NBA Draft Lottery (UPDATE: Rockets to pick 8th overall)

I've been against drafting a SF-type like Rudy Gay or Adam Morrison, because I didn't want McGrady sliding over to SG when one of our biggest weaknesses was a lack of quickness at the guard position (a big reason we gave up so many threes on defense).

However, is it possible that if we drafted one of those players (BIG if, I know), that we could play them at PF and keep McGrady at SF? The trend in the NBA is to go small, after all.

I think it would be an intriguing idea (we'd have that perimeter shooting 4 JVG keeps talking about, and the spacing on offense would be great). But we'd probably be crushed on the boards, unless we can get a strong rebounding guard on the roster.

 

A lot of people are worried about Morrison's ability to guard SFs, let alone NBA PFs. Morrison wouldn't have a chance. Gay has a shot of playing a Shawn Marion type role for a run & gun team, but he needs to add a TON of muscle and weight to even think about playing PF in any other offense.

 

Actually we give up a lot of 3s because:

1: We constantly collapse on penetration. Even a simple, strong side drive and dish will draw in the wing defender, and lead to an open jumper.

2: Because we collapse on penetration, if the ball gets swung around, we need to rotate quickly to challenge the shot. Yao isn't that great at rotating on shooters. And if Juwan is in the game as well then we have no chance to rotate out on quick passes.

I firmly believe that the road to success for the rockets will be to surround Yao with 4 guards/swingmen. We need guys that can attack defenses with speed and skills, and who would be able to rotate quickly on defense. The days of a bruising PF are over.

We can start by having Rudy Gay fall into our laps at #8. He's has all the earmarks of a Horry/Diaw-like long-limbed faux-big-man. Then pickup another swing player at the top of the second round (maybe a James White, or Hassan Adams), or a dead-eye shooting foward like Steve Novak.

After that we either bring back Mike James with the MLE or split it up to pick up some more depth and live bodies (Rasaul Butler, V-Span, Jared Jeffries, Qyntel Woods etc).

Either way we need to pick up two guys in the draft that will make our team and an impact, and at least one other player in free agency that will upgrade a position. If that happens, maybe things will finally start to get interesting for the Rockets in the West.

 

I think Morrison would have a better chance defending PFs and SFs. Except defensive rebounding might be a problem.

 

Speed wise, you're probably right, but Morrison doesn't have nearly the strength nor the size to keep up with even a Juwan Howard.

 

It's easier for a player to add bulk than speed. But, yes, size will be a problem against some teams. But then there aren't than many teams with dominant post up power forwards. There's Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh, Gasol ... that's about it. Maybe you could include Garnett and Wallace, though they don't post up that much.

 

The way I see it is simple: we need shooter/scorer. Especially someone that can shoot the 3 pointer.

 

TMac playing SG is exactly what we need. He presents many more matchup problems when playing SG, and defensively, he is quick and fast enough to guard any smaller player without it affecting him on the offensive side of the court. T-Mac is our best defensive player, period.

I was upset when they moved him to SF here. McGrady played SG in Orlando and part of his first season here, and that's when he was at his best.

I say, draft Morrison, put him at SF with T-Mac at SG.

 

I am pretty sure Morrison wont last until 8th, but i hope he does because I agree that he is what the rockets need right now

 

I think Tracy has lost a step since his Orlando days. I don't think he'd be effective guarding SGs are one end and also carrying the offense on the other.

The way I see it, two major weaknesses for the Rockets last year was perimeter defense and spot up shooting. Putting Morrison at SF and sliding McGrady to SG would make both even worse. Morrison wasn't a great three point shooter in college, which means he'd probably be even less effective in the NBA. McGrady also is not a good spot up three point shooter. Plus, I think we'd be at a quickness disadvantage both at SG and SF defensively.

At a time when the game is starting to favor smaller and quicker teams, we'd be doing the opposite -- going big and slow. It wouldn't make sense.

 

I completely agree... that's exactly what I was thinking this season.. I think the fact that we moved him to play the 3 was one of the reasons for the bad season he had... T-mac is a t his best when playing people face-to-face off the dribble, like he did in Orlando.. but this season, he always tried to post up and play with his back to the defender.. that means he is taking more physical punishment, and that's why he tried to gain muscle mass last offseason, and that is one of the reasons for his back problems (I believe)... so I say move him back to the 2 and draft a big player who can play the 3 or trade for a big 3 (Like BOnzi) and draft JJ REdick for spark off the bench..

 

Ideally, what we need is TMac playing shooting guard on offense and on defense playing the lesser of the SG or SF on the other team. Which is to say what we need is a guy that can guard both SGs and SFs defensively but will play the 3 offensively and will work the corners for the jumpers and allow TMac to work from the top.

 

when jim jackson was on the team, tmac would swap defensive assigments, if jj's opposite were the quicker or better player.

 

I think the Rockets need to address 2 areas the most: PF and SG. On the defensive end, they need a banger that eases the pressure off of Yao so that he can stay on the court longer, pick up less fouls and impact the game more. If they were to address this area, a realistic possiblity is adding shelden williams. Although he's a little short, he's strong enough to bang on the inside. Besides, just average Yao's height with his height, and it all evens out. SG wise, they need a pure shooter. So choose the other dukie out of this draft: JJ Redick. He'll open up the court not only for Yao, but Tmac as well. I think although Carney is athletic and all, we don't need to add him cuz there's Tmac. Let's just hope the whole team stays healthy. If that could be drafted, i would trade up for it!!!

 

Yeah, because JJ was so slow. We don't want that. We want TMac to be able to get a little breather on the defensive end by guarding the lesser offensive threat. We can always throw him on Kobe or whoever in crunch time.

 

Looking at various sites on which players rocket has brought in for work-outs, i can't believe that they are mainly working out PG at the moment. They haven't even started targeting our needs on SG or PF. They also haven't worked out any of the top 10 prospects.. That really dissapointed me

 

We need to move up to get Williams, I see Minnesota or Atlanta selecting this guy. 6'3", sees the floor, shoots okay, excellent free shooter and gets to the whole with ease being a lefty. There are plenty of athletic wing men left at pick 32 for us.

 

I'm really intrigued by Carney if he's actually available to us at 8, particularly because I'd love to have someone who has the potential to become a shut down defender in the mold of Bruce Bowen - someone who can single cover everyone from Kobe to Dirk to Marion. Carney seems to have that potential. Redick is no Kobe, but I just love the way this guy thinks about defense as indicated in this first link.

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=510498

An interesting second link - sorry if this has been discussed, but I hadn't realized that he had this McGrady connection.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/local/orl-magic2806may28,0,5258994.story

 

The second link has been discussed. But the first link made up for it, that was a great read, and i'm more convinced that he can work out if we draft him. Especially as a defensive specialist.

 

That's one of the things I like about Carney. He is probably the 2nd best athlete in the draft behind Gay. He also has a good frame and very long arms, he could really turn out to be a very good defender which is something this team really needs on the perimeter.