Heck Yeah Thabeet will have a breakout year, with consistent playing time I expect him to become a decent shot blocking big. DD
There is no such as thing as "better off missing the playoffs". If you can make the playoffs, you make the damn playoffs.
I hope they know something we don't know... (like Hasheem working out secretly with Dream the whole summer)
Hasheem can work out with Hakeem all he wants but it won't help at all. Notice we haven't heard a single thing about him regarding his offseason workouts, training, even pickup games, etc even though we've heard somewhat news regarding D-Mo, Morris, Hill and all our other players. Dude is only in it for the paycheck and once his contract is up, he will be out of the league or traded before that as a salary filler. You could tell once he was drafted he was relieved and felt his work was "done". I don't think his heart is in the game. Such a shame though. He could have been at best a Dalembert type player who could get you some blocks, rebounds and the occasional bucket here and there.
So thrilled to be the 8th seed...almost as thrilled as being the 9th seed again. Another year, another season of waiting to the deadline looking for a star to become available. We will hear the Rockets have the young talent and picks to make it happen only to pick up complementary players instead that will makes us mediocre or slightly better. Morey will tell us how he understands the fans getting upset but we need to understand he is doing all he can and will continue to.
IMO the value of seeding goes as follows: 1 - 2 - 3 -4 // 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 // 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 - 9 If you promote tanking, you're likely obsessed with development. In that case I'd argue that being a 12 seed and getting a #8 overall pick, for example, is not more valuable than having all of your developing players experience a real playoff series as an 8th seed. This is all moot though because I expect the Rockets to end up 10-12th.
At least we have the Texans to look forward too. Morey better do something quick to inject some hope into the season, if and when it happens. You're right though, every year it seems like we have all the talent and "assets" near the deadline but nothing happens and we end up with a mediocre prospect. Morey will go on the radio and say we tried but we want to win "big", not "now". Then we will hear about how we had a deal in place for a starting center or that star but the deal fell through at the last minute.
I love Yao....but what hole is Gordian talking about? The seat that Yao normally sits in on the bench?
Most NBA players break out or find themselves (good or bad) in year 3....we have a lot of year 3 players, let's hope some of them find out they are pretty good. DD
Assuming entire 2011 season is locked out. Our roster would make us Playoff Contenders rather than Title Contenders. From what we have to work with on our roster the quickest way we can make the leap to title contenders is fill up our two holes. Lowry and Dragic are solid at PG. Martin and Lee are also very good at SG. Our back court matches up against the best in the NBA. Why change that? Martins lack of dedense can be covered if we get a 3 and 5 who can play D. Patterson and Hayes round up the 4 spot pretty well against any other team too. So that leaves us the 3 and 5 (duh). If the season were to be locked out then we can cancel the options on Flynn, T-Will, Thabeet and Hill, we free up $18 mill and get rid of trash. We would have to make new deals with Lee, Hayes and Dragic. After that even with new CBA we can be major players in the 2012 FA market. This free agent pool will be huge if 2011 gets locked out. It would be easier to trade Scola as well with 2011 lockout. If we get a decent piece in return for Scola then sign a key FA we can be Title Contenders again. Rather than going young and rebuilding.
