I'd secure Scola and Landry as a 2 headed monster over a guy like Brand. Brand is too injury prone when our two stars are already injured enough. Taking turns who's on IR with those 3 would give everyone here headaches. Scola was on a tear when he was able to defer to Yao. He had better looks on offense and wasn't asked to try and create his shot so much. Just work off Yao which he did tremendously as did Landry. If Yao was in the playoffs Landry and Scola would be putting up pretty big numbers at a far higher % since Yao would take up so much attention. The Rockets need a slasher that can get to the FT line consistently. Maggette is that ideal player, and is actually pretty durable. Alston Maggette McGrady Scola Yao lineup would be a pretty buff lineup. M&M at the wings with Alston in the backcourt and Yao and Scola making passes and posting up in the frontcourt. Then you'd have Battier coming off the bench Brooks BJax Battier Landry Mutombo Situational: Hayes for defense Novak for offense Mike Harris likely as a defensive specialist
i agree this team is one more scoring swingman away from being a real contender. maggette would be a great attacking swingman, but i still find mike miller to be an ideal fit as a guy who is deadly from outside to space for yao, and is no slouch at putting the ball on the floor when the defense overplays. if we got either one of those guys, you could put them in the starting lineup or have them come off the bench and be deadly 6th men, since a healthy yao and mcgrady ( feel like we always say that but its true) provide plenty of offensive firepower in the starting lineup on their own. either way, that 2-3 spot is a huge priority, moreso than PG in my opinion. we all saw how much heavy minutes wore down on mcgrady and battier when the only backup is luther head.
First of all, Maggette is not anymore durable than Brand or McGrady. Look at the percentages of games these guys have played for their entire careers, not just the past season or two. Second of all, Maggette is garbage as a major minute starter, especially for the kind of money he's going to want. He would be a great option off the bench for 25 minutes a game, getting the full MLE, but that's about it. He is the very definition of one-dimensional. He's a poor man's Carmelo. He can't pass, can't defend to save his life, and can't rebound very well. Say no to Maggette unless he decides he wants to take less money to win.
No, this team is a healthy roster away from being a real contender. If we need anything, it's a point guard, not another swingman.
How about we just keep the team together to continue to learn Adelman's system, with our only cuts possibly being B Jackson, Francis, and L Head. Re-sign Gerald Green to a smaller contract, sign Ben Udrih and if Deke retires make a run at Ronny Turiaf, and call it a day. I think Green should be able to legitimately back-up T-Mac, Udrih is a good point guard who should be available for reasonable money, and Turiaf is a beast. I think these guys would go along well with our squad.
That's a risk I'm absolutely willing to take. I love Landry and all but if it brings in a guys like Elton Brand who would make a bona fide 3rd superstar hell yeah you have to do this deal. Scola and Landry are nice and I'm glad we have them but to call them a 2 headed monster? LOL please. The more you look around the league the more they're readily available. Take a look around the league and you have your superstar PF's in KG, Amare, Boozer, Brand, Duncan etc. Then you have the upper-middle with guys like Chris Bosh, Al Jefferson, Antawn Jamison, David West etc. FINALLY you have guys like Scola, Landry, Kenyon Martin, Udonis Haslem. To further showcase how deep the PF position is.... Dallas has Brandon Bass and Utah has Paul Milsap who also fit into that mid level PF category like Landry and Scola. The difference is Utah and Dallas both have Superstar PF's in Dirk and Boozer. My point is adding mid level power forward talent is not that difficult but attaining a superstar like Brand is so if you have the opportunity you gotta jump on it. I would rank both Scola and Landry in the middle-tier of Power forwards. The reason why Scola and Landry look so great is because we've gotten so used to the garbage play of Juwan Howard in the past and Chuck Hayes in the past and present.
Wait, someone said there was nothing Scola does better than Landry? I mean I love them boht, but c'mon... Scola has half the athleticism of Landry, and more production. If Landry developed a post game akin to Scola's, then you might have a case. He's showed some flashes there, but he still has a ways to go.
You are seriously underestimating Landry's potential. I remember another rookie that we traded that I wish we never had. Sam Cassell
Scola and Landry are working Boozer on both ends of the court. Boozer is shooting in the low 40s this series while our tandem is handling their own. Imagine if we had them last year over Chuck Hayes starting and Juwan Howard coming off the bench. Do you remember the years of Eddie Griffin, and Maurice Taylor? That mid tier you put them with. Milsap is getting worked by Landry the past 3 games. Boozer isn't putting up monster numbers like last series. It's no coincidence that our two PFs are nullifying their production. When Yao was taking up most of the attention Landry and Scola combined were putting up numbers like 28 points and 14 boards. That's a two headed monster. More than that both of their contracts are reasonable and both are rookies. Scola really isn't going to improve much more other than working on his mid range jumper in the off season, but Landry has a lot of development to go through still. Their reasonable contracts mean we can focus on a consistent PG or a complimentary guard that can slash and draw fouls to get to the FT line consistently. Maggette would do that.
Landry has 3 years to learn the game right. Remember how raw Yao was when we got him? Avg'd 13 pts a game. They said that it took big men longer to develop. 3-5 years. So I would put Landry as a semi-big man so lets say 3 years to develop and to learn all those post moves as well as to come out, cut, play defense and then to learn those dirty moves like hooking your man and pulling the chair etc.
Scola has little athleticism, and still finds way to score, rebound, and pass intelligently. You don't lose this kind of skills until your are really very old. Landry is great. But think if he ever loses his jumping ability, he will be pretty worthless. And losing athleticism is not uncommon for this business. Ask Steve Francis.
That's a good argument and as a Rockets fan I cannot dssagree with anything you said and I can only hope the play of Scola and Landry continues. However, we both know Boozer is severely under performing and he can play much much better but I am definitely not complaining. As for Scola you hit it right on the head... he can't improve too much more.. as for Landry he has a much higher upside. All I'm saying is I am satisfied with Landry + Scola but if I could have Brand and Scola I'd be happier. If I can have Brand and Landry I'd also be happy. Worst case scenario if we had to trade both and it was Brand and ??? That ??? would easily fill the void left by Scola and or Landry if Brand was on board.
Was this board ready to throw Yao under the bus when he was a rookie? 13 ppg? Butterfingers? Getting stripped all the time? Landry has to be given time to develop.
I don't think anybody is throwing Landry under the bus by any means. If anything he has gotten much love from this board.
Pretty much sums it up, but you forgot heart....I like swift at first, but he was all 4 of the Wizard of Oz characters..... He was Dorthy (Lost on the court), The Scarecrow ( No brains) , The tin man (No Heart) and the lion ( no nutz...I mean no courage).....all wrapped up in one player
yeah i have a pretty good idea why you are saying that. but you are wrong. we should definitely keep them both. the only position we need to be concerned about is starting pg.
