OK, we got talent, obviously, but this is not the roster of a contending team. Where is the defensive specialist? Where is the tenacious role player? Where is the veteran leadership? There is just a lot of offensive talent and not much else. Cuttino: ballhog, demands the ball, plays no defense. MoTaylor: jump-shooting PF, no defense, no intensity. Nachbar: offensive specialist, no defense. Rice: never-ever played defense, throws fits if his number is not called (at least in LA) Griffin: will need plays to be called for him, otherwise his development will get stunted. Ming: will demand plays to exploit the mismatches he creates. Francis: he's still the Franchise, and still you gotta give him the ball. That's 7 players that will demand the ball and plays called for them, and that's not even counting Kenny Thomas. It doesn't work. All the NBA champs of the last 10 years have had only one or two people that demand the ball with the rest being role players. (Jordan-Pippen, Dream, Dream-Clyde, Duncan, Shaq-Kobe). Even Dallas only had 5 offensive players in the rotation last year and they always had somebody like Najera or Buckner on the floor as a glue. A lineup of SF, Mobley, Nachbar, Taylor and Ming will have all kinds of problems. It will be scored on at ease, and the players will compete for shots. Having Griffin instead of Taylor is a bit better, in a sense that he can help without having to score, but if you want to develop his talents you still have to run plays for him.
If you don't like our roster, there's 28 other NBA teams...try and find a roster that suits your particular needs...
He is right. This team needs to assess where they want to bring this organization in the future. They have to FORCE players into roles. I don't think Rudy would be a good coach for that. You'd need a coach to intimidate players, and force them into the roles they need to be in to make the team win. It should be interesting.
Uh, the Kings couldve won it all this yr and all their players have good offensive skills with Christie as the top defender. Also, defense can be taught really easily, especially if you have quickness as all our guys do, and our willing to learn.
Actually Rick Fox isn't a bad defender. Kobe can play really good D when he wants, and Shaq can stuff just about anyone. As for Dallas, now that's another story...Word is they're trading Van Exel for Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward for defensive purposes. But now that our main pieces are in place, hopefully our coaches can emphasize defense for once. Our roster is full of poor one-on-one defenders. If Rudy could teach the concept of :gasp: TEAM DEFENSE maybe we could win some games. If not look for a lot of 125-120 games.
Also, defense can be taught really easily, especially if you have quickness as all our guys do, and our willing to learn. Why hasn't it been taught yet?
Kayman, I agree with you in part becuase our players haven't really had a chance to show what they can really do together. KT took a lot of shots last year because he had to. He was our only post player. I think we had a alot of role players taking too many shots last year because of injuries. This is what I see happening(at least I hope). Francis will average less points and more assists because he will have faith in his teammates do to confort level. Much like two years ago when he barely took a shot in the first quarter to get everyone involved. 16 points 8 assists a game Cuttino will be our goto scorer until Ming becomes the 20 and 12 guy I know he can be. 20 points a game. MoT and Kenny will average 22 points and 12 rebounds between them but will be the x factor for this team. Eddie Griffin and Nachbar will still need time to develop. I can see them averaging 20 and 12 rebounds between them. Rice will be our veteran role player. He will hit the open shot this year and provide veteran leadership. 8-10 points a game Ming and Cato will average 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks between them. We all know Francis and Mobley are going to score. I believe one of the others will rise above the rest and will become or third goto scorer. We will be more like Sac and Mavs where we have 3 scorers and a bunch of role players. I hope we play better team defense because that is what will get us pass the first round of the playoffs.
I agree with the fact the Rockets need a defensive specialist and an aggressive role player off of the bench, but this will still be a good team. Remember, we still have a lot of time between now and training camp to sign free agents and make a couple of trades. Personally, I'd like to see the Rockets go out and get a defensive minded SG, who can step outside and hit the three to back up Cuttino and also a banger 5 who plays good defense and pulls down rebounds. We could either use the MCE to obtain guys that fit this mold or make a trade using KT, Collier and maybe Moochie to get the deal done. I think if we can add 2 role players in the above mold this could be a very good team next year, maybe even top 5 in the West. Any ideas of players that are available and fit the criteria I stated above?
Kayman, You make some good points and you are right. But relax, this is not intended to be the championship run roster. It is a step along the way. While it remains to be seen, I think we may be looking at the starting five of the future - Ming, EG, Nachbar, Cat and Stevie. The bench will be some of the players we have now and some others we pick up in trades or in free agency over the next couple of years. I believe we will contend for a playoff spot next year, but this team is a few years (our youngsters need to mature and get experience) and, yes, a couple of role players away.
I don't think the problem for the 2002-03 Rockets will be just a question of defense, but whether everyone can buy into the team concept and limit their personal stats to play for the good of the team. If Cuttino or Francis worry about their scoring averages falling and their fading hopes about the all-star game, then we will have problems. If Glen Rice is out to prove everyone he can put up 25 pts a game, that is a problem. If Yao cannot pass out of double or single teams well, then that is a problem. Defense is a team concept that is more a commitment to winning, as is offensive cohesiveness. The lineup of : Ming Cato Griffin Taylor Rice Nachbar Cuttino Francis Francis Mooch That is one of the most, if not the most offensively gifted starting lineup in the league, with maybe Dallas or Sacramento having the edge. If they can play cohesive, unselfish basketball they can do wonders. I think Griffin and Cat need to work on their passing psyche, Ming on the speed of the NBA game in regards to passing, and Steve needs to learn how to take care of your big man, as he excels doing with Cato, whose hands are made of butter compared to that which i've seen about Ming.
Defensive specialists are dime a dozen players. Guys like Shandon Anderson, Chris Jefferies, Ruben Patterson...you can get them in the draft late first, early 2nd. If you have a good team that needs one, they'll come cheap via free agency (see Bruce Bowen signing for the minimum in San Antonio). We picked up Morris in the last draft, and he's an above average 3/4. With added weight, Griffin could potentially become a first team all-defense type player, and with Ming could basically end penetration against us. Cato should become a solid defensive player as well. Maddox, whom we got in the draft is also a good defender. Tenacious roleplayer? I'm not sure what you mean, but we have a lot of great bench/role players. Taylor will eventually be offense off the bench-I can't think of any big men off the bench with more offensive skills than him. Veteran leadership? If you want homegrown leadership you have to wait. If not, Rice is an excellent leader, and we still have free agency to pick someone else up (or keep Willis?). That may hurt us in the playoffs-but does anyone expect us to go all the way this year? If you don't like our roster, you mine as well become a Lakers fan, as they're the most likely team to win it all. But, if all you're worried about is a defender that you can acquire with a 20s pick, or even a 2nd rounder, and some veterans that can be picked up for the league minimum via free agency (especially easy for a team with a solid cap situation), then you don't have much to worry about.
Well you aren't going to be a contending team for at least a few years so you still have time to add the missing pieces. For now I would say you just sit back, relax and see what this team can do next season. Trying to trade players now isn't really a viable approach since you have no idea which players/prospects that will succeed and which wont ... after all every player in this lineup has some/several question marks concerning their future success ...
1. Thats why Dallas got destroyed. 2. Thats why Minnesota got destroyed. 3. The bay, Shaquille, Fox, and Horry are pretty good defenders. While, only Horry and Fox can be called "defensive specialists" or "role players", the two stars can play defense. That works wonders.
lets trade moochie+thomas for rashard lewis ming = olajuwon griffin = thorpe taylor= herrera lewis = horry nachbar= elie mobley = maxwell francis = cassell maddox = kenny smith rudy = rudy Am I good or what?
NYKRules--EVERY starter for the Lakers is a good defensive player. Derek Fisher is a tenacious on-the-ball defender who is excellent at drawing the charge.
Having seen Dream's Rockets make it to the top of the mountain, there's an evolution that we should all be familiar with. 1. We don't know who our stars are, other than Francis. It's too early to say which players need to defer to others. Example: It's not clear whether Ming should defer to Griffin or vice versa. 2. When our stars emerge, that's when we find out who have to be the "role" players. 3. Rudy will have to direct this process, but he can't force a round peg into a square hole. I think it's obvious that Francis, Griffin and Ming will be the ones everyone looks to as the foundation of this team. Rudy should gradually direct more offensive opportunities and defensive responsibilities to Ming and Griff as they demonstrate that they're ready. The shift of opportunitites will come from Cato, MoTay and KT. Likewise, as Snackbar demonstrates that he's a playa, Rice will sacrifice PT and Mobley and Francis will learn to pass to Nachbar more. 4. I agree that to this point, Francis and Mobley (in particular) have not demonstrated that they are willing to move the ball. BUT LOOK AT THE CRAP THEY HAVE HAD TO PASS TO. Cato? Rice? TMo? Collier? To some extent, their reluctance to pass is justifiable. If they don't start passing to the new talent and the return of the old talent (Mo Tay and perhaps a healthy Rice), they will impair the growth of this team. But give them a chance. The didn't have a chance last year. 2 years ago, they were less experienced, but at least they had some competent alternatives. 5. Prediction: for the 1st half of this year, the role players will be Cato, Griff, Ming, and whoever plays SF. Griff and Ming will focus on defense and rebounding. SF will have to shoot when open and focus on defense. 2nd half, Ming, Griff and Nachbar will start getting more opportunities on offense, but will still bear the responsibilities of defense and rebounding. 4 words - Let this team grow.
Griffin was the best defensive rookie last year and avg'd almost 2 blocks a game. He will be bigger and stronger this year. Yao avg'd 4.5 blocks a game in a league that scored most of its points on the jump shot. He has muscular legs and will continue to block shots next year. I bet he avg's over 2 a game. TMo was a good defensive player last and could also block shots. He will be better this year. You need your team to stop the scoring in the paint then here is your trio. Ming, Griffin and TMo = block, block, block! Who was it that wanted to nickname this group the swat team? I will also say that KT's defense is also very underrated and avg'd a block a game also.
