I think Landry and Scola would be much better next year. But then Scola is quite experience in FIBA and technically his skill would not improve much but he would improve avoiding foul trouble and his confidence. As for Landry, he is could be a great player if he improves his shooting range to 3pts and his defense.
Scola improved a ton last season and is still getting better. Just think of how many games the rockets could have won if he was playing the way he was during the playoffs in November and December.
Scola will improve by virtue of his slow start to last year. He'll now have a full season under his belt and I could see him becoming a 15ppg 10rpg player or just slightly under those numbers.
If Luis just gets up to his FT% the last 4 seasons he played in Europe, I'd be thrilled. I think he can. Hell, I think Scola will show us a big improvement next season, considering how he progressed as the year went on. This is a guy who really was one of the best players in Europe when we got him. Tau Ceramica, one of the top teams in Europe, described him as their team leader, singing his praises for the coming season back when they thought they'd resign him, given SA's stupid lack of interest. Can't give you a link for that, but it's in google for people that look. His FT %'s for those 4 seasons with Tau Ceramica? 2003 - 71.7% 2004 - 71.0% 2005 - 70.8% 2006 - 76.4% http://www2.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/players/Luis_Scola/ Man, I'm excited about the production we'll have in the 4 spot. I can't remember the last time I was excited about who the Rockets were putting on the court at that position. Probably back when we signed Taylor and I actually thought he was good. Made me feel like a chump!
All I ask for Scola to add to his game is the explosive dunk that can be a difference maker seeing that Scola getting to the hoop easily, Brooks is just intimidated by the physical part of the game no worries ,Landry on the otherhand oh my this dude will just get better hopefully he can signs with us again for another year!...or 2
Brooks - needs to imporve on his shooting and defense, which is see it as 2 to 3 years deal. Landry - he needs to get back on his form pre-injury. playing defense will get him more minutes. we need the beast to be release again. I see at least another year of adjustment Scola - his got all his ducks in roll and his rookie year is for him to adjust to NBA style and calls. I see him needing few months to adjust with Yao in the lineup again.
I can't vote for any one of them. Given their draft positions (two late 1st rounds and undrafted prospect), all three are super overachievers. Most late round draft choices or euro players pretty much sit at the end of bench and are out of the league in 2 or 3 years. Scola became the second or third most important player when Yao went down. Landry and Brooks came out of nowhere and became solid contributors. We are getting to a point where we don't need to make many more moves unless we remain injury prone. This team was only 5 games away from 60 wins after being very average for about half of the season, having alot of in season roster changes, and not having T-Mac and Yao for good bit of games.
PG usually improves alot in the second season. They need time to know their team mates, and they need the experience.
I'd say Landry is at the very least going to be scoped.The Rockets weren't too concerned about him playing out the string after the injury though which leads me to believe he'll be fine.Carl has bigtime upside from what we've seen from him when healthy and that's scary. Scola started having big rebound games towards the end of the season,yet another great sign.The guy will not just be average.A rested Luis is a good frontline starter at the minimum. Brooks has the potential to star in this League one day.I'd say we see a quantum leap here in playing time soon and with it Aaron displaying his total game...including the J and penetrating the lane at will...with purpose.
You know, I expected Luis to be able to score, but he surprised me with how good a rebounder he is, especially on the offensive glass. I didn't see anything in his Euro stats to suggest he would be as good at it as he is. The biggest surprise for me was how infrequent his scoring was. I guess it was because he was deferring to the other players and trying to learn the NBA game, but I really think he'll boost his scoring next season. Maybe they'll even design some plays for him!
I don't think Scola has topped out. He'll continue to improve as he continues to adjust to the NBA and the team. He'll still be the best of the three at his position next year. At Landry's age, level of experience and with his athleticism, he has more room for improvement than Scola, but it might take a while, especially because he's playing behind Scola. He may or may not ever be as good a player as Scola; it's hard to say. Brooks' progress might be stifled by lack of playing time, too. But that's as it should be. The Rockets are a very good team trying to get to the next level before their window of opportunity slams shut. It would be unwise to give Brooks too many minutes when better options exist to help them win now. But it will slow his development. He clearly has potential, but unless he performs so well in limited minutes that he forces the team's hand, it's going to be a while before all that potential comes to fruition.
I predict Brooks to be the rondo type of player next year, although i would say landry will improve the most. Scola is at the hill already imo, 28 year old rookie>.>
