Which position would an upgrade push the Rockets over the top?

How in the explicative would adding Rudy Gay to the starting line up make this team worse?

 

There is only one basketball. Gay and Maggette are one dimensional offensive players who would do nothing without the ball.

Certain players are perceived as better because they are a better offensive minded player. If your team is stacked with offensive minded players the one guy with the ball is being utilized while the others talent is being wasterd. Its about an offensive/defensive balance.

Take Steve Nash and Rajon Rondo. Both good PGs, Nash is perceived to be the better PG because he is more effecient offensively. Rondo is ok offensively, but is great at rebounding and defense as well.

If you are assembling a team where the other positions are high usage offensive guys like say OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay, its probably better to have a guy like Rondo than a guy like Nash, because Rondo will still be contributing w/o the ball, while Nash won't be.

 

uhhhhh after this season w/o a C and missin the playoffs for the first time since not having one, Id think its a no-brainer

 

why do you guys say Aaron Brooks is not a passer? With Yao back this season if he comes back healthy (big if I know) Aaron Brooks is not gona be our primary scorer this upcoming season, matter fact were gona go back to the "let Yao get the first look option".

 

I think Rockets might be much better off if they have a go-to-guy on the perimeter. They have Martin and Ariza, but i don't think they're the type of guys that can single out that you can give them the ball and let them do their thing. I am not saying they can't but they're not in the same caliber as someone like Carmelo. Ariza and Martin is more like JR SMITH. We are better off if we have a guy that we can go to. So my suggestion is...if we can find a high caliber SF that can be the go-2-guy and also play awesome defense to cover Martin and Brooks' weakness.

Of course we have Yao, but it's better to have more options. Another thing is we need a decent Center or PF to back up Scola or Yao. These are my only concern. Of course, it maybe we're perfectly fine with Martin and Ariza and don't really need a go-2-guy and that Yao is all we needed.

 

A SG. I'm not sold on Kevin Martin. I think Battier is on the downside. Ariza is just a roll player and better suited as a SF.

I'm not really sold on Yao either when healthy. He is very good, but I just don't think he dominates enough.

 

I can't say I agree with you on this....

I just can't see Rick going backwards with the offense.

 

An all star F/C is the key in my opinion.

Can play the 5 with Scola at the 4 to start the year, and can shift over when Yao is ready to reclaim his spot. We clearly have to improve the 5, but even the 4 could stand some help. Andersen and Hill will improve, but I don't know if either will be All Stars anytime soon.

I like the 3, with Ariza and Chase (and Shane slowly riding off into the sunset)

Martin could use a backup with size and defensive grit (as opposed to Jermaine Taylor or out of position Brooks/Lowry)

The tandem at point is fine, but could be upgraded - Brooks is a pure scorer with deficiencies in other areas, Lowry is tough but a poor outside shooter.

 

I don't think Battier is on the downside. He complement better with Yao. The good thing of starting Battier is we have someone night in night out taking care of the opponent's best offensive weapon like Kobe and Lebron which is very crucial in winning. The bad part about it is we're limited in our option to attack the basket which we get with Ariza. I think we're fine with Brooks and Martin at both guard positions. Since we're not getting a consistent go-2-guy in Martin, we're better off finding one at the SF position. Someone like Carmelo will be perfect fit imo.

You're right about not sold on Yao but they're going to front him and take away from what he can do. So that's why i say, we might be better off with a go-2-guy at SF and we might not. We might be just fine with Brooks, Brooks and Ariza....all 3 can attack the basket and create havoc for the defense. But then Battier might be better fit starting...we will have to see.

 

I think a center to spell Yao for long stretches of time and eventually replace the big man. Yao is awesome but I CAN NOT TRUST him at this point so we need insurance. I would even overpay for the right guy but regardless we need protection against another injury or if Yao comes back at a MUCH reduced level.

 

C-an upgrade for center will make the most difference, Yao is old and fragile, let's trade him while some teams still want him

SF-if we can't get a good center(there are only a handful in the league), we can trade for a decent center and an all-star 3

SG/G-Either Kevin Martin or Brooks has to go, they are terrible on defense and it will hurt us in the long run. It's a tough choice.

 

Everyone is saying back up center, and i would agree that is a need, but I am not sold on Trevor Ariza. We need a better defensive swing man that can hit some open three consistantly

 

with the exception of dwight vs yao all the ones you mentioned are HUGE upgrades
wade= Franchise player Kevin martin isnt
CP3 Franchise player
Lebron..Obvious.
Bosh= Franchise Player, Scola isnt


with that being said i'd take wade or bosh
with bosh being my first option since low post scoring is critical. points in the paint help open up perimeter players options.

 

Center

 

Along with getting Yao back, I think if the Rockets are two pieces away from contending: someone who can do the things Landry did, and a good (and tall) backup center.

 

Al Jefferson would an upgrade, a big upgrade, but we have to give up lots in this trade, do no know who they want, clearly, AB is not one they want.

 

PG=Brooks, Lowry
SG= Martin, Budinger, Taylor
SF= Ariza, Battier
PF= Scola, Hill, Jefferies, Hayes
*C= Yao, Veteran Backup (IE Brad Miller or Haywood), Rookie future Center

-assuming Andersen is no longer with team next year.

That is a 14 man roster. could get shaved down through trade or buyout before the season begins. I believe we will go after a Veteran in the offseason to start the season when Yao is working his way back, but this must be the year that we address our future at the Center position with our draft pick.

With having this kind of depth(due to our injury proned cornerstone players), true centers and shotblockers who can rebound (which we did not have last year at all), and the development of our young guys (most likely impact player will be Hill),

 

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion but I couldn't disagree more. I can see how you could not be sold on Martin based solely on His defensive efforts, but on offense the guy is a ninja. He posts awesome numbers without anyone noticing, which is possibly why you aren't sold on him too, because he is such a quiet scorer. There are few sg's in the league I would rather have over Martin.

And a healthy Yao dominates.

 

I just want to say I agree with you 100%, we've needed a back-up center for awhile.

 

Depends on Yao's health. If he can't play at the high level he did before the injury, then obviously we need to upgrade at the C. If he can get back to the all-star level, then we PG. (BTW, if you want pipedreaming, I'd rather have Deron Williams than Chris Paul for Brooks. :grin: )