Are we going to pretend we just didn't gain a lot of valuable experience?

Agree and from the moment I heard of the Ariza signing my immediate thought was what could have been had he been on the floor in the final play against Portland instead of Chandler "I'm a superstar but Morey and Les just don't know" Parsons.

 

McHale probably would have left Ariza on the bench for the last play if we had him.

 

Hindsight is 20/20 but Ariza would have D'd Batum and Mathews up and we'd be talking about losing in the 2nd Round instead.

 

Oh I agree with everything you said. I just think Ariza would have done more on both ends than Parsons

 

except the revolving doors keep spinning, we have no chemistry, no plan, we always look on the next trade deadline.
Remember then our GM traded half of our roster away before the game against Thunders at Toyota Center.
We manage to come back from behind and beat the Thunders with Harden/Lin in the 4th quarter. #that was one of the best games the Rockets played, because team was angry and determined to win for all the players we lost in that trade.

 

Talk about reaching... If Ariza were a point guard, you'd have a better case... Harden will still control the direction the team takes on the court, both ways, except for those moments on the offensive end where McHale decides to "ride Howard"... and Harden disappears in turn...

What we lacked last year wasn't team unity, it was identity... and that isn't going to come via Ariza simply "backing" Dwight in huddles... I'm sure Bev did plenty of that last year, especially in the playoffs... If Dwight's experience taking a Magic team to the finals wasn't enough for Harden, Ariza's inclusion isn't going to matter... This is a guy that didn't bother in game 5 after having guys like Elie and Hakeem address the team on the subject of postseason adversity...

You're right, it does this team no good to have young guys that think their way is the best way... and, right now, Harden is the worst example of this... enablers like JLin, and Parsons may be gone... but, McHale is still here... Ariza isn't nearly enough to counter that influence on Harden's mentality...

 

Rockets have NO problem on offense. It can be stale at times but it is what it is.

What they have had a problem with is random dudes out of nowhere lighting them up. Like a Corey Brewer or James Anderson or someone. We now have another defender on the perimeter to throw at those guys. Before we just had Beverly. That's not enough. We now have a tall, lanky, Three and D guy that we did not have before.

 

I love quality veteran leadership. Ariza is just that and he's still in his prime age wise. Personally I wouldn't mind sprinkling in some more veteran has-been-stars who can still play. Key words being "still play".

I would absolutely love to get Shawn Marion on a 1 year maybe 2 year deal. Stick it back to Dallas by signing him and he will have plenty of opportunity to play quality minutes that add up to starter minutes because he can play both the 3 and the 4. Furthemore, we can have him close out games (which I think is more important than starting anyways). He can bring Championship experience has had numerous deep runs in the playoffs, hustles and does the dirty work and picks up buckets when he rarely if ever has plays called for him. In addition he's a consummate professional that's also a fan favorite wherever he goes.

Yes, I realize he just turned 36 but he's still got a lot of game left. He's showing no true signs of slowing down, he's very durable has never had any serious issues and he's highly reliable.

Another guy that I would absolutely hate to love having is Boozer. I think it's inevitable that he gets amnestied and he's one of the least liked players on this board but from a purely basketball standpoint it would be a no brainer to go after him. He too can bring very valuable experience and he can still play. His mid-range jumper is still good, he has moves in the post and he's still an excellent rebounder that knows how to box out players on both ends of the court. He would be a key piece in leading us deep and slowing down the likes of Griffin, LMA, Love, Randolph, etc.

I'm sure at this stage of their careers both Boozer and Marion want to play (continue playing for contenders). The good news is we have room/minutes and money for both. Even better news is I think we can and should be able to get both without spending too much.

 

I never said we had offensive troubles... and, yes, we have something we didn't have last year, but it's still not going to mean much if Harden doesn't do his part in seriously addressing the flaws in his approach to the game this off-season and actually apply what he learns on the court throughout the season... and especially in the playoffs...

Experience and someone to pick up the defensive slack doesn't amount to much if they have a counterproductive effect on Harden... He is this team's on-court leader, whether we like to think Bev, or Howard is... this team as the roster stands now, goes only as far as Harden takes them...

 

If you're going to reach out and get a dallas player i would prefer Carter..

T_Man

 

Ariza has a ring

 

I was hoping the Rockets would sign Deng to a 2-3 year contract, at about $10mil/per. He fits better with Howard, and can play 4 as well.

 

Harden doesn't seem like the type to succumb to peer pressure... Harden, on the contrary, seems quite aware of his position on this team... I have my doubts that Bev, Ariza and Howard will be enough to get him to buy in as to what he needs to do for this team, as well as himself, to truly succeed...

If those three's mindset on what this team needs to do to win were anchored by a strong and competent head coach, then those odds would be significantly better... but, we don't...

I certainly hope you're right, but I simply don't see it as it stands now...

In the end, there will be no team identity without Harden buying in 100%...

 

Deng can't shoot.

 

Dengs specialty is that long 2.. No way where we gonna bring him in.

 

He is not much a 3-pt threat, but was decent inside the arc. The important part is that he can play defense on both 3 & 4, and he is a solid rebounder as well. Plus the guys plays hard all the time, the exact kind of character you need to help limit Harden's bad/lazy/don't-care influence.

I like Ariza better than Parsons with this team, but just have a bad feeling when a team gave up someone, and then bring him back. That means either the player is not consistent, or the GM/Coaches are terrible at evaluate players.