It's sad to accept this, but I think the current rockets team is a moderate team. The team will fight for a playoff spot this season. Most fans believe that the rockets will be a contender this season since Yao is coming back and the team was no.9 in WC last season. But, I don't think so. Things won't be that simple. Every WC team is improving, and the rockets' defense is declining since Ariza is traded and Battier is aging. For Yao, the task for him is recovering from the injury. If you think this season he could be as dominant as he was before, you are delusional. And, the current rockets team lacks a star player who can lead the team to a higher level. I think if Morey couldn't trade for a star player in near future, the rockets should decide to rebuild. They try to get a top 3 pick to build around.
No, this current team if Yao is healthy is a top 2 or 3 team in the Western Confernce, and if things break right a potential championship contender. DD
First time I've seen the word 'moderate' used in such a way... Anyway, we were 42-40 last year, or what I'm assuming you meant by 'moderate'. So if you think we haven't improved from last season, then we'll just agree to disagree on this point. Kind of weird considering you feel that all other WC teams have improved. Personally, I'd rank adding the likes of Harrington, Chandler, Splitter, Turgolu while losing Amare, etc. to be minuscule improvements compared to getting Kevin Martin and Yao. But that's just me.
You should never try to get a top 3 pick unless you mean trade up in the draft. As far as the Rockets it's obvious that it just depends on the health of Yao Ming which at this point is scary. We have the necessary players built around Yao to contend for a title.
without neither Yao nor Miller: 42 wins Yao back+ Miller + the effect of playing with Yao+ other players improving( Hill,CBud)= moderate? :grin: :grin: :grin: something is wrong with ya dude :grin:
Things won't be that simple. According to your logic, a championship team should win the title every year.
I really don't know which word is appropriate to describe the current rockets team. Honestly, I cannot see that the rockets will have a significant improvement this season.
IF Yao stays healthy, the Rockets can squeak into the playoffs, but they will need a 2nd star if they want to make any noise. The goal is to stay in the hunt until the trade deadline and then make a 2nd half push for the 6th or 7th seed.
He has only started one year, the team changed dramatically in the middle of that year, and he did not have his big center at all. I think he has more in the tank, and will continue to improve, get more efficient and overall be a better floor general. Usually it takes a few years for PGs to find their way in the NBA, you can look at many others and the difficulties they had in their first 3ish years or so, then many finally got there. Adelman has said it takes about 3 years to learn his offensive schemes, this is AB's time now....I think he is ready to lead. DD
Honestly, I think with Yao healthy and the acquisition of Tayshaun Prince (yes, this is my new talking point) this team could be a contender instantly. He's the only non-superstar small forward that I see getting us to the next level. Him and battier have long been considered the top two wing defenders in the league. He can also do A LOT more than Battier on the offensive end which really isn't saying much of anything, but even compared to other SFs in the league his offensive production is well above average. Also, he is readily available unlike many of the other small forwards who people have been (pipe-)dreaming about (melo, granger, etc.). We would not have to give up as much to get him. You take a strong starting four of Brooks, Martin, Scola, and Yao...and add a proven winner like Prince, I think this could raise the Rockets to contender status. But yeah, this still relies much more on Yao's health and elite level of play than the improvements Prince would bring.
Last year we had to play the first half of the season trying to see what we had in Ariza being a go-to scorer (we all saw how that worked out). We had Hayes starting at C. Battier missed the first couple of weeks of the season. Now we will start the season with Yao healthy, with K Martin in the lineup, and with B Miller as a backup C. That is a huge improvement. Then you add a improved Budinger and a more confident AB and we are set and ready to go.
I like AB but I'm also one of those who think he should be used as trade bait to acquire the "missing" piece HOWEVER when did he become a team leader or someone to lead the team?!? AB is a nice point guard with still some upside but the team leaders IMO are Yao(like it or not), Martin and Scola. Those guys will direct the ship while AB will simply stir it in the right direction. To your point, This team can be anywhere from 3-8 IMHO. They have the makeup to ravage anyone who doesn't give it their all but they are flawed. For this team to be a true contender, we will need our young guys to step up big time, like the aformentioned AB, and some luck with Yao. Put me down for the 5th spot in the West.
