[ESPN] insider NBA offseason Buzz: Houston Rockets request

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NBA Offseason Buzz: Houston Rockets
Without Yao, Rockets hope for a boost from an emerging force at power forward
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Insider
By John Hollinger & Ric Bucher
ESPN Insider


Want to know who's heating up for a big season on the hardwood? Insider is tapping into John Hollinger's projected player efficiency ratings to see who's trending up and down across the NBA. Ric Bucher rounds out the report by examining a pivotal player you'll want to watch as the season approaches. The series continues with the Houston Rockets.

They've already been ticketed for Lotteryville with Yao Ming expected to miss the entire season recovering from foot surgery, Ron Artest going to the Lakers and Tracy McGrady coming back from microfracture surgery on his knee. Understandable, perhaps, but it's a stance that completely ignores the toughness and versatility coach Rick Adelman and his plucky band of role players have developed in the intermittent absence of their stars the past two years. As dominant as Yao can be and as integral as he was to both their offense and defense last season, their small lineup was equally dangerous at times. It was that style, after all, that produced 16 of their 22 consecutive wins two seasons ago. The big question will be McGrady and whether he embraces the chance to make the Rockets his team again or maintains the same "forget-you" attitude that prompted him to abruptly have surgery when rumors abounded that he was about to be traded. It won't take long to find out.

To see which player is taking off, which is crashing to earth and which name you'll need to know for the 2009-10 season, you must be an ESPN Insider.

Trending up: Chuck Hayes

Last season: 7.79 PER
2009-10 projection: 10.66 PER

Hayes may see more minutes with Yao out for the season, but let's not get crazy here -- Hayes still only scores a basket about once every lunar eclipse. His post defense makes him a solid matchup play against certain opponents, especially since Houston lacks other quality interior defenders, but his offensive inadequacy likely will keep him off the court on many nights. Still, given how much small-ball the Rockets will have to play, his energy and toughness will be important qualities without Yao. -Hollinger

Trending down: Brent Barry

Last season: 9.24 PER
2009-10 projection: 8.41 PER

Barry has an expiring deal worth $2 million, and with the Rockets' lowered aspirations for this season, he may find himself sent elsewhere at the trade deadline. That would be more likely to happen if he could rediscover his shooting stroke in the first half of the season and interest a contender as a perimeter floor-spacer -- the role he filled for four years in San Antonio before coming to the Rockets. He may get few chances to prove himself, though. His playing time is likely to be limited as the Rockets rebuild around younger wings. -Hollinger

Bucher's name to know: Luis Scola

With Yao out, Artest gone and McGrady questionable, Scola inherits the role of best player left standing and there are some around the league who consider him capable of carrying that weight. Space to operate and second-chance points all become harder to find without the attention-drawing Yao on the floor, but Scola demonstrated last season that his footwork and underrated strength make him a tough cover on the block and he was frequently the go-to guy when the Rockets' fate hung in the balance.

When Houston beat the Lakers to force a Game 7, Scola gave a glimpse of what he can do, combining with Aaron Brooks as an inside-outside combo better, at least for one night, than Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. It's merely one game, but a do-or-die playoff win over the eventual champions is a better blueprint than none at all. The question will be if Scola can effectively pass out of double-teams, which opponents will be a little quicker to use if he's the focal point for an entire season.

Where the Rockets will feel Yao's absence most is on defense, because having the league's fifth-best defensive field goal percentage was a big part of their success last season. There isn't anyone on the roster -- no offense, 29-year-old rookie David Andersen -- who can be referred to as a shot-blocker, Scola included. That, ultimately, might be the Achilles' heel that keeps them out of the postseason. But Scola has established himself as arguably the most underrated power forward in the NBA -- despite a lack of hops or length -- by simply being persistent and consistent. Under the circumstances, Houston could do a lot worse. -Bucher

John Hollinger writes for ESPN Insider. Ric Bucher is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Insider.