Still a pretty average team. The Rox just match up well with Memphis, still that doesn't make us better than them or any team that made the postseason.
To me that is the real wild card. A new coach could make us better or set our offense back light years.
I think you might be setting yourself up for disappointment thinking the new coach could make us better than Adelman did. Remember, Adelman wasn't let go because he did a bad job. There were numerous factors that went into it. IMO, one of those factors was the fact that the Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs, but Rick still wouldn't play Thabeet. The Rockets won their final game by 19 points, yet Rick still couldn't squeeze Thabeet in there for a few minutes? I bet that had to make Morey a bit mad.
Don't misunderstand me, I am a huge RA fan and think it was a mistake to not retain him. I'm just saying that we don't know what we are going to get from a new coach since we do not know who he is going to be and he probably has never been an NBA head coach. The new coach might be great or he might be horrible. That's all I was trying to say.
It's a noteworthy but sad day when a poster I agree with 80% of the time won't let go of Yao. To create a hypothesys based upon a returning Yao is an excercise in futility. And that doesn't even get into the current CBA complications of renouncing Yao's Bird Rights to get any chance at cap space above the current MLE level. Which is what you'd need to pry Dalembert from the Knicks or Spurs. Be real...Amare and Melo or Duncan, Parker and Ginobili or Martin and Scola? I'm heartened by the fact so many see Chuck Hayes is not the solution at C. While disheartened to see so many clinging to Yao. Folks, Willis Reed isn't hobbling onto the TC playoffs anytime in the future.
Effective, efficient and healthy Yao is just a fairy tale at this point. If everything you said happens, yeah, we're one of the three best teams in the west. But it won't.
probably not going to find a coach that will make the rockets better because there aren't any coaches out there better than rick adelman. Adding talent and filling the gaping holes defensively ( mainly in the paint which will make up for what alot of what our wings give up ) is the only thing that will improve the rockets. There isn't a coach in the NBA that will make this team, as is, a defensive powerhouse. On the other hand, there are countless coaches that could kill the team offensively.
With a healthy Yao they would easily be a 50+ win team and make a deep run into the playoffs at least.
Someone explain to me why are we factoring in Yao as a part of the Rockets' plan for success...in 2011??? As much as I love the guy and appreciate the effort he gave when he actually played, that ship has sailed. The last thing the Rockets team needs is another year of "If Yao comes back, we can be REALLY good!". The available centers this offseason leaves a lot to be desired but if this organization is going to move forward, "Yao Ming" and "28 minutes a night" shouldn't be a part of that equation.
What about our $7.35 million trade exception, on a sign and trade with Sacramento? If the rules allow us to acquire Dalembert on a sign and trade with a first year salary starting at $7.35 million (I do not know if this is permissible), that would seem to put us in the driver's seat, ahead of teams armed only with the MLE (approx. $6 million, if there even is such a thing under the new CBA). Plus we could then keep our MLE, and not have to renounce Yao and Hayes. http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1574/houston_rockets_salary_cap_update/
The best of both worlds? If healthy might contribute to win now. If he isn't frees up minutes to develop players and allows the Rockets to tank without taking a sportsmanship hit.
Can't count on Yao but just for fun, lets say he is healthy by mid-season and becomes a 14-8 guy along with Sammy being added as a defensive force and no other major changes....50 win team and 1st rd fodder. We would have two effective 7 footers which we didn't have last year but OKC will get better, LAL still a top 4 team, Dallas will still be tough and SA still a handful. Throw in Memphis getting better, Denver having some nice cap room to improve and NOLA still having Paul. West will still be tough but we'd be part of the mix, yet not a contender.
