I hope your hopes and dreams come true, but in the process can you not jinx us lol i got high hopes for this season too esp. in the playoffs.
Man, can you guys imagine how much better we would be if Mike James would play like Mike and play 20-25 solid minutes or more like he did his first stint. I think Brooks will be a very solid player but his confidence is probably really low right now considering his shot is off. I know James is shooting worse than him but if Brooks continues to shoot poorly from long range then I don't see why we shouldn't try out Mike for 15-20 to see if he can get hot. There is no way he is that over the hill. If he gets another chance I hope he makes the most of it because it could make us that much more dangerous, especially in the playoffs.
I would love to see TMac at point for short periods during games, but playing point for extended period of times may wear down TMac. I would like Mike James to play like he did for us in his first stint. He was more point than Head which made it possible for him to both create and shot.
Not to undersell the importance of chemistry but I still think this team is missing something. For that reason i'd be willing to risk our chemistry and momentum right now to make a roster tweak or two as opposed to standing pat. I don't want to see us make the playoffs again then fall short because of one or two weaknesses that we overlooked. It's happened in the past, particularly last year, so let's not make a habit of it.
Pretty much. I've stated before that my #1 fear with this team is that Adelman is content with playing Rafer 40+ the rest of the way. Rafer is a good player but he simply can't handle that load and understandably so. I don't trust Brooks yet. He's a player that I like a lot but I simply can't trust him this early especially with how terrible he's been lately. Francis is done. Mike James is in the doghouse. One of the weaknesses that I was alluding to is fairly obvious.
Everybody's so caught up in just making the playoffs right now that the question of actually getting past the first round is being ignored. So far as making the playoffs, for the Rockets that's a "been there, done that". The question is can the Rockets as currently formulated get past the first round?
Every rotation player save Aaron Brooks is averaging 7+ppg. Only 3 are 10+ but that stability that any one of the players in the rotation can step up and give you 15-20 points on any night will really prove useful during the play-offs. You dont have to rely on Yao and T-Mac and hope someone else steps up. Now you get multiple players stepping up, even with T-mac or Yao having subpar games. I really think that barring an injury the Rockets can win a first round series, against anyone.
I think its a good idea to have T-Mac run the point only in spurts because it would affect his stamina at the end of games....I think our team is ok if the chemistry is coming together but I do believe we need a better long distance shooter.....We had alot of open three point shots last night but the shooter couldn't shoot straight....Aaron Brooks 1 for 8 from the three point line???
I like the chemistry so far, but with the current roster and some of the moves other teams had made I have to agree with you about the rockets needing a second PG. Brooks is a rookie that's going to make mistakes especially come playoff time when every possession counts, teams will double off Rafer and make life much harder for Yao and T-Mac to operate. A coach would have to be out of his mind to not double off of Rafer in a 7 game series. Outside of that I really like the team, but they need to make a bold move for a PG with some playoff experience. I would do backflips for Sam Cassell even at his age. It's a shame that Mike James has not worked out.
Badgerfan, your exactly right. Do the rockets have the current assets and chemistry to get past the 1st round?
Chemistry is good, but u better have good players. U better have guys that can make plays regardless of the other team. When Lebron went off against detroit last playoff game 5, what chemistry was that? That's why this team needs tracy. There will be times in the game where individual talent trumps everything. Players make plays, not systems.
And it is when individually uniquely talented players buy into team play that the championships are won. It happened with Jordan, it happened with Dream, neither won squat until they started trusting their teamates. DD
I just we're missing a couple players that can ake this team better. I think counting on 3 rookies in the playoffs is asking too much. I'm not saying we need great players, but supplementing this roster should be explored. Let me give u 2 names, jaric and tim thomas. Are they great players? No, but they're both versitile veterans that can give the coach options. Jaric is a 6'7 pg that can backup rafer,tracy, and shane.Thomas is a 6'10 big guy that can shoot off the dribble,post,slash and play the 3 or 4. Both guys make mle so it wouldn't take a lot to get these guys. I don't think u would have to give up anyone other than bonzi,james,francis,hayes and maybe a 2nd rd pick. Styles make fights and right now I don't think the rox matchup with everyone. A few tweaks and I think they could.
