Is the current rockets team really a 'YAO' away from a true contender?

I won't make my decision until I actually see Yao back on the court, nobody knows how he will perform being out for so long.

 

What the hell? There are actually people here who believe with Yao coming back and the current roster we have the makings of a Championship team? Look we are all Rocket fans on this board but we are also NBA fans. We don't have a athletic+rebounding 4.. We don't have a consistent go 2 guy in the Crunch (AND THIS INCLUDES Yao) Have you guys forgotten what it takes to shutdown Yao? Just pull up old games on the web and you can see he is easy to shutdown with minutes remaining in the 4th.

Since Yay/Nay are split I'm gonna assume that the majority of Clutchfan members who are at least 3 years into membership voted Nay. And all the other noobies said Yes we can win it all.

 

I said no, but we aren't too far away IMO


At lot has to be seen in how Yao comes back if he is as good as he was last season then we will need some added size, but if for some miraculous reason he comes back as he did about 3 seasons ago when he was putting up MVP type numbers maybe not...but i dont see the latter happening.


consider the team we have now not factoring in any possible trades and accounting that scola and lowry return

Yao/Andersen/Armstrong
Scola/Jeffries/Hill
Ariza/Battier
Martin/Chase/JT
Brooks/Lowry


yes that starting 5 is good, really good but not "great" when compared to the lakers. But that bench is much stronger than whatever the lakers have and most other WC playoff teams. I think more importantly all these players (though ariza has yet to be seen) do know what their role is and play them effectively.

NOW what I think is crucial and may be address through the draft is getting a physical big PF/C combo. Even if Hill develops into a solid role player he is an athletic big and not a strong one. Andersen/Hill/Jeffries/Armstrong no one provides that physical presence to the team. The team lost a lot of its physicality with Artest, Landry and most like Hayes being gone next season. Bring in a big physical guy in the draft and if that first rounder can contribute the Rockets could contend next year with all the other pieces staying healthy and gelling together.

The lakers despite Artest still get pushed around on the inside a lot, especially Gasol who is the KEY to their entire offense (not discounting Kobe but if Gasol plays really well the lakers are near unbeatable), Bynum plays a bit more physical than Gasol and Odom is a perimeter guy. You get big and tough up front then you can give yourself a chance against the lakers. Figure that Jeffries is not going away from the team next year I dont think any team will really want him just for an expiring contract, maybe as the trade deadline approaches but I dont see it at the beg of the year..Jeffries can guard the Odoms of the league with his length and athleticism (NOTE: I am not saying he will stop them but with his physical attributes and aptitude towards defense Odom's major advantages will be somewhat neutralized)

The Nuggets are the best example of how to beat the lakers with their physical athletic bigs and a scoring wing and PG. We have a scoring wing player now in martin and a scoring PG in brooks (though of course melo and billups are both superior players) but we have better defensive 2 way players in Ariza and Battier compared to Afflalo. Between Lowry and Chase that is the equivalent of Lawson and Smith off the bench. (Smith being the best scorer of the bunch but Lowry/Chase are more consistent as a combo)

While the Rockets have the advantage of Yao they do not have any physical athletic big guys whereas the Nuggets have 3. Scola is physical and is athletic enough to give Gasol some problems but not nearly the same as the Nuggets bigs.

If Jordan Hill develops to where he can be a shot blocking force similar to Birdman (he wont be better, but has the edge as the offensive player) then its possible.

Keys for the Rockets though this offseason:

1) big guy off the bench who can provide toughness on defense, length, shot blocking rebound and not be a complete stiff offensively (sorry Deke&Hayes) this will probably be best addressed through the draft

2) Development of their young players- Namely Hill and Taylor-- With Landry gone we lost our top bench scorer and granted that the bench wont be relied upon as heavily next year with Yao back you still want to have that single guy who is a threat to provided 20 points every night. I think Chase can consistently give 10-12 points a night but I am not sure if he can do better than he already has.

Hill wont be able to replicate what Landry did unless he makes some huge strides this offseason (unlikely) but he has the best shot of being the best 2-way front court player off the bench for the Rockets.

Taylor needs to develop and learn how to play within the team and his role...he is probably the most explosive scorer of the 3 young guys and so far is very raw/unknown. He could possibly be that big time scorer he just needs to find his place.


If Taylor develops Battier becomes more expendable as Chase can play the 3 off the bench. Battier is a sizable expiring contract AND a player who can contribute right away effectively for any team and will be much more attractive as trade bait.

The Rockets can use Shane to get that big man from a team looking to shed some salary but at the same time trying to save face but getting a useful player back in return.


so to sum up this longer than necessary post--

They are a Yao away from being a contender

They are more than a Yao away from being a TRUE contender.


basically with Yao and no other changes they are good enough to make the WCF if luck falls their way (staying healthy maybe another team loses a player etc)

But I have faith in management that are not going to sit idly and go into next season with just adding Yao and 1 first round pick.

 

I voted no...and I haven't been here a year yet.

I think we will have a pretty good team with Yao, but not a contender. Landry gone leaves a huge hole at backup PF.

We do have the assets to get another player that can be a difference maker, though...

 

They are Yao away from being a contender

They are a Yao + a few trades from being a FAVORITE

Brooks
Martin
Ariza
Scola
Yao

is superior to the team that took LA to 7 last year. and that series was a legit series there's no question that Houston was contending with the Lakers to advance.

at MINIMUM Morey will pick up a backup center and another PF by the 2010-2011 playoffs. Even if the starting 5 is as above and they have no additional allstars (merely a serviceable backup center and an athletic PF) Houston is a contender... they have good odds to beat the Lakers/Mavs/Denver/etc. This is all solely on adding a healthy Yao as the primary component plus the normal trades and fills that teams do during the course of a season

Now if Morey picks up an All-Star caliber PF and a high quality backup center then Houston has to be considered a top 2 team over the Nuggets who are weaker defensively and mentally and the Mavs who are soft and getting older

Adding back a healthy Yao houston is somewhere between contender and favorite, depending on the quality of the PF that Morey picks up. Now will Yao be healthy???????????? That's the question sportsfans

 

Yao, Armstrong, Jefferies
Scola, Hayes, Hill
Ariza, Battier
Martin, Budinger
Brooks, Lowry

We really wouldn't need Armstrong (if we found another good post player), as our front court would be pretty crowded.

As far as Free Agents go, I'm guessing we would need very much in the offseason, outside of a dynamic power forward or center and maybe another shooting/combo guard (to come off the bench). Not mentioning Amar'e, Wade, Lebron, and Joe Johnson (neither are coming to Houston).


Chris Bosh Big chip, everyone is focusing on, chances are probably fair at best

Manu Ginobili Might be kind of pricey, and he's past his prime


Tyson Chandler Too expensive, may not fit in with this team.

Jermaine O'Neal Too expensive, may not fit in with this team. Could find a better deal with other teams. Injury history


Mike Miller

Brendan Haywood Too expensive

Kenyon Martin Too expensive, we would want him that much, because he actually does make a good compliment to Yao.

Kyle Korver .....

C.J. Watson If we somehow lost Lowry, he'd be a possible option look at.


Aaron Gray A young big body who make a very good reserve.

 

Maybe we are a 'HEALTHY Yao' away from contending.

 

you r double crazy but i agree

 

Yao is coming off a career threatening injury. This coming up season is more of a trial period for Yao than anything else. After Yao's contract is up the Rockets face rebuilding if Yao doesn't work anymore.

If the Rockets can pick up a all-star PF/C we could see the Rockets contending If Yao gets/stays healthy.

still this is a long shot, as shown to get KevMartin you have to give. And if Morey does give a current piece that could set the Rockets back to getting another important piece

 

I think they can compete for a title, assuming Yao really is healthy (I'd like to see them play him less - 30 min max during the season), and our new players gel, which I expect. On top of that, I think the odds are good that they Rox complete a S&T for a top player this summer. They have the trading pieces, and yes, I have read the opposing analyses to a big S&T on this site.

 

Bosh :grin:

 

David Anderson or Hayes off the bench for the front court isn't gonna cut it for a contender.

 

Les Alexander said with Yao coming back, the Rockets are 1 big player away. Even Alexander believes they need to make another acquisition. Morey even believes it. Morey is chasing Bosh, Amare, and Demarcus Cousins in the offseason.

 

A healthy Yao = contender

A healthy/Hungry aka I want to dominate and stop being a passive tissue + Refs giving him respect = championship contender even with 4 scrubs surrounding him.

Too bad we don't see this Yao unless he gets mad or disrespected and Refs don't give him 10+FT a game......

 

I think we're 2 players away...1 if course is Yao and the other one is a big time PF/C which should be addressed in the offseason..injury curse should be wooed away this offseason.

 

I think people just have different definitions of the word "contender".

To me, a contender is a team that has a chance to win the championships. It may not be a great chance, but it's a legitimate shot. In that context, Yao + current Rockets = Contender.

But if you're wondering if the Rockets are ELITE with Yao back, then the answer is no. I'd still put our talent level below LA, Denver, and Dallas, assuming no major injuries. So no, we're not the favorite or among the top. But we have a fighting chance.

Now, if we get Chris Bosh in the offseason and Yao's back and healthy... then things could get interesting.

 

So essentially as it stands our Big 3 is

Yao
Martin
Brooks

I guess then it's a question of, if you look at the current 'contenders', how much confidence do you have when comparing their 'stars'? Just throwing a few out there:

Kobe
Pau
Odom?

Bron
Williams
Jamison?

Dirk
Butler
Kidd? Terry?

Dwight
Vince
Rashard

All things being equal (ie we are healthy), where do we stack up?

 

John Wall
Kevin Martin
Trevor Ariza
Chris Bosh
Yao

Now this MIGHT be a contending team if somehow they want to play defense and Yao stays healthy.

 

No, there are plenty of 7'6 bigmen who can shoot 55% from the field and 85% from the line.

Oh wait Yao is the only one?


What the **** do you think?

 

Garnett
Peirce
Allen/Rondo

Horford
Joe
J. Smith

Melo
Mr. Big Shot
Nene

Big 3's on a team isn't to hard to find anymore! That's why we need one more HIGH quality player! 1st choices for me would be either Bosh or Gay!

Either one of them and we are possibly the favorite to win the west!