OK- I still hurt. In the atmosphere of pain there is alot of speculation on what we should do. Here is my take on what is wrong- 1. I have to start with Yao. I love Yao, but he is what he is. A very big man who can shoot and has a very good basketball IQ. Yao has the ability to score; probably can get 28-30 pts average as he improves. But Yao is a big defensive liability in todays NBA. Because of his size and make up he lacks the quickness and athleticism to defend and rebound effectively. He is a good effort guy but his hands are not good right now and he doesn't have the ability to jump or get to the ball quickly. I don't think he will be able to improve his quickness or athletic ability at this point. The NBA has moved towards more athletic and quick big men- Amare, D Howard, Duncan and it is not hard to create a mismatch for Yao, you can pull him away from the basket or put him in a position to guard a much quicker but equally strong PF type. If Yao stays on the team we must find a Power Forward who can cover his weaknesses on defense. The story of the game 7 loss was Yao's defense on Boozer. Yao only had 6 rebounds and he didn't cover the paint. He is not a really good rebounder or shot blocker. For us to win at the highest level we must either compensate for Yao's defensive liabilities or seriously consider his trade value and go a different direction. 2. Next comes Tracy- First of all I think Tracy's value at this point can only be evaluated based upon his back and generally his health. TMac is a very good player who has a complete game, but you can see the wear and tear that has affected his athleticism. I think it is an unknown from here on out how much he will be able to sustain a high level of play. I don't see alot of mental toughness in TMac and I really think he would be better off not being the go to guy. I think TMac is too valuable an asset to trade but unless we are able to retool around him quickly time may decide how much his body has left. You cannot possibly trade TMac unless you recieved a younger version of TMac in return- there are very few of those to be found. 3. The supporting cast- is bad. We desparately need a third scorer who is able to get points around Yao and Tracy. First priority should be a real power forward. Second a real point guard who can hit the open J and run the break. We need rebounders badly. We do not have a good on the ball defender who can lock down another player and we need one. 4. Coach- Van Gundy is good. But he is predictable. His stress of defense is good, but it is too rigid. And I think his time is up anyways. I don't think the coming coaching change is going to solve our problems, I would extend him but I don't think that is going to happen. I am not near as concerned with who is coaching as I am the personnel moves we need to make. I think we should consider a big trade, Yao or Tracy and I think we should only consider a Hershel Walker type deal that would net us either Odom or Durant and an additional #1 pick plus a good player. If we can't get a no brainer deal then don't deal Yao or Tracy. The more likely scenario is we better get a steal in the draft and try to pick up a good athletic veteran power forward, or a real good third scorer or a good point guard not named Mike James. We are one bad back from taking a huge step backward as a franchise no matter who is coaching. I really think drastic times call for drastic actions. I would definately check out what might be out there for Yao or Tracy.
Agree with you. But realistically speaking, it is more likely Rox will decline once JVG leaves. JVG is too good for this team. The management sucks big time. They do not know how to draft, they do not know who to pursue in the FA market. When Riley traded for Shaq in Miami, he gave away Odom, Caron Butler, Grant and a first-round pick. The team lacked depth and players in all 3 other positions except for the Center and Wade. Did he sit there and wait anything to happen? No, he again made a trade to get Antoine Walker, Posey and Jason Williams. Was he out of the cap space? Absolutely, but still he is willing to deal and he is creative to deal. For the Rox management, they sat there and did nothing once they traded for T-mac. They gave away Steve, Mobley and Cato, they haven't really replaced Cato and Steve for 4 years. For the first 2 years, they just tried to clean up the bad contracts from previous regime. Just wonder why they have so many bad contracts and still carry Juwon's?
If Boston ended up with pick 1 or 2 - I would consider offering Yao for their pick plus Al Jefferson, plus their #1 pick next year (plus a contract to make the trade work) Al Jefferson plus Odom or Durant and another #1 is Yao's value IMHO I hate losing Yao but it might take that risk to really get a blockbuster change to the roster and we need something if we are going to win another championship in our lifetime.
I don't see any senario where we would trade Yao. He is the best center in the league and only looks to improve. I do agree that we need a "real" starting power forward that is a threat to score AND can block shots when Yao is beat. I also agree that TMac is not untouchable, but you only trade him for a really great player in return (Lamar Odom is not great). I would consider a TMac for Durant type of deal, but honestly at best Durant is likely to be a younger TMac... I'd listen to offers of Dirk for TMac as well, though that would make a pg that can penetrate and distribute a pre-requisite. Same with any Kevin Garnett trade suggestions. In the draft it would be ideal if we could get lucky or trade up to get an Acie Law or Javaris Crittenton to help at point guard. Stackhouse is a free agent this summer too I believe that could possibly help off the bench as long as it was a short term contract. Not sure what is out there power forward wise.
Really . . . and you don't think JVG had anything to do with how we've drafted and done on the FA market. Especially the FA market, we've been bad because of JVG. Does Glen Rice, Clerance Weatherspoon, Charles Oakley, Charlie Ward, Stormile Swift, and Bonzi mean anything to you? Those were all under JVG's tenure, and way too many for just four years. All those former, washed-up Knicks, ugh.
Boston wont' do it. If it is the #1 pick, Boston will pick Odom. Defensively, Odom will be much better than Yao from the beginning. Scorewise, Odom can score 15 garbage points easily while Yao can't score much garbage points. It is no brainer, don't over estimate Yao's value. Yao is not a flexible player, he needs a system to operate, he has to receive the basket at an optimal situation to be effective. In game situation, it is extremely difficult to pass the ball optimally. Right now, Yao is not worth Odom or Durant. Gasol + another player, Memphis might do it.
JVG gives opinion, but final decision is made by the owner and the GM. That's like in a group project, if you are just a member, your project leader should be blamed if the project does not go well. Of course your group leader would say you screwed up. hahah, but only gullible ones would agree with your group leader, and of course you would feel extremely angry because you didn't make the decision, why the hell anybody else blame you?
Ahh a certified Yao Hater. I will tell you what we need. T-Mac is a superstar. Yao is the number one rated Center in the league. Battier is our glue guy. We suck at Power Forward and Point Guard. Our point guard cannot finish if his life depended on it. Luther Head as shooting guard disappeared in the playoffs. Juwan Howard is too slow and can't rebound. Sometimes his game disappears all together. Hayes is undersized and his rebounding sucked against the Jazz. The most obvious things the Rockets need to do is to get a BIG BRUISING SCORING POWER FORWARD. That is the number one thing they need to do. If they have this, the attention will have to come off Yao and they will have to pay attention to the Power Forward. He will open up the floor because he's also a low post and midrange scoring threat. He'll hit the glass offensively and defensivey and help out on rebounding. A Big Fast Power Forward can box out, set screens and do all the things that Juwan Howard does not do. Secondly, although Rafer is servicable his shooting just pisses me off. If they can do it, pick up a point guard who can finish. Rafer is better off the bench.
First time post after ... Agree your point about JVG and Yao. For trade, I don't think it is good idea to trade Yao or Tmac to anywhere for anything. Tmac, his biggest problems are his jump. All others are great. Yao, I still think he is a great player. the problem is how to use him. Coach needs to mix his ability on his O. We lost mainly because our O not our D. If we can use different players to do different O plan then we will win this serials easyly. Jump shoot for a while, penetration for a while, yao do some midrange, even some 3s, you are right on JVG, his O plan is so predictable, yao just stand their or fight for position(he is lack stamina we all know) and then hardly to get the pass then many hands try to steal the ball, so he can not dribble, can not hit high percentage shots especially in playoff. I still belive our all problems mainly come from JVG.
Well the offense if built around only having two dependable scorers. Yao is best in the low block (how many 15 ft. jumpers did he miss- almost all of them) and Tracy is best when he slashes to the basket and then mixes in his jump shot. Teams have this scouted to perfection and it is not hard to defend if you have the players. We need another good rebounder, another good scoring option and a good shooter off the bench.
I still like the day we start Cato and yao together, I don't know if we could play Yao sometimes as PF and a Cato like player play C for a while if we can mix, switch them ocationally it would be a really big problem for other teams to match us.
I don't think I could stand to see yao in another uniform, and I'm pretty disgusted about all of you who have turned on him. Trade Yao for Al Jefferson???? Trade Yao for Odom??? Trade a guy who by all accounts is the league's best center, sees the floor well, is a willing passer, who is the perfect teammate for a couple of average level power forwards who have been in the league for at least 3 or 4 years and still have people talking about their potential???? All this while Yao has emerged as the franchise player he was expected to be. The numbers don't always tell the whole story, but they don't lie either. In a series where people are blaming yao for underachieving, he still managed to average 25 points and 10 boards. A lot of people have short memories. I can remember the board sweating about Yao's free agency a few years ago. People were terrified he would be encouraged to bolt for LA, NY, and even Golden State. Yao, loyal to the team never flinched, never flirted with another team. Signed his extension here and that was it. I wish some of the fans here would maintain that kind of loyalty.
I agree with youtr points, but I don't think that just because the NBA is a lot faster nowadays, we should give up on Yao. The Detroit Pistons play typical half-court basketball but get away with it because of their defense and shooting. For the Rockets, I kind of liken it to the Lakers situation. You can't win with just two people scoring. Take a look at game 6 against the Jazz, only T-Mac and Yao were doing anything significant. If opponents know that all they have to do is guard the two superstars, we're in trouble. I agree, we need a better PF. I thought Stromile Swift could have been that guy. Hopefully we can address this issue in the draft. Another PG is a good idea. A guy who can hit the 3 consistently or drive to the hoop. Look at Tony Parker in the spurs. He makes up for Duncan's immobility and gets the perimeter shooters open by slashing to the hoop and forcing the defense to collapse. With the Rockets team now, we guard Yao inside and al the shooters outside since no one wants to take it hard to the hole. Rafer isn't that bad a PG, he just isn't fitting in or complementing T-Mac and Yao well. Rockets need upgrades thats for sure. No matter what happens and no matter who our players are ,Rockets are still my team! GO ROCKETS!
That's what JVg ask him and train him to do. All his 15 feet jump are not face up, they are turn around and be pushed on his body(cuz they do not try to block him in that situation). If let him play some position like JH I think he will hit a higher percentage shots.
I think you mean Oden and not "Odom". But I agree with you - I think this franchise might be better served by offering Yao and seeing what they would get. If we could get Oden AND Durant, I would deal McGrady. The sad fact is the Rockets are garbage outside of Yao, McGrady and Battier. We are not going to get anything by offering people the likes of Chuck Hayes, Rafer Alston, Juwan Howard, etc. If we are going to get impact players, we are going to have to trade one or both of our superstars. And it would probably help to get a coach that is not offensively challenged like Gumby. I am so frustrated with this team right now.....
Thanks, I meant Oden- (can't stand Odom) I don't want to trade Yao. I do love Yao. I am saying we are at the point we have to consider it as much as I hate to say it. If you could really make a steal like getting Durant, Al Jefferson, another #1 pick for Yao... I think that is the kind of trade and shake up that would actually be a turn around for the team... At this point tweeking the roster with the MLE isn't working and unless we get the steal of the draft I don't see us moving any closer to Dallas SA or Phoenix and we still don't know how much Tracy has in the tank. (or the back) If Tracy goes out with a back next season who thinks Yao is going to get this team out of the first round if they make the playoffs. We are at a drastic point here... Same place we were at when we traded Steve Francis... I don't think any option is good unless we just make some very smart moves around Tracy and Yao- again what we need everyone is looking for... A very good point guard- A very good athletic PF and a third scorer.
these 2 are closely related. its hard to be unpredictable when you only have 2 guys that can score reliably.
rhester, I agree completely. I think the Rockets should explore trading McGrady and Yao just to see what they would get. With his back being the way it is, you never know how much longer McGrady is going to play at this level. If you could get a Durant, a young player like Al Jefferson, and another #1 just for McGrady, then I think the Rockets would be nuts not to do that deal.
