Does Anyone Else Feel The Rockets Have Done Little To Improve?

Yes, make them sweat.

 

If anything, the Rockets have shown that they have a coherent plan-- to built a team that fits together while pursuing players who contribute more to the team than their market value (whether in terms of salary or what it takes to trade for them). I like this much better than the offseason plan back in Rudy's days.

They got Battier not just because "he's ready now" and "solid", there are plenty of guys who are "ready now" and "solid"--guys like Mo Pete, Maggette, etc-- but because he's one of the biggest impact players out there who don't need a lot of touches to help a team win. His personal fantasy stats are ordinary, but it's a proven fact that for years, the Grizzlies have played much better with him on the court than than they are when he sits. He also brings bonuses like his skill sets (perimeter shooting, defense) are a perfect fit to the Rockets, his salaries are more than reasonable, and he is young at 27. He makes All Star type impact while making journeyman money.

The asking price was also reasonable. Mid lotto picks don't have that much of a probability to turn into All Stars. Being a freak athelete liked by "the Logo" also do not guarantee success-- ask Troy Bell. Also, Rudy Gay wasn't going to be kept anyway. The Rockets had 5 players they would have kept had they fallen to 8th and Rudy Gay wasn't one of them. The alternative to this trade was probably a trade down to pick up Brewer or Sefolosha and adding a decent roleplayer (Dooling?) in return.

They shipped Stro off, who is mostly neutral is value and was what MEM wanted. It's not a bad thing since it clears playing time for a superior player: Chuck Hayes.

Then, they went after James because, again, he brings more to table than the typical MLE player and has proven himself a great fit with the Rockets team. MJ chose Minny over a trade kicker and probably a bigger share of the glory (probably 2nd billing next to KG, for the Rockets, he would have just been a rolepalyer). It happened, you move on.

The Snyder trade is another good value deal. He brings the size and atheleticism and shooting that was lackign in last year's team, and he costs next to nothing. Compare Snyder's personal production numbers to Morris Petersons on a per 48 minutes basis, and they are very similar. Snyder had a generally positive effect on his team when he's on the floor and made a great improvement in shooting % in his 2nd season. He's a guy who just needs an opportunity, and deserves a look. He's the young outfielder whose numbes didn't pop out at you because he was getting 300 at bats a season.

JL, Novak, Kill Bill are young guys with some potential to man the deep bench spots. They dont' cost much and could be good investments. There are gonna be guys who don't play much on your 15 man roster, you might as well take chances on these spots.

There will be more moves to come, and the Rockets still have an 8 million dollar cushion under the luxury tax threshold to make them. Having address the glaring hole in perimeter size and atheleticism while still retaining flexibility, it's been a good offseason. It's not a "bad offseason" just becaue a couple FA chose to go elsewhere... you never get all the FA you go after.

In any case, what they have now was better than the Rudy T plan of overpaying ill-fitting guys like Mo Taylor, Kelvin Cato, Matt Maloney, Brent Price, Moochie etc. I also like it more than the "trading for the latest aging superstar and have to cover the rest of the roster with subpar playrs" plan of the Barkley/Pippen days.

The team at least has some sort of blueprint going under the current regime.

The last two seasons, by the way, I think they had a vision, too, but was first disrupted by the McGrady trade (you had to make it, but it cost the team the entire starting backcourt and they had to scramble and all they could get were short term solutions Sura, Wesley, Barry, etc.) Then last offseason, the problem was Van Gundy's emotional attachment to his crew from the year before, and they all aged and the magic just didn't come back.


They are finally now correcting these mistakes.

 

The Rockets have Snyder, Lucas(likely), Vassilis and Novak. Of these four guys, at least one will pan out. Maybe two pan out and we are happy because the 2 of the 4 bottom spots on the team have panned out. Maybe 3 or all 4 will pan out. Even better. One of those four will flourish into a solid NBA player.

How do I know? I don't, but still... of 4 contracted players making millions, one should pan out.

 

you mean REALIST??

Rockets maybe make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs and JVG keeps us at that level for the next 5 years until he is finally fired and T-Mac finally breaks down completely and Yao is the only commodity we have left.

Thanks for the memories JVG!!!

 

I may begin to doubt the theory of relativity.

 

and you have the right to do so. That's why it's a "theory". it's unproven.
however JVG HAS proven to be an above average coach at best.

What happened to Badiane anyway? I thought he was developing and going to be a monster for us like 2 years ago...

 

I think we could come to the second round, at least.

 

I'm not 100% satisfied with the Rockets' offseason, but I like the overall plan of getting good players to fill roles for cheap. I'm excited about Hayes, JL3, Snyder, KillBill, and Novak, Head and Alston, but am completely sure that Battier is going to make this team much better. Our backcourt isn't the strongest, but we have a little depth and Alston can really shine with T-Mac and Yao healthy. Not to mention it's Head's second year and he's bound to improve some. If we add another good roleplayer at PG/SG and a long, tall PF/C I will be satisfied.

As everyone has already noted, the real key is keeping T-Mac and Yao (and Battier) healthy. Those are our teams biggest assets, and as long as they are starting most games... we should get 55-60 wins. I think we have a great shot at the finals, and I expect we'll at least make the 2nd round of the playoffs.

 

Nothing is guaranteed in the Western Conference. A very good Spurs team lost in the 2nd round this year after being the top seed. Does that mean Pop can't coach or Duncan/Parker/Ginobili suck? Hardly.

I just want the team to have their personnell ready for war when the time comes.

 

Nice spin.

 

I think the Rockets have gone out and gotten guys who have the tools to succeed in various roles. Snyder brings athletism and aggressiveness to the 2/3. Battier brings consistancy and extreme versatility to a team lacking in both last year. Lucas III if signed, hopefully brings game changing speed when the matchups prove favorable. Novak will only really see spot duty at best but atleast can lean on his shooting as a way to contribute when called upon. VSpan probaly won't contribute as much as alot of people might think, but he should see playing time in spots, sometimes simply having a different game then the usual is enough to be effective.

Head and Hayes will be back a year older and a year wiser. Head has shown he's willing to take big shots and he should see plenty of chances between Tracy and Yaos double teams. Hayes has shown that he can contribute much without the ball, if he can cut down on the fouls he should be able to contribute even more.

The rockets have some good pieces, and theres alot of time between now and the trade deadline. I don't think this team is as good as alot had hoped, but I don't think it is nearly as bad as alot insist on believing. The Heat won a championship this year without a bonafide third option, just a bunch of castoffs and journeymen, a trade here and a signing there could go along way.

 

If Pop's team stalls at not making playoffs or first round losers year after year, that means they are mediocre. In order to make JVG earn his job, there must be checkmarks on his performance. It's the same logic that Mr.Gundy uses on the rookies, if you beat other players in practice, you will get court time and your next contract.

 

.... James Posey- ex-rocket we should've kept, Gary Payton (old but still good), Antoine Walker (hate him but still good), Jason Williams (proven to be a scorer), Alonzo Mourning (surprised everyone with monster contributions).

It looks like a fairly stacked team to me. compare it to the Rockets roster..
We can compete at small forward and center. THAT'S IT.

 

Of course, that's why his contract is guarantee for just one more season. Les Alexander has a decision to make after next year.

 

Jason Williams and Gary Payton? Are you kidding, they won inspite of having them not because of them. I will agree 'Toine played under control and did alot of the small things that he hasn't done the rest of his career, and Zo played alot better then Shaq did for some stretches.

 

Without a doubt. Little has been done this offseason.

I actually like the VSpan thing, but he is just a piece and probably will not really contribute for a long time.

Lucas is too small to help. Summer league is one thing. NBA games are another.

Chuck Hayes is a bencher on every other team and probably will de-value himself this season. Two years 9as soon as his sweet rockets deal runs out) and he will be out of the league.

Battier is ok. Just ok. A nice role player but nothing more.

From the way it looks right now, Rockets will fight harder this year but with below average NBA players. Moral victories are great but they don't win championships.

My prediction = Heads (JVG and crew) will roll before Christmas. And that is unfortunate but likely will happen because of the Rockets inability to "finish" in the front office.

Seems that the Rockets have a bad rap with players throughout the league. Hard to get "players" if you can't convince them to come.

 

You points are sound - I cannot really fault them especially considering last season and how excited we were thing that the parts we added were top notch.

We ended being disappointed in large part because we overrated our acquisations. So it is fair to look at things now and not be excited. But there is a little reason for excitement other than Yao, Mac and Shane; Rafer is a key player that did not play as well as he is capable for a couple of reasons or more. With one year under his belt and with health on his side, he will likely be the toat of the town when the team starts going well because how good I believe he is and how vital he is to or fortunes.

 

you want to talk about improvement? putting aside rookies and free agents, by himself yao ming has the ability to make the rockets better then any one player or even combination of players we could have possibly gotten this offseason. he is in a position where he could be AMAZING next season. yao was one of the ten best players(maybe 5) post all-star break last year, and with his work ethic and desire to be great, all the signs point to that just being the start of his road to superstardom. we are extremely lucky to have him. that's not even mentioning getting tracy mcgrady healthy. those are improvements 1 and 1A.

funny thing is that this thread or something similar would never have been made had we drafted rudy gay. but what's the difference? shane battier in fact is a better bet to make an immediate improvment on this team then rudy gay going into 06-07. i love what shane battier brings to this team and i love that chuck hayes will be getting stromile swift's minutes. that's two big improvements right there.

this team isn't sitting around on it's hands. you may or may not agree with the plan, but looking at the roster and factoring in yao's development/hopefully mcgrady's good health, and i'm still very excited.

 

i'm not even sure Battier will contribute significantly.

is this just me?

 

i sure hope you're the only one. he's been a difference maker every year in his career and he's about to enter his "prime." i'd say it's more likely he's even more then a significant contributor.