Which Rockets player in the preseason has impressed you the most? In other words, has most exceeded your expectations? Please vote in poll and give your opinions. I'll have to go with Brent Barry. I know he hasn't shot particularly well. But my worry with him was that he'd just be a spot-up shooter, and the rest of skills would have eroded with age. I was hoping he could maybe play PG for us some, but in the back of my mind I thought those days were probably long past for him. To my surprise, he's handled the ball very well. He seems to get Adelman's offense better than anyone, even though he's only been with the team for about a month. I love his ability to pass off the dribble with his height -- he might actually be the second best play-maker on the team after Tracy. He's really lived up to his billing as a "coach on the floor." Did you notice in that last game how he saved the ball going out of bounds twice? That not only takes toughness and grit (something we've had plenty of with our other players), it also takes a considerably high court awareness to tap that ball to a teammate instead of the opponent. If Barry can hold up physically through the season and into the playoffs, I really think he's going to be huge for us. All the deficiencies we've been moaning about with Luther Head -- too short, can't handle, panics with the ball, can't pass -- has turned into a real strength with Barry.
I am going to say Aaron Brooks. He still has a lot to learn, but just the fact that he looks more confident on the court is going to help him when he struggles during the heart of the season. Much like Rajon last year, I think the more he plays and the coach has confidence in him, the better he will get. Brent Barry has also done really well (I am going to go ahead and assume the shooting percentage will go up) and I think he and Brooks together on the court look really good.
Probably, Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks. I would say Landry, because he has improved his offense alot, since last year. If he was on a weaker team, I think he might be able to start at PF and could average about 11 to 14 pts. a game. Aaron Brooks looks like solid contributor and has improved a great deal. Playing more aggressively, hitting shots, and passing the ball better. I would Chuck Hayes, but he has always been a great defender. Right now, we should have one of the better benches in the NBA. Another thing, I like is our bench is probably better than the Lakers, Hornets, Suns, and maybe the Spurs. I think having Ginobili or Finley coming off the bench is what kind gives the Spurs a slight advantage over us. On the other hand, the Lakers or Hornets don't have anyone on their bench that can defend and do dirty work, like Battier and Hayes or anyone who can score like Landry or Brooks.
Aaron Brooks has been great of course, but Wafer was the most impressive player in the preseason. This guy can really shoot the ball, he can attack the basket if he has to and he is young. for me he should definetly make this Rockets team.
I voted Landry. After ranting this entire off-season that we couldn't let this guy go even if it was for the full MLE, he has really looked better than I would have believed. Wafer, well this guy can't be this good, can he? Brooks has impressed me. I was hoping he would perform like he is now, but I really believed he could do it. Barry is what I expected him to be. Artest is well... Artest. Does anyone else think he loves the rims/sight-lines at TC?
impressed? If anything, i would say i was disappointed. Mainly by Artest's inconsistency and Brooks showing that he hasn't become that PG that we desperately need even though he looks to be a decent backup SG.
I voted Von Wafer. Journeyman who many thought, including myself, before the preseason started to be a roster filler. Boy, he has really made Morey and Adelman's job extremely difficult for that last spot. Tough for Harris who many thought would be a lock since he's been on the squad longer. Either way, someone is getting a good player. Carl Landry would have been my second choice since we didnt know what to expect from him. Especially because the Rockets wanted him to get surgery. His knee is looks fine and his skillset has improved. It looks like his more serious and business-like. The way he's playing, he might end up the starting over Scola soon .
Luther Head. Reported to training camp in his best shape. WOW!!! It's a shame he couldnt play becoz of plantar fasciitis. I expect Head will have a better season in his contract year. Never underestimate the power of $$$. Head is willing to go through the wall to get pay.
Brooks has been nice but I voted for Landry. Not only does he have that spring back but he's drilling mid-range jumpers, playing good defense and blocking shots. Landry has also been the most consistent player during preseason. Brooks had some bad stretches. Landry hasn't. We already knew what Artest and Barry could do.
Ron Artest had great energy but didnt shoot very well, Barry did his normal thing but also didnt shoot that well, Brooks looked quick and can get his own shot and knock down open 3's but I would like 2 see more creating offense for others with his quickness. Wafer looked good but his career stats dont show that he will keep that up. So all that considered I going to have to go with the sleeper pick STEVE FRANCIS lol
I voted for DJ. I thought he would be an easy cut, but he's shown better ability to draw contact and fouls while finishing his drives at a good rate and sticking his free throws too. That's a rare commodity in my book: just look at the guys we have. Tracy is good about finishing, bad about drawing fouls, and bad about hitting his FTs. Luther is bad about finishing, bad about drawing fouls, and decent at shooting FTs. Rafer is bad about finishing, bad about fouls, and nothing special at FTs. AND Strawberry has hit a higher 3pt% than I figured he would. So we'll see what Morey notices on the stat sheet.
I will have to go with Strawberry because when I heard about us aquiring him, I thought he was just picked up for cap reasons (even though I don't remember any details) so I assume he wouldn't be able to bring anything to the Rockets, but he impressed me with his defense, quickness. I think he can have Mario Elie potential on this team. Bring the D, hit shots, and finish. Of course he has a long way to go to get to Mario Elie's level.
to tell you the truth, I 've watched only one of the six preson games which we lost to celtics. Personnally I think landry deserves the most praise and applouse because he's shown the big progress he made during the summer. His jumpers are no longer machinetic and his scoring ways are no longer restricted to slam dunks. He reminds me of Elton Brand who is also an undersized PF.
