Why do people think we will be bad this year if we don't trade for Howard/Bynum?

I think what you need to look at not at the fact that most not rookies but at the total number of years of experience our rotation has. I'm sure it'll be one of the two lowest ( the other being the bobcats)

 

Well first of all if a Dwight/Bynum trade never consimates, the Rockets will find another venue by which to trade Martin. The ties between him and the F.O. are so effed, that if they don't trade him I could see him asking for a trade.

As for still being competitive. I'll start by saying this, Rookies don't win in this league if given a prominent role with out veterans. Even some of the greatest rookies in recent memory - Lebron James, Blake Griffin - didn't win. The only way a rookie in a prominent role can win is if they/him are surrounded by established veterans. ex: Derrick Rose.

If we give our rooks significant and prominent roles, no matter how good they are off the bat, they most likely will not win. However if we do win giving the Rook's high minutes, that's not mediocrity sir, that's a young team on the rise. The Rockets would have something really special if that were to happen.

 

We will be bad if the Roster is similar to what it is now.

Rookies are rookies, they may be good rookies but there is a certain type of experience needed to win games.

Just think of it like this. Not even Westbrook, Druant, and Harden tore the league up. Took them time to learn how to win games.

 

This!!!!!! I agree completely. Some people just don't understand. I believe most people are starting realize (hopefully Les included) that we have some good young guys. Let them play and grow. Some people are so desperate for a superstar that they would be willing to do something stupid. Trading everything for an injured Howard who does not want to be here would be crazy. Let the young guns play. Lamb and DMo have a lot of potential.

 

I'm with you. I still won't be upset if we get Dwight because I really can't imagine we'd take that chance without at least receiving assurances from him that he is going to be a happy camper despite his promises to weigh his options after the season. That said, I'd be just as excited for a season with these guys knowing there's a good chance we could have two lotto picks and cap space to work with next offseason.

 

The Rockets are going to be the worst as constructed now within their own division...Spurs, Dallas, Memphis and New Orleans..are all gonna be better...those are 4 teams right there...

Lakers, Clippers, OKC are locks
UTAH and Minny are still going to push as well...

so our competition...
Suns, Kings, Warriors, portland...we are going to be a bottom dweller next season...unless the Rockets rookies shock the world and DMo, Jones, and Lamb each score 17 ppg...Lin adds another 18/6...white 8/10/8...get my drift??? We will be a lottery team next year...how high...remains to be seen...

 

You are relying on rookies and a bunch of newcomers. It will take time for everyone to build in-game chemistry/tactical fluidity. And rookies will have their slumps.
This seems like a 25-30 win team.
Also, it's not a given than K-Martin is kept even in case the Howard deal fails.

But lets say he stays. Are you relying on him to stay healthy?

Are you assuming Asik will transform from a high energy low minutes player to doing it for 35 minutes a game every game with no bumps along the way?

Lets say Lin doesn't bust (i expect him to be solid). Even so, are you expecting Lin to have no ups and downs/injuries? There are significant drop offs after Lin and Asik.

Are you relying on the rookies to be solid starters/6th men right away?

All of those are possible, but history says that all of those are also long shots.
This is far from a winning roster. I'd argue that the Cavs roster last year was as good if not better (Kyrie/Parker/Casspi/Jamison/Varejao with Thompson and a few other good bench players).

 

Depends on how you define BAD

We can have a bad year either way
We get Dwight and no playoffs = bad year
We don't get dwight and only win 15 games = bad year

Good years as well
We get dwight and 2nd round = good year
We don't get dwight and win 45 games and miraculously win a top 3 pick = good years

Rocket River

 

That ^^^^ is basically my take. But I will add that at the 1, we could be far worse than last year if Lin turns out to be merely average.

I would also comment on our bench. We will have a deep, but unproven one. Guys playing well for a few games, then hitting a wall only to have their minutes go to another, and ditto. The revolving door on playing time could hit warp speed next year unless a couple guys manage what Parsons did.

 

That's how I see the starting 5 at the start of the season as well. Assuming there's no huge deal (or a Martin deal).
I don't expect rookies to be solid starters either. Maybe one or two of them will win that job towards the end of the season.

But here's the problem with that lineup - it's not very good. There are some good role players here. Some upside too. But it seems extremely optimistic to hope for anything more than ~.300-.350 with that lineup.

 

To me, a super star is a top ten player. I don't think Lamb can reach that level, but he has the potential to be an all star. He has the talent and the physique necessary to be very special.

 

Lin
Lamb
Parsons
D-Mo
Asik

The Rockets would be fun to watch, Lin would be an all star, and Lamb could be in the running for ROY.

 

I think the only way Morey should get Dwight is for Martin, Morris, Patterson, Smith, and picks/filler. If not I would be all for just rolling with the young guys.

Lin, Douglas
Martin, Lamb
Parsons, White, Forbes
Patterson, D-mo, Jones, Johnson
Asik

That could get us 8-12, not including the chance to win the lottery (slim) and Toronto's pick.

 

We are already in the the mold of a "tanking" team. I never liked tanking and the mentality that goes along with it, but it doesn't get any younger or raw than this team right here. The only way this team gets any worst is if you sign a bunch of over the hill journeymen and d-league scrubs with no potential and replace them with the young talent we have.

If this team somehow makes it to even 30-40 wins, you gotta think there's some "star" potential here, at the very least we would have a ton of assets that know how to play the game together. These guys haven't even played their first game yet and we're writing them off as they'll never have a chance to breakout and become that guy, there's always that possiblity, and stars don't always come from the top 5 picks.

 

Seriously do you really think Patterson and Asik are just a few wins less than Scola and Dalembert/Camby?

Asik Is unproven as a starter. Our backup...brockman or smith...lol...or even better ppat...llolllolll.

I noticed you put that third year stud ppat so you wouldn't have to list DMo as a rookie. Even if he does start, he's going to get schooled regularly against nba starters.

Parsons had a great rookie year but many have a sophomore slump...I hope he doesn't.

Do you really expect Martin to be here either way? It's been a clearance sale going on in case you missed the signs. The only reason he's here is Dwight and if that ship sales without him he's sold off for picks. He doesn't fit old or new.

Half your posts in this thread tell how good the rookies are while the other half tells that the good is just SL fools gold. You don't know how good they are yet. No one does. SL games are totally different games than nba games. The pace, the object, the competition and the refs. Do you really think your going to get consistent play from our rookies on their first nba schedule grind even if its just off the bench?

I can't tell if your basketball knowledge is really that shallow or you're just trolling?

 

If we don't get Howard or Bynum, then aside from Asik, our best bet for starting C will be Joel Przybilla.

 

Good post. Some nuggets of wisdom here that should be take into consideration.

 

Should be taken into consideration. Fixed.

 

HOGWASH!