Can the Rockets learn from history?

I agree with the first part, but to be a title contender we need more than just a little bit, we need another superstar next to Yao (and I'm not talking here about Bosh) and also we need Yao to be healthy all season long + playoff time.

 

agree with the theme of the post, but san antonio got turned down by kidd...they did not decide to keep parker instead. the real theme should be the lucky things that happen sometimes help you more than what you wanted to do...like kobe not being traded to the bulls for deng and hinrich

 

How pathetic that winning 42 games and aspiring to maybe one day get to the back end of the playoffs as a low seed is now supposed to be taken as some sign of accomplishment. That is so 1999-2003.

We've basically had a lost decade around Yao - but hey - yeah let's stay the course, 10th time has got to be the charm.

 

stop, stop stop, you're making too much sense.

 

No, they didn't. Kidd decided to stay in NJ and re-upped. San Antonio would have gladly took him if he wanted to go there. Sometimes dumb luck is the best kind.

 

Ideally, you are right. The team should stand pat, focus on retainment and incremental improvements through the draft and value-added FA pickups.

The main wrench in this approach is Yao; I've mentioned it before, but optimally I think he has 3 years left in the NBA. Frankly, that number could be much lower if he gets injured again- I simply dont see him having the time or energy to go through another long rehab process.

So the question that begs asking- is the current crop of talent on the team paired with Yao capable of developing into a championship contender in the next year or two? I think its capable of playing above-average basketball, maybe even contend into the 2nd or 3rd round of the playoffs, but not a championship team. Maybe it will be in another 3-5 years or so, but not right now. But who knows, I might be wrong (and would GLADLY be wrong)....

 

Horrible analogy.

The Spurs had one of the greatest big men of all time in Duncan, and an elite defense orchestrated by Popovich (1st, 3rd, 1st, 2nd in defensive rating during their title years).

Yao Ming is not Tim Duncan, even when he is healthy. Yao shows flashes of greatness, but Tim Duncan could be counted on every game and every possession. Yao simply cannot, and this is not even considering his injury problems. You can argue all you want that our supporting cast is just as strong or better (Budinger is not the next Manu), but we lack two things- a strong defensive unit and a top 10 talent.

Good news is the defense has the potential to improve, as defense actually can be taught. The other good news is that Morey knows you need at least one elite player to win (or in rare cases a fringe all-star caliber player at every position like the Pistons/Kings recently, but even then you need the lead guy like Webber or Billups).

Now stop making me gush unnecessarily over the Spurs.

 

True... Like I said... I love Yao but his health has robbed him and Houston. We can't depend on him moving forward. That's why it's important for Houston to have a star that can fill in.

 

There's a difference between recognizing the Rockets overachievement last season and also recognizing that at the end of the day they are not close to winning a title with this group and probably never will be which is why the Rockets themselves recognized this and were willing to flush it all for Bosh or another player..

The fact that you don't recognize it is irrelevant and unsurprising.

 

Sam, we had nearly $40M worth of salaries in street clothes last year. What did you expect out of that team, 50 wins and a playoff run???

What happened in the past is water under the bridge. What we learned is that 2 superstar and bad role players get you a goodbye 1st round appearance. How about trying something different, build the role players to be one of the best in the league and add the stars that we need as they become availabe either through trades?

 

I agree that This should be Yao's last year here if He doesn't show that he can be healthy for at least 80% of the season.

I'd rather not spend the Max on keeping him here next season and just rebuild. I'm fine with rebuilding and not shooting ourselves in the foot "sigh" with signing Yao. Scaring potential FA away like whats happened this offseason.

 

Calm down buddy. A lot of the "IF's" were due to having 2 injury prone star players.

A lot of our young talent last year were Rookies (Cbud, J. Hill) or second year players.

We have not had Kevin Martin for that long (Please stop calling him Kmart, makes me think Kenyon everytime).

Let Morey get things in to place. Because of contracts, some good and some bad, basketball rosters take time to put together. Scola, due to his skillset, will not be declining anytime soon. He is more a finesse and hustle player. Ariza, well, I couldn't stand him at the begining of the season, but towards the end he started to play within his role. Patterson looks to be very promising. Yao will be at full strength. Aaron Brooks is vastly under rated in this league and on this board. People say he can't pass, but he has been pretty good with his passes when he's not forced to do too much. Lowry is a pit bull, love the guy's hustle and will to win.

For people to say that we won't improve to atleast 50 wins next season is off base. Yao is coming back, we have more depth and length in the front court. Jeffries is over paid, but a solid defender and role player. We will probably dump him at the deadline and let's not forget, there are quite a few gems in the FA pool next year that we may be able to pick up at the deadline.

It seems most players don't want to play in Houston, but that is until they play in Houston. How many players have wanted to bolt after playing for the organization and team. If anything, you can say the players we have are extremely loyal. After a 42 win season, Scola and Lowry don't want to go anywhere else, no one is trying to leave. There are obviously good things being said about the Rox among players in the League because Ariza chose us, knowing Yao was going to be out for the year, over the likes of Lebron and staying with the Lakers for a second ring.

The pessimism around here is sad. I think most people that post on this board now with the "sky is falling" kinds of post only heard stories of greatness from the championship days while those of us that witnessed the excitement, patiently hang on, savoring the flavor because when it happens again, it will be even sweeter.

 

Last time I checked, Morey said he had 6 courses of action....my guess is that he will come thru

 

they had arguably the best player in the game at the time...a guy named Tim Duncan.

the Rockets have nothing in the vicinity of that.

great players win championships...role players facilitate that. we have a collection of very nice role players.