Hartenstein

Wasted Roster Slots: MCW, Chriss, Melo, Knight

Rockets are not going to fill all of those {VACANT} holes. But if they fill some of them, then they are on the right track.

As a "thought exercise", imagine if the Rockets were able to get PG Tyus Jones and PF/C Markeiff Morris. Plug those 2 bench guys into the rotation. I think it could make a BIG difference.

@Nook, what do you think the Rockets chances are of being able to add more than "1" quality bench player?

 

There’s not one player, outside of maybe James Ennis, who is living up to expectations. It’s not just the role players.

Atrocious year and a lost season.

 

you say lost season, but with everyone aging do you really expect late picks and a mle signing to make things better? at this point its more than just the season

 

That's a fair point, but I think the team can play much better than this still. I think they played above their heads last season and are now playing well below themselves this season. I could see next season being a slight bump up in quality of play, but you're not wrong. They are essentially done competing with no way to truly improve.

 

There are things that Ennis does better (dribble?)…. but in general Ariza was the better fit. Consistency being a big part of that.

Ariza played his role about as well as can be played …. even on nights when his shot wasn't falling he played solid team defense and kept the ball moving. He did the little things that go un-noticed until you aren't getting them.

 

Trade ariza back now

 

We need what Ariza was last year. I think Ennis with 10 more games will be better then what Ariza can currently contribute

 

house was just released and Hartenstein just got assigned to g league... i smell a move being made soon?

 

Yep. Not only the role players.

CP3 is injury prone and aging.

Harden this year is more turnover prone and lazy on defense.

 

Ariza in his current situation just doesn't fit …. I think if he were here he'd be doing just what he was last year. Phx made the same mistake Morey did the first time around with Ariza - asking him to do more than he's capable. When he's just a complimentary piece , he's solid if unspectacular.


That said , the only way I want him back is if he's bought out , don't want to give up the limited assets we have to get him. Save that for a bigger fish.

 

Personally I don't think the stars are giving us enough. CP3 has been playing like CP1.5.

 

Hard to get 10 assists when no one can hit a shot

Rocket River