Vince Carter is right up their with Kobe in defending the perimeter despite what other people say. He played with an ankle injury for the rest of the season that required surgury when he could have easily mailed it in. His defensive rating the last 3 seasons is tied with Kobe. Artest is a big risk not worth taking. I would rather stay pat before getting trigger happy and let a team like lakers make the mistake first. If they make a mistake it gives us a better shot to sign him.
we can not even get out of the first round with this team, especially if we face the Jazz or the Lakers. Most of the team is either young, injury prone , or terrible shooters and worst of all dissapear in the playoffs.
If everyone is healthy....maybe, but I think we need another upgrade to be in the safe zone as a contender. Right now, with that roster we are fringe contenders. DD
I agree that this team on paper right now is a borderline contender. I think they have a chance to win it all barring injury. No matter who the Rox aquire to be the third scoring option they will not make up for the loss of TMac or Yao during the season. I think Arron Brooks will turn the corner and become a solid contributor off the bench. Luther and BJax are trade fodder for the deadline. Barry will be great if the Rox can aquire him for the LLE. Bottom line: Its all riding on the Yao McGrady duo regardless of trade/FA aquisition.
With the defense we have, it becomes a matter of scoring down the stretch. If things are flowing right, we can pull that off and beat any team. But getting things to flow is what's so tough.
We are good enough to win the title with that lineup. We need to get homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs like Boston did last season and defend our turf well.
There is a chance that we could break the mold and win a first round series! We are not a serious contender till we get the third self starter who can put the ball in the hole. Till we get the third scorer we have too much pressure on Yao and Tracy. The thrid option will reduce stress and injuries and will be well worth getting when he arrives. I am thinking of a Michael Red type player not a Brent Barry or Robert Hory. Without major injury we should win upto 59 games this year. When we have the talent to win 65 then we are a serious contender.
This team just needs to stay healthy. We can win championships with this team. We already have our third scorer with Scola. I thought we wanted a low post scorer. Now we want a wing who can score? Just sign Landry and put Greene in place of Luther head and we're good. Landry and Novak will help the offense. We have great defenders with Battier, Hayes, and Dorsey. Yao and T-Mac will deliver as always. Rafer is good as a starter as long as he shoots well.
The key word is "healthy." IF healthy we would have been a contender last season. So yes, IF healthy, and we add Barry, together with more experience in Scola, Landry, and Brooks, plus one more year to gel under Adelman, we should be an elite team. Health is our biggest concern.
I thought Francis was going to be that guy but yet he didn't even play. Before that Bonzi was that guy but in 2007 Jeff didn't allow him to play. We have the guys now if the coaches allow them to play.
Who exactly is that other than Luther Head? Landry has made a game winning stop, Novak has made a game winning shot, Luis has stepped up with Yao down, Chuck has taken a game winning charge, Shane a game winning block and shot. Who exactly were you speaking of?
I am no fan of Luther Head. But I think Head will be good in next season. Simple reason - contract year.
This team needs an upgrade and better play at the 1 and 3. I can live with Battier at the 3 IF there is a big upgrade at the 1. Another playmaker who can hit wide open shots at the PG position would do amazing wonders for the Rockets - it would basically be everything Rafer Alston is not.
If we're still hoping that the team can stay healthy collectively then that is really not a smart move. I think we should anticipate injuries to occur and build a team that could sustain being a major power in the west. In other words, we need a 3rd scorer, no more role players. Role players are only as good as the stars on the team, and both of our stars are injury prone. If one star goes out, thats basically like 3-4 of our role players getting injured as well because it would limit their effectivenes.
that is not opinion , that is fact. Its been a pattern, they are never healthy. They are getting older. Expect Tmac to miss 10 games . Yao 30. = another 1st round exit.
