We lost Ariza and Luc. By playoffs because of his injury Luc was basically useless so we played high level ball without him so not to bad of a loss for our overall core. Ariza offensively was easily replaceable, he was streaky and could not dribble or drive good at all. We mainly lost his defense and high energy effort which is very important. We’ve added James Ennis while not an Ariza replacement could defiantly fill the hole on defense We added Carmelo Anthony which can prolly be more efficient then Ariza offensively within our system. I think he will improve this year and while I don’t think he will be a premier defender I think just like Harden, he will have an improved effort on defense that will result in overall good team defense. Chris Paul and our defensive coach will whip him into shape. Good defense is contagious, Paul, Tucker, Capela, Jeff and even Gordon are very serious about defense/high energy and it appears our team mentality was heavily defense oriented so I think this should rub off. Plus our Youth we have that could potentially start contributing this year. Surprise factors could be Anderson actually getting some swagger back and contributing some. If he isn’t traded that is. We’re better then last year [When we sign capela] and our off season isn’t even over.
I mean, sure, they can, but you said at least. I'd give us slightly less than a 50% chance to hit 60 wins. The Rox had a fairly charmed season this last year. A lot of people left it all on the floor. It's difficult to replicate that back-to-back. My hope is that they're an even better team come playoff time. I'm totally happy with something like a four seed but a healthy roster just starting to gel after a mid-season acquisition. I think a lot of people would agree we peaked too early this last year. (Not that you can control when you peak, exactly, and man oh man what a peak it was.) (TWSS.)
Not as many teams tanking this year, this should be put into account. Regarding our team, I think Ennis will have as good a season as he's willing to. The wings' job in our system is to play D and stand away on O, if he accepts that he'll thrive, just like LMM. Don't get me wrong, I love Ariza and I think he was almost as important as James and CP3 during the WCF. I cannot believe people are calling him an average defender. His D was a thing of beauty against the Warriors, unfortunately the workload was too much for him at his age and game 7 showed. OTOH, our system is perfect for 3 and D wings to be difference makers on D. Just like Harden takes possessions off on D, our wings don't even set picks on O, they basically take every possession off! If he's willing to play hard, he'll shine. That said, just injury or rest can prevent us to beat 60 wins once again.
Well we probably can't afford to give the #1 seed to either LBJ or Golden State. I think we finish 64-18. Capela/Tucker/Anderson Tucker/Anthony/Anderson Anthony/Ennis Harden/Green Paul/Gordon Is 10 deep right now.
Melo and Ennis are going to work out better than people think. The key to the whole thing is Cp3. Cp3 like Steve nash before him made average players stars without him the Rockets would be just like a talenty symphony minus a conductor. I would feel better if we can mange cp3s minutes and Harden has got to start emulating some CP3s ways of getting everyone involved and the Leadership. You can see that when Cp3 says something the guys believe in him they will follow him.
I find it funny how there are bashing threads on Ariza and then the same people crying Ariza left for 15m, about the same price rox paid for harden in 2012.
If the Rockets kept the team together & just added Melton/Hartenstein/Qi & Capela starts game 1.......67 W’s Rockets kept Luc MaM but lost Ariza, added James Ennis plus Melton/Hartenstein/Qi & Caps game 1......64 W’s _______________ Rockets lose Luc/Ariza but add Melo....James Ennis/Melton/Hartenstein/Qi & Caps starts game 1..........65 W’s Rockets lose Luc/Ariza but add Melo.....James Ennis/Melton/Hartenstein/Qi & Caps holds out thru Nov....62 W’s Rockets lose Luc/Ariza but add Melo.....James Ennis/Melton/Hartenstein/Qi & Caps holds out thru Dec....58 W’s _________________ Now add another quality Wing with MLE since Melo accepted the vet min & Capela plays game 1............68 W’s Now add another quality Wing with MLE since Melo accepted the vet min & Capela holds out thru Nov......65 W’s Now add another quality Wing with MLE since Melo accepted the vet min & Capela holds out thru Dec.......61 W’s Tucker has proven to me to be good enough to fill in at Center and Small Forward and allows Houston to win so many games. Melo will take about 5 weeks to fit in and mesh with Harden. Because of Melo and Gary Clark, Tucker can be used more at C or SF if Ennis and/or Gerald Green are getting abused at SF & Capela holds out for a couple of months. I’m not sold on Vincent Edwards. MCW probably sports a mild minus in the +/- stat....which means he slightly hurts us when on the court.....enough to not make a difference in the win total. IMO.
I'm not sure who you're talking at here, I don't regret not paying Ariza $15M. I just regret that he had to go. But now that I've been provoked - I do feel like he is criminally ignored by the unenlightened masses here. I wasn't using the term 'floor general' to imply that he was handling the ball. He was relentless in his defense and kept the other guys on the same page. Not even the stars were above his leadership and guidance. So without further adieu, we can argue about "overrated" and "underrated" forever, but how about we just acknowledge what has been established by the people closest to him? Good luck replacing this... Mike D'Antoni: "“He’s one of the better players for the last 10, 15 years in that role. He’s just steady. You know what you’re going to get, His defense is always good, hawking the ball and all that. He’s a big presence in the locker room. Sometimes you do take him for granted because he’s smooth and quiet and all that. But he’s been really good.” PJ Tucker: "Trevor is definitely a quiet leader. He goes out, he’s more about his action,” Tucker said. “He ain’t going to say much but he goes out, he gives 110 percent every night, always wants to guard one of the better players on the opposite end. He’s a good two-way player. Trevor’s definitely a big piece of our team.” Kobe Bryant: “We were inseparable. If you saw Trevor, you saw me. He didn’t need me to show him how to work. He had it already — that ambition. Trevor is tough. There is no punk in Trevor at all. You're not going to bully him, and you're not going to intimidate him. He's used to having a purpose on the floor. I can see why standing around might be tough for him." Kevin McHale: "Trevor knows how to play. Doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He's very comfortable with who he is and what he does. Once you get comfortable with who you are you don't try to do extra things. He knows what he does well and is very solid." Mike D'Antoni (again): “He does everything. There’s just so many areas. He is the quiet leader of the team. He controls the locker room and film sessions, making sure his veteran experience is felt on a daily basis. The coaches look to him to right the ship and stabilize the room, while still depending on him to guard the most difficult matchup in the starting lineup. He isn’t the most vocal or demonstrative, but believe me he has the respect and ear of every player on that team, everyday." Irv Roland: "There is no way we can do what we do without him." Jeff Bzdelik: "He holds court [in the locker room and the huddle]. When you have a player-directed culture like that, your team has a chance. Trevor brings that. And his old-school approach actually translates well into switching." Randy Wittman: "Why do I need to do it this way" Nene asked. Just f---ing do it, was Ariza's response. There were not a lot of people who would mess with Nene. He could hurt you. And here comes Trevor, 175 pounds soaking wet. That was such an eye-opener." Mike Malone: "I have so much respect for what Trevor has done. Those guys never get the limelight. But if you look at his career since those early days in New York, he's helped a lot of teams. He is the forgotten man". To James Harden: "[After the game 6 loss to San Antonio], it was almost like everybody had a fear about talking to [James Harden]. You could see how much he was hurting. How do you approach him? Will he freak out if you talk to him?" - Irv Roland. "Trevor Ariza walked over and slung his arm around Harden's shoulder: "This was a good experience for you, 100 percent," Ariza said. "It's a pretty powerful thing when everyone is looking at you, pointing at you and saying all these things about you. How you going to handle it?" Chris Paul: "Trevor Ariza had a whole lot to do with [coming to Houston]. We talk about any and everything."
60 will be tough. Paul is a year older and with his soft tissue injury history health for 80 games is a long shot. I’ll take 50 wins and Paul for 55 games if I can have him 100% in four rounds of the playoffs.
It is really, really hard to win 60 games. The statistical likelihood of doing that consecutively resides with GS.
I don't disagree with his model of play but by definition "floor general" in which he's running the offense, Trevor doesn't have that role. He will be missed even though his defense has lost a couple of steps and his avg has gone down. You don't even need to read your quotes to see how great of a team player he was in houston. But the 15m he was paid in Phoenix is about the same amount Harden was paid in his first contract. But I am a little sad he's left for the cash.
With Melo hoodie, 60 wins is easy. Remember, we won more than 60 games despite CP3, Harden, Clint, EG, everyone was injured!!! We still won 60 plus
