If you want to lead a team to glory well...you got to take the heat when it doesn't quite go your way.
I agree that it's far too early to suggest any radical lineup changes. Well…other than deciding if Yao plays or if Yao sits… But basically, your team is going to need balance out of its top players if they've got any intentions of winning ball games. If anything can be taken from the early start to the season, it's that Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin are fine scorers.... ...and don't have a problem with anybody on the opposing team scoring, either. I like both players. But even if you decide that they either have to play with Yao or you need to get Yao out of the way so they can play their games.... ...accountability is accountability. They both have to be better defenders. Same for Luis Scola. As relentless as he is, he doesn't play defense any better now than he did when he arrived three seasons ago. These guys don't have to be all-league defenders. But they might want to try defending somebody IN the league. You know, just to see if it works.....
Once they get off from taking a break is when people will give them one. Aaron is not even rotating on team defense.
Well since you seem to be a Brooks backer and Rocket Roster Expert(please), Brooks isnt a true point guard by any means...you and I both know those assists totals are gonna go down to about 4-5...I agree with you Lowry aint the answer either...Brooks is nice but will be more valuable playing 30 minutes off the bench ala Jason Terry than starting...youre gonna get 17-20 pts from Brooks whether he plays 28 minutes or 40 minutes..... His upside is his scoring more than his playmaking abilities...
So Battier was the one on Monta Ellis? Or Shannon Brown when he hit those threes, or Steve Blake when he was wide open in the end? What about Billups when he had those daggers at the end of the Denver game? I feel like Brooks can play good defense if he wants to. Size is not an issue at the PG position. The guy just has bad habits though, goes under the pic way too much and at the most inopportune times in the game. He should have the speed to stay with his man on a screen-and-roll yet so often he just gives up and lets his (considerably slower than himself) man blow by him. It makes me sad to hear Morey say during radio interviews that we need to improve on defense, and that if our guys don't do so then we'll make roster changes to facilitate that process, while all through the offseason you only see stories about Brooks and Martin working on their offensive games. In my mind, one of them needs to come off the bench. Martin is the better player, so logically you see where other Clutchfans stand.
I don't think everyone is clamoring for both of them to go in a trade; most of the threads are about trading one or the other. Though I agree that it's an overreaction, I don't think you can just shrug your shoulders and say oh well, it's just bad luck. They looked great in the first half of the Lakers game and terrible in the 2nd half. That's not bad luck, that's letting Shannon Brown and Steve Blake get hot and pretty much dominate. How are you "dead tired" on opening night? The rigorous preseason games? Still jet lagged from China? I can understand being tired for the Warriors game, but you can't overcome a little fatigue for (1) the season opener (2) against the defending champs (3) who had a pompous ring presentation ceremony? Though I agree that most of the board is overreacting, you hold players accountable. KMart's D on Shannon Brown with 2 seconds left on the shotclock out on the 3 point line was terrible. AB's staring at Pau's ass leaving Blake wide open for a 3 pointer was terrible. Should we trade them for those transgressions, absolutely not. But you most assuredly have to hold them accountable for those mental lapses on D.
Rodney Stuckey had always been thought of as a Brooks clone. I'll take his defense over Brooks' scoring ability.
anybody know when dampier joining the rockets??? i know there needs to be a trade, but when will this all go down?
Hell Brooks can't play in the same offense even if wanted to. Both combo guards with no point guard skills, might as well take the one with better size and defense.
Yes. Not sure, it was Shane or Kevin Martin I believe. No that was clearly Aaron's man. If you look at the stats, Brooks played poorly but so did both guys he guarded in Billups and Aflalo.... I agree he can get much better. Players don't listen to what Morey says.....he is the GM, and while he gets good assets, I doubt they give what he says about defense 2 seconds of time. I do think the way Morey treats the players causes this disconnect though..... DD
give me a break and stop making threads about every player on the team after lose some games. jesus people, it has been only 3 games. no need to worry yet.
Seriously. Good thread. Everyone seems to forget Brooks played great vs the Lakers. Also 41 minutes vs the Lakers and then coming back to play a back-to-back vs an insane Ellis and the GS offense is not easy. I understand his defense is horrendous but give him more games before we start bashing him for his performance.
Everybody is getting blamed for something, it seems like. Is there any person associated with the Rockets who has escaped criticism in the last week?
