Tracy, hopefully as good, but not better. Yao better. The only clear meaningful gain since 2004-05 season. Mike James replaced by Rafer-- certainly no gain at best. Bowen. Same, but so what. Howard, Deke, Wesley older and worse. Sura gone or worse. Stromile an addition, but so what. Let's say equal to Padgett loss. Barry gone. Padgett gone Hayes, Luther and Boggans don't make up for the loss of the 2004-05 Barry, Padgett and other guys who could actually shoot. Only Les opening the check book and investing in talent or extreme luck with draft and free agents can provide noticeable improvement over the 2004-05 team. Realistic additons by draft/ free agents will at best be a wash for the losses since the 2004-05 team. Since we will most likely be a first round and out playoff team next year, hopefully we will try to go for talent-- even if we have to pay for it, it might not fit in and needs to eventually be traded, or it is young players who need a year or two to develop. NO to quick fixes like vets with a hoped for last year or two or productivity or lower potential draftees who are expected to produce more initially. Yes to the Rockets in two or three years. No to JVG's desperation to win a game or two more next year.
Record-wise, I see us getting 5th. Dallas and the Spurs are just too strong during the regular season. I could be wrong, though. TMac and Yao could come out on a mission. As long as we are healthy, we will be a stronger team than 2004-05 due to the newly rejuvinated Yao and a healthy TMac. Never count out the experience factor.
As long as we regularly beat the Mavs/Spurs/Suns/Pistons during the regular season next year, I don't mind if we get like 5th seed. Only thing to prove will have been set up by playoffs time next year and we can take care of business in the 2007 Finals.
I hope your not saying that is a bad thing, or trying to be a hater, because the season before last we SHOULD have gotten out of the first round, if it wasnt for (you all already know what im gonna say). As far as wesley older or worse goes, he is most likely gone, his contract is up. Deke, just a back up. Bowen is well...... Bowen. If you cant see that Rafer runs this offense better than Mike James, then i dont know.
I'm not making any predictions until we see who's coming to training camp. I'm more uncertain of what kind of team we're going to have than I've been in some years. My tendency is to be optimistic, glynch, but the way this season ended gives us immense hope for Yao next season and, like you pointed out, not much else. Tracy is the big question mark. (what else is new??) With a healthy McGrady for the season, and a healthy Yao, I think we could surround them with a pretty average team and at least get out of the first round, if we're really gelling with whatever we have. But what are we going to have? Those couple of wins at the end of the season really tick me off. A higher pick in the lottery could really help, with a player who can contribute, or as a more valuable piece in a trade.
maybe this last season will be like the 1991-92 season. the Rockets missed the playoffs...and ended up drafting roughly around where they're drafting now. there were a lot of people really upset with the way the team played down the stretch. they drafted this kid out of alabama named robert horry and people booed because it wasn't harold miner. it worked out pretty well. we can hope.
