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

AMARE'

 

It should be, because the LAKE use more and more money than us.

 

Gasol is NOT THE BEST PF IN THE NBA!! He's a puss! And for ur other stupid comment, Kobe may not even play 5 more years!!

One of the worst posts ive seen lately!

 

We need more pieces than Yao to compete with the likes of the Lakers and the Cavs. We have several assets at the moment that could help us get there.

 

If you could bring in a taller version of scola, that would work wonders.

 

Imo, we're a healthy Yao and Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks shooting +40% from 3PT from being a contender...that or another star PF/C.

 

I think the team's a Yao and a couple of other offeason moves away from being a contender. Just getting Yao back will bring them close, but the team needs to replace Landry. Either a good draft or an advantageous trade, good health (always a big "if") and a little luck could get the Rockets a championship.

 

I am going to second this post. I don't think it's wise to believe that when Yao comes back, we are suddenly in contender status (especially for those of us that have watched him during the years before his injury and remember how easy it has been in the past to take him out of games).

I also believe that Brooks really won't hit that next level and thinks where he is now is where he will most likely stay. That probably means (in my opinion) is that we will require both a legit 6'10+ rebounder/shot blocker and a scoring/creating wing. I do not trust Brooks/Yao/Ariza/Battier/Hayes or anyone else on the roster making crunch time shots...my verdict is still undecided on Martin since I haven't seen him play that much.

 

I think we're a championship contender when Yao gets back. This is our lineup:

-Two borderline all-stars in the backcourt (Brooks, Martin)
-A shut-down wing defender capable of stopping dangerous perimeter scorers and hitting open jumpers (either Battier or Ariza)
-A very good 16/10 power forward (Scola)
-An all-star center

If that's not a contender I don't know what is.

 

tmac?

jk.

I believe we ARE contenders with Yao. We pushed lakers to 7 and that alone i think puts us in "contender" status if we're adding kevin martin...two of the most efficient scorers in the nba in yao and martin combined with an elite defense is a great recipe for contendership.

 

Put Amare or Bosh in the title and I say yes.

 

right. you have to also remember that a team is more than the sum of its parts. it's also about matchups and synergy.

Yao + Martin should match up better than Tmac and Yao did. Tmac is a great passer and of course is an asset to all his teammates (even the knicks) with his ability to command a double and pass out of it, but his game didn't particularly benefit from Yao being in the paint. Tmac would either dribble out and take a jumper, or (rarely) penetrate and dish or dunk. Houston would create isolation for Tmac by clearing out a side but he spent a lot of time with the ball in his hands.

Martin in contrast is a good complement to Yao. He is a good shooter but less of a dribble-shoot player than Tmac. He doesn't pass as well but he takes contact much better by generating free throws. He also is constantly looking to create offense without the ball by cutting. He can drive from anywhere on the floor and you dont need to clear out a side or run specific isolations for him to be effective driving the lane. Martin is a player who will EXPLOIT the double teams that Yao commands. Martin is less talented than Tmac at his best but the synergy between Yao and Martin's playing styles particularly in the 4th quarter looks to be a huge improvement over past years.

Also, much has been mocked about both Ariza and Battier's limitations but they are here with a purpose in mind: Lakers and Cleveland. One of the key reasons why Morey continues to have Yao as the cornerstone of this franchise is because YOU NEED YAO to beat LA, Boston, Orlando and Cleveland. Yao creates mismatches and by himself neutralizes the mismatches that those LA, BOS, ORL and CLE have over most NBA teams. Likewise Ariza and Battier are there in large part to match up with Kobe and Lebron. When you think CONTENDER you really are thinking about "can we beat these top teams?" Objectively you give the nod to Houston over teams like Dallas or Denver even if the roster of those teams have more talent 1-on-1 than Houston does, because Houston is built with LA, etc in mind.

Houston has weaknesses they need to address but they are in good shape to contend. IMO it's less than 50% that Morey lands either Bosh or Amare. Houston does need to replace 6th man/energy player Landry. But even if Houston gets a solid journeyman to fill that spot as opposed to an established all-star Houston is a contender, assuming Yao comes back ready to go

 

Great post, I agree completely with everything you said.

 

yup: Bosh, Garnett... :grin:

 

If what you predicted about Lakers is true which I beg to differ, I will quit watching NBA for the next 5 years. What's the point of watching NBA if there is no hope for Rockets to win the . . . . . . . . . .

 

This description sounds very similar to the Clippers =P

 

I say no. The team will need more than Yao.

But it's a moot point, because Morey already said he'll be looking to be active in the trade front this summer. Also, if he keeps the draft pick, he'll hopefully get a frontcourt player who can help next season.

So along with Yao, this team may get at least one other significant addition for next season's run.

 

Wow closest poll Ive ever seen in clutchfans
To me its all about which part of Yao will be getting back next year ..
Plus theres alot of other effecting elements .. although this the main one ..

 

Another good piece in the offseason, and we're right there.

 

I think having Yao helps the chances, but the Rockets are still one impact player away in my opinion. And it doesn't really have to be a superstar, just a solid role player. Although, I would still like to see Bosh though.