The problem with the Rockets is no one in the front office knows how to BUILD a roster. Les nor DM. When we won the Championships in 94' and 95', that was Ray Patterson, Les just happened to walked into it. I love Les as an owner, because I think with what we had to endure in Houston with our Sport Franchises, he's the best thing since slice bread. However, he has put the wrong person in charge....DM! I love the thought at first but the more and more I critic his moves, the more I question his knowledge of basketball. First, you want to build a RUNNING TEAM. He insults the fans by getting on the airwaves and stating, The Rockets are about RUNNING and you don't have any guards! You can't run if you don't have guards. That's High School 101. When we had T-Mac and Yao, I clamored for them to get decent guards to surround T-Mac with. If T-Mac would have other legit guards around him, I think we could've went much further into the playoffs. Case in point, the Utah Jazz series. The Jazz put ran three players at T-Mac and eventually wore him down, now one else could score. Battier? Luther Head? Second, he does not have an EYE for talent. Since he has been GM, he has not drafted one player that we could consider as being an ALL - STAR! And don't say Parsons because he's a opportunist. Memphis made a huge mistake. Finally, he doesn't know how to construct a roster. That's why he is constantly making trades. He signs or trade for players and acknowledges it was a bad move, so he turns around and trades them. There have been a few bad moves over the yrs BUT letting Dragic walk out the door because he didn't want to guarantee the last yr was a Horrible move. I think if we could've had him on the team the past two or three yrs, with Howard and Harden we could've gotten past Portland (WHEN TURNOVER PRONE JERMEY LIN KEPT TURNING THE BALL OVER) and we could've possibly gotten past Golden State when Harden turned the ball over in Game 2 of the WCF. Oh and I was starting to feel better about this years team until he signed PRIGIONI.
Jerian Grant was on the board last year but we past him up. a 6'5 PG who can score, play defense and paly off the ball and he played very good going down the stretch.
You could be right about your overall point, but you still seem to believe the NBA operates "on paper"....improving a team isn't as simple as just getting what you need ... There are constraints you have to operate withi... You make it seem easier than it really is...like implying dragic would still be here of he had been given his option.. But he's not even under that contract anymore.
It's not really about having 1 guy that can distribute the ball. You need multiple players with good court vision to facilitate ball movement. Look at the best offenses in the league going into next season: Golden State Curry: 6.7 assists per game Iggy: 3.4 Green: 7.4 Livingston: 3 Durant: 5 San Antonio Parker - 5.3 Ginobili - 3.1 Gasol - 4.1 Portland Lillard - 6.8 McCollum - 4.3 Turner - 4.4 We've got a bunch of scorers (Harden, Gordon, Anderson, Beasley, DMo) and shooters (Harden, Gordon, Anderson, Ariza, Beverley). What we lack is a regular contributor that can facilitate the offense with or in place of Harden. Beverley and Ariza are catch and shoot guys. Anderson is catch and shoot and isos. We really need a PG or SF that can facilitate.
This made me so damn mad. Because he was the smart hedge against the high risk of Ty Lawson not being right. But the Sam Dekker we saw this summer league has chilled me out. He looks ready to contribute quickly kinda like how Budinger and Parsons did. Meanwhile Jerian Grant still struggles to marginally contribute. Hope to be proven wrong on the Grant vs Dekker thing I was miffed about last season.
Agreed! I hope Dekker contributes this yr too. I think Grant is trying to pickup a new system, remember it took him awhile to pickup NY's offense too but once he picked it up, he started to play better. I think Chicago's back court with Wade, Butler and Grant is going to be very good.
This is what I've been preaching. And since Morey doesn't know how to construct a team, this is why we've been stuck in mediocrity during his tenure. You can't build a Running Team unless you have guards. Not just guards but good guards, along with a versatile small forward who can shoot and pass or a power forward who offers those same qualities. You have to have at least two players in the starting lineup who has vision and at least one coming off the bench. You need someone else in the lineup who can bring the ball up the court and make a play, outside of Harden and Beverly ain't it!
finsraider is on point here. It is not as much about having a "PG" but players that can create shots and create for others. I still feel like the Rockets need 1 more "combo guard" in the backcourt to go with Harden/Gordon. The perfect fit was Llull because he can play off the ball and can attack the basket and drive and dish. And hit 3ptrs. And hit clutch shots and isn't afraid of the moment. Obviously he isn't coming over this year, but I am hoping he is available next year.
D'antoni will have until the All-star break to prove to me that his system can work here. After that it's open season on him.
This is exactly what I've been thinking about. I'd like to keep Beverely as a defensive specialist, 3rd guard if we decide to go small and plus reserve, but both he and Ariza are too limited to get as many minutes as they are projected to right now. Neither are fastbreak players. They aren't cutters or creators. They are spot up shooters on offense...that's it. If not Llull, I think Dragic is the next best option, but I don't see that happening unless Bosh retires. If that happens, I could see a SnT of DMo and other pieces in a 3 team trade. Dragic / Beverley Harden / Gordon Ariza / Dekker Anderson / Beasley Capela / Nene
Tremendous point. And this is the reason why guys LIKE Llull, Gentile, Smoove, Lance Stephenson, etc. are so important, not just in MDA's system but in similar fast paced offenses. The more players who can handle ball, pass as well as shoot, the better. And the more positions that have these skills, the better the offense will flow organically. Guys who fit the above but would have to move mountains to acquire: Boogie Cousins Russell Westbrook Blake Griffin Eric Bledsoe Sergio Llull Giannis Antetokounpo --------------- Guys who also fit the above but can be acquired for much less: Lance Stephenson Donatas Motiejunas Josh Smith Alessandro Gentile Terry Rozier Aaron Gordon Jimmer Fredette Andrea Bargnani Raphiael Putney Russ Smith ------------- Guys who are not great fits but eventually could be, although not for cheap: Jahlil Okafor Nerlens Noel Gerald Green Ricky Rubio
