To building something, you have have a foundation or cornerstone to support it. In the NBA that foundation/cornerstone is a superstar/franchise player. The Rockets do not have one at all, so they are NOT rebuilding. The Rockets have a foundation that is cracked because it was put down on weak soil surrounding an previously unknown fault line. Right now they are stripping and refinishing rooms and floors of the building because there is no other location/foundation within our price range to rebuild on or because they are too stubborn to realize that they now have a money pit they need to give up on. Since I still believe in Morey, I still think they are thinking along the first train of thought but who knows.
When Adelman's teams work, he creates a system around a great or semi great player. People seem to forget that his Blazers were designed to maximize Drexler, and that his Kings were designed to maximized Webber. Without either of those players, neither team was much of anything and even with those players, neither team won a title. The whole "using motion" and finding cutters is nothing new or unique to Adelman. However, the Rockets have no one to put their system around right now. And no, Martin is not the answer, he is no where near Reggie Miller or Ray Allen's level.
There is no "answer" in Adelman's system. Martin is a part of the solution, however. An extremely efficient scorer who gets his points on a minimal amount of shots. Put three guys like that together and surround them with other guys that can D and pass and finish and you've got a tough, tough team to beat.
This mindset is the current problem with the Rockets organization and fans. I have been a diehard Rockets fan for 15 years, but I in no way whatever want to have a "tough, tough team to beat". I'm sorry but who has that as a goal for a team? A title-worthy team? A championship-winning team is not labeled as "a tough out" or "a tough team to beat". That is the title for the underdogs, the David's, and the roadblocks that title teams overcome. I want the Rockets to eventually be a team that expects to win every game, not a team that expects to give other teams a challenge to win. That is the attitude you have as a team when you KNOW that you are not a title team. That is not the Heart of a Champion. It is where the Rockets are right now. It is the starting point. Is is not a goal, nor should it ever be a long-term goal for these players or this organization.
Tough, tough teams to beat are ............ the Spurs, the Lakers, the Celtics, and the Heat. I think we're saying the same thing.
Yeah, I think our goals are the same thing. Though, the way I see those teams, is that while they are tough to beat, they win & close out games. That second aspect is what makes them title contenders and separates them from the Magic, Bulls, Jazz, Hornets, Mavericks, Nuggets, etc. They become the aggressor and take control. The Rockets, when healthy (talking Hayes & Brooks not Yao), have shown they are tough to beat, but in no way have shown that second trait, and I just do not believe that the method you are advocating helps the team develop that well, Kiss of Death.
The Rockets should trade Hill, Bud, Jefferies, and Smith for D. Granger, Jones, and Stephenson. They get a young PF( Hill plays pretty well at PF. When he plays C, ???), a young, ATHLETIC, sharpshooting SF( who as two years left on his rookie contract), an expiring in Jefferies, and Smith as fillers(who is servicable). We get Granger(nothing else need be said) with Jones( we could take a look at center), and Stephenson as filler(maybe we waive him). We get an upgrade at 3 and get better for the future. We also still have pieces to move at the deadline, Yao, Brooks, Battier, Scola( yeah, I said it). I would love to get Nash and Gortat(possible) or CP3 and Okafor( highly unlikely). Moving forward you have Lowry/Brooks Martin/Lee/Twill Granger/Twill Scola/Patterson (Hayes)Miller/Jones With Pho. trade @ deadline Nash/Lowry Martin/Lee Granger/Twill Hayes/Patterson Gortat/Miller With NO tradePipe Dream!! :grin: ) Cp3/Lowry Martin/Lee Granger/Twill Hayes/Patterson Okafor/Miller Even with no other trade, we get better moving forward. We could make some signing in the offseason and draft, then look out in 2012.
Pacers say that if they do end up trading granger it wont be cheap and what ur saying we should trade for him is just not gonna cut it we would have to give up yao brooks and possibly scola but i think it will all end up being worth it and i think we should definitely give all that up for granger with some other solid players in return as well. For which having granger would attract some FA to sign with us next year
I really think the Granger stuff coming from Indiana has a lot to do with the Melo situation. Granger would be a very logical downgrade to Melo for Denver and Bird is probably trying to see if he can revamp cheap and come out financially and competitively better all at the same time.
Our vets are not building foundations,our cornerstone is wounded,our younger players aren't star material. Unless our expiring contracts and trading assets help us in a major way,they will be no choice but to rebuild by clearing cap room and through the draft.
Where not getting Granger so forget about it. Bird values him pretty high. And we don't have the pieces to get him. They'll want a top ten pick which we wont get unless we tank and that is not the option with this organization and should never be. They'll want Hill, Patterson, Budinger, Lowry and a top ten pick. That is just the start. That is a steep price to pay for Granger which Bird values him high.
Draft is a crap shoot, as is free agency. The only true way you know exactly what you are getting is through trades.
When did I post about the level of our trade assets? For free agency you need player availabilty (not really there), cap space (not there) and player willing to come (who knows?). For the draft you need an entire season of losing (not really there), luck with ping pong balls (who knows?) the right guy in the draft class (who knows?) and years to develop and build. For trades you need trade assets (we have atleast some) and availability (more and more guys available as the season goes on). Of the three, no matter how you might valuate we have, we are closest with trades.
I feel like Granger might actually be attainable considering our assets and his current struggles. This should be priority #1.
( Just thoughts ) Scola + Yoa + CBud with a pick FOR Granger + Dunleavy (It works on the trade machine) This may help both teams it would open playing time for their rookies and fill a need at the same time... FLAME SUIT ON
