Ok gurus..... Who is the missing link to take us to the next level?

Mo Taylor. When he enters the starting line up.

 

i say we're the missing link. At home games this season the Rockets see about 3500 fewer fans than they see at road games. I know the new arena will make a big difference. When I saw that stat it occurred to me that 3500 is a very noticeable difference.

 

A smart point guard like Eric Snow who can play some good defense.

My second choice would be a strong physical power forward like Brand. But Eddie gives us decent rebounding and great shot-blocking right now.

 

Time.

 

In terms of salary and efficiency overall, I'd go with Eric Piatkowski of the LA Clippers.

2002 stats:

22.7 min/game
9.5 pts/game
48.4% FG percentage
39.8% 3PT percentage
82.8% FT percentage

He's 6'6", 215, and can play small forward or shooting guard.

For his career he is a 40.2% 3 point shooter, and is deadly when open, and can also shoot jumpers great off the dribble. He's not a bad finisher and can drive if the lane is open. Every time I watch him play I realize just how underrated he is.

Adding someone like this would give us someone who can absolutely bury the 3 point shot, and also get past a defender and shoot well off the dribble if the defender is jumping at him.

Any SG/SF with a 48.4% FG percentage who shoots a 3 pointer almost half the time is incredibly good. We need to add this guy if we can, since Rice will be off our hands soon.

 

We definitely need a sharp shooter. With Yao in the middle,
we get so many open shots but constantly missing them.

 

D AND D

DISCIPLINE and DIRECTION....

 

Sharp shooter and a PF who can defend the PF of the west.

 

Vladimir Radmanovic

Houston needs a spot up shooter at the 3 spot. Radman and Boki would give the team 2 deadeye shooters there similar to what the Kings have with Peja and Hedo. Seattle is close to the luxury tax. They desperately need to to get rid of some bad contracts. Radmanovic is expendable with Rashard and Allen there. Houston can offer Rice's expiring contract to them for Radman and whatever bad contracts Seattle wants to lose (Potapenko, James, Booth, etc.)

The team also needs a defensive stopper to play backup at the one, but I think Maddox can fill that role eventually.

 

We need a new owner. Period. Check out this quote from ESPN's Marc Stein:

Emanuel, Tulsa: Hi Mark! Do you think it's possible to have a team that is good enough to be a favourite to win it all (like Sac) and at the same time is not exceeding the salary cap? Seems to be a tough combination... Thx!

Marc Stein: (1:39 PM ET ) No. If you're not willing to pay luxury-tax, you can't compete for the title. Even the Lakers, with their paper-thin roster, are 10 million over the luxury-tax line because stars are expensive.


Les says he won't pay luxury tax, so I guess we are destined to be a second tier team...

 

get rid of the new age point guard.

bring in a Steve Blake or TJ Ford.

this way Cat will not have to make up for Steve's ineffeiciencies
and he can be the shooting guard he was meant to be and we can finally watch team basketball for the first time in 4yrs.

 

Better food

 

Phil Jackson

 

Sac has an abundance of 2s (they also have the best 1 few seem to notice while paying max bux for their starter), Christie, Wallace, Hedo, JJax. Most can and do play some 3. Hedo is due a salary bump and Wallace is due more PT.

So, give me Christie. Let him b/u Stevie, Cat, and give 30+ mins/night as a missing link.

Talented, right fit, attainable.

Then, give me Juwann with the MCE.

Talented, right fit, attainable.

 

I'll throw in some of the major factors I see:

Rockets have:
Yao Ming inside
Francis outside
Youth and athleticism
Depth at C and F positions

Rockets don't have:
Chemistry
Killer instinct
Good player development coaching staff
Consistent perimeter shooters
Depth at G position

 

In this conference, we will be hard-pressed to ever make it to the finals with the interior defense that we have, especially if Kidd gets paired with Duncan this summer. Our future rests on the development of Griffin and Yao in the defense and rebounding department. If Griffin doesn't develop then Yao is going to have to be that much better on the defensive end, or we are going to need to land a real power forward.

 

I hope you don't really believe everything Marc Stein says.

 

DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE

 

Depends on who has a bad game tonight at Boston.