Oh, really? The same Brook Lopez that Luis Scola has made look silly on more than one occasion? I must be thinking of another Brook Lopez.
A better owner away. Good defensive center and finisher are hard to find. Usually it requires some talent to get them. Les needs to learn from Cuban to go over lux tax to accumulate more talents so that if some talents are traded away or injuried, there is still enough talent left to compete. Les has made enough money since Yao era to do that if he truly wants to win badly.
We are nowhere close to that mavs team. We have no Terry, we have no Chandler, we have no Butler, we have no Kidd, we have no Dirk. We aren't two players away, we are a starting 5 away from them.
You forget one important thing. Mavs has an owner willing to spend whatever money to win a champion. Rockets has an owner willing to do whatever it take to make/save money. How does that compare?
This is a key in my opinion. Having Chandler and at times Haywood completely changed the Mav's in the paint. Gave them that grit and grind they needed.
Being completely honest and call me crazy but I think if we reverted back to our old jerseys players would actually come to Houston. Our Jersey's scream out "mediocre". Well, it would help.
A theory I have, if you actually look at the Magic and the players they've surrounded Dwight with. Have they given him what he's needed for him to achieve success? What Dwight needs: A legit second scoring option... I'll take Kevin Martin over J-Rich, Hedo or Vince any day of the week. Stability at the point... The magic have been close in this area but due to constant injuries to Jameer, is he any better then much improving Lowry anymore? An actual backup C to relieve him of minutes or come in successfully when he's in foul trouble... The Magic had Gortat but as soon as he left, this was a glaring weakness with the magic during this season and they noticeably got worse. The Rockets would need to figure out this situation out with Yao, but either way D12 needs a solid backup. A partner at the 4... Go figure that when Rashard was playing his best basketball with the Magic they went to the finals, this year he had Brandon Bass who can be a great player... coming off the bench. He needs consistency in this department and we all know if Scola's healthy he can be just as consistent as any PF in the league with his arsenal of moves on the post. Not to mention P-Pat's continuous improvement. If I invite D12 into my office this is what I tell him. This is your team for the taking, we're a franchise with a lot tradition (this is where you pull some tweaks bringing in Hakeem who's practiced with D12 before) and we can start a dynasty. You need a fresh start and Houston's the way to go. **** the Ipads. We need to change our jersey's though.
Crystalization of an acknowledged need does not make it easier to attain. Acquiring a player that cannot be defended one on one in crucial situations is incredibly difficult to actualize. Wade, LeBron, Dirk, Rose (arguably), Kobe (fading slowly), Ginobili (until recent injuries), McGrady (in his prime), AI (out of the league), Duncan (fading), and Shaq (retired) are all I can think of in the last decade plus. The influences of zone defenses and players that are glorified specialists, both offensively and defensively, have made this an even rarer breed. A defensive shut down center is just as difficult to acquire and only highlights the miss that was Chandler on the Rocket's behalf. How many guys truly are game changers in the paint...meaning guys that will alter the opponents offensive tendencies for the game? Yao, Shaq, Howard, Deke, Duncan, Rasheed Wallace (when rarely focused) and Ben Wallace (when matched against smaller and/or less skilled posts) are about all I can come up with for that time period, as well. The point is the same that we've been impaled on for years now: we need to continue to take risks on guys that potentially develop into these crucial cogs. The Rocket doesn't launch without it. All the hopes of Martin being that spark are trial liftoffs, dry runs, for he has shown the limited, though valuable, spark he generates. Hopes of Yao being rebuilt are expensive time wise (since he has been hurt perpetually for years now) and, potentially, money wise (for someone will be willing to offer him more cash than he is worth on the court). It's owning a 427 Cobra or a Limmer Starlight that's been previously totalled. It'd be beautiful...BEAUTIFUL...to rebuild, but what irrevocable damage has been done? To what length are you willing to extend yourself for something that will likely never be what is was before? At some point you permanently shelf the classic and go for the lesser proven, yet lesser damaged and high potential, reliable vehicle. Or in the case of the dynamic wing we so need, cut your expenses, save as many valuable "assets" as possible, suffer for a short while waiting for the next dynamic model, and pounce on it as hard an aggressively as humanly possible. I think Daryl understands this...at least I hope so. He's hired a developmental coach that will jibe with his developmental program. He's looking at high ceiling guys in the draft. I just hope he doesn't waver and stays the course. We will find our Dream Machine or Clydesdale horse again. we just have to be patient.
You are right. Mavs salary 88 MIL* vs. Rockets 54 MIL** is a rediculous comparision. They are not even close. * Over 100M if consider the luxury tax. **Les got 17M (Yao's salary) back to his pocket from insurance and not to spend the medical exemption.
That's because Dallas has Dirk. Yes, absolutely, you go all in when you've got a healthy superstar, but we haven't had that in years. It serves no purpose to overpay until the foundation is set, then you bring in the expensive role players, but acquiring the star comes first. Secondly, Morey's strategy (which I never agreed with) was to trade multiple role players - with attractive contracts - in a sign & trade for a star. That meant filling the roster with above average players on below average contracts and avoiding a bloated payroll. So as you can see, there are reasons the Rocket's cap is low, and they are reasons which are perfectly logical.
and those are the two toughest types of players to get. we have the role players to get it done. but you need a stud (nobody is in this draft, and morey has been trying and failing at getting a star). there are not many great defensive centers nowadays ala a tyson chandler.
Do you know what is the hardest piece to get in building an NBA champion? Right, a superpstar. And we currently don't have one.
I like how after Dallas you write it like... 'OH OF COURSE! WE NEED A SUPERSTAR! OH AND AND SOMEONE WHO CAN BLOCK SHOTS AND REBOUND FOR US TOO!' What did you think the Rox needed before today??
The problem is...the cost of adding a legit star and the defensive center you're talking about is the depth you list as our strength. Last night killed me, though....I remember when the Mavs were extremely forgetable, and the Rockets were the cream of the NBA; a franchise that was in the NBA Finals 4 times in 16 seasons. We are nowhere near that right now.
