Is every player on the Rockets below average defensively?

I welcome you as the 2nd person who has vocalized they want CJ at the 15th spot. Even with Ming and Eddie's shotblocking, this team is still bad defensively. When either of those big men come to help out, that leaves the opposing 4 or 5 wide open. NBA coaches will exploit that weakness and it will be the team's achilles' heal. IMO a perimeter stopper is an absolute must. Give me CJ even if Nachbar's there at 15.

 

Dream and Mad Max knew exactly how to feed off each other. With Dream in the middle, Max was able to to play tenacious D on the perimiter because he knew if he got beat, all he had to do was somehow channell the player towards Dream and Dream would either block or alter the shot.

 

The 2001-02 Rockets were, quite possibly, the worst defensive team ever to play the game. Only their insanely slow pace, and the generally slower pace of today's NBA game prevented Houston's opponents from averaging above 120 ppg.

Well, that might be a stretch, but you get the idea. Only Eddie Griffin showed a hint of defensive intensity. The rest of the Rockets didn't seem to care much.

The Rockets need all the help they can get on the other side of the floor. Still, I would rather the Rockets drafted overall talent than defensive specialists. Rudy just needs to enforce the idea that defense is key. The Rockets also need a few playoff disappointments before it will finally sink in. When it does, look for a title to return to Houston.

 

Simply put, yup

 

Great post. If only that weren't the case.

 

Cato, Mobley, Thomas, Griffin, Torres, Willis and Morris could all probably be considered average->above average defenders. Francis, Norris, Brown, Williams, and Rice, are all well below average. Collier and Langhi I have not seen or heard enough about to comment. Taylor did not play the entire season, so the question of his current defensive prowess is not answerable by anyone outside of the Rockets organization.

 

Shrewd observation. Shoring up the defense is way overdue. Yes, CJ might be a better (best) pick at # 15. Ever notice how the fan mail drifts downward. 45 days ago, the sophomore from the JC in Mississippi could run for Mayor. Then the guy from Connecticut was pops. Now you the man of the moment because you got the best idea for improving this team outside drafting Ming anyone posted for sometime. Ever thought of coaching? Scouting perhaps?

 

Absolutely, the backcourt needs a defensive stopper, but I'd prefer Jiri Welsch over Chris Jeffries with the 15th.

 

In answer to your question, yes.

In answer to your Chris Jeffries point, I had a thread, maybe 3 4 weeks a go, wherein I stated that, Ming being a given, Chris Jeffires is exactly what we need...a defensive perimiter player, of which we have none, and a guy that doesn't need the ball, but fills the lanes and finishes on breaks..With Ming presumed to be in for a defensive adjustment, the last thing we need is this crew of matadors freeing the lanes for players to drive on him , get him in early foul trouble, and r****d his development. This guy is an an unselfish team player, who, when combined with T-Mo, gives us all we want out of the 3 for the next decade with a team built around Ming, Griff, Mobes and the Franchise...

 

Bruce Bowen (player option) would be a nice fit ... however you'll hardly be the only team interested in him ...

 

You could argue that, individually, the Rockets aren't exactly strong defenders.

But then again, Boston doesn't have a lot of strong defenders on their roster, yet they were one of the better defensive teams in the league.

Why? They made a team committment to playing defense.

I've written this before in support of drafting Ming, there is no one player that will solve the Rockets' deficiencies, their weaknesses are team related.

Some of the Rockets' leaders comment about wanting guys who can help now, but the reality is that, much like the Celtics, the team has to decide that they want to take the next step and realize that means correcting their TEAM concepts.

I mean, you could build a time machine,
Go back to 1964,
Drug, kindnap, & brainwash Bill Russell,
Bring him back to the present,
Slip him into a Rockets' jersey,
Start him at PF,

....and the Rockets' would still be one of the league's worst defensive teams, especially if the perimeter players aren't trying to stop penetration, and the C is sleep-walking his way through yet another game.

 

EXACTLY! - AMEN! I mentioned this myself in a post talking about Ming and how you should not necessarily compare what happened to the Mavs this year with LaFrentz/Nowitzski in the post and what the Rockets may have with Ming and Griffin in the post in the future.

It is all about the TEAM game. Dallas will learn. It took a few years and the Kings are almost there! The TEAM as a whole has to play better, make adjustments.

Heck, how can a team play GREAT "TEAM" defense when the players are in and out of the line-up as much as they were this year! There has to be communication, practice and overall a philosophy that they are going to put the nose to the grindstone and dig deep to play hard defense.

Hopefully with everyone healthy and a solid training camp they can work hard on these concepts and in a future years as this team stays together, matures and understands their roles they will be at a point where their TEAM defense is playing at a level where it can propel them to the championship!

These players are young. Give them time to mature together as a unit and we can reep some big dividends.

Chris

 

Stoudemire at #15 would be worth the risk. He could be groomed to be Cato's replacement in 3/4 years. I project Stoudemire to develop into a 4/5. A future low post rotation of Yoa/Stoudemire/Griffin would be very solid indeed.

My preference for improving the wing defense would be through FA, so the Rocks would be getting a known NBA quantity. TMo may become that type of player, but right now I see TMo as the first 3 off the bench on a playoff caliber team.

If Stoudemire is off the board by the 15th pick, Chris Jefferies would be a worthwhile option, except that CJ can be had with a lower pick methinks. The Rocks could consider trading down with a playoff team with a pick in the 20s, maybe also getting that team's next year first round pick (lotto guarded) which in turn could be given to Memphis next year. Similarly, the Rocks might be able to swing a Collier + #15 for a probable, next year late first round pick + defensive swingman (like Ron Artest?).

 

I agree defense is the #1 problem with the team. But I think Ming and EG's pregression should help but we need more (to me preferably a 3 with adequate quickness, strength, length and not unimportant, ethic to play hard defense).

However a 2 or 3 that is great defensively but who is offensively inept doesn't really help a team that much (Bowen, Augman, Patterson)--which is why such guys are journeymen.

However, if you can get a 2/3 that is good (but maybe not great) defensively but keeps the other team honest defensively that makes a much more valuable player. That is why guys like Fox, Christie, A. McKie or Artest are much more valuable IMO.

If we feel Chris Jeffries is good enough offensively (notch better than TMo for sure) to keep the other team honest then he might be a good choice.

 

You wouldn't have to drug, brainwash or kidnap 1964 Bill Russell if you just told him what the salaries are like in 2002.

 

Chris Jeffries has some offensive moves and is able to create. He doesn't hit the outside jumper at a high percentage but without being double teamed that should improve. This guy is a poor man's Marion. Keep in mind CJ has some serious hops, passes well and has solid court vision.

 

While I generally agree that the Rocks have some defensive problems, I can't imagine the Rockets will use the 15th pick for a raw HS'er.

1st round picks have guaranteed contracts and I just don't see them waiting (and paying) for Stoudemire to develop when they want to win sooner not later. Memphis has a longer time line than the Rockets to make the playoffs and it wouldn't surprise me if they took Stoudemire from the Rocks for the release of next years #1. Darth?

The raw inside talent of Stoudemire (who is also a Floridian) may have some interest to the Magic who have a boatload of 1st rounders next year. Swapping Stoudemire for a guaranteed top 20 pick from Orlando next year means that even if the wheels fall off the cart and we have to give Memphis our pick, we still have a 1st rounder.

IMHO, the first option will be to package the pick to move up or down for some established vet help. Unfortunately, their level of defensive ability may not be a consideration.

The Rockets currently have 10 players contracted for 2002-2003 and Yao makes 11. Add the MCE and Torres and the Rocks have 13. Is there truly someone who will be available at #15 that is of more value to the Rockets than the vet MCE player or Torres to get them to commit to a 14th contract?