http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/3551402.html (Edit by Admin) THE temptation is to just write off this bad night, considering Yao Ming's absence and Tracy McGrady's leaving at halftime so he could welcome every dad's favorite Christmas present, a bouncing-baby tax deduction. But it would be foolish for you, me, the Rockets — anyone — to dispel or downplay the appalling excuse for offense and dearth of consistency in every facet of the Rockets' game despite the Big Two's absence Tuesday night. Had the Rockets lost, but shot decently, then fine. Had they had some semblance of an inside presence. Some way of stopping the Utah Jazz' guards drives. Some kind of handle on the ball. Then, maybe, you could look at players like Jon Barry, Rafer Alston and Derek Anderson watching from the bench in dress code-approved suits and feel somewhat better. Then you could allow yourself to believe that with a little McGrady and a few other parts returning, then, presto, a lot of the ills will be cured. Clock's ticking But it's significant to note the date after this miserable 82-74 loss to the mediocre Utah Jazz: It's late-December going on way too late. And it's time to either write off this season as a lottery year or make a decision on Stromile Swift, David Wesley, or both. Today, the Rockets are 10-16. That's not far from last season's mark of 12-14 at the same point. But where the Rockets found camaraderie and the parts fit into place nicely a year ago, eventually finishing 51-31 and in a seven-game playoff with the Dallas Mavericks, this year it is about much more than players finding roles and fitting in. Tuesday's 28-percent second-half shooting in McGrady's absence showed just how shorthanded this team has become. Swift's sitting on the bench down the stretch said much as well, after another poor effort from the big off-season acquisition. And if you expect everything to magically get better when healthy bodies return, don't be so sure. Bob Sura likely won't come back this year. At 35, Barry likely will take two weeks at least to hit his top form, as his slow preseason would indicate. Anderson was inconsistent even before having to sit. Catalysts needed Outside of Yao, Alston might be the only injured Rocket who could offer significant and immediate help, but Alston's "day-to-day" status from a slight fracture of his right fibula has turned into an interminable wait. When you consider that Yao's toe surgery will keep him sidelined at minimum until Feb. 1, things begin getting clearer. These Rockets are on the verge of being done. Right now only two teams in the Western Conference (Sacramento and Portland) have worse records. The so-called complementary players were not producing as expected when Yao and McGrady were both healthy. Now? Unless help arrives in the form of a trade or a revelation of sorts hits Swift, McGrady could be feeling that lost, lonely feeling he had in Orlando all over again. In fact, Rockets coach Van Gundy hinted at seeing signs already, although McGrady was exceptional in every part of the game before leaving at halftime Tuesday. "You can either as a player give in and the frustration that encompasses it all or enjoy the game," Van Gundy said. "If you're Tracy McGrady and you're into your ninth year in the league and you're all excited, then all of a sudden you take an injury. Then, you take in Yao's injury. You can be very frustrated if you're him." The collective indifference and resignation toward being bad showed in previous blowout losses against Toronto and at Denver. Now, the season is pulling dangerously close to a total free-fall. Van Gundy alluded to his team not being able to, "look each other in the eye, coaches to players and players to coaches," after the Nuggets loss. The inference was clear. Everyone in the locker room realized they mailed in the effort. McGrady is expected to return in time to join the team for tonight's game at New Orleans/Oklahoma City. The club will immediately get better, of course. But it still will have to wait at least five more weeks for Yao's return, and by then it could be too late. The Rockets have looked at trade options, but the problem has been teams are lukewarm at best on Swift and, while Wesley has been mentioned, the Rockets like him. And right now he is the most experienced ball-handler. Outside of McGrady, with only aging, overmatched or underachieving players left at Van Gundy's disposal for the foreseeable future, there are only two ways this season's path can change. They either have to make a trade that brings in significant help or resign themselves to the lottery and hope for a do-over next year. It's looking more and more like it will be the latter.
Didn't think CD would have Swift on the block yet since he was the major signing this off season but from what Lopez says the Rox have dangled Swift as trade bait. Swift is a mistake and we would have been better with a front court of Scotty Padgett, JH and Baxter. Swift will be traded no later than the next off season but we only get another teams backup PF in return, too bad.
About 3 weeks or so ago, wasn't there an insider report on ClutchFans about JVG being overheard saying "Get him out of here!"? The speculation at that time was he was referring to Swift.
Please post a link to the article. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/faq.php?faq=faq_etq#faq_faq_etq_postarticle
not sure how he got the formatting so bad but here is the article in an easier to read format Rockets might miss turnaround By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle THE temptation is to just write off this bad night, considering Yao Ming's absence and Tracy McGrady's leaving at halftime so he could welcome every dad's favorite Christmas present, a bouncing-baby tax deduction. But it would be foolish for you, me, the Rockets — anyone — to dispel or downplay the appalling excuse for offense and dearth of consistency in every facet of the Rockets' game despite the Big Two's absence Tuesday night. Had the Rockets lost, but shot decently, then fine. Had they had some semblance of an inside presence. Some way of stopping the Utah Jazz' guards drives. Some kind of handle on the ball. Then, maybe, you could look at players like Jon Barry, Rafer Alston and Derek Anderson watching from the bench in dress code-approved suits and feel somewhat better. Then you could allow yourself to believe that with a little McGrady and a few other parts returning, then, presto, a lot of the ills will be cured. Clock's ticking But it's significant to note the date after this miserable 82-74 loss to the mediocre Utah Jazz: It's late-December going on way too late. And it's time to either write off this season as a lottery year or make a decision on Stromile Swift, David Wesley, or both. Today, the Rockets are 10-16. That's not far from last season's mark of 12-14 at the same point. But where the Rockets found camaraderie and the parts fit into place nicely a year ago, eventually finishing 51-31 and in a seven-game playoff with the Dallas Mavericks, this year it is about much more than players finding roles and fitting in. Tuesday's 28-percent second-half shooting in McGrady's absence showed just how shorthanded this team has become. Swift's sitting on the bench down the stretch said much as well, after another poor effort from the big off-season acquisition. And if you expect everything to magically get better when healthy bodies return, don't be so sure. Bob Sura likely won't come back this year. At 35, Barry likely will take two weeks at least to hit his top form, as his slow preseason would indicate. Anderson was inconsistent even before having to sit. Catalysts needed Outside of Yao, Alston might be the only injured Rocket who could offer significant and immediate help, but Alston's "day-to-day" status from a slight fracture of his right fibula has turned into an interminable wait. When you consider that Yao's toe surgery will keep him sidelined at minimum until Feb. 1, things begin getting clearer. These Rockets are on the verge of being done. Right now only two teams in the Western Conference (Sacramento and Portland) have worse records. The so-called complementary players were not producing as expected when Yao and McGrady were both healthy. Now? Unless help arrives in the form of a trade or a revelation of sorts hits Swift, McGrady could be feeling that lost, lonely feeling he had in Orlando all over again. In fact, Rockets coach Van Gundy hinted at seeing signs already, although McGrady was exceptional in every part of the game before leaving at halftime Tuesday. "You can either as a player give in and the frustration that encompasses it all or enjoy the game," Van Gundy said. "If you're Tracy McGrady and you're into your ninth year in the league and you're all excited, then all of a sudden you take an injury. Then, you take in Yao's injury. You can be very frustrated if you're him." The collective indifference and resignation toward being bad showed in previous blowout losses against Toronto and at Denver. Now, the season is pulling dangerously close to a total free-fall. Van Gundy alluded to his team not being able to, "look each other in the eye, coaches to players and players to coaches," after the Nuggets loss. The inference was clear. Everyone in the locker room realized they mailed in the effort. McGrady is expected to return in time to join the team for tonight's game at New Orleans/Oklahoma City. The club will immediately get better, of course. But it still will have to wait at least five more weeks for Yao's return, and by then it could be too late. The Rockets have looked at trade options, but the problem has been teams are lukewarm at best on Swift and, while Wesley has been mentioned, the Rockets like him. And right now he is the most experienced ball-handler. Outside of McGrady, with only aging, overmatched or underachieving players left at Van Gundy's disposal for the foreseeable future, there are only two ways this season's path can change. They either have to make a trade that brings in significant help or resign themselves to the lottery and hope for a do-over next year. It's looking more and more like it will be the latter.
