In terms of accomplishments, you have Yao, Francis, maybe Cat and McGrady, with the other guys as a toss up. We saw a lot of players go in and out this decade. However, if we're going based on how I would construct a team I'd have: Cat/Francis McGrady/Martin Artest/Battier Scola/Landry/Brian Cook (for laughs) Yao/Deke/Cato (that one good year) A backcourt of Martin AND Francis would be a potent one-two bench coming off the bench, and would keep the starters rested.
Steve Cuttino Mcgrady Battier Yao Honorable mention: Scola, Deke, Hayes Deke was a part time player and Hayes did not play regular minutes until Deke and Landry were gone. That's why I don't include them. After that it's down to Cat, Battier, and Scola for the last two spots (somewhat ignoring positions).
Yeah, agree on it likely being 5 of those 6 guys. I think others deserving of at least making the ballot are: Rafer Alston David Wesley Jim Jackson Chuck Hayes Dikembe Mutombo (Had Bob Sura stayed healthy, he'd have a decent shot at making that team, but alas, he didn't. Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry simply didn't play long enough in that decade to merit legitimate consideration.) I don't think Terrence is eligible for this team, since the Rockets didn't acquire him until December 2010. Oh, so close!
Thought about this last night and came to the same conclusion as Durvasa. Francis McGrady Battier Scola Yao
And OT wasn't better than Horry? The voting for this isn't simply who's better, although the majority of it will be. How fans feel for players counts for a lot. Plus, the main reason I pick Hayes is because Scola was only here for 3 years of that decade, and his first year wasn't great. Hayes was here for half the decade.
Who cares? We sucked that year. With or without him, we would have sucked. How great is that impact? Mobley was a good defensive player but Battier was on a whole other level. Infact Battier was better defensively than Mobley was offensively.
Where is Kelvin Cato on these lists?! He's easily the greatest Rockets C of all time (miles ahead of 2. Hakeem and 3. Zan Tabak), not to mention the fact that he was responsible for the best play in NBA history... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj1DV4bLogk PS Sorry couldn't embed for some reason.
How can none of you guys include Mutombo in your top 5 ?? He should be a lock based on being a humanitarian alone. Let's not forget the #1 reason for the 22 game winning streak, keeping us afloat when Yao was out year in year out and being a leader in the locker room! In 2009 we needed him badly and he could've chased that ring but no, he decided to stay loyal. Mutombo being snubbed is almost as bad as Otis Thorpe if not worse.
