Houston Vipers?

Hiring D'Antoni and signing pure shooters in lieu of what they lacked last season, defense, means RGV experiment is finally going to market. Rockets will either live or die with the run and gun system.

Vipers have been been breaking pace records in D League for years now. Sixers led NBA in pace last season under D'Antoni but to less than stellar results, much less. But Sixers were a mixed bag of top 5 bigs surrounded by ex-Viper shooters. They lacked a point like Nash, Magic, etc. They also lacked the versatile role players who could handle, shoot AND defend.

Rockets have their ball handling/scoring star, i.e. Bob Cousy, Magic Johnson, Bo Kimble, Steve Nash, Steph Curry in James Harden.

Rockets currently lack the trigger for their fast break offense, a big that can control the boards and fire off the outlet pass or lead the break himself. Can't score without possessions. And this player also has to have ability score near the rim. The most successful run and gun offenses that Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Hank Gathers, Draymond Green.

Options: Nerlens Noel, Aaron Gordon, Larry Sanders, Javale McGee

The best Run and Gun teams could also pressure the ball. This may be an even bigger need for the Rockets than a rebounding big. Rockets need role players with diverse skill sets instead of specialists.

Options: Eric Bledsoe, Lance Stephenson, Harrison Barnes, Josh Smith,

And finally, Rockets need to speed up their tempo even more which requires every player to be in the best shape of their careers, and more. The run and gun is meant to generate more possessions AND to take the legs out of opposing teams, just take their will to compete utterly away from them in the 4th quarter. Rockets need players who are in exemplary condition and are familiar and comfortable, if not successful, in this system. Players like:

Harrison Barnes, Robert Covington, Andrew Goudelock, Corey Brewer, Montrezl Harrell, Raphiael Putney, Troy Daniels

Rotation will also have to be 10-12 deep, maybe a full 15 deep in first regular season that system implemented. May also want to bring in a couple of run and gun gurus to assist D'Antoni. Coaches like Westhead, Nurse, Carlissimo.

 

Not comparing in terms of talent but in terms of roles. Bigs in this system need to rebound, outlet, finish and run like hell. Sanders and McGee are knuckleheads, like Whiteside, but there is no doubting they have above rim athleticism and ability to run.

 

Ekpe Udoh is another option at 5, wants to return to NBA.