Good offseason moves, but can we get some guards now??

Tmacs playin the 2 our problem is at the 4. Snyder is a capable player off the bench, luther should improve. I think we're ready to go to war with what we've got right now, obviously were not serious contenders but weve got a good group. We missed out on Deshawn Stevenson, couldve added proven depth instead of that college guy we signed.

Just a thought would anyone have a problem if they braught Glenn Robinson out of retirement. He could backup Tmac and score when hes not in the game for those 8-14 minutes a night.

 

Everybody happy with our offseason moves? Ya, you have been away from clutchfans...

 

If he's able to play at the same level he did with the Spurs a year ago, then he'd be a valuable contributor.

I don't think he'd be interested, however.

 

I disagree

I think our backcourt is good enough and what we need the most is a 4

Last year I thought we lacked the most in the 4, the year we played dallas in the playoffs I thought we lacked to much in the 4 and right now I think we will lack more then ever at the 4. They need to wake up and get us some front court help.

 

Well, since you don't check the boards often, then I'll give it a go to get you up to speed.

The Battier trade was contraversial ...at best ...most hated it initially. But now that everybody has calmed down, most realize that we are a championship team ...if it were 3-on-3. TMac, Battier and Yao is 2nd to none. It is still unclear where Battier will fit, however. TMac might play 2-guard, Battier - 3 and Juwan Howard at 4. So as four starters go, it isn't a total disaster if TMac and Yao finally play to their potential.

Regarding Rafer, he is the best "pure" PG this team has seen in a decade. His assist/turnover ratio is surprisingly high relative to other PG's in the league ...he is very dependable. Rafer's big problem is hitting open 3's. Last season, due to injuries, Rafer was called upon to be more of a scorer which deflated his natural shooting %'s since he's never been in that role before. The Rockets are hoping 1 of 3 things happens this year:

1. Rafer isn't needed for scoring as much since the rest of the team will pick up the slack at which point Rafer will look GREAT since his assist/turnover ratio is actually very very respectible.

IMO, 35% chance of this happening.

2. Rafer works on his shot this offseason and makes a big improvement ...which MIGHT be possible if TMac/Yao are creating wide open shots for him or at least he gets back to his career average ...but don't hold your breath.

IMO, 25% chance of this happening.

3. Sura, VSpan or JL3 step up so big that Rafer gets benched.

IMO, 10% chance of this happening.

So by my estimation, there is a 30% chance that Rafer as our starter will be a total disaster. I'd say we need to focus on shoring up our PF position before the PG position.

So if we have a starting lineup of Rafer, TMac, Battier, Howard and Yao ...that is a starting five that could make some noise. Problem = bench.

We now have Head, Snyder, Sura, VSpan, JL3, Deke, Chuck Hayes and Steve Novak. These are all guys that MIGHT have something to offer or might not. Chances are 1 maybe 2 will turn into solid rotation guys. If 3 or 4 of them turn into diamonds in the rough, we are sure contenders. If not, the front office will need to swing a trade. I beleive we'll be in the playoffs with the current roster but we'll be weak. If we can add 1 or 2 more solid rotation players or even starters, we'll be in really good shape.

 

I'm liking JL3 as a backup and Snyder comming into the mix, not so much vspan. Like most people here say, we could upgrade at the 4.

 

Our guard positions could use an upgrade but that's our last need right now with V-SPAN, Sura, Alston, Snyder, Head, Lucas and T-MAC. I know Battier can play power forward but instead of having an average power forward I'd rather have him play at small forward and be an excellent one. We actually have too many guards I'd try packaging one of em with Juwan and get a starting caliber power forward like Kurt Thomas.

 

At this stage, all indications are that Battier will play the four, with McGrady at the three, and Snyder and Head at the two. I am not sure the season will end that way, but it will likely start that way. I think Howard can at least begin the season as a rotation player at the four and five, which leaves the biggest question mark behind Alston. I like Spanoulis and Lucas, but do not for a second they will be any more than spot players this season--neither is ready for the rotation yet. If Sura can make it back with some degree of health and contribute limited minutes, we may be fine in the backcourt, but there are a ton of questions. Rumors of using the TE on Damon Jones are out there, but who knows if/when that would happen.

Now, if Battier proves incapable of playing the four or the Snyder/Head combo can't handle the two, then I could see Howard sliding into that starting spot, but I do not think we can deal Howard AND find a decent replacement at the four unless we really luck out with the TE. The greater likelihood is to find someone like Washington who needs a four and willing to deal a combo guard for Howard plus Head. To do that, however, we would need to use the TE on a Battie or Ely who can contribute minutes at the four and five, but I am still not even sure that would cover us if Battier can't do the job.

So as far as the guards are concerned, we need to be very careful about using that TE on a guard because we likely won't be able to get combo four/five defender via trade. At this stage, I think we go into the season as is, then use the TE and possibly make another trade from there, at least unless something opens up rather quickly.

 

snyder, head, sura, alston, vspan, lucas.... you want the rockets to aquire more guards?

lets wait to see how snyder and vspan will fit. lets wait to see how rafer does with a healthy team. lets wait to see how head has improved.

 

MORE guards ??? you have to be kidding.We are currently overcrowded in the backcourt. We have more than sufficient, even though not the best.

Let's worry MORE about the front court. Deke is not the Deke of the past. Chuck Hayes is not a great back-up centre. If things happen adversely for Yao Ming (Knock on wood) during the taxing season, who should we rely on as a backup centre ?

Of course, we are still hotly debating who should be the starting 4.

Talking about MORE guards ???.....uh !!

 

What we need is a back up 4/5.

Rafer/Sura/V-Span/JL III
Snyder/Head/Azubuike
T-mac/Novak/RyBo
Battier/Hayes/Howard
Yao/Deke

 

The poster asked the right question. Yao, Battier and Tmac will make the best front court in the league, and we have depth in Howard (back-up the 4 & 5), Deke (defensive back-up 5), Hayes (physical hustle player), and can maybe get some shooting for Novak.

Even at the 4, while not a streongth, is not bad. We have Battier, Howard and Hayes to collectively work the PF spot. That gives us more flexibility and skill at that position than we have had in years, maybe since Barkley retired. Howard will back-up the 4 and 5 (share the latter with Deke).

It is are backcourt that is the big problem. Every backcourt has a major question as to whether they are starting caliber players. The player with the most talent, Snyder, has the biggest character questions and has been dropped from 2 teams for almost nothing. I think we probably go with the backcourt we got, but if Snyder, Rafer, Head, JL3, VSpan and Abuz can't cut it, which is very possible, we make a move later.

 

PG
OFFENSE
Our PG will need to penetrate and HIT THE SHOT FROM THE ELBOW
OUr guards IMO need to establish their STOP AND POP game
That will open up more opportunity
as I stated
The Spurs did not win the championship until Avory could consistantly
hit that shot
otherwise .. . team would back off and double the bigs allowing him to take it

The same will happen here
until
our PG can HIT THE 3 . .they will back off
Until they can penetrate and MAKE the lay ups . .they will back off
Until they can stop and pop . .. they will back off

The Problem with the entry passes. . .not one gave a d*mn
if Rafer shot or not .. .
So the guards would back up and front Yao
while the other team's Center was behind him
[when yao started to to take the shot no matter what . .we
got better]

Rafer's shot has to be more consistant
He can IMO defer this *IF* on the exit pass by yao . . .
He grabs it and penetrates and STOPS AND POPS
Making it so the Guards cannot make a hard rush back to him
CONSISTANTLY

Defense
Don't be a madator
and
Take some fouls for Yao sometimes

Rocket River

 

Like I said last season quit asking skip to hit the 3

let him come in a step and hit the 2 until his confidence is high

Other teams seem to step to the side of the flying defender and step in and hit the 2

Why don't the Rockets do the same?

How about this for a young lineup to throw at the Suns in scrub time?

Lucas/Vspan
Head/Snyder
Novak/ Azubuike
Hayes
Mutombo?

We let the Knicks backup - was it Butler get away somewhere else for min $'s??.....

I am hopeful. We are much more athletic than last year.

 

People in this board are due for a rude awekening when the season get started.

If this is the team we are planning to have to win "NOW", I would like to know what are we going to win? Lottery pick again?

 

See. here is what I don't understand: our current lineup is healthier, more athletic, more balanced, and equally as good from the perimeter as that 2004-2005 team. Add the fact that Yao has made significant strides and I just don't see how someone can make this suggestion.

Now, I can grant that we do not have the talent level of Dallas, San Antonio, or Phoenix just yet, but a healthy Yao and McGrady not only insure a playoff apperance, but possibly even a top-5 seed. If we can use the remaining TE well, then find the right trade during the season, this team can be pretty potent.

 

u're the exact kinda guy who juz care about big names and hav way too much emotions in putting to gether a lineup. i know u hate juwan and rafer, but they will be in our starting lineup whether u like it or not.

i think its gonna be very tough to pull off a good trade at this point.