Needed: Three Additions that Would Make Us Contenders

I like Ben Wallace because he shows nastiness and toughness wihch the Rockets is lacking. Okafor is still a rookie and I am not sure if he can be a hack of a low-post defender like Ben. Time will tell anyway.

Can you imagine Big Ben and Artest on the same team btw? =)))

 

I think Kobe's a poster child for the original point. The Lakers used to a have a bunch of very good defenders - Harper, Fox, Horry. Now, Kobe's the only half-way decent defender left, and I think it's taking its toll on his overall game. Bryant is shooting < 40%, and the Lakers are something like 0-10 in games in which they trail after 3. He just looks worn out by the fourth quarter. Of course, the absence of that big guy might have something to do with it too.

 

I think Bobby Simmons is decent, but I'd be wary of giving big money to a guy with one good season, with the Clippers no less. He's not a great shooter; 50% on 26 attempts, is good but the sample size is small; Charlie Ward has twice as many attempts and he's been hurt a lot. It's good that he hasn't forced them up, but he's much more of an offensive player inside the arc.

The Rockets are notorious for picking up players that play well against them (the no-VCR rule, hehe), and a ton of the Bobcats are free agents. Kapono is a RFA, as are Gerald Wallace, Jamal Sampson, and Keith Bogans. Kareem Rush will be unrestricted.

An interesting PG/shooter target would be Marko Jaric. He's shooting a 40% 3P clip, and has upped it every year in the league. He's restricted. Another possibility is Steve Blake. He's been hurt this year, and will be restricted, but with Gilbert Arenas in Washington, a decent contract would land him. Blake shot 37% behind the arc as a rookie, and is pretty good in the transition game.

Jeff- I don't think Fortson is a good fit for the Rockets. He's the most foul-prone player in the league, is oft-injured, and has no range to his game. I agree with the Oakley- someone who boards and plays tough, but can also hit the open J would be preferable.

Udonis Haslem is a restricted free agent in Miami, though they'll likely retain him. A similar player would be Reggie Evans in Seattle. Dan Gadzuric is another name out there. Stro Swift may actually keep his value within our range as he hasn't broken out yet; his athleticism and defensive skills fit extremely well, and he's seemed to have added some range to his game as well.

 

You make some good points. If the Rockets could get someone like Simmons with the MLE and then be lucky and draft a PF, someone of the caliber of Al Jefferson, then this team could get better in a hurry.

This summer the draft and the MLE (perhaps the FULL MLE to one person) could be huge for this team. Those two additions could really bolster our role players.

 

Just say no to Bobby Jackson he is starting to injure himself eating breakfast.

 

Yeah, i think rudy t will be perfect for this job!!!

 

We'll see about Boki. I never did see anything in Langi's game to make me think he would wind up a player. But I do in Boki. Boki has basketball intelligence. And I think he actually works best playing the 2 man game on the wing with a skilled big man. I still think Boki is the best entry passer to Yao on this team. And his shooting percentage speaks for itself, even more so now because he has so few attempts. He sure can't be any worse than what we have been putting out there shooting wise. Remember, this is really only his second year. They intentionally sat him his first year. And then last year, he got very little opportunity under Van Gundy. If Kapono can play in this league, there is no doubt in my mind that Boki can.

 

Mj wasn't the best perimeter defender on the Bulls.

I do believe between Boki and Barry we'll do well to shore up our outside shooting. Also Sura's jumper should eventually round into form. People may criticize Boki's 3 point shot but I honestly think he could shoot at least JJ's 36% and do better than his overall 41% from the field w/ more pt. JJ only has experience and confidence on him which Jvg could adjust if he'd ever consistenly play Boki. I'm basing this on JJ's numerous shooting slumps and situations when he misses a wide open 3. At least at this point he will no longer be considered our best shooter. I don't care for Howard's nasty hitched shot, I don't think it'll come around but as for Taylor I just feel that all his extra practice on his shot and his solid stroke will eventually pan out this year.

I already stated I still have faith in Taylor but my personal pick would be Chandler, I've liked him since he joined the Bulls. If only Badman could add sum bulk and skill. (Saw him at UH a couple of weeks back he looked very skinny but then again he could be like Garnett or Bosh)

I don't honestly see us ever getting a shut down perimeter defender, I think if we run the right system well w/ Tmac anchoring the perimeter defense we should be able to get by with Yao and Chandler holding down the paint.

 

Bruce Bowen not low rent, just ask the Spurs.

 

I think you greatly missed the point. The Spurs pay him less than MLE $.

 

We will probably never know if Boki can keep up his shooting % and if he can learn to defend without fouling.

He will never get the playing time under Van Dumby.

In the meantime more and more people will continue to point out that JJ is playing too many minutes, looks tired and plays worn out. Van Dumby do you read this forum? frustrated in Houston

This forum is beginning to sound like blah blah blah to me.

Everyone keeps repeating the same good points and the same flaws in the Rockets coaching.

Van Grumpy R U Listening?

 

Pippen was the best perimeter defender on that team, not Jordan =\


Anyways, ...what? I dont think we have a shot any at of those guys. Not even Fortson.

 

The only way the Rockets can get a legit power forward is to draft one. I suggest getting a high schooler who can learn a bit about the pro game from Juwan Howard. The Rockets need a power forward who can jump out of the building. Going with the draft is the only way to go. Hopefully, the lottery pick (in my opinion) they will have this year will be wisely used.

The Rockets should offer Vladimir Radmanovic the full MLE. Vlad is a restricted FA after this season, and he is a legit euro shooter in the mold of Peja. Vlad can play some PF too depending on matchups, but he is primarily a SF.

Stay with Sura/Ward/Barrett as the three headed point guard.

 

Let me add that I think JVG should be fired before he gets to coach the high schooler at PF the Rockets draft. JVG should not expose the high schooler to the extreme negativity. There's a reason why the Knicks never drafted anyone of substance when JVG was coaching there. JVG is horrible at developing young talent.

Also, Vladimir Radmamovic does not handle criticism well. He's a damn good shooter though. JVG should go if Vlad comes here.

JVG should not coach anyone who is young and impressionable.

 

Fortson's a good player if he's on a bad team. Otherwise, avoid him like the plague. He just plants his butt underneath the basket to get rebounds, it clogs up the offense and half the time he doesn't even pretend to play defense. No offensive skill outside of putbacks, and he's rarely in shape.

Another guy that intrigues me is Nazr Mohammed.

 

Good post! Jeff.
I feel there is still one thing critical:
A great coach
Phil Jackson - whose talent and contribution is often shadowed by the names of great players. You can always find some role players growing up quickly and do a decent work in his teams. This will never happen in JVG's team, because he never develop player, and never care about what they feel.

 

I like what I've seen of Mohammed too. Can he play the PF or is he a center though?

I don't know why people think we are gonna get a PF out of the draft that is worth anything. Simien, Boone, Bogut, Turiaf, Splitter? Are any of those guys really gonna be the big defensive rebounding stud that we are looking for and if they are, are they gonna be around at 12-21 when we draft? The last thing Van Gundy would want is a high schooler to D-E-V-E-L-O-P. I think we will get our PF with the MLE or with the TE. We'd be better off going after a shooter/slasher/SF or a PG in the draft. They are more plentiful and if they are gonna be good, they are good quickly. I'm still liking Jarrett Jack in the draft at PG. He is projected to be a middle of the pack pick. I like his intensity. I think he would bring us the intensity of Francis/Darrel Armstrong which we are so sorely lacking since Francis left. I do not want another undersized PG. We've already got that in Barrett.

Best case scenario is to get either Daniels or Swift with our MLE next year. And then use the TE combined with Spoon, or Boki, or JJ, or Howard to get the other piece. A drastic improvement in 2005-6. Either draft a good young player with the draft pick or trade it for quality bench help. Then in 2006, we've got another MLE to sign another quality player. We should be contenders in 2006-07 for the title.

I think we have to accept that this year we are headed for a very mediocre record. But next year should mark drastic improvement and if the team doesn't get out of the gate and is fumblin bumblin around then JVG has to go bye bye.