just remember that we went into the preseason with THIS lineup last season. Yes, that's Charlie Ward in the starting lineup. Even if there are ZERO changes before the trading deadline (aside from re-signing Deke), we are looking DAMN good in comparison to just one year ago. Throw a nice 2-for-1 in there to bring another quality player and dump some contracts and the sky is the limit. CD really should be commended. If this team produces as it seems they would on paper, he'll be in the running for GM of the Year for sure.
Im afraid that will go to Danny Ferry depending on how the Cavs do. Or the Miami Heats GM not sure who that is but he raped the Grizzlies and Celts
I agree, but the league also noted what Riley did in Miami. The moves he made were just as big...probably bigger
If you don't think CD is a certified bas-a$$ and you don't know how much people in the league want to play w/ Yao and now Yao/Mcgrady lets look at the rotation roster from two years ago/last year/this year: 2003-2004 Steve Francis/Moochie Norris Cuttino Mobley/Jim Jackson Jim Jackson / Nachbar Kelvin Cato MoTaylor Yao Ming Cato 2004-2005 Charlie Ward/ Tyronn Lue Tracy McGrady Jim Jackson/ Nachbar Juwon Howard/ Mo-Taylor Yao Ming/ Mutombo 2005-2006 Bobby Sura/ Mike James/ Luther Head Derek Anderson/ David Wesley Tracy McGrady/ Jon Barry Stromile Swift/ Juwon Howard Yao Ming/Mutombo Yao Ming is the ONLY player still around from that 2003-2004 season. We now have a team that is on the cusp of being a great one. A lot of that is CD's moves and a lot is attributed to JVG, Yao and T-Mac. But CD deserves some damn praise for those moves and NOT being afraid to pull the trigger.
The moves were bigger but I don't see them as that much better. We were able to add Stromile Swift/Derek Anderson for the MLE and the LLE. They have inflated their payroll even more by taking JWill's bad contract, Posey's long one and then giving 30 million to Antoine and 20 million to Shaq till he's 37. They have a one or two year window then their cap is shut for a long while.
and then on top of that..... there are serious questions about how Williams and Walker will fit in to the team concept that Stan preaches. and just as serious questions about how healthy POsey can stay. Im not saying we dont have just as serious questions about our own guards health...but at least all of our guys are willing to play within the team concept. I rate the possibility that all of the Heat's moves dont work out as well in life as they look on paper at around 50%
when they consider executive of the year awards i don't think they take well enough into consideration the resources available for the GM to draw on during that year. we didn't have much coming into this offseason..but kept key parts and added two nice pieces.
In all fairness, while I appreciate the work CD's done for the organization, who was the one that helped get us in the position to have limited resources? CD (and Rudy and JVG to an extent I'm sure).
I've been a fan since Ralph came into the league, but sorry, this roster doesn't thrill me. 1) look at the guards! Aside from Luther whoever, they're all over 30. Derek Anderson is a head case. Even if they are decent this year, in two years the rockets will need a whole new batch. This only makes sense if the rockets think they can win it all now, which is ludicrous. 2) Swift is the great move? Please, the guy has a reputation for being dumb even in comparison to other basketball players. Two very good coaches in memphis didn't want him on the court because he couldn't remember his defensive assignments after years of drilling the same thing. This guy is going to mesh w/ JVG? 3) look at the guards! Only this time think of the real problem last year, the fact that TM (IMO one of the top two or three players in the league right now) was the only player who could get him the ball on the move. The only change this year is adding yet another selfish shoot-first 30+ guard. This is an improvement?? The only hope is for a) swift to be as good as cato (i.e. bang a lot and throw down a dunk once in a while), and b) Yao to develop a mean streak. To sum up, I don't see this team as being much different than the one that lost game 7 against dallas last year. The only ray of hope is that Seattle, Dallas, and Phoenix all seem to have gone backwards...
Dude you are crazy! Swift averaged 9/5/2 in 21 minutes....tack on another 15 minutes and its damn good. Plus, we dont need him to come in and dominate....a 15/7/3 season would definitely be acceptable by me! Anderson is the same type of player as Wesley, except DA is 6'5, not 6'0. No posting him up as Stackhouse did Wesley. We have the same roster as last year PLUS Stro and DA MINUS Weatherspoon and Padgett...and the offseason isnt even over yet. This team has a legit shot at the WCF next season. Dallas, Phx, Seattle ALL 3 TEAM A HEAD OF US LAST YEAR.........got WORSE!!!
all that time watching basketball, and yet you dont truely understand it. Swift....stuck behind the Grizzlies only excuse for a star...imagine that...he didnt get much time. I cant imagine why.. guards age...you do realize of course that even guys over 30 can contribute in a meaningful way to a team right? We arent asking them to shoulder the burden of carrying the team...that is Yao and Tmac's jobs....all they have to do is play solidly...whcih every one of them are capable of. DA = headcase....riiiight...With as many members we have here that have proven their bball IQ, all the sudden you are the only one that can see the truth? Did he have some problems with manament at that train wreck called Portland? sure...who wouldnt...can you prove that he is going to be a problem here? No...you cant. shootfirst guard.....once again...if that was truely the case...I think we would have more posters bringin this up...since we havent, I have to assume you are posting out of your bum. If you plan on hanging around here for any length of time...I certainly hope you improve your game...cause right now it aint even YMCA level.
So what should have we done? Went after Jason Kidd or Stoudmire? The back court is much improved compare with last year. Swift as good as Cato. You talking about that stone hand no mid-range game Cato? Come on, you dont think Swift is better than Cato? I am thrilled with this roster, because I think CD did great with limited resouces. Just be happy.
i'vegot to say, this is one of the worst posts i've read in awhile. how can someone who's supposedly watched basketball for 20+ yrs. not feel comfortable with this roster? we've gotten the players we NEEDED to get. Athletic PF - check athleticism at the 2/3 - check (DA,Head) all we're missingis a true PG, and that may still be in the works... and even if it isn't, that spot is much of a glaring hole like it was just a few months ago. honestly, you have no idea what you're talking about. we dont need a PF to come in and averfage 25/12/3.... we need(ed) an ATHLETIC PF who can DEFEND and grab boards, and especially help Yao weakside and on the P'nR. if you dont think swift is that guy (or that he's capable of being that guy), i don't know what to tell you. same with DA.... sure, he aint the youngest guy, but he's only 31! DA gives us another athletic, BIGGER 2/3 that we desperately needed in the dallas series. and honestly, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT CD TO DO?!?!? our resources were limited AT BEST, and yet we still managed to fill some pretty big voids in our roster! there aren't enough that i could throw at you.
I don't think I could go as far as to say I'm not happy, but I have to admit that I still burn to see the next move. Call it greed or whatever it may be but I can't rest my mind from thinking about that next trade, or pick up. For example although the Rockets are set do do a substatial amount this season, maybe even win a championship, but it disturbs that our back court is a bit up in age to provide the longevity that I need to put my mind at ease. Hence, I think about Vassilis Spanoulis or others that can help in the future. But overall, I think the Rockets have a lot horsepower under the hood for this season, and I'm ready to go for a ride!
