[ESPN Chad Ford] Rockets still have major holes to fill

after the Mutombo trade, I think we are deep at all 5 positions, especially the forwards. Howard, Taylor, Spoon, Padgett can play the 4 and we just heard about the "real twin towers" from Mutombo right? Jackson, Nachbar, Padgett, T-Mac, Sura will all get minutes at 3 and I don't know why we need add more deepth at the small forward position?

if anything, we can still improve our starting point guard or power forward. Ward isn't a long-term solution at 1. Howard, while a decent 4, can be replaced by a more defensive-minded big man who has some range too (B. Grant, K. Thomas, R. LaFrentz, D. Marshall, ...) I don't see it happen this year though. I'd expect improvement on those two spots next summer.

 

When I first read this I thought it said "manhole"

 

I think one thing people forget is Howard has the size and experience to play backup C. He did it in Orlando and was pretty effective at it in Dallas.

I like the roster moves the Rox have made so far. I think Sura is a far tougher and better player than he's given credit for, but I gotta admit, there needs to be something more there at PG.

I think the other positions will take care of themselves, but PG is definitely a glaring hole. Then again, I suspect that the Rox will take the old Laker's approach of using the PG as a SG and having the SG, aka McGrady handle the ball.

I think this team is/will be a lot better than a lot of you guys think...and this is from a Pacer's fan!!

 

It really depends on Ward. he much has he got left?. personaly i wanna see Lue or Bobby play more Minutes at the PG position. i dont think Ward has anything left.

 

Has it been decided that Ward will be the Starting PG? I was really hoping to see Bobby Sura start the point for us...

 

I am very sure Lue can give you 24-30 MPG of decent play at the 1--be it officially as the starter or as a back-up.

We really only need Ward OR Sura to give solid play at the 1 for the remaining minutes (18-24).

The 1 spot will not be a strength, but two of these three would have to fail miserably for us to be in really bad shape at the 1--what I would call a "hole" to be filled.

 

I didn't read this entire thread but I agree with Ford in some ways. I guess I'm just not as optimistic as some of you guys, but I think when Charlie Ward is your starting PG you have a hole at that posistion. Though we have Sura and Lue also, Ward is the starter. In other words there is no one else on the roster better than Ward at that posistion. That's a glaring hole if you ask me. Will Ward play 30+ minutes? Will he split time with Lue? God help us.

Ford makes a good point, Mutombo is old and can not stay healthy. Maybe he will in Houston playing limited minutes, but I think it's a question mark that won't be answered until the season starts. I like the trade, we gave up nothing for him. So why not. If he stay's healthy, blocks some shots, grabs some boards, it's a great move. BUT....What do the rockets do if he get's hurt?

I don't think Boki has proved much at all in his NBA career. So yeah, I see holes in our depth. I know that Tracy can slide to SF and Sura can play the 2. But I'd like to have some one more accomplished than Boki behind JJ.

I don't know why you guys took so much offense to this article. It's pretty much right on in my opinion.

With that being said, I really hope Chad Ford's (and mine) view of our PG situation and Depth at SF, and C is wrong. I hope Ward and Lue can play, I hope Mutombo stays healthy, and I hope Boki matures as an NBA player. I just don't see it right now.

 

Everyone is talking about if someone gets hurt. What if Tim Duncan goes down, what if Garnett goes down, what if Shaq goes down, etc. Anyone could go down at any time. To base arguments purely on that alone is moot because of the fact that anyone could go done at anytime.

 

exactly! everyone here seems resigned to the fact that dikembe is gonna break his ankle stepping off the plane in houston next week. injuries are as random as they come there is no way one can predict how an injury can happen. like when barkley blew out his knee (that ended his career) it didnt look too bad from the angle that i saw, yet it was a career ending injury. likewise other injuries that look plain nasty on the reply end up being a sprained or twisted ankle.

the biggest thing to remember here is that all of these speculations are just that, speculations and have no fact to them at all. just wait for the regular season to play i think there will be no serious injury at all to mutombo given his limited minutes, he may sit out a game or two for something minor but i dont think he is going to be missing 20+ Games this season

 

I was actually basing my arguement on the fact that Mutombo is 38 and has been injured the past two seasons. You just named 3 guys pratically in the prime of their careers. There is quite a difference in probability.

 

asianballa ,

Chad Ford is an idiot, and because of that, even if he writes anything slightly valid, people will still call it ridiculous because he, being an idiot, cannot reasonable write something of value.

Most people's hatred of Chad Ford comes mainly from this off-season, when he went out of his way to write that (i'm paraphrasing here) "There is no way in hell the Rockets are going to get T-Mac. The Rockets suck, Francis, Cat, and Cato suck. Other teams are better. Phoenix is awesome. Other teams can get T-Mac, the Rockets cannot. Oh wait, did Jim Gray just report that the Rockets are going to get T-Mac? Well, I still stand by what I say that the Rockets suck and they cannot get T-Mac. Jim Gray is lying. Oh wait. Why did the Suns trade their draft picks? That didn't make sense b/c it was part of the T-Mac deal in my head. Oh well, they'll still get T-Mac. (...one week later, the Rockets officially get T-Mac)."

Chad Ford this last summer was acting like the Iraqi Information Minister. At least the Sports Guy mans up when he's wrong and calls himself out (like when he said Yao would be a bust), but Chad Ford was in all out denial mode.

 

Kim, you forgot the last part where after the T-Mac trade went down Chad was all like, "I knew it would happen like this. This was the Rocket's deal from the very beginning."

 

Granted, however, the Rockets might go south if Jim Jackson goes down. If Tmac or Yao goes down of course but Jim Jackson.

Oh well, Rockets will win the West

 

They might or might not go down if JJ goes down. Depends on the play of Sura and Boki. But JJ stays in great shape, plus he played 39MPG for 80 games last year. He should not have to play those kinds of minutes on this years team, keeping him fresher and reducing injury likelihood.

As for Tmac or Yao, no different than if TD, KG, Shaq, Kobe or any other top player goes down. In fact I think the Rockets could weather losing either one for short time better than the other teams mentioned. Probably better off than Memphis dealing with an injury to Gasol too.

Oh now you are just being obnoxious. As if the Gizzards have a better chance to win the West than the Rockets do. I know you get some reactionary bs from posters here, but you used to be a lot more objective about the Rockets.

 

bob sura is garbage. he couldnt find a definate role when he play for detroit, but when he was traded to atlanta he scored all the points in the world.

 

chad ford is right. we dont have a legitimate small forward.

 

Have to say I've noticed this too, MemphisX. Your posts used to be interesting and all in good fun. You come off far more irritable these days. It seems you're beginning to root for the Rockets to suck again.

 

its easy to be magnanimous towards a rival when you know your team is MUCH worse(like in previous seasons)...but now that the Corpse has managed to put to gether a decent little team....MemphisX has decided to let it go to his head...

what he doesnt seem to realize yet is that we got BETTER...how did Memphis do this offseason?

hmmm?

 

Actually that is my reaction to the head in the sand mentality on this board, but I do admit I am an 'I told you so kind of person' so expect it once the season starts. You guys seriously overestimate the quality of your role players and underestimate what you guys lost getting T Mac. In the long run it is a good move obviously but this year is going to be painful due to the high expectations.

I don't think you guys will be better this season but I am in the minority. At least from a Memphis point of viw, we will match up a lot better with you guys because you now don't have anyone who can contain Pau.