Whether we are going to be a big player in trades, or if we are just going to be pushing forward into the future with this group. Who do you think is our most important reserve player? This is how the order in which i would place the level of importance on each player. Courtney Lee - Arguably the best two way player on the roster. solid ball handler, great perimeter defender, shoots the 3 at a good clip, drives hard to the hole, can finish amongst the trees, and is our best pure athlete. His versatility to being able to play/guard the 1-3 positions on the court, is what makes him stand out on our bench. Its too bad our best scorer is the only player ahead of him on the depth chart, otherwise this guy would be tearing things up. Aaron Brooks - Say what you will about AB but he has almost the most value on our team. Whether that be on the court or trade value. Brooks' game is still very valuable to this team who is still without a legitimate closer. His attitude does need some working on, but hey let's see it from his perspective. He was given the reigns of this team 1 1/2 years ago, and has exceeded all expectations. This year, gets a ankle sprain, and loses his starting job. He still is the best one on one creator on our team... I feel bad for AB, who was easily my favorite player last season. Patrick Patterson - Going to be a solid player regardless. If Patterson was thrown into the starting PF role right now i think he could average about 14 and 8 while shooting about 50%. We know what we are going to get from Patterson, we know what hes going to be down the road. Nearly a 0 bust factor. Very very smart player. Best weakside shot blocker we have. Jordan Hill - This one is intriguing. Jordan Hill has the upside to be our starting center in years to come. Virtually the only player on our team with legit shot blocking ability. His ceiling is high, but his bust factor is also high. He could be a 16 pts & 10 rbs guy, or a 6 pts & 5 rbs guy. He seems to play great with brad miller telling him what he has to do on the court. Thrives when others are doing the thinking on the court for him. Terrance Williams - Could be a starter on plenty of teams. At least in the rotation. I love Adelman, but i just dont understand why he is not playing. Especially last night when both Chase and Shane were in foul trouble, we went with 4 guards instead of putting T-Will in. He has shown flashes in his rookie season, and we know hes a good defender, and willing passer. Second best one on one creator we have. I think everyone in H-town is ready for T-Will to be released!!! Ish Smith - For an undrafted rookie, this kid just isnt going away. The Rockets have committed to him, and his unmatched passing ability has made Brooks tradeable. I love his game. I havnt seen a Rockets pg get his players more open looks than he does. The fastest player on the court at all times. Faster than Brooks and Lee. Instinctual player, as far as knowing where his players will be offensively and reads rebounds off shots extremely well. Best athelete of our 3 PGs. Honestly reminds me of a rondo type.... but his shot has developed in only a few months, something Rondo's game hasnt done in 3 years. Chase Budinger - After a terrible start, he's finally back to his rookie form. Problem is it seems like that is going to be the ceiling for him now. Strictly a one way player. He is a great athlete, surprisingly good finisher in traffic, and very good outside shooter. He continuously gets abused on the defensive end night after night. To contend again, we need to get away from these one way players, and use players who can help the team every second they are on the floor. Get back to teams from 3 years ago, Brad Miller - Great high post passer. Enforcer...... But we need to get younger, not sign brad miller to a 3 year deal. I like what he's done for Jordan Hill, but we need our youth movement of Patterson and Hill to take over. Jared Jeffries - Lets just say i cant wait for his contract to expire.
I wouldn't mind seeing any of those players go if it improves the team, but I'd ideally like to hold onto Ish Smith. I think we have a good backup point guard on our hands on a very cheap contract. I also think he has a lot of room to grow, so it's best to see where that leads instead of selling low now.
Surprised to see that so many people agree with me on Patterson. I think his defense is quite smart and he adds so much with his smart rotations and defensive ability. He's still pretty rough on the edges, but I rarely see rookies pick up defensive rotations like he's been able to (Scola, for example, still doesn't do it that well). This, paired with Lee's wing defense, gives some amount of defense where the second unit lacks (Brooks, Miller and Budinger all sub-par defenders).
I'm not sure who is the most important but Budinger is playing the most solid ball by far right now..
Lee has the ability to play 3 different positions and defends well. Plus, he's bouncy. I'd choose him over Bud, but 2Pat is a close 2nd.
I love what courtney, Patterson, and Hill can bring to this team as far as a 2-way stand point. I would love to see Courtney get in the mid 20's mpg. The more minutes he gets the better he plays. I think he deserves to be getting some minutes at the 3. hes shooting nearly 40% from 3, while chase is only shooting 32%.
Patterson and Lee are the two I have the most hope for, big picture. Hill *should* be with them, but he just can't seem to shake the Stromile tendencies. I just don't put stock into one-dimensional scorers. I don't hate them, but they are rarely difference makers in the win column.
Right now Lee,Patterson maybe later. Brooks would have been first if he didn't have all these problems.
Budinger is playing the most solid ball, but Patterson is the most solid exemplar for the rest of the team. He doesn't complain, he contributes on both ends of the floor and he is rewarded by RA consequently. We have already seen PPat on the floor in close games, RA has confidence in him. In fact, during a close game situation, if I had to put in a player who could contribute on offence then get back play good defence and rebound as well, I would probably go with PPat. I would put in Chuck Hayes if we're going up against versatile bigs (like Randolph or Stoudamire), but PPat is the middle ground between Scola and Hayes. PPat doesn't play better defence than Hayes, but he is certainly a better defender than Scola. PPat doesn't have better offensive moves than Scola, but he has more offensive repertoire than Hayes (the Jumpshot being the most important part). I'd say in the near future, I'm hoping during close games, we see PPat with either Scola or Hayes depending on the matchup and the boxscore. Hayes and PPat if we're up against a Millsap/Jefferson type front court and we're leading. Scola and PPat if we need some offence going. PPat will spread the floor, unlike Hayes, and that should ease the double teams and bring out the potential shot blockers away from Scola.
I like what kyle has been doing. but trust me, I have been a huge AB supporter, and still am. I think he deserves to start, but given current roles i gotta put him on the reserves
I guess I'm still not used to Chuck being a starter, which is pretty lame on my part. I honestly stared at the poll for a couple of minutes wondering why Chuck wasn't on the list, because he should be #1, easily. Maybe I need a nap.
CLee is / should be a starter... TWill and PPat will be starters... The best player to come off the the bench is ABrooks it the right fit for him on another team - someone to come in and light it up. ABrooks could /should be the first man of the bench on most teams in the NBA... It is his ROLE
That just shows how much the Rockets lack size ..... nothing agains Patterson , he's earned what minutes he's getting but .... He's their best option at either big spot off the bench defensively.
