Many times, I get the impression that people think: 1. We have our star in Francis 2. Hakeem retires and frees up cap space. 3. We draft a SF. 4. We sign a free agent 5. Resign Mobley and his great "first step" 6. Championship 2 years later. How long did it take Jordan and Hakeem to win a ring? Can someone please tell me what on this roster indicates future greatness? Don't say Steve Francis. A fancy point/shooting guard is not enough. Will we be in the same boat as Phoenix, Seattle, Pistons or Atlanta? Good but never great teams? ------------------ Respect Hakeem's legacy. A championship in the hand is worth two in the bush!!
well, on Jordan-he needed his second man. The guy who could watch his back on off nights, and punish the defense for double/triple teaming him. Pippen arrived, and the puzzle pieces were in place. Then he needed a guy who could rebound down low, and score a little, to keep the defense from collapsing up top, with up front guys who can't score. Horace Grant. The rest were roleplayers. Mobley and Cato COULD be those pieces, or maybe the person we draft or sign will be Francis' wing man. Shandon is a superb roleplayer, and could even become Francis' Pippen (defense wise). ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
3Rings You are absolutely correct. Francis is a good player, but he is NO superstar yet. I believe that you need a big man star player to compliment him. If we get Fizer or Martin, we could win sooner, but without Veteran leadership we are 4-5 years away..minimum. DaDakota ------------------
Experience is not everything. The Kings scared the crap out of Utah with a rook point and the Fab Five made it to the finals with all freshman starters. I dont know if Francis could be the same caliber of player as 23 and 34, but he is at the very least going to be in the top three at the point guard position for the next decade. ------------------
3 Rings: What's your solution? We do have a special player in Francis, we do need to resign Mobley, the part about Hakeem needing to retire is correct (I'd like to know more about the cap rules; it seems screwy to be able to buy out a contract and have the entire-previously unchanged amount count against the cap), and we DO need a rookie or a free agent small forward. If we make those changes, we should be able to make the playoffs. You and DaMan are correct that we are a ways off from the Western Conference Finals, much less a championship run. But my question is do you agree with everything but the 3rd ring timeline, or do you disagree entirely with the 6points you mentioned in your post? I see a lot of merit in those, with the exception of the sixth.
3Rings, You pointed out teams that are/were good teams ( Phoenix, Seattle, Pistons or Atlanta) but never great teams. Why don't you define great teams for us? I look at the Western conference and fail to see any team that could be considered a consistently great team since the Lakers of the '80's (Magic, Worthy, etc). In the Eastern conference, the Bulls of the '90's and the Celtics of the '80's are the only teams that could be considered consistently great teams over the past two decades. Other teams have had brief moments of greatness in the past two decades, (Rockets, Pistons, Spurs and '76's) but never were able to sustain it for more than a few seasons. What measuring stick are you using for great teams? Mango ------------------ It could be worse ....... you could have been born a Jazz fan!!!!
I really hate to say it..I'm gonna get slammed by a bunch of peeps out there.. Right now the only team that has the possibility to be a "great" team of this decade is the........oh god I hate myself for saying this.............lakers The have the most complete dominating team around right now....if they don't win it all...it's only because they choked(will choke) I really hate them and I hope they eat it in the first round.....but I doubt it.. ------------------ Go Rockets Go Need more LottoBalls!!
3rings future greatness on our roster rite now is only Francis(will be the best point in the NBA), Mobes, and maybe KT. SA is a GREAT role player, but i would hardly describe him as destined for greatness. Clearly this is NOT enuff. The Rocks need to pick up more pieces in order for there to be a 3rd championship. The rocks need a little luck in their player acquisitions and a lot of time to grow. Then, then there would be greatness. ------------------ Not only am I president of the WaltWizFanClub, I'm also the member.
We do not need to be "Great Team" or a dynasty. Free Agency and the draft and the salary cap all work towards homogenizing the league. You will see fewer "great" teams and more even competition, which is fine by me. The secret is to have a solid base - enough to put yourself in the playoffs, and year by year hope to find the piece, or step up and win a championship. ------------------ http://rocketdavo.tripod.com
3rings- Great topic! I think every team thinks they either have the current nucleous or are only a player (or two) away from competing. It is a scary thought that Stevie may become the next Iverson rather than Jordan, and truthfully no one knows at this point. Every team thinks they are doing the right thing, but at the end of each season there is only one team that has made all the right moves, other teams that have set themselves up for next year, others whose window have passed, and the Clippers who are a case study in futility. The best players don't always win championships (Charles, Karl, etc) and often the best teams on paper don't win (a team with 3 HOFs not winning Clyde-Dream-CB or CB-Dream-Pip), it all comes down to one great player's leadership and desire (Dream, MJ, Duncan, Larry, Isiah, Bird), leading a team that usually gets a few breaks (no injuries, Elies shot from the corner last year for SA, Bird stealing the inbounds from Isiah) and plays with determination. ------------------
Personally, I'm not getting ahead of myself. Let them get back to .500 first, Then, let them get back to the playoffs. Then, let them get home court advantage in a series. After that, maybe a Midwest Division title. Personally, that's my realistic goal for the Rockets. In the end, all I can really ask for is contention. As long as they get back to the point where they can CONTENT for a title, I'd be happy. ------------------
Pass 1st, shoot 2nd, I don't have a solution. If I did, I would be in a NBA front office right now. My basic point was, we all tend to overrate our roster. We think a piece here and there and championship run(s). I want observations on what separates us from waiting on one other piece like the Pistons and Atlantas of the NBA. What has Indiana been missing? My loose definition of a great team is that once playoffs come around, your team is in the hunt. Who thinks Minnesota, Sacramento, Orlanda, Detroit, Phoenix or any of the teams ranked between 5-8 in each conference have a snowball chance in hell? MY point after all this rambling? We underestimate the road to becoming a champion. Thats the message in my signature. ------------------ Respect Hakeem's legacy. A championship in the hand is worth two in the bush!!
What's different between the Rocks and Hawks and Pistons? Not much, they are all looking to add those key pieces. Hopefully the Rocks can do it quicker than those teams. Maybe, maybe not. Have to wait and see. Portland wasnt a contending team a couple of years ago until they added a few key pieces. Houston wasnt a contending team with Hakeem until Kenny and Thorpe and Horry were added. Lakers werent a contending team till they added Shaq and Kobe.(recently anyways) I think Phoenix HAD a chance at making damage in the playoffs. It takes a lot of luck and smarts to get the rite personell pieces. It wont be easy, but the Rocks are on a good start, I think. ------------------ Not only am I president of the WaltWizFanClub, I'm also the member.
