I fully agree. At this point, we need that upgraded PG. Talent-wise, this team is close. The sooner we can dump Alston, or make him the backup, the better.
Great opening post. Although I knew everything you said, it probably isn't clear to a lot of fans here. Good that you made clear to them what we're capable of and our best position could just be to stay much the same with a couple of FA signings like Barry, Mo Evans, and/or Roger Mason Jr. Morey did say not long along:"don't judge the team come October"
A good thread, but a better title could be "Do not force to make the major changes" Likely, with Maggette or Artest, the team would be better, but we just do not have enough money to get them. We do not need force to do anything if something is not there. Right now if we can get Barry, resign our players, we are just fine before the trade deadline to make a major move.
Thanks for the compliments, folks. As some of you have clarified on my behalf, I am by no means saying that the Rockets couldn't use a potent scoring threat like Corey Maggette. Obviously they could. What I meant by saying that they didn't "NEED" him (all caps) was that the Rockets as presently comprised can win (even in the playoffs) without the requirement of a legit third offensive star. I also think that people undervalue Scola's ability to put up points on any given night. With a year under his belt (and hopefully some level of respect from the refs), Scola should be a much more potent offensive threat next season.
what is your definition of Major Changes?? Does getting Magette or Artest a Major Change? I agree we should stay with the same starting 5 as last season, because two reasons, 1. we did win 55 games with those guys, 2. did all of you not notice what Morey has said time to time that this team is ONE player away from winning the championship, and our starting 5 can play against with any other team in west. With above information, the Rockets are staying with their start 5 for sure, so no more trading Rafael Alston rumor plz, which it's not going to happen. With our starting 5 does not change, does getting bench help = Major Changes???? I don't think so, I think we do need get some bench firing power, and Magette does fit in this catagory. If you would think about it, the Rockets did not have anyone can create his own shots and open shot for teammates besides Yao and Tmac. Even if we can get Artest, Coach Adelman needs to convince to come off the bench, because we really don't want to mess up the chemistry of our starting 5.. So needs are Back up PG.. and 3rd scorer coming off the bench..
Too positive. We have not made the past first round yet, albeit a 50+ win team. Yao and Tmac's health is always a concern. We are the hardest working 50+ win team in the regular season, because we don't have enough talents and have to stretch ourselves. While Scola solidifies our front court, our back court are short on talents. Outside Tmac and an occasional Rafer or Battier, we don't have production there. Adelman had alluded that the pressing need is another scoring wing, which I completely agree. PG is always the problem, and even though adding another ball handler might be of the highest priority, it doesn't mean we don't have other problems like at 3. Spurs are picking up Magette and getting rid of Barry, and yet we are trying to pick up Barry. Don't kid yourself if you think we can contend with only marginal upgrade. The Yao+Tmac combo have been together for how long, and where have we been? I thought so. Where did this unwarranted optimism comes from?
Sounds good . . .IF YOUR GOAL IS TO GET OUT OF THE 1st ROUND!!! however. . .if you want to win a championship where teams all around you are getting even better Staying pat is not the way to go! Rocket River
That is what the Lakers and Hornets did last year. While Suns and Mavericks got desperate and yow saw what happen.
lets also not forgot about justin reed and jackie butler!! thier contracts are coming off this year or the next too (even though we released them were still paying them)
Morey has already stated Rockets seek scorers. Every team wins with 3 consistent scorers. When Alston was HOTT he was a 3rd scorer during that 22 game win streak. It only goes to show you what this team can really do with another consistent scorer. The days of winning championships with 2 superstars is over. Teams are getting stronger and add a 3rd with some teams possibly looking to add an 4th. The more scorers you have the harder you are to guard mixed in with a dominate front court and ball movement, untill we add that consistent 3rd scorer it will be another 1st round exit maybe.
1. The Lakers made a huge move DURING the season. The team that made it to the playoffs did not stand pat. With Gasol in the lineup, the Lakers went 23-5 down the stretch. 2. The Hornets stood pat but they were a very young team that was already blossoming the prior season. They also faced more injuries than any other team in the league in 06-07. Stojakovic missed basically that entire season and Paul missed most of the final month or so. If Paul didn't get injured, they would have made the playoffs. David West was also out most of the year with elbow issues. Those two teams are not really good examples of teams that didn't make much change yet found success. Either through a single big change (Lakers) or by getting healthy (Hornets), both teams were far different by the time the playoffs rolled around this year than at the same point a year earlier. The Rockets, on the other hand, have had Tracy and Yao together for multiple years and haven't made it past the first round. If you argue that it's been bad luck, it's getting past that point when just about every year one of your two stars is missing signficant time. I think we do need a pretty significant change (borderline major change) not only to get us over the hump with a healthy T-Mac and Yao but also to be more prepared in case one, or both, of those guys does get injured again in the future.
Alston was the second scorer for 10 of those 22. How does that say we absolutely need 3 or even 4 scorers?
Oh, I agree, that Maggette is not necessary, but I think he improves the team, and for me, if there is a person out there in your price range at a position of need, you go after him. DD
That's exactly what this thread's about: No Major Changes Needed...Now. The original poster actually suggested that we wait until DURING the season to pull off whatever big move.
If Yao or TMac show up missing in the playoffs of course we are doomed. But what do you propose we do? Sign Dwight Howard and Lebron James to back them up. If Duncan is missing, if Kobe is missing, if KG is missing, if Lebron is missing, if Chris Paul is missing and so on, they will all suffer the same fate. We need Yao and to a lesser degree TMac healthy to be serious contenders. But with them last season we won 22 games in a row. We won 22 games in a row with a below average pg and a rookie pf starting. We won 22 games in a row after losing 17 of our first 32 trying to adjust to a new coach and a lot of new players. We are young and we have a new coach implementing a new system to a young team. Scola will be better, Brooks will be better, Landry will be better, Yao improves every year, Dorsey will give the Rockets a Ben Wallace type of toughness that only a few teams have. The Rockets have already improved from last year and what is even more reason to be optimistic is the Rockets have weaknesses that can be fixed relatively easy this offseason. They need a legitimate 3 point shooting threat at the 2. They need a legitimate pg to pressure Rafer for the starting pg spot. Oh and did I mention that the team won 22 games in a row and 55 for the season after playing 500 ball most of the first half of the season.
Go back and read the comment I responded to. It wasn't the OP. The guy I responded to said nothing about making changes DURING the season. He seemed to be arguing that we should just stand pat. He even cited two teams that did make changes DURING the season and how that led to failure. I am arguing that we do likely do need to make significnat changes now, or during the season or even next season if we want to contend.
While I still hold firm to the belief that we need another scorer in the lineup and a better PG before we can be mentioned with the top teams, I give you props for a well thought out, optimistic, realistic first post in this thread Wish there were more like it instead of all the knee jerk, sky is falling reactions
One thing that is being overlooked in this thread is that the Rockets are still affected by the Van Gunditis. The team gives 100% practically every night. This Rocket team and the Rocket team of two years ago were the hardest working squads in the league during their respected seasons. That's great and all but it is gives an inaccurate appraisal of how the team stacks up against the competition. When you are giving 100% and the opponent is giving about 80% then you don't really know how you compare. So then the playoffs roll around and everyone else kicks the intensity, focus and effort up a notch or two the Rockets can't because they are already running at full steam. I'm also trying to figure out how anyone can realistically think this team is a real contender when healthy. It isn't like they took the Lakers, Spurs or even the Jazz to 7 games. They didn't almost make the Finals or even the WCF. They lost in the first round in 6 games to a team that LA mostly toyed with before dispatching. The team isn't ok right now. A third scorer is absolutely needed and a PG good for 20 minutes of NBA point guard duty is probably also something that is necessary to contend in the West. This is all assuming Yao and Tmac can stay on the court together for the playoffs.
Perhaps I'm missing something, but aren't you telling him that, like the teams he cited, we do need to make major changes? I wouldn't disagree with that part, I'm just specifying that this thread's statement is about the summer, not the midseason.
