So I was doing some quick searching and wanted to see what the Rockets winning percentage was the last two years without Dwight. During the games he missed the Rockets went 31-13, counting this past year. That would be roughly a .70 winning percentage, which last year would have qualified for 3rd in the west. Although I wish we could've landed Horford, the fact that we replaced Dwight with Anderson and Gordon is a net positive. Dwight was awful and I couldn't wait to see him gone. Watching him in the post, shoot free throws, commit dumb fouls...he demolished this teams flow over and over and over and over again. This team over the last two years has been SIGNIFICANTLY better without him on the team. Last two years in games that Dwight played we went 66-54 good for .55 or 5th in last years West. That is a staggering difference in productivity. Let's find another big and PG and roll. This team will be much better than last years. Also does anyone really think Pringles will be worse than JB?
This was the key for that stretch, no matter how many people want him to be a PF. D-Mo finished on the rolls and he had way more room to operate on the low block, where he is TOPS in the NBA.
Yes buts arguable that had he been around for more games that season the Rockets would've actually had a worse record that year. Would've faced GSW in the conference semis as opposed to WCF.
Do not sugarcoat it It is a new beginning for better or for worse - but with the long term deals it is looking for the worse in a couple of years
Because tactics and defense were not locked in on him When opponent teams start noticing him, it is not going to be the same.
Eric Gordon was having a great year before breaking his ring finger in January of this year. It was a freak injury and had nothing to do with his knees. Think EGO will be able to do the things with Harden on offense that we hoped Lin would be able to do. Play off the ball and hit open shots or take over and play make.
I know several posters on here will disagree, but I would much rather have Capela starting next to Anderson than DMo. Someone on this team has to be able to rebound.
Your "quick searching" should have included basic on/off court +/-'s, which would tell you Dwight in Year #2 had a measurable impact (offense +1.9; defense -5.4) and his Year #3 +/-'s, in a total trainwreck of a season collectively, were essentially a wash (offense -0.1; defense -1.1). So this argument you're making that we were "SIGNIFICANTLY" better without him the past two seasons is suspect, to say the very least.
DMo is the answer at center, but Gorden Anderson is a lot of money tied to "if". The NOH have been "if" for a really long time. I'm not sold on "if" as part of the addition. But Howard gone and playing time for DMo I'm all for that. Rebounds??