Yao, Ron and Tracy need to stay... We are just out of "training camp", Ron and Tracy are still hurting, and we are doing fine. Why we need Ron? Lebron, Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant.....Spurs entire roster, Jazz entire roster... As Jeff Van Gundy would put it, "You need to have knife-fighters around Tracy and Yao." We need his dirt, intimidation, and his HUGE cajones, or we will have another soft/silent exit from the playoffs...Like a seeping fart. I don't want another perennial loser/softy like Mike Miller/Cmag(If Jamal Crawford says you are selfish? WOW) touching our team with a 90-foot pole... I envision Ronalds forearm in KG's mouth/and hard take down fouls when Lebron drives the lane. Beautiful, Playoff, Basketball. PLEASE GIVE IT SOME TIME! We have seen these guys together for what, 3-4 Games or something? Anyone that has been a Rocket fan for a long time should know about the importance of chemistry and what it really takes to build that chemistry... Part of the reason for YAO/RON/TRACY struggles are because we do not yet have clearly defined roles, THAT WILL COME WITH TIME!
I agree with you. People are really jumping the gun because of the record. They are panicking. Contrary to popular belief Tracy and Artest actually play well together. The catch is that Yao needs to be on the floor with them for them to be able to be effective. The line-up of Rafer, Ron, Tracy, Scola, and Yao are a +55 which is the best of any combination on the team including last seasons 5-man-units. Sub Landry for Scola and they are a +18. But if you sub Yao Hayes or Landry they give up more points then they score. The next best line-up on the team is to move Rafer out of the starting five and move in Brooks along with Tracy, Battier, Scola, and Yao. This line-up has only played 73 minutes together but they are a +48. Compare that to the current starting five which is a +17 and you can see there is a huge drop off. On the other hand, the worse group that can be on the court together is when Ron subs in for Yao and plays with the starters at the 4. That group is a -19. The second worst groups are Brooks, Tracy, Ron, Landry, and Yao, or Rafer, Von, Tracy, Scola, and Yao. Both those combinations are a -15. None of these combinations should ever be on the court together, but unfortunately they have spent 132 minutes on the court together. Overall if put in the right combinations the players have been productive. That comes down to coaching. The only players that have a negative overall +/- are Hayes and Head, which are -13 and -1 respectively.
agree! Some people just judge something by just a few games.Don't forget Artest has just come to rockets.Our guys need time to know and to get used to each other.We also need time to tell us the truth.
You're trusting your lying eyes. Overall the guy is a +77. If put on the court with the wrong mix of players he can really stink it up, but that is what coaching is for. If put in with the right mix the team really excels. How is that a player not fitting?
If that's your opinion then you have to ask yourself, "Would unloading him actually increase our chances of success?" Be honest with yourself. Obviously there are some major growing pains going way later in the season than they rightfully should've, but it is what it is. At this point I believe the team is best off with making a minor tweak or two, then circling the wagons and reassuring the fans that these are the guys they're goin' to war with.
I have been saying that I think Ron will be good in the playoffs... After all, it is his contract year, and the guy does say he is one of the better players in the NBA! Bring it in the playoffs then Ronny!
I don't know much about the implications of + and - so I can argue whether players with high plus numbers are good for Rox. As a Rox fan, I am worried by the following "consistent" displays during games which have no bearing on team chemistry: Bad shot selections (relying solely on 3 pt. shots especially when they are panic and rally in the 4th quarter); Too many iso plays where one player stopping the ball and others standing watching; Lack of intensity on defense resulting in opponent teams' numerous lay-up drills; Coach slow in putting the right player rotation to counteract opponent teams' strategies; High turn over rates; Bad officiating on Yao: non-calls when he was hacked on offense and fouls on slight body contacts on defense. There may be more but if these shortcomings are not eliminated before the playoff, I think it is quite difficult for Rox to pass the first round. Having said those, I still hope Rox can at least pass the 1st round of playoff. Go Rox!
Artest needs to play as a specialist...if he's willing to do that, thats left to be said. TMac needs to go. He's not worth 21M. He's not worth 10M. He is no longer a star, much less a superstar. He's weak and fragile; There is nothing wrong with that, but don't expect to command the respect.
Yes, you can not trade the players all the time, and expect a good result, just look at Mav. and Sun, they become worsen after each trade. A trade for Ron will not solve the defense problem which is the main one rather than the offense problem.
Exactly, if you have a chemistry issue from lack of playing time together it won't be solved by making a major trade and starting the process all over again.
I would like to see the big three play 20-30 games together as an accurate gauge of where this team is.
I watched the lakers-boston game last night and I'm convinced that we need Ron for guarding Kobe and Pierce types because Battier might not be able to do it anymore. The problem isn't Ron, its Tmac. If any of you has ever played basketball, you know that its extremely tough to play defence when you have one guy not hustling. Watching the celtics play defence reminded me of the old Rockets. So either put a prod to Tracy's ass on defence or get rid of him.
there are some only 30 some games left. if things don't work after that, it's too late. the physical conditions of mcgrady, artest and battier ain't gonna improve dramatically before the season is over.
