[Chron] Unofficial scorer: Artest might not be enough for Rockets

That team sold off every role player to get Clyde and Chuck. This team kept it's core and got a star in his prime instead of a broken down one.

 

The teams that wanted Artest wanted both O & D.

He was a "chucker" under Theus because the Kings had numerous injuries to rotational players including Kevin Martin, Brad Miller and Udrih as well as the trading of Bibby. Artest led the Adelman Kings in assists per game.

Artest gives the Rockets a (rare) player who can run the floor on a break and finish strong.

 

This seems to be the only post that I have read so far on the board that somewhat agrees with how I expect Battier's playing time, etc. to be this year. We are in 100% agreement here with this whole post.

 

I understand your point here about us being a slow pace team, but I think that changed slightly last year and will change even more dramatically this year, the second year under Adelman. Adelman was brought here to WIN first and foremost, but part of that was to bring a better and more exciting offensive balance to the team. If he was correct in saying that he had hardly implemented any of his offense last year, then we should expect to see a more fluid movement based offense this year, verses the pound it into Yao with Tmac going one on one that we have seen over the last few years.

I think Yao will run more and move more with the team this year and in return Adelman will play him less minutes (my prediction around 32 mpg) to accomodate for conditioning at his height. This will also hopefully allow him to stay healthy and more fresh for the playoffs because of logging less minutes.

One of the great things about the Artest trade, is that Artest has played for Adelman already and has some understanding of his system. But also, he loved playing for him so is willing to do more of what Adelman requests of him offensively and defensively. So I don't expect to see Artest being a ball stopper and slowing down the offense if Adelman asks him to be active and stay on the move.

Personally, I think we average over 100 pts per game this year! What an amazing feat that would/will be!

 

I would prefer to call you a realist.

 

Excellent points and post. I think most people forget about that Artest, which is the most relevant since he will be playing under coach Adelman again.

 

Last year's averages:

Ron Artest:
Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
07-08 SAC 57 54 38.1 0.453 0.380 0.719 1.8 4.0 5.8 3.5 2.3 0.7 2.60 2.80 20.5

Tracy McGrady:
Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
07-08 HOU 66 62 37.0 0.419 0.292 0.684 0.6 4.5 5.1 5.9 1.0 0.4 2.42 1.40 21.6

Yao Ming:
Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
07-08 HOU 55 55 37.2 0.507 0.000 0.850 3.1 7.7 10.8 2.3 0.4 2.0 3.33 3.10 22.0

With last year's averages, that's 20.5 plus 21.6 plus 22.0 ppg for a total of 62.1 ppg.

Granted I gave them higher averages total (64ppg: 18, 24 and 22 respectfully) in my prediction because I think they will be more efficient with all of them starting, but what do you think they will avergage each to get down to only 55 ppg?

 

I think between 50 and 60 per game is pretty well spot on for the "big three". I look at Boston who we'll likely play a similar style as far as tempo goes, no one scored over twenty a game in the regular season. If we are more efficient offensively then it will because those guys are creating easy opportunities for the role players. I look for T-Mac's scoring to down and his assist to come up, Yao will likely stay the same or close to it since he is the most efficient option on offense, and Ron Ron to go down as well since his job will be to do whatever is needed to win every night.

 

Artest worked fine in Adelman's offense in Sacramento. He averaged a career high 4.2 assists, basically an assist better per game than usual.

 

Finally someone agrees with me! Really tired of seeing these lame **s rocket fans thinking yao and tmac will average 20+ again once the big three is formed. Garnnet, allen, pierce, alll averaged less than 20 throughout the season with ray only averaging 12ppg, piere 18ppg garnnet 19 ppg...
Having fantasies isn't a bad thing, just please don't go overboard. O and this team willl never average over 95 ppg if we wannna play defense.

 

Wow. Same article *different headline*. That is pathetic work on that part of the Chronicle to stoop so low.

 

I think 55 ppg for the "big three" is about what we will be looking at... I think with this team yes we are going to be more efficient but you also have to realize that there are only soo many possesions in a game and the way the rockets play, which is primarily in the half court, you aren't going to see a huge jump in team points scored every night. Last year to be in the top ten in scoring, a team would have to average over 100 points a game. The Rockets averaged 96 last year. I think a 4 point increase in average is acheivable with this team however I don't see them being like the warriors and scoring 111 a game. I also don't see the big three putting up 64 ppg. We have so much depth on our team that I think the offense will be a fairly balanced attack. With everyone getting their fair amount of opportunities and touches. You have to take into consideration that Scola is going to put up around 10 a game atleast plus Rafer, Landry, Barry, Battier, and those guys. IMO you can expect the rockets to score around 100 a game. That's a 4 point increase from last year which is realistic. To see like a 10 ppg increase i think is shooting for the stars.

 

hahaha, you can't just simply ADD up the ppgs man.

Ex.

If Head plays the first game and explodes a 30 point game. But injured and out for the season. He still averages 30ppg but it does NOT mean that he scores 82games*30points = 2460 points for our team. The team plays 82 games but not every player. See it?

Ex. 2

If head plays one game and got 30 pts then injured for the season.
hayes plays one game and somehow got 30 pts then injured for season
landry got 30 pts and then injured for season
tmac and the rest of the players forget what basketball is and all avgs 5ppg.
Our ppg (according to you) is: 30+30+30+5*10(just say 10) = 140ppg! awesome

but in fact, we just played 3 great games and sucked 79. our actual ppg ~= 5*10 = 50ppg....not so great isn't it....

 

Last year...our top 3 scorers (Yao 22ppg, Tmac 21.6ppg, and Alston 13.1ppg) averaged a total of 56.7ppg. So you are telling me with a straight face that Yao, Tmac and Artest as our big 3 will average less? Enough said!

 

Good point, even before Yao got injured they were averaging about 56 pts a game. Some might say Rafer only averaged 13.1 ppg, because of Yao's injury. Rafer averaged 12 pts before the all-star break. That's only 1 pt less with Yao around. Rafer isn't nearly the offensive player that Artest is.

 

I know. I hate it when I read something and I learn nothing. That is 3 minutes of my life gone without a purpose. Thanks chron!

 

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who sees it.

 

Another article in which the intent is to be provocative more than relevant. I mean, c'mon. It's sad but a common and prevailing tactic nowadays.

 

106ppg is the worst case scenario? i wish.

i'd say that tmac wont see a 2 point increase in scoring. additionally, scola and battier will probably take a hit in their ppg.

i'd guess a bit lower:

Yao 21ppg
T-Mac 19ppg
Artest 14ppg
Scola 10ppg
Rafer 9ppg
Landry 8ppg
Battier 7ppg
Brooks 5ppg
Barry 5ppg
-----------
98 ppg

 

With our D, if we score anywhere from 98-100 ppg we'll be golden.