NO PLAYOFFS, NO MORE EASY DECISIONS, CHANGES ARE COMING!!!

In response to a reeling group on this board claiming the Rockets can still make the playoff let me say to believe none of it, except lottery, tough decision, and free agents all to be looked instead. Wake up people, the time has come for rebuilding and luckily we have already accomplished some of it in the marvelous player that is Francis. This is the process the Rockets must really face.

Our guard rotation is a possibly a future dynamo, but for now they lack the experience for such a run.

Out posts are the black hole on this team, with Chuck gone and Hakeem all but retired. With players like Cato, Rogers, Thomas, we have some foundation for the future.

Changes the MUST or POSSIBLY WILL OCCUR before such a run:

-Williams gone. For the price of 5 a year. No defense. No running. And the shooting that he is known for he has been invisible. Bullard has done what he does much better for only a portion of the price. Replace with a Kendall Gill like player(if you can!).

-GOOD draft selection with the lottery pick
we will soon recieve. I think we will be in the 4-6 range. Which means an impact player. Martin or Morris take your pick.

-GOOD low post free agent. With Chuck and Hakeem's money. Somebody. You guys pick him. I don't have time to speculate about money and that stuff, that's reserved for Cabbage(where is he?, haven't seen him lately), and other budding GM's.

-Bullard's eventual retirement. While I will say that this year he is a blessing to this organization struggling with an underperfroming / invisible starter. He still falls into the WALT category, which will be endangered in the coming of the "young and the restless" running game (need for more athletic C. Rogers like big men). That said, there is always the need for shooting. Keep on the Injured Reserve (like this year). Remember at the beggining of the year many of you were calling for his head.

-Bryce Drew. Is he the backup point we won't for now and the future? This is certainly a decisive issue. His growth this year has been somewhat wonderous, compared to the player he was last year. If you can't give him any credit for that growth then you likely can't give him credit for anything. While this board ranges from the "Drew pedophiliacs" to the "Ku Drew Klan" who only seek him hanging from a tree, I think I am in the middle. In my opinion he should stay around along as he continues to show that shooting touch, and continual improvement which he has done.

-Mobley must also continue to improve. He has been a great find for us. Is a great slasher, and has a great competitive spirit to him. Also a noted gym rat. His shooting, and shot selection looked to have certainly been improved upon this year, and need to continue to grow.

-Then comes Rudy, does he really have an attachment to the play of old. Is he condusive to change, or not what is needed for the coming of a more run and gun style. I can't really say. I know some Cavemen will tell you he is not. But too much time in the cave is dangerous to one's reasoning. The jury is still out.

-Cato also needs to develop on the block. That is the one of the final pieces / elements to him becoming an elite player in this league. And to eventual defeat of San Antonio in the Western Conference. Think about that.

So that's my check list people. Did I leave anything off? Drew, Bullard, Williams, the draft picks, free agency. All are decisions that loom ahead.

------------------

 

RocketPimp,

Anderson, he's certainly going to get better with this team. The problem as I see it is that Anderson still struggles to develop beyond his Utah tag as a role player. He forces nothing, which is much different than Cuttino. Cat often leaves his brain in the locker room and is capable of playing purely off enthusiasm. Shandin is just the opposite.

His shot has improved 100% over the first of the year. If he didn't have to compete so hard in the backcourt for shots, who knows what his averages might really be.