Rockets that would be better/worse now than in their era

Brian Cook would not be nearly as good today as he was back in the day.

 

It all depends on team mates, coach, playing style and how they'd be coached nowadays. I think for big men it would be harder, since they wouldn't be taught the post game like before and couldn't be as physical on defense, on blocks and rebounds and in general would rely on outside shooting and finesse.

I only watched from the 90s onwards so out of all the big men we've had, I'd say Hakeem could've thrived since he already had great fundamentals and feel for the game. He's a finesse player and was actually pretty decent from outside. Inside he'd take advantage of his height and the opponents lack of foot skills and defensive fundamentals. He could run with the best of them and the inside-outside game surrounded by 3pt shooters would probably work even better.

Yao would've had a longer career potentially with more outside shooting and less banging inside. However, his dominance might have been less. Deke would struggle and probably be worse. He relied on his physicality, i.e. elbows and didn't have a shot as such. He would still be a great defender, but more foul prone and less of a threat on offense.

Thorpe is a tough one to call. I can imagine him being targeted on screens by the refs and though he could do wonders on the pick and roll, he would not be much of a threat in other areas. He would be perceived as a much better defender though.Horry became a 3pt specialist and would fit right in, but they'd probably focus more on him on the perimeter. Tough one. Bullard would at least have a longer career, that's for sure.

As far as guards go, the ones with a quick first step would probably be better on offense. Maxwell and Cassell would get into the paint much more easily. Like some have pointed out, Max might struggle more on defense. He relied on physicality but had the hunger and mindset of stopping the best. Why I think he'd struggle more is because of his emotions. Coaches nor referees would put up with his outbursts, craziness, thrash talking, spitting.

Francis probably would struggle more too, because of the rules though you never know how he would've played in this era without Rudy T. Kenny Smith would do the best out of all the guards I think. With his 3pt percentages against 90s defenders and no Derek Harper hand checking him, watch out. He was pretty quick and an average defender anyway so with the focus on offense, he'd thrive.

Elie is a tough call. Not allowed to play that tough D, though he's probably closest to an Ariza with better handles and driving skills. Somehow I could see him just getting lost in the abundance of 3&D players though. Mobley also tough one. Different rules, but more valuable as a 3pt threat with good D and athletic abilities like Elie.

Jon Barry would've had a better career probably like someone pointed out. Eddie Griffin too. Jim Jackson probably more or less the same. Cato a longer career but probably not better. Lastly, T-Mac might have had better numbers but I don't think he'd be better necessarily.

 

Hakeem would be the best player in the league in any era.

 

Hakeem - Better
Drexler - Same or worse statistically
Thorpe - Worse statistically but still as valuable
Horry - Better
Smith - Better
Maxwell - Better
Cassell - Worse
Yao - Worse
T-Mac - Same
Francis - Worse
Mobley - Same or Worse
Von Wafer - HOF

 

Horry would be a near max player.

 

But would he foul out with the new rules?

 

harrell would be better in the 90s

 

No, he's not. As much as Lebron is stronger than Magic...Magic was that much better a passer.

I think people forget how good a basketball player Magic was. Lebron is one of the few as versatile as he was, playing all five positions (something MJ, for example, couldn't do). But not with Magic's flair.

 

Wow. I did not realize those were his averages that year

 

If by "flair" you mean the oversized novelty buttons that you pin on your apron before you go to your shift at Chilis that's entirely correct.

 

On the positive for Yao, he'd also be a very good stretch center. If they worked on it one offseason he could have been a very solid three point shooter.

Picturing him switching on Steph or Russ is not a pretty thought

 

Glen rice would be better in this era

 

More boards, slower on the break, less D, better passing. Both would have been deadly growing up in this stuff.

 

I dont know but im thinking we got a good roster its time to get it..... GO ROCKETS!



http://www.nba.com/rockets/roster/

 

Just saw this wow, you're walking on thin ice ma breh.
The only reason he never turned into a superstar was because of the league blackballing him out of fear, as opposing players regularly got PTSD when thinking about defending a prime Brian Cook.

 

T-Mac would be funny in the days of analytics, imagine him doing the "one foot inside the 3pt line" shot nowadays. Morey would probably lose all hair and send T-Mac an IPad with statistical "3s are worth more than long 2s" data.

 

i guess i go for one.. Matt Bullard. Guy would be all up on 3's, but would get his **** blocked everywhere LMAO

It would sound like this kinda...

 

One guy I think would drop off quite abit in todays game is Pippen. Instead of him being bigger and faster than most, he be facing the likes of Lebron, KD, Klaw, PG and Giannis who all match up physically.

Magic always have issue against speedy PGs. So Magic will most likely play point center instead of point guard. He still be great, but will he be in GOAT consideration?

The one guy that I think will truly trive in todays game would be Ralph Sampson. He be like Anthony Davis on steroids.

 

Barkley immediately came to mind. Dude averaged a career (including down years) 22/12 playing as a 6'6 or less PF against true giants. He would absolutely destroy today's game. He'd be super Draymond... at least on offense. But even with his defensive deficiencies, he'd probably average 15 boards a game.

 

That’s true. I remember reading an article about how Lebron and Kobe met with stern one night, and investigators tracked a call to Brian Cook’s Cell Phone immediately after coming right out of Stern’s Office. Brian would never be the beast he was ever again.