Agree that this was the most interesting comment of the interview. Whether we like it or not, we are a flawed team right now. The minimum contracts are nice from a management standpoint, but there is a reason those players accepted the minimum. We are missing 4 things right now: 1) Starting quality PG that fits with Harden/Dwight. While Bev does "fit" better with Harden/Howard than Lin, I'm beginning to question whether he is a starting caliber PG. Honestly, I think the long term plan is for one of Canaan or Llull to be that guy. Considering how Morey has typically handled the PG slot, I don't think we are looking to spend big money here. 2) go-to scorer off the bench I think Lin can be this guy. If not, bench scorers tend to be in relatively high supply in the NBA, and can be had for the MLE. We must get someone that will allow Harden to get more rest. 3) quality wing defender At this point, it's clear this guy isn't on the team. Unless Parsons can show the same promise he did as a rookie, we need a wing defender. These seem to be harder to come by than scorers. 4) quality PF I'm not sure we are willing to wait for TJones to become what he needs to be. He has talent, and I do think he will be come a consistent, quality NBA player. I think our future championship lineup looks something like this.... Canaan or Llull / Beverley Harden / Lin Parsons / (Wing Defender) / Garcia Millsap / TJones Dwight / (Backup Center)
Wing defenders aren't hard to find. What's hard are wing defenders who can also hit the spot up jumper. That's why guys like Bowen, Battier, and Sefolosha are so valuable for contending teams. And I think the most urgent need for us is a quality back up center who won't pout playing behind Howard.
I don't think Morey worries about "positions" or "needs" as much as he does about just getting the best "value" for Asik in return. Heck, he doesn't even care if he gets an actual player as the center piece in return and would take draft picks instead.
Morey was on 790AM earlier for about 10 minutes. Nothing probing, just the usual. - 790 asks him about his fantasy football team. Morey's team did not do well at all and Lance said he led the league in most transactions. Morey accepted that he does not know much football or something to that effect. - 790 asks him about the team's inconsistencies basically saying that the team has the ability to do what it wants but does not do it on a nightly basis taking the example of Howard who would be horrible in the post on one night and real good the next or Harden who would play bad D on one night and then show up and play great D. This Rockets team has all the qualities of a championship team. - Morey elaborated saying that he has mentioned this several times and knows it well. Back in the Yao days, Rockets used to beat up on bad teams and lose its fair share to good teams and people wanted that fixed. This Rockets so far beats good teams but loses to bad teams and people are not happy. basically Morey says it comes down tow inning EVERY game. - 790AM then asks him about Portland and their hot 18-4 start to the season and whether they are the surprise team of the season. - Morey says that he did expect them to be a good team and fight for the playoffs but they are the real surprise team of the league usurping his expectations so far. They have a good inside out combo in Lillard and LMA and talented players in Batum and Wes Mathews. The addition of Robin Lopez helped them too. - 790 asks Morey about Brandon Roy and whether Rockets unlike other teams knew something about his degenerative knees. - Morey says that most teams around the league knew of his knee issues and Rockets are a more daring team and are not too concerned with injury history. Basically says that you need talented players and Rockets would rather draft a talented player with some injury past than an average player. He may have drafted Roy if he fell to the Rockets. He also says that Roy gave them 5 years at an all star level play which is pretty good. That was about it. Nothing too insightful or probing. I guess with Lance in studio, this is what you can expect. IMO he does not care much for the Rockets and does not know the intricacies of basketball and has limited knowledge of the game.
12-12-13 7:45-8:00am enjoy 790 & MOREY- a lot of fantasy football talk 790- This team is very interesting very different than other teams. We see that we can complain about some games when Dwight’s not doing well in the post then next game he’s doing good in the post, hardens not playing defense then next game he’s playing good defense. 790- So I see your team doing the things that need to be done to compete for a championship, is it consistent no, but I see them being able to hit those marks and get it done. Morey- yeah I mean you’re making the same points I made internally. We were good last time in 08-09 we would win 50 games beat up all on the bad teams, against the good teams we would have our share but not anything special. MOREY - Now we can beat the good teams, but we lost focus and couldn’t beat the bad teams, back in 08-09 it was we couldn’t beat the good teams, so now the feedback I’m getting well you guys can’t beat the bad teams, so people just want us to beat all the teams basically (LAUGHS) which I agree with that’s what’s preferred and that’s what the spurs do, so that’s where we want to get someday MOREY - But we do feel good about our talent. “We obviously should continue to upgrade, that’s my job so I’m going to continue to try to do that”, but we do feel like we have the ability to beat anyone in a series we do feel like that right now 790 & morey - a lot of talk about the Portland trail blazers LMA, Lillard, Mathews, roy injury and the team they’ve become, both think blazers are a really good team. Talked about blazers for going on 5mins, I had to get out my car and go to work at that point. If more rockets talk went on after that hopefully someone can post that was tuned in. Peace
http://www.sports790.com/media/podc...lemen/thursday-december-12th-2013-2-24082769/ Start at the 23 minute mark
Wouldnt surprise me to see Canaan at some point getting a crack at the staring PG position. Who knows. Remember Sam Cassell lol.
They just need to get a wing defender(# 3) and they're set. Well, if they get a wing defender who can score also along with backup center, they're really set, but Smith should be ok for now until Camby gets healed up in a couple of months and Okafor gets bought out.
a better wing defender will help, but if this team just put more focus on defense communication on rotations etc they would look alot better. Some of this falls on coaching. look at how spo had a plan for paul george the other day. They trapped him forced him to give up the ball to to other players. Lebron was doing good one on one put chalmers and cole would still help with traps. Its not a thing only one player can handle. spo did the same thing with lin when he was hot in NY. Coaches have to get the players to buy into a defense system and be held accountable if not. Another reason why it’s good to have more than one player who can create in a 7 game series.
Gotta root for the guys in the D-League, but he's undersized and isn't really putting up out-of-this-world numbers... for comparison: http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/isaiah_canaan/career_stats.html http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/jeremy_lin/career_stats.html
If IF Canaan is deemed ready to contribute at TheToyShop then it would be quite interesting to see what follows!
12/20/13 790- so what happened yesterday ? Morey - We were definitely trying to move him but you know frankly it takes 2 to tango, it was trending to something happening but some things just don’t sit well with the owners right when the deal is about to go through, rockets fans should know because some of the past deals that were almost done that didn’t go through & I’m not going to do a deal that doesn’t help the team. I spoke with omer yesterday and I think he’s going to be here for a while, 790- how does that sit with him sounds like the logistics of the deal are the main things that kept the deal from happening, how does he feel because he seemed was disgruntled at times? Morey- he’s a good guy a professional I think things will work out fine
Morey on 790 12/20/2013. I was listening while driving to work so here is a rough breakdown. 790 asks him about losing to bad teams while beating the good ones. Morey says he would much rather win all games but given the situation he would lose to the bad teams and beat the good ones because ultimately it is the good teams you will be facing come playoff time. 790 asks him about the Asik trade. Morey says that Rockets were definitely looking to trade Asik and were in the latter stages but eventually for a trade to happen it takes tow to tango and he felt there were no deals that he would take. Ultimately he says he makes a trade only if it makes the team better or at the least is an even trade. Says he spoke to Asik and that Asik will be a Rocket for a long time to come. Asik is a good high character guy and things will work out eventually. Also says that some of the earlier reports on Asik were not a reflection of what went on and an injustice to Asik. 790 asks him about Howard's improved post up game. Morey says he definitely has worked on it. He did not have much of a chance to post up at the Lakers and he has become a more consistent post up player. 790 asks him Harden's ankle. Morey says he was surprised to see Harden on the floor and more surprised to see he had lots of hops. Another character to add to Harden's books. Clearly saw him roll his ankle and expected Harden to be out. Also expected the Rockets to beat the Bulls without Harden. 790 asks him if JLin got back spasms from CP Morey jokingly says players always find ways to blame others from the new airplane seats to the food. Says JLin's back spasms are worse than Chandler Parson's. JLin was out practicing early yday but his back flared up and needed attention. 790 asks him about TJones and Greg Smith. Morey says they are young players and improving. Says having Smith back is huge. Another big body to take on the other league centers. On TJones, says he keeps adding a thing or two to his game that makes people go wow. Goes on to talk about the upside that this young team has and ability to get better as the season progresses as opposed to some of the older teams.
Smith should be out of rotation in favor of Asik obviously. Back Spasms are not sexually transmitted (or are they?) Long time to come=February.
