except bonzi, i didn't really see much improvement from last season. yes, we scored a lot, but it came from the new system, fast pace. it gives us more possessions per 48 min. well, we also let opponents to gain possessions too. last 3 preseason games shows we did improve a marginal higher % shooting but our defense was not at the par where we were last season. starting rafer is another indicator we didn't improve at least at pg position. if he is our starting pg for all season, tmac will take a lot of actions instead of being promised he is going to have an easy season. scola displayed some fundamental skills in preseason games but it will take a little time for us to really feel his presence. hope so. yao didn't do a lot of low post moves. he spent more time in elbow area. the reason might be a that ra wanted to experiece yao more at high post with other players. i hope yao will get back to what his strenght is.
You can't base improvement off of 5 preseason games and only a few weeks of practice in a new system and you haven't played 1 regular season game that counts. Time will tell when the season get's cooking, until then everything is zero -zero.
Rafer for a few minutes is good, Rafer for 40 mPG not good Rafer as a 5th Option Good, Rafer as the 3rd Option Bad Bonzi - upgrade Scola - upgrade James - upgrade Fransis - insurance and upgrade AB0 - insurance and future Landry - insurance anf future with out loosing Yao, T-Mac, Battier, Hayes, Head, and resining Mutombo. I said yes Houston upgrade big time. Last year weekness - PG and Back Up - Fix with a bunch of PG PF - Fix a borderline start in Scola and a insurance in Landry Better Athletes - Fix Player that can create - Fix
Never been so excited since Hakeem and Sampson play on the same team. like daddy cool have said, you can't expect the upgrade to mold after 5 preseason game. Most interesting part about this team is that , they have a reliable second unit coming off the bench and players that can contribute in multiple position. My prediction, it will be a crappy first 5 to 10 game and after that, they will be cruising, Baby!!!!
Yes, much better depth, and I expect new starters at PF and PG, once other players adjust to the new team and system. But, I expect us to NOT be as good for the next month or two as last year. I'm hoping they hit stride as the year progresses, and able to kick some butt toward the playoffs.
I think we got beat by Utah last season because of lack of depth ...not our starting lineup. We got into trouble when our entire starting line-up was playing 40+ mpg. Guys like Rafer and Juwan are decent enough players ...at 20-25mpg. But we were in big trouble when we didn't have the ability to sit them down. Plus playing Yao and TMac too many minutes also hurt us. TMac admitted he was exhausted in the 4th quarter of game 7. This year, Rafer might be our starter but damn sure won't play 35mpg this time around. Tmac will get more rest with Bonzi and Mike James on board. Still worried about Yao's minutes. We need another servicable big man. That is why I'm in favor of picking up JHow for the vets minimum, if we can work out a number of details. I'd rather have a mobile 7 footer ...but I'd also like $1 million dollars in my checking account.
wait atleast till 3 weeks into the regular season to make this assumption. others have beat me to it, but you can not judge hardly anything on the preseason games.
i had same excitement until the last preseason game vs spurs. we may be able to get out first round with our improved backups. but that's ya'll look for?
Heck yes we improved a LOT...especially the bench in both players and coaching. This team will gel nicely......give it some time. DD
R U kidding me? 2006-2007 Team Yao Ming Chuck Hayes Shane Battier Tracy McGrady Rafer Alston __________ Luther Head Dikembe Mutombo Juwan Howard Kirk Snyder John Lucas III Vassillis Spanoullis Jake Tsakalidas __________ Bonzi Wells Bob Sura Steve Novak 2007-2008 Team Yao Ming Chuck Hayes Shane Battier Tracy McGrady Rafer Alston __________ Luis Scola Bonzi Wells Mike James Luther Head Steve Francis Dikembe Mutombo Kirk Snyder __________ Aaron Brooks Carl Landry Steve Novak That is a HUGE turnaround, just look at how the remaining players from last year have moved down the depth chart
"Gelling nicely" may involve hanging around .500 until February. I originally thought the Rockets would dominate but I was disabused of that notion in preseason. Yao at the high post is a failed plan, and now they'll have to readjust the offense. SF might cause problems not playing, and even Mike James and Bonzi might cause problems. I predicted 51 wins, but if we win a playoff round I'd call the season a success.
