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Chronic: Rockets need fresher Yao, T-Mac to reach next level

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Rockets34Legend, May 8, 2008.

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  1. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

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    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/campbell/5762968.html

    By STEVE CAMPBELL
    Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

    One of the best definitions of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result.

    The Rockets keep building their hopes and dreams around Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

    The Rockets are crazy enough to do it all over again next season.

    Don't stop the insanity now. It's the best way for the Rockets to proceed.

    Yes, Yao and T-Mac have taken the Rockets as far into the playoffs as a sportswriter gets into the Playboy mansion. Yes, Yao and T-Mac have turned the Rockets' locker room into a triage center. Yes, yet another tidal wave of injuries to Yao and T-Mac washed away the Rockets' latest quest for an NBA championship.

    Especially in their current, coming-off-surgery condition, Yao (stress fracture in the left foot) and T-Mac (left shoulder and knee) are worth far more to the Rockets than anybody else. General manager Daryl Morey didn't get a degree from MIT because he wrote a term paper on the wisdom of trading a dollar for 50 cents in return.

    "I don't think you can ever plan on injuries," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "You have to assume these guys are going to be healthy, because you can't find another Yao or another Tracy. I wish you could, but you can't."

    Reason for optimism
    Maybe next season will be the magical one in which the moon and the Rockets' stars align in harmony and health.

    The Rockets pieced together 55 victories despite all the forces working against them, getting key contributions from rookies Luis Scola and Carl Landry and some glimpses of promise from Aaron Brooks.

    "I just feel we have a really strong nucleus," Adelman said. "We get Yao back, with Tracy, with the other players we have, our core group is really good now."

    The Rockets would be better if they could find somebody to be what Luther Head can't — a viable swingman who can take some of the load off McGrady and forward Shane Battier. As a first-round defeat to Utah underscored, the Rockets would embrace somebody who can create some offense. The possible retirement of Dikembe Mutombo could create an opening for a backup center.

    Yao averaged 37 minutes per game this past season. That's way too much wear and tear for a 7-6 center, period — let alone one who has missed 86 games the past three seasons.

    As for T-Mac, you can scream all you want that somebody due to make $21 million next season should carry whatever load a franchise needs. McGrady, who will turn 29 later this month, simply doesn't have it in him to be a high-energy, 37-minute-per-game workhorse.

    Plain and simple, Morey and Adelman need to construct a roster and a rotation that can win with Yao and T-Mac playing in the 32-minute range.

    Adelman needs to have confidence that he can win without pushing his team to — or past — its physical limits. The team's tank was on empty when the playoffs arrived.

    Game 6 T-Mac a must
    Not that any of this gives T-Mac a free pass. After an offseason of reflection and recuperation, McGrady needs to come back with the aggressiveness and determination that he showed in Game 6 against Utah. The jumpers won't always fall like raindrops, and he won't score 40 a night, but he can put that I-won't-be-denied mentality on display more often.

    And it's definitely on McGrady to resolve whatever turned him into T-Clank at the free-throw line. For a player of his skills to regress to being a 68 percent foul shooter is disgraceful. Besides, that gives him more reason — even if only subliminally — to avoid attacking the basket and risk going to the line.

    Maybe help will be on the way in the form of a free agent, though Morey would need to be a magician to get Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas or Corey Maggette to come at the discount the Rockets would have to offer at under the mid-level exception.

    Maybe the sort of temporary insanity that caused Memphis to trade Pau Gasol for assorted flotsam will allow a restricted free agent such as Monta Ellis or Andre Iguodala to fall into the Rockets' lap.

    More likely, the Rockets will have to make do with minor tweaks. They'll need to make most of their improvement from within. Look at how New Orleans emerged as a title contender this season without making any wow moves.

    "What this has shown me is if we stay healthy, we can compete with anybody," Adelman said. "I really believe that."

    Chances are, T-Mac and Yao will never be pictures of health at the same place and same time. Insane or not, following their lead is the best chance the Rockets have of getting where they want to go.
     
    #1 Rockets34Legend, May 8, 2008
  2. Layupdrill

    Layupdrill Member

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    Reducing minutes is the key... And maybe even letting Yao sit with ghost injuries for trap games against the garbage teams of the league and just see what happens.

    We'll see what happens next year... ;)
     
    #2 Layupdrill, May 8, 2008
  3. poprocks

    poprocks Member

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    I think some of these freak injuries that Yao has gotten are the same things that happen when skiers break their legs. When a skier is fresh and alert, the chance of injury is low. Near the end of the day when they are tired, and not as sharp, that's when most injuries occur.
     
    #3 poprocks, May 8, 2008
  4. SeeingRocketRed

    SeeingRocketRed Member

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    If right now, you could get this line from your back-up center next year, would you take it?


    G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
    78 21 18.7 0.474 0.000 0.753 1.2 2.7 3.9 1.6 0.4 1.4 0.92 2.60 6.6

    Here were Mutumbo's numbers this year for comparison.
    G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
    39 25 15.9 0.538 0.000 0.711 1.7 3.4 5.1 0.1 0.3 1.2 0.44 1.40 3.0


    The first line was Ronny Turiaf's stats for this past year. I really think Turiaf's aggressive shot-blocking would help fill the void left by Mutumbo.

    Plus, a decent back up center who is only 25 years old would allow Yao to play a few less minutes per night, allowing him to be fresher.

    Just imagine, (dreamy music plays), a back-up center, WHO CAN OCCASSIONALLY SCORE. Who can make layups (cough, Chuck Hayes, cough), and who can give you an imposing presence inside. Sounds like what we need. And he's a free agent this year.

    [​IMG]
     
    #4 SeeingRocketRed, May 8, 2008
  5. poprocks

    poprocks Member

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    For some reason I'm thinking Big Jake coulda done this.
     
    #5 poprocks, May 8, 2008
  6. ind0fo0

    ind0fo0 Member

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    Is it too difficult to type in "le" or if why not just call it "chron" then?

    I'm just curious cause you keep writing "Chronic: blah"
     
    #6 ind0fo0, May 8, 2008
  7. jopatmc

    jopatmc Member

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    NO, NO, NO to Slow Jake.

    Yes, Yes, Yes to Turiaf.
     
    #7 jopatmc, May 8, 2008
  8. Darmonx

    Darmonx Member

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    37 mins/pg is the superstar average (Garnett, Kobe, Duncan...). Anything less they should be de-moted to backup status. 32 mins/pg is backup 6th man type of minutes. You are better off trading both of them if you play them for 32 mins/pg.

    I'm pretty sure there are reasons why 37 mins/pg seems to be the magical average for an NBA superstar. Rhythm, feel and awareness of the current game situation is why you keep your superstars in there that long. Pull them out in a crucial situation and you bear the blunt of all the blame for the loss. It'll be tough to play a superstar at 32 mins.
     
    #8 Darmonx, May 8, 2008
  9. abc2007

    abc2007 Member

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    Alternative way, Tmac leads team to play 10 games, then Yao leads team to play another 10 games, finally, they play together for the last 22 games.
     
    #9 abc2007, May 8, 2008
  10. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    I take it that you haven't been reading the Chronic sports section for many years? They are chronically short on Rockets and NBA coverage. Heck, they are beyond chronic. But for The Streak, you would have seen even less this season. Got a complaint? Take it to the Chronic-le.
     
    #10 Deckard, May 8, 2008
  11. prv1981

    prv1981 Member

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    You forget to take into account the fact that a 6th man/backup does not start. Hence the description/terminology.

    Superstars play as many minutes neccesary to win the game. Minutes per game alone do not define superstar status.
     
    #11 prv1981, May 8, 2008
  12. TheGreat

    TheGreat Member

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    T-Mac will probably average about 36 minutes a game. Theres no way he's going to average 32 minutes a game. For Yao, I believe he should get 33 minutes per game. I believe Rick was pushing Yao this season way to much!
     
    #12 TheGreat, May 8, 2008
  13. Dave_78

    Dave_78 Member

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    Great post. I completely agree. Fatigue is dangerous to all players but especially giants like Yao.
     
    #13 Dave_78, May 8, 2008
  14. AzNaNsZ

    AzNaNsZ Member

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    what about franciso elson he's a decent backup
     
    #14 AzNaNsZ, May 8, 2008
  15. dafranchise0309

    dafranchise0309 Member

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    lmao ronny turiaf?!?!?! hahaha HELLLL NOO!!!!
     
    #15 dafranchise0309, May 8, 2008
  16. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    If these guys can't play more than 32 minutes, the Rockets are screwed. Are they going to suddenly crank it up to 40 minutes a game in the playoffs? Because that's what it takes. Having to take a guy out at a certain minute mark just sucks. Flow of the game/score should dictate minutes.
     
    #16 TheFreak, May 8, 2008
  17. Untraceable

    Untraceable Member

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    Co-Sign
     
    #17 Untraceable, May 8, 2008
  18. t_mac1

    t_mac1 Member

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    TMAC is not going to play less than 35 minutes. unless we find a legit backup point guard, it's IMPOSSIBLE to play less than 35 mins. if you do so, rafer will be playing 40+ mins a game and you can't do that.

    tmac will be playing 35-36 mins. yao, though, im 100% sure, will be playing 31-32 mins like he was when he was a rookie or 2nd year. his impact on the game will be less, but what can you really do?
     
    #18 t_mac1, May 8, 2008
  19. ind0fo0

    ind0fo0 Member

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    lol thanks ;)
     
    #19 ind0fo0, May 8, 2008
  20. solid

    solid Member

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    Surround Yao and TMac with better players, what a novel idea! :rolleyes:
     
    #20 solid, May 8, 2008
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