I was pondering this question myself earlier and honestly I can't say there is really anything at all that I am looking forward to this year. From my perspective, this is really the epitome of a completely wasted year. For one, we don't have any high potential, high growth players. That's usually the sole thing you can count on in a development year. Aaron Brooks is the only guy on our roster with any kind of upside and even that is fairly limited, relatively speaking. Scola has peaked - he's not a guy that you can throw the ball into and necessarily assume a productivity increase with a larger role. The main thing for me is that if a process doesn't have an immediate return, I can't derive any value from it if I also don't sense a future long term return. And with this current roster, while there obviously won't be any immediate return, I also just don't see anything that could potentially contribute to future returns. You could, and most probably will, surmise that watching our group of role players gain familiarity with each other and the system will be a long term boon when the stars return but I would respond that I don't really see any stars returning. And the acquisition of one would likely necessitate a dismantling of that very group whose gained chemistry you had lauded. This is not to say we will be bad. With our elite coaching and chemistry, this team will easily be in the running for the 8th spot. However, I don't actively follow a sports team for any quality intrinsic to the act of merely following a sports team. I find that pointless. The only thing Rockets related that I am looking forward to is watching Daryl Morey work. I have full faith that he will make the right moves to get this team back on track. But at present, there's nothing on the court I really care too much to direct great attention towards.
I dunno know about ya'll fellas, but me myself I just can't wait to see Chuck Hayes' new free throw stroker. The Houston Chronicle's got me PUMPED!
True, but their ceilings are likely pretty low. We're looking at potentially an upgraded version of Von without the baggage in Taylor. And the next Matt Bullard in Budinger. So in the end, I think Brooks could be a solid shoot-first 20ppg combo guard, which would be a huge boost to our perennial anemic offense. While Ariza could learn a lot from Battier on defense, while gaining some semblance of an offensive game ala Tayshaun Prince. Hence why I singled out those two.
Every season they say Chuck has been working hard on his free throws in the summer. And every season, he gets worse. Perhaps taking up golf will help him? Then again, he admits that he enjoys being really bad at golf.
I always interested in our rookies, so I'm looking forward to seeing how Taylor and Budilger pans out, and seeing if they'll get any playing time.
I'm looking forward to the cogs and gears of the Rockets proving the talking heads wrong. (If I'm wrong, then I'll be looking forward to the draft and 2010 Free Agency.)
I'm looking forward to see how Morey does under pressure. I think so far he's done a great job at not jumping when everyone else would. I think this year and this upcoming offseason will determine if he is a really elite GM. With that said, I'm also looking forward to how our elite supporting cast does. I truly believe we have the best supporting cast of any NBA team. There's a lot to love about this team. Not many teams have the type of players that leave it out on the floor. The other stories I'm looking forward to see is.... Will Battier get traded? Will Brooks take the next step?
I'm mostly looking forward to the development of Brooks/Ariza, along with the speed at which the Rockets will play. I can't wait. I love that our team is young and could prove all of the media wrong about them.
I am looking foward towards the GARM to have new posts about 1. If T-mac comes back and explodes - T-mac lovers will cheer 2. If T-mac sucks - T-mac haters will say, told you so 3. If Yao comes back and breaks his leg again - YH will say, told you so 4. If Yao comes back at the end of the season and messes up chemistry - People will say, i told you so 5. If T-mac and Yao go far into the playoffs (if both come back form injury) - People will say, lets trade them because they are injury prone or old. 6. Finally anything else in between about Ariza was a bad pickup, Rick doesn't play Chase, Dorsey or any other rookie, we should of traded T-mac and Yao for a bag of cookies. 1 month away, can't wait.
I need to see some training camp footage. With so many uncertainties this year, I truly just can't wait for pre-season to start. Personally, I have been flipping out about being able to see the Magic vs Rockets on Oct. 9th.
