5- Our center position is probably in the best shape it's EVER been in, hell Cato is my "sixth man of the year." AGREE? 4- Between Eddie and Maurice, if they can play as they have in the last few games consistantly we may be set at that spot. AGREE? 3- Glen and Posey compliment each other greatly, when we need scoring and to establish the inside/outside Glen is the man, when we need to get physical and athletic Posey has proven thus far that he can D-up and make things happen because of his athleticism. AGREE? 2- If Cat was more consistant then I would be happy with this position, sure Posey can spell him, but otherwise I think the position is our weakest link. Wally Szczerbiak is rumored to be on the trade mill but with that contract I don't think we'd be able to afford him. AGREE? 1- This is the biggest mystery to me, I think we have a Jekyl/Hyde situation with Stevie. When he is the good Dr. Jekyl, this team plays amazing, but when Hyde shows up, HE plays amazing at the expense of the team. Moochie is solid but needs Steve to be a better example. AGREE? Coaching- There is no doubt in my mind that Rudy can win it again with the right personnel. So again I ask, do we have it? I think so.
5. I think we're looking good at center, but to say it is the best we've ever been at center is, well -- let's just say it's not true. In 1994, Olajuwon and me make a better tandem than Yao and Cato. We have a good combo, but don't sell the Dream short. Anyway, projecting into the future, I think no further upgrades are really needed here. 4. I've got question marks on this one. If Eddie is everything I hope, then yes we're set. But, he needs to get better than he currently is. Also, still wondering is Taylor will ever fully recover. 3. I think small forward is our weakest link. Whether you like Rice or not, he won't be here long enough to help with the championship drive. We've got a number of young guys here that may or may not pan out. Otherwise, we have Posey. I like him alright, but I get the feeling others are seeing something I'm not. 2. I don't see why you'd call this our weakest link. Mobley is a good scorer and a good defender and he's always working. I don't think he gets near the credit he deserves. There's a reason he plays so many minutes every game. 1. Steve Francis. I don't think I need to elaborate on that. Overall, I think if we end up with someone solid at either of the forward spots, we do have the personnel. My hope is in Eddie Grffin. If he becomes what he can be, we're legit.
AB, The 3 is clearly our weakest link, this season. You are confusing being content or liking players with being weak or strong. The 2 is the weakest link?? especially when Francis/Posey will back up Mobley in the playoffs. Come on, say you don't like Mobley, or you'd rather have a pure shooter who doesn't drive (like you could trade for much more), but saying the 2 is our weakest link in all seriousness,,,,that's just ... I don't know what to say. (disclaimer to bystanders, please don't address me about this ... I am not talking to you; I am talking to AB.) As for Wally, it is close to impossible for us to trade for him, since he has major Base Year Compensation issues; a third team with ~$3.5m in cap or trade exception would have to accept a toss-away player from Minnesota. And why would we trade Mobley to Minnesota??? besides: Mobley is a notorious 2nd half player and is playing great over the last 5 games, since the Knicks debacle. as for the 4 spot, Maurice has said he is hit and miss...he doesn't know until game time how his achilles is. Griffin's D is might indeed be coming along, but his offense in one game against shorter/unathletic opponents is not really telling to say this spot is any better than the 4th most solid spot. Face it....to win a ring, we will be facing teams whose #4 spot is their best....NBA MVP best.
Not selling Dream short, but other than Mr. Mean he never had a viable back-up. When he got in foul trouble or was injured, scoring from that position was virtually non-existant. Cato's "ally-oop" is becoming one of my favorite plays.
I agree with Juan. At center we're looking real good, Yao is turning out to be everything we hoped for and nothing we feared and Cato has turned out to be the perfect backup to Yao. The 4 is a little tenuous, but I think we'll be fine there. Griffin WILL live up to his potential by the time we fight for the championship. And Taylor.. well he's a big question mark, but I think he'll be alright. Probly not up to preinjury stats, but solid enough to live with. But if we could somehow upgrade this position a bit, that'd be great. The 3 is probably our weak point (although the 4 could be arguably weaker). Rice won't be of much use and gone for that matter in another year or so. Right now he's a our main sf. It was good the Rox brought in Posey cause he'll be a good solid D player for us at the 3, which we definitely need. But that's not enough. I'm hoping TMo comes out and shows he has some game, both on O and D. I think if he gets more pt he could show us that he CAN ball. And then there's Nachbar, perhaps he could replace Rice... but since we haven't seen him at all in games, one can only dream. Mobley and Francis are fine, the backups for them are decent too. We ALMOST have a team that is guaranteed a championships. With one or two tweaks (and possibly no tweaks at all) this team will go all the way. Look for it next year and in '05.
HP it's hard to argue with you but Cat has tried to take over too many games at the wrong time. He can shoot you into a game as well as shooting you out! I just don't trust his judgement in big games. Great 6th man, absolutely! Starting shooting guard on a championship team...nah.
The Rockets need a bruiser. Someone who can dish out the pain, and watch YM's back. This guy could share minutes with EG. I'd move SF to shooting, and bring in a guy to run the point. I'd move CM to the bench, as our 6th man. Raven
To avoid the wave of upcoming trade speculation, we can understand each other's view of Cat, but that still doesn't make our #2 spot the weakest link. That was the main thing I was arguing about. Rice is our weakest link. And saying Posey is backing him up ignores that Francis and Posey can both back up Cuttino. Eddie has to face the likes of Duncan, Webber, Nowitzki, Garnett, Brand, Malone, and Stoudamire. When you are doing a weakest link comparison concerning making it through the playoffs, you have to look at matchups. imo, it goes like this: Strongest 5 1 & 2 even (because of weak D at the 1, and SF/Posey are backups for the 2) 4 3 Weakest
I think we do, at this point all we need to do is wait for them to mature. Let them get more comfortable with each other and learn to play team ball, and the sky is the limit. DD
AB, hehe. I thought what was funny was that you look to be answering your thread title in the affirmative "AGREE," but you just couldn't make it past a critique of Cuttino without suggesting a trade, and hence saying he's not the right "personnel to win a ring." question: Would you have traded Vernon in 1993 before the titles? I posted a question to the bbs in like Dec 1999 asking that question, and my theory was that your answer to the question would be your same answer to whether you'd trade Cat.
Another Brother, you are the weakest link...Good bye!! Anyways, we won't make the playoffs this year, so competing for a title is obviously out of the question. Next year or the year after that, probably not. Rice will be gone, but Steve's contract will be so much that we won't be able to go after anybody to replace him. Hopefully, Nachbar can get some playing time and become a semi-reliable scorer. I also think that Steve and Cat will be broken up eventually. Too much redundancy...
Are you craaaaaazy today? The Rockets will finish #6 seed and then win it all (my prediction). I can't believe that you are not a true believer! The Rockets have stumbled here and there but they are getting noticeably stronger game by game. Cat and Mobley are well paired because both can drive, stop-n-pop, shoot treys and pass. Nachbar is Rudy's Springtime Rifle, and Posey will soon make Glen the league's best Sixth Man. I don't know, but I am filled with optimism for THIS year.
Anyway all those who want to jump up on a soap box and count various weaknesses is a matter for them. If we want to count weaknesses then start with the team than has won 3 in a row. There you will find alot of weaknesses. Last year they certainly had a weakness at at least two positions. So let's just answer the question. I believe we have the personnel to win a championship. By the end of this season this team will be better than both of our championship teams. Is that enough? I do not know but I do think that the rockets community (players, fans, media) should be more focused on getting the number #3 seed which is within our grasp and not on just trying to make the playoffs.
We are looking championship good -- for '05. Yao needs more time. Eddie needs more time. Rox need to upgrade '3' -- Boki in time? I have no idea. he does exist, I suppose. Rox need to upgrade backup '1' -- Mooch from two season's back? Posey will be great insurance in support of '2' and '3'. Rox should make at least some noise in this year's play-offs. Rox should make lots of noise next year's play-offs. Match ups the concern, clearly.
I agree Cuttino is a problem. Rice is the weakest link. Steve and Cuttino are the same type player. massage with the ball create their own shot poor defenders short Steve is the better passer, the better player. He needs a big defensive helper to team with in the backcourt. Solution - Lamar Odom. Odom alternates at point forward getting Steve and Ming the ball, with Poesy starting at the 2. This solves the problems at 2 and 3. Odom on a 4 year contract at Rice money is good, until Ming Maxs. You get much bigger players who can pass and board and defend, Steve can exploit 1s instead of 2s if teamed with a point forward instead of a "true pg". We could also use an MCE banger to protect Ming. We can find one in the next market - that's no big deal. If we could acquire Odom and somehow keep Cuttino, fine. I'd still prefer a bigger, defending 2 teamed with Steve. Cuttino would be a great luxury as an instant offense man. All that said, I do have to give Cuttino his props for improved game this season. He's passing better, rebounding, working on defense. I just don't think that, ultimately, "trying hard" is good enough. He'll never be taller or stronger, he'll never have completely different instincts, he will never be the player I want back there with Steve. But he is trying - really busting it. Good for him. I just have a different idea of what kind of players we need to team with Steve and Yao - big strong guys who can board, pass, post, and defend, cut and catch, and hammer the trailer. I'd rather have my 2 and 3 feeding Steve for jumpers against mismatched 1s than Steve feeding the 2 and 3.
Yes. I believe we can win it all with our current personnel, but it might be not this year or next year though. It takes time to develop a dynasty.
