The current Houston Rockets are good enough to make the playoffs next year. I think we should keep the current group together. We will not win the championship next year, so give them a chance to mold and really do some damage next year. Winning heals all wounds. I think these Rockets wtih the starting line up of Francis, Mobley, Posey, EG, and Yao can win about 45 games next year. That'll be good enough to make the playoffs. Then, Rice's contract comes off the books and do a sign and trade or striaght up sign Elton Brand because he will sign a 1 year deal with year and become an unrestricted free agent. I think Brand will want to come to Houston at that time because 1. we win and made the playoffs 2. our youth 3. he can play with yao and francis I think that's the route we should be looking at.
if you're JVG, do you risk that? honestly...put yourself in his shoes. he comes in here...with the absolute expectation he will take this team to the playoffs (as if that's some great accomplishment in the NBA). and he looks around...and realizes that these guys have come up short for 4 seasons now. you don't think that would concern him? i'm thinking if i'm him, i'm making changes. whatever changes i could make...i'm not saying wholesale changes..or change for the sake of change. but i wouldn't be real comfortable with the status quo, either.
I don't think we will have enough under the cap to "straight up sign" Brand. Other than Yao and Francis (which I'm not willing to give up either), I'm not sure we have enough to sign and trade for Brand.
well mad max, if you're jvg, you would want to do that. But think about it. Last season was our first with Yao. Yao will get better. Francis and Mobley know how to play with Yao better now. Our chemistry will be better. Key word being chemistry. You don't build championship teams on paper or else we wouldn't have our back to back championships. In the 2nd championship run, the Rockets got better as the playoffs progressed because their spacing and chemistry got better. You cannot build chemistry overnight. That's my reasoning for keeping the status quo
horns -- i totally agree...the rockets just came together in 1993...and a ton of that was simply because they were the only team that left their starting 5 intact for 3 straight years. so i don't totally disagree with you...and i don't know which was is the right way to go...but i can certainly understand JVG saying, "uh....no..."
I think the Rockets should make their moves based on what their goal this year is. Their goal this year should be to be the 5th best team in the West. I think it's totally doable. That means we'd be fighting with Portland and Phoenix for the #5 seed in the West. Then, think about it. If we get the number 5 or even 6 seed in the West with the status quo, wouldn't someone like Brand want to come to Houston because he realizes that we would only be a player or two away from contending for the title? All in all, the Rockets should make their moves according to what their goal is this year. They have more than enough talent right now. Talent isn't the issue at the moment. Chemistry and winning ball games is.
I'd have to agree with runninhorns on this one. We were all disappointed with some of the senseless losses (4 losses to last place teams, multiple losses to the clips etc) last year. BUT....we were only 1 game from the playoffs and we were one of the most improved teams from the year before in the league. We have a center who literally just got off the plane from a whole different world. I think this team should stand pat until further notice* unless Brand falls into our lap, or something to that effect. If by the All Star break, we are still under achieving THEN let's do something drastic. *except we should cut Moochie
I agree also. The coaching change should be the only major one we make untill JVG gets a chance to see who fits and who doesn't. That won't happen untill he gets an extended look during real game action. Maybe moves need to be made, but not untill the midseason deadline at the earliest.
I agree. Sadly, my support for the Rockets and the players has always been unconditional. I don't like it when players are traded away or let go, but it is a business. I still got love for all the ex-Rockets out there, except one which I won't name. That being said, keep this team the way it is and add a few pieces through free agency, great things are to come.
what about a starting line up of Cato, yao, posey, francis and mobley. Put Cato at 5 and yao at 4. Yao is the perfect 4. He can hit the medium range jumber, run the floor, grab rebounds and pass. I think that the 4 position would utimately do Yao some good on the offensive end of the court. Anyone have anything to say?
runninhorns- I am assuming you are new to this forum. Stop being obnoxious and creating multiple posts with your garbage opinions. Again, I dont come on this board to read your opinions. I come here to find out inside information with some kind of factual backing. I can tell you if you continue these ways of 100 threads a day... you will be banished! nuff said
I think it all depends on 2 things: 1) whether our backcourt gets more efficient (APG, A/TO and overall leadership), and 2) EG. If we don't think EG is the future 4 we need we need to move him while his value is decent. If Francis/Mobley don't lead the team better next year that is a problem too and one probably needs to go. So i don't think we rush to make a major trade, but keep these two things in mind through next year, and we should be oppertunistic if the right deal is to be had.
We stand pat and we improve, we make the playoffs. I dont get the feeling that this is a Championship Team in the making.
yetti, what qualities do you look for in a championship team? i see defense and making clutch plays down the stretch. Dallas has neither. The Spurs have both. Sac has good O and no D. Detroit played tough D and they were in the Eastern conference finals. New Jersey played solid D and had good ball movement. If the Rockets build a reputation of playing hard nosed D and make clutch shots. Why not? Isn't what the 93-95 Rockets did?
I always thought that the Rice contract was more for Yao than for a free agent. The last thing the Rockets want to do is lose Yao, and the best way at that is with a nice big contract. Anyway, Griffin has shown nice shot blocking and rebounding. I think that as long has he becomes more agressive, everything will fall into place. If he would go after every rebound, and after every shot, I think we would be more than happy with him, even if he doesn't put up star-like numbers. How about 12/8/3.5? All he would have to do is get motivated (Something I think Van Gundy can do i.e. see Spree and Camby.) Griffin was a great player in college, and he showed some agressivness back then (he punched a guy...) Maybe Yao should kick his ass, and tell him to grow up.
i was thinking about it. The status quo is good, but there's a perfect player out there that would totally fit the Rockets . Doug Christie. He plays awesome D, makes the 3 and runs the floor. He plays smart and doesn't turn the ball over. Anything think he wouldn't fit in with us?
Let it go!! What is your obsession with runninhorns. You paste the same crap everytime he says something. If it is a problem, let the moderators handle it. It is NOT your job. Relax!!
