Hey, I am just like everyone else. I would LOVE to have better shooting on the Rockets! Don't get me wrong, that is huge. However, I really feel one of the most undervalued aspect this team is missing is just what was said above and that is guys that are good SLASHERS and even guys that put the ball on the floor and create shots for themselves or others (via dribble penetration in the lane sucking in the defenses). The problem is, we TRIED to put "shooters" on this team, (Barry, Wesley, Frahm, Padgett etc) and had some success and some not so good success. If their shots dont fall, then what? Clearly when Yao and Tmac are on the floor the shooters are helpful...if they are hitting. But we need more BALANCE. We need players that can do multiple things. Versistility. Players that can attack the basket, cause havoc. Players that can take advantage of the way the rules are being called today with not allowing the hand checking and favoring the quickness on the perimeter. That's why I mentioned drafting Ronnie Brewer AND signing Mike James. James gives us a 3rd scorer. Someone that can create his own shot and shots for others. Defense and quickness. Brewer is someone that can play lock down defense, rebound, create shots for others and himself and can slash to the basket. The idea is to add more quality STARTERS to the Rockets team. Guys that can do multiple things. And this is even MORE underscored if Tmac or Yao are either hurt (god forbid) or in foul trouble. If you only have one of those guys on the floor, this team shouldnt fall apart. We need guys that can step up and make plays and that's why a 3rd scorer is so important (James) or another playmaker (Brewer) is important to help create easier opportunities for others and himself.
Deuce, come on man, all of those guys were near the end of their careers and their best years were behind them, in some cases, WELL behind them. That is the problem, instead of building with young legs, and talent the Rockets tried to put a band aid on the team, and that results in broken down players. It was no freak of nature that Barry, Wesley and Frahm all got injured.....the only one close to his prime is Frahm, the other 2 are on their last legs. The Rockets need someone who can shoot who has young, fresh legs. DD
Where these guys are pegged to go really is anyone's guess at this point, but I would think if we're going to take Brewer we should get more out of the pick -- drop to 11 or 12 to take him there. All depends on whether the team thinks Golden State, Seattle or possibly Orlando would take him, but I'm not sure straight taking Brewer is maxing the value of the 8th pick. I'm still hoping that there will be some top 7 surprises. Say the "Shelden Williams to Atlanta at 5" talk has some teeth, and Marcus Williams goes to Minnesota or Boston ..... and boom -- suddenly pick no. 8 has shot up in value.
That kind of stuff makes me real nervous. Do teams ever purposely give off the wrong signals to coax other teams into making bad decisions like that potentially could be? Most of the mocks I've seen have Brewer going in the top 11. If that's the guy the Rockets want, it would be a real risk dropping down.
I agree. Hopefully one of these guys will be available there at #11. I have a gut feeling that we end up with that pick. I could see a #8 and Juwan for #11 and Battie swap. What do you guys think about that?
Granted DD, the Mavs don't have a really good giant man at the 5 and that's where I believe the Rockets face their biggest dilemma in trying to resurrect themselves back into true contenders. Thanks to the new zone defense rules, other teams no longer have to to try to match up their inferior center against Yao in the half court. Instead, they can negate the physical & skills advantage he has by playing a shorter faster PF out away from the post. And if the ball does get dumped into Yao, they can easily surround him with their zone defenses. This is why I question the entire philosophy of trying to implement their low-post type of offense given the league's movement toward an uptempo offensive style that favors matchups and the creation of player mismatches based on those matchups. Now judging from your previous posts in another thread, you favor bringing JJ Redick because of his shooting ability (which I agree is far superior to anything they have on this team right now). The plan would be for him to hit the open shots when teams collapse on Yao & TMac - shots that Alston, Howard and the rest continually miss and miss badly. Where we disagree here is the assumption that this strategy is still a workable one given the trends in the league right now. Even with JJ hitting mad shots and bombing away, I don't see other teams being forced into playing half-court basketball and thereby playing right into Yao's strength. Instead, what I see is that opposing teams will still collapse on Yao and TMac and assign a bigger faster player to guard JJ. Their philosophy will thus be that if Redick can hit 30 points with this defense and beat us, them we'll take that chance. And JJ still has to show that he can defensively handle the bigger, faster shooting guards he'll face in the league. If the Mavs go all the way this year (and it looks like they most certainly will), then the entire league will see that as a validation of their offensive system and will rush to imitate it. Where that leaves the Rockets will be anyone's guess.
Is Brewer at #8 value? Tought to say. He probably is more around the 10/11 area that you suggest. But if the Rockets really like him, then they should take him. I would hate for them to gamble and lose out on a player because they feel he isn't quite value at that spot. • I do feel that there is a serious chance the Rockets could make a deal with Orlando to move down to #11 because the Rockets might have a number of guys rated equally on their board that they would be happy with at #11. Personally, I would be scared that Brewer/Carney might be gone by then. • I do feel that there is a high probability that guys like Marcus Williams and Randy Foye jump into the top 7, maybe even Shelden Williams as you suggest. If that is the case, then you are right, there is a chance that some highly coveted guys will move down the board and our #8 pick becomes all that more valuable to us and for potential trades. Of course we wont really know until the draft actually unfolds. • I have talked a lof about wanting Brewer, but that's because the two guys I REALLY want, I dont think will be there at #8 and that's Rudy Gay and Brandon Roy. What will be interesting is if either is on the board at #5 and then perhaps the Rockets can talk to the Hawks about "trading up" to get to that spot. Who can say how the draft will unfold, there just is too much uncertainty with potential trades. Seems like a lot of teams ahead of us are talking about trying to trade their pick for a veteran.
I agree with you on the current value of that 8th pick but I don't know why a N.O. or anyone else would trade picks with the Rockets. All we have is a group of players that couldn't get the job done for us so why should another team do us a favor and take them off our hands in exchange for moving up to the 8th spot? I guess I'm not looking for other teams to bail us out here - if the Rockets are going to get better, then they will have to do it by themselves. One thing we all agree on: they need to start getting good players NOW. And if that means that if a Brewer or a Redick or anyone who is there for them to pick, then pick the best available player and move on from there. For the Rockets, the stark reality is that this draft and whatever moves they make this offseason won't be enough to vault them to contender status in their division and conference. Let's say that Dallas wins the NBA title. Now, the Rockets will find themselves playing in a division with the last TWO NBA champs plus a New Orleans team that has pulled even with them. No player they can get in this draft will be able to make enough of a difference to dig them out of the hole in which they now find themselves. That's something that will require time and effort. And by effort, I mean the making of smart decsions on finding and acquiring personnel - which for me would mark a welcome change in the way this organization operates.
I think the misconception in all of this is that the Mavs are a running team and not a half court team. The one thing we have seen during this post season is that the Mavs are very good at running and in the half court game. A contrast in strategies during the Spurs and Suns series showed that the Mavs did not feel their best chance at winning was with the same strategy against both teams. Against San Antonio they were constantly trying to run the ball and play the game at an up tempo while against the Suns they were trying to slow the game down and play much more of a Half court game. I both situations they had a great deal success. In the Mavs half court offense they may not have a dominate big man to dump the ball into but they are still moving the ball and trying to find an open man on the perimeter to hit the open shot or find a good match up that can be exploited...(Dirk being guarded one on one by Steve Nash). That is not so different than the Rockets half court philosophy. The only difference is that the Rockets start from the inside. If there is not a favorable match up for Yao then he moves the ball to hopefully find and open shooter or someone with a favorable mismatch (McGrady on just about anyone one on one). It's really not that much different than the Mavs but we would have the luxury of an additional weapon under the basket. I honestly believe you can never have to many shooters on a team. If you have someone on the outside that has to be guarded, aka Redick, due to his shooting touch then Yao will definitely benefit on the inside due to one less guy the can ignore his man to help guard Yao.
One of the best pre-Draft ideas yet! I really like it and find it to be in line with what can truly improve the Rockets with both needed scoring and quickness
Loved reading Clutch's latest NBA Draft Buzz report and the comments on Ronnie Brewer. The fact he is even more athletic than we probably realize is another feather in his cap. Let me re-state, draft Ronnie Brewer, sign Mike James. Add them to the starting lineup and let's roll! Anyone worried about Brewer's outside shooting, that's why we should also bring in James and perhaps can continue to look for other shooters off the bench. But let's not look away from Brewer because he is not a "sharp shooter". The guy is very multiskilled and I think can add to the team in a lot of other ways that can result in higher percentage shots for the team.
JVG was not at the workouts? I think he may be completely out of the draft equation, which probably also means he is on the outs if he does not get the team going this year. DD
Not necessarily the case that JVG's on the outs. He's admitted on at least 2 occasions that the draft was not his forte and that he could not comment on potential draft picks because of his lack of insight. His not being there just confirms his statements.
I SECOND THAT, IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A STENCIL FOR OUR TEAM DALLAS IS NOT THAT TEAM. WE NEED PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE LEFT OUT ON THE PERIMETER. LOOK AT OUR ROSTER FROM LAST YEAR BARRY, SURA, JAMES, PADGETT, WELSEY. THE REASON THIS ROSTER WAS HEAD AND SHOULDERS BETTER THAN THE ROSTER OF HEAD, ANDERSEN, BOGANS, JLIII, WAS THE FACT THAT ALL THE GUYS FROM LAST YEAR COULD KNOCK DOWN THE OPEN SHOT. OUR PROBLEMS ARE NOT DEFENSIVE!!! OR BALL CONTROL RELATED WE NEED SHOOTING, AND DEPTH AT SHOOTING, SO IF T-MAC HAS TO SIT FOR TWENTY GAMES WE WON'T GO INTO A FREE FALL IN THE STANDINGS.
But wouldn't you expect that he would have something to say when watching them live? He may not make the invites, but he should be part of the scrutiny... weird.
major upgrades in talent, defense, and athleticism. i've been thinking of the exact same two guys. #8 for brewer, MLE for MJ, and #32 on Novak for his size and shooting.
I agree with you on Brewer and MJ, but what would you do if Maurice Ager were still on the board at #32. According to some reports Novak did not look to good in the Orlando pre-draft camp this past weekend.
I actually sent an email to Jonathon Givony from draftexpess, and got an answer! Q: Some of us Rockets fans are entertaining the thought of having Brewer run with us as a point forward, and filling the other guard spot with a shooter like Mike James. This would give us great height and flexibility defensively. You think Brewer has what it takes to be an initiator? A: Yes. He has those kind of instincts. Quick learner too. Great fit for Houston. Doesn't mean its 100% possible, but he has seen enough of the guy to give him an accurate reading, abilty-wise.
