I've been meaning to bring this up. Which one player seems to be the most important for our teams success long term / short term. Sura is great but MJames seems to fill in his role pretty well even though he miss his heart / hustle and leadership. Tmac is our leading scorer and can take over games by himself but hasnt been doing that this year. Seems to be struggling with his shot and doesnt get to the FT line as much as he needs to. Yao is our most efficient scorer and when he is on his game is also unstoppable. Jhoward is only on this list because our depth at the 4 is really weak after him. * in my honest opinion I would have to say Yao's success is the most detrimental piece to our teams success. When Yao struggles it will most likely cost us the game. When Tmac has a bad shooting night someone else seems to be able to step up and we still win the game. When Yao struggles (offensively/defensively) we are in big trouble since he anchors our defense by clogging the paint and anchors the offense by drawing double teams and so much of the opposing teams defensive attention. Long term our championship aspirations are in his hands, if he doesnt develop we will never become an elite team. However, if he does we will be raising championship banners year after year. what do you guys think? J
The only reason we win when TMAC struggles with his shooting is because he is still drawing double teams and dishing to wide open shooters, which we have plenty of now.............he does this <b>every </b> game, meanwhile yao sometimes sits on the bench for long stretches because he commited dumb fouls...........if not for TMAC, we would be a lottery team.........When Yao plays real good, it just makes it much easier for the team, but how often does he do this? I would have to say TMAC is much more important for the Rockets this year, and will be for the next few until Yao gets 'it'.
Short term, Sura might be the most important for team success. Centers used to be the most important, but with all those rules change and how the fouls are being called, little guys are taking a bigger role. For the past a few years, almost every team needs a very good or great PG to go deep into playoffs, or some great player who's not a pg but handles the ball most. Long term, it could be Yao. Until Yao learns how to be dominant on a daily base, Rockets won't be a true contender.
T-Mac is the most important to win in the regular season, but he isn't leading the Rockets to a championship or even much playoff success without a lot of help from Yao. What is this "it" everyone talks about? I don't get "it." Could you get "it" and then lose "it?" Could "it" be taught? Anyway, I think Yao gets "it" his problem is that his body doesn't react as well as it should sometimes.
why dont u think TMAC can lead the Rocks to a ring? And the 'it' about Yao is a lot of things, most of them <b> not </b> physical related, like being more aggressive, meaner, dont commit dumb fouls, dont lean forward with your hands when small guards bump into you, dont put the ball where defenders can slap it away, shoot more, box up better for rebounding etc............he has gotten better at many recently, but then just when u think he is getting there, he will have like 3 games in a row w/ 12 and 4......................but I do think while Yao is getting there we can definitely make a damn good run w/ TMAC..........he is just amazing to watch, how good he sees the court is unbelievable...........
Didn't say he can't I said he can't without a lot of help from Yao. The way I see it Yao knows all that other stuff already, his body doesn't respond like he wants it to. Unless he's dumb and he thinks it's ok to lose a few rebounds a game, it's ok to commit a couple of dumb fouls in the first quarter of every game, it's ok to let Brendan Haywood outplay you in crunch time. His hands are weak, his rebounding game is not as dominant as it should be, he's too slow footed, and his stamina is zero sometimes, that's all physical isn't it? For the good of the Rockets Yao needs to tell the CNT to F-off and work on all those things here in Houston, with Rocket trainers, coaches, and players.
I agree.. Yao needs to tell China to back off so he can work on his game more in the US. He doesnt get the work he needs and they dont develop him enough either. I kind of feel sorry for the guy but he needs to make a stand. J
Importance to team success Sura > Tmac > Yao Sura brings toughness and energy that both Tmac and Yao lack of.
Tmac and Yao both equally important for Rockets' success. Sura is the glue hold everything together. Juwan Howard is making solid contribution but easily replacable.
I personally can't see how this is even debatable. The list of importance, among Rockets players, goes like this. 1. T-Mac 2. Yao . . . . . 3. Sura No one else is important enough to be of any note.
But honestly, I really don't think this is a valid question, and here is why... In order for the Rockets or any team to win, you need a 'TEAM' of players that perfectly compliment one another. Every single player is important if the team is to succeed. In this sense, while you do have stars and non-stars, every player is a 'role' player. For example: where would the Rockets be if Barry, Wesley, Padgett and the other guys were not playing well and knocking down those open shots they get because of the attention T-Mac and Yao garner from their opponents? The answer I think is rather obvious. Stars don't win it alone, as important as they might be. Tell me a team in recent history that has won the NBA title without a solid roster of role players. What are some of the more memorable moments in Rocket's history or Laker's recent championships? Aren't they moments created by Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Mario Elie, Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell, and others? Just my two cents
Exactly! If heart and toughness was all it took to win a championship. Sura would have led Atlanta to a Championship last year. It takes a mixture - LA had the most talent last year hands down, but the egos got in the way. Detroit had a nice mixture of toughness and talent.
You have got to be joking!! T-Mac is the ONE that is doubled nearly all the time, Yao gets doubled MOST of the time when he gets the ball in deep, but not nearly as much as T-Mac, who usually gets doubled before he even gets the ball. Have you been watching the games lately?
of course. That's why I got confused. I think I need clear my fundmental knowledge: so what's a real double-team for a outside-shooter?
You will never be a good team with just star small players unless your are MJ & SP combo. Just look at the past teams who have won, Wallance with the Pistons, Shaq with the Lakers, TD with the Spurs, etc. The Rockets is an average team with a full strength TMac (check out past years Magic), but will be a contender when Yao can play at the top of his game. Sura is what he is, a role player. He just find his role with this team to maximize his ability. It's laughable to think he is the key factor for this team's fate!
