Rockets Bench Prigioni Terry Brewer Smith TJones Golden State Livingston Barbosa Iguodala Lee Ezeli Dallas Barea Harris Aminu Stoudemire James LA Clippers Rivers Crawford Wilcox Davis Udoh Memphis Udrih Allen Carter Leuer Koufos OKC Augustin Waiters Singler Collison Kanter Portland Blake Afflalo Wright Leonard Kaman San Antonio Mills Ginobili Belinelli Diaw Baynes I'd rank them as follows: 1a) San Antonio 1b) Golden State 3) Memphis 4a) OKC 4b) Houston 4c) Portland 4d) Dallas 8) LA Clippers Middle of the pack for a western playoff team. At least we aren't the Clippers.
It is crazy. Rockets have a deep team. Still a lot of questions, but legit team. The bench is deep. Problem is that Ariza and Beverly are defensive oriented. Plus Dwight is hurt, and Dorsey has been starting. So Rockets have 2 offensive quality starters ( Dmo and Harden). The bench is quality good. JSmooth, TJones, Brewer who are all starter quality; and could start for a lot of NBA teams. Prigioni and Terry are 3 point specialist. McDaniels, Papanikalou are young guys with improving ability. Capella and Johnson are filler with great talent, but need to wait their turn.
.... Nope. Some players like his demeanor and the freedom he gives you. Not exactly the same as "he is well respected around the league".
It is crazy. Rockets have a deep team. Still a lot of questions, but legit team. The bench is deep. Problem is that Ariza and Beverly are defensive oriented. Plus Dwight is hurt, and Dorsey has been starting. So Rockets have 2 offensive quality starters ( Dmo and Harden). The bench is quality good. JSmooth, TJones, Brewer who are all starter quality; and could start for a lot of NBA teams. Prigioni and Terry are 3 point specialist. McDaniels, Papanikalou are young guys with improving ability. Capella and Johnson are filler with great talent, but need to wait their turn. Problem isn't the bench. It is the Starters are limitted offensively as a group. With Dwight hurt, it swings the pendilum to where people see the gapping holes. Once Dwight gets back, team will challenge for a title. Terry and Prigioni will legitimize the point guard as a group. But this is a band aid solution. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
We have a top 5 defense that can't defend against any top 5 offense. We have a MVP level player that is known to disappear under pressure (playoff). We have a respected coach that has been decimated by opposing coaches in the off season. I do like our defense. I do hope Harden continue his MVP play in the playoff. I have no illusion about McHale - he's always a net zero to negative in the playoff.
Basically, 790 is to the Rockets as 610 is to the Texans. Glorified Communist Radio for both teams, they just aren't going to ask tough questions and will do more cheerleading than reporting. I know you may not agree that Morey is good at PR, but his point about not considering any of the potential buyouts just seems to be off. If a Perkins is available (although a stiff), he's a still a stiff with 6 fouls who can help, especially in a potential series with Memphis. Not saying Codman or Cyberx or any other source with inside knowledge is preaching gospel, but I also won't dismiss what they say out of hand just because Morey said something to the contrary on a local radio show. I kind of wonder if signing any more bought out vets would take the team into luxury tax territory and if that is the problem. It is also well documented that Dragic said he did not want to sign but that hasn’t stopped Morey from pursuing guys like Amare, Melo, and Howard before who said they wouldn't sign under any circumstances. The assets we all thought were good just weren't at the end of the day in the eyes of other teams or maybe Morey got out maneuvered at the deadline. That can happen even to the best GM in the business. The best thing from this deadline is that Golden State, Memphis, San Antonio, the Clips, and Dallas also didn't appreciably improve their teams.
I don't read it as having to do with our assets as much as Morey not willing to give the assets necessary to beat the Heat's offer of 2 unprotected 1sts for a player that made it very clear he would not return to the Rockets. I agree no one in the West drastically improving is the great take away, although I think people will be pleasantly surprised with Prigs.
Pretty strange to be saying GS will have to play OKC, the Rockets are just as likely to be 8t h as they are 3rd. DD
Lmao Lance and Adam are talking combine! Analytics! They've asked 2 basketball questions! They're hilarious tho! Gotta love'em!
Missed most of it so paging J.R. Nothing much though since these fools Lance and Adam don't really ask thoughtful Rockets related questions. Just generic BS 790: On the D Rose injury. DM: Not a good sight for the league. He was such a bright spot for the league and then his 3rd major injury. 790: I am looking at Westbrook's month at 30 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds which is incredible. ANd Harden's stats from February show that he is not slowing down. DM: Yeah Harden is incredible. He is carrying us. Putting up some shots that human being can't do. We should have put that game away against Minny but Harden came hitting big shots. You never know. We just keep carrying on. You never know when it's the best year for your guys. Yao and Tracy in 2005 comes to mind. THought they'd have better time than that. 790: Did you really enjoy the Harde crossover on Rubio breaking his ankles or the shimmy? DM: I don't really like guys showing up others so bad. Maybe it's my baseball background but Rubio is a good player so it's a little bit ummm ummm. I know fans love it and I am fighting a silly thing.
I know it's the default setting for Rockets fans to be pessimistic, but do you really think we're losing 6.5 games in the standings and getting passed up by 5 teams with only 26 games left in the regular season? Do you know how much of an all time epic collapse that would be? That's REALLY what you think is possible?
