I know the season is not over yet. But the way the Rockets have been playing lately, I'm not sure that they can catch the Suns for the final playoff spot. They always dig themselves a hole in every game lately, try to rally back , only to come short at the end of games. Why do we think that they can dig themselves out of the hole and overtake the Sun at the end of the season? Well anyways, I'm concern about the future of the Rockets. Why is it the Spurs have tons of cap money to spend next year? I know that Robinson is retiring but this did not happen to the Rockets when we lost Hakeem. I am really concern about the plans of the Spurs next year. Looks like they are about to build the team to finally beat the Lakers. Did you see the headline in ESPN web site? They are talking of the Spurs probably signing Kidd with Olowokandi or J. O'neal without giving up Parker. Below is a part of an article: However, the most intriguing option for the Spurs is signing Kidd. Why would San Antonio want Kidd and not go after another big man, especially now that young Tony Parker is playing great? Well, because Kidd is the best at his job in the league, and his addition would not push out Parker but keep him in the backcourt with Kidd. Just imagine a Spurs lineup featuring Kidd, Parker, Emanuel Ginobili and Duncan. What do you think guys?
I was just about to post a thread almost identical to this. The Spurs are scary right now, and will presumably even be better next year. Parker and (ugh) Ginobili have really picked up their games, and Rose is solid. We all know that Duncan is a true franchise player. The Spurs look poised to crush the Rockets dreams for future championships.
It all will be determine by Yao Ming. If Yao can become a better player then Duncan then we should be able to defeat the Spurs.
Why? Because Spurs didn't commit any long-term big contract to overrated guys (apart from maybe Malik Rose) like we did with Rice, Taylor, Cato and Moochie. That's why I laughed every time when I saw people here proposing trades for undeserving max guys like SAR etc. They were obviously not as good as GMs as the Spurs GM.
I agree. I do not think CD is doing a great job. Give him credit though in getting Yao Ming and SF. But aside from those two, most of the transactions he made are questionable. Now they are limited in what they can do.
Yeah, big ups to CD for winning the lottery for us this past offseason. Seriously, I think probably 75% of the GM's would have taken Yao in the draft, it's not like it was a brilliant move. And getting Steve was good for the team, but was it really all that shrewd? I mean, Steve really forced the Grizzles' hand, ala Pippen. What other moves has CD made that really came out decisively for the Rockets? The last one I can think of is getting Drexler, and you could even argue that that wasn't necessary for the second title, since we had just won one. It's unfortunate that we are saddled with these nasty contracts.
I think they can't afford both Parker and Kandi (or O'neal). Duncan will be maxed, Kandi and O'neal will want Max contracts, as will Kidd.. .. unless they can convince all those guys to go low for a chance at a title. I doubt it though (wishfully doubt it, at least). Besides, I think Parker would get killed by most good 2's in the league (if they're talking about him being at the 2). Anyway, why would a team want 2 point guards on the floor at once? Seems like they'd be messing with a good thing, and it seems like it wouldn't work any better than having 2 SG's and no PG's out there (see: us). Plus, Duncan might be a little less dominant when he has to match up with the 5's, instead of just beating up on the 4's all the time. At least, I hope so. Also, there's a chance that Kidd will go elsewhere, or not move at all. Staying in the East has to be at least a little tempting, with a better shot at going to the finals every year. basically, I'm just hoping nothing works out for the Spurs.
Our GM and owner really haven't done a good job. Imagine if Francis wasn't ill last season which didn't allow us to get the top pick (Yao). We might just become an annual 1st round finisher ala T-Wolves (might not even be as good because Francis is obviously not as good as KG as a leader) with our full potential as opposed to the championship potential we now have with Yao and we even had little room to fix it because of the bad contracts we've accumulated.
if yao improves and plays to his potential, the rockets will be better than spurs. yao and duncan will cancel out each other while francis and mobley will outplay parker and ginobili. the rockets needs to pick up a good power forward and a few good bench players.
About the Spurs, I don't expect Kidd to join. I think they'll stick with a backcourt of Parker and Ginobili, and if they're smart, they'll sign 3 players for decent contracts rather than sign anyone but Kidd to the MAX. If they get Kandi and Odom, which is very possible, it will be an unbelievable team. Kandi Duncan Odom Ginobili Parker I don't think Odom is the right SF for their team though. But they have a chance to be good. Think about it this way though, we have the trade bait to become contenders next year. If it's believable that the Spurs will get Kidd and Kandi, then is it unbelievable the Rockets make 2 big deals? We can do it. Here's our trade bait: MoT, Griff (for a proven starter), Mobley, Cato, Rice, Posey (sign n trade), and Moochie if anyone wants him. Is it beyond belief that we'll (in 2 seperate deals) replace at least 6 of those guys with Brand, Payton and 2 overpaid contracts? Not really if you think about it. Clippers could use Cato and they have inquired about Mobley. Milwaukee want to stay competitive and get younger, so maybe we'll take Anthony Mason and Jason Caffey's awful contracts along with Payton, while giving them MoT and Mobley? They'd be contending with: Gadzuric/MoT/Thomas/Mobley/Cassell. I think that next year will be a very big year, with all big men emerging. Watch how Duncan, Shaq, and Yao battle it out next year, while Curry begins to mature into a star player for the Bulls, and Illgauskas comes back. The big men are coming back.
All the more reason to go back to what I was saying in that for the Rockets to take the team to the next level, they need one more "star" type of player. The Mavs have 3 stars in Finley, Nash and Nowitzki. The Spurs have Duncan and to a certain extent Parker and will get one more this off season. The Rockets have Francis and Yao. Mobley is not "consistant" enough to be a star player. He is best served as a spark plug guard off the bench. Griffin is still too raw to be that player. I am not sure he ever will be a star player, but rather a decent role player. The Rockets need to use some of their "depth/quantity" of players (Mobley, Cato, Rice, Griffin etc) to get one "quality/star" player. With 3 star type players this team will generate enough "consistancy" that they will be able to win a lot of games (because rarely will all the stars be off on one night) and we will be able to match the fire power of the other top teams. After the Rockets build their team on 3 stars, they can just pepper the team with role players that fit around whatever system they want to run. If the Rockets could ever get someone like a Brand or a Ray Allen this team would take off. The Kings have Webber, Bibby and Peja, the Suns have Marbury, Marion and now Stoudamire. The West is tough! The Rockets need to make moves to keep up! Chris
