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

I totally agree with you. We need to pick this guy up this summer. We do not need big-pieces of the puzzle. The big pieces are in place. What we need now are complimentary pieces.

 

I think we have a the team now, it just needs a couple of years to gel...

Once EG and Yao gain weight and everyone trusts one another and has faith in one another, we're Finals bound...

 

WE need a true Point Guard and a Strong Power Forward ( Brand).

 

DId you know that the Compaq Center is tiny in terms of seating, compared to most other arenas?

It can only hold ...i think atmost 15000 or something. whoever knows exactly the amount...correct me.

 

Boki.

 

I think he is stating a fact. Is it a coincidence that the top teams (Mavs, Kings and Lakers) are all over cap?

 

http://www.compaqcenter.com/booking.html

Seats just over 17,000 people. Still doesn't justify why half the seats are empty at the Rockets games.

 

Basketball capacity is 16,285.

 

That pretty much sums it up, imo. And since he's been brought up, the guy most of us wanted with the Brand scenario, Piatkowski, would be a good pick-up this summer if he's cheap. I think Francis and Norris are our PG's, for better or worse, next season. Maybe Maddox will pan out. We'll see.

 

alright. thanks. I am too lazy to go and look it up. I am a total slacker. Well, it is upsetting how the team has had such a little amount of attendence. I guess this is what happens when a team turns to dust for a few years, but with the addition of a new arena, things should be looking up.

GO ROCKS.

 

I agree with the earlier post that says that the fans can be the missing link. Let the Rockets know when they're kicking ass, but also let them hear it when they're stinking up the joint. Even Rudy couldn't ignore 20,000 booing fans. He'd be shamed into calling a timeout and imposing some discipline. If you look at the most hardcore fans in sports, they're not afraid to let their team know when they're playing like idiots.

 

We need a playmaker, a court general with excellent court vision and passing skills. He needs a keen sense of timing. He needs to be a motivator. Smart and physically quick and durable. We need a "pure" shooting forward, who can consistently nail the three. We need a banger inside, a strong, enforcer, rebounder-type power forward. We need a coaching staff that is demanding, good teachers, will instill discipline and organization. The potential for these qualities may exist in current personnel, but they are missing at this time.

 

Good thread idea. Especially in light of what else has been passing for quality lately.

With league pass, I watch way more NBA than I should. The following was pointed out by a widely respected commentator (as close as I can recollect, someone like Bill Raffterty who does a lot of Nets games).

Pre-reading Disclaimer: Mobley apologists be prepared to be offended. The NBA is a business.

Arguably, the two most important positions on the floor are the PG and the C. However, in recent NBA Championship history there are cases of teams winning without a "great" low post 5 (Jordan's Bulls) and examples of winning without a "great" PG (AJ with the Spurs, The Jet and ET, Ainge on the Celtics).

What appears to be the "glue" for a championship is the SF position - Bird, Worthy, Pippen, Drexler, Horry, Sean Elliott, Rick Fox.

If we make the assumption that the Rockets have the PG & C, then we need to very closely scrutinize the combined values of Posey + Rice + TMo. Are you comfortable that this amount of SF output puts you into the WC Finals?

OK, it's obvious Rice (maybe Posey for that matter) will be long gone by the time this comes to fruition but (if you accept the SF Theory) the seeds we sow this summer will be the determine who the SF of the future will be.

Now here's the offensive part.

Whether Francis is the PG or the SG doesn't matter. Steve and Cuttino are redundant skills. A near All Star level SF would have the handles to compliment Francis playing either position. (Incidentally, the redundancy factor is why I personally emphasize SF over PF...I assume Yao will grow into all the low post we need).

Remember, championships have been won with such PF's as Kurt Rambis, Ho Grant, and Samaki Walker. IMO, the duo of Taylor and Griffin is adequate.

I think the best shot the Rockets have for the future is to see what is the best SF which could be acquired for Cuttino and Rice's expiring contract.

This one will really piss off the Mobley apologists. I'm not sure the Knicks would do it, but Cat + Rice for Sprewell works capwise.

1) Francis / Moochie or trade
2) Posey / Francis
3) Sprewell / TMo / Boki
4) Griffin/Taylor
5) Yao/Cato

Sprewell's incident with PJ is widely ignored these days in NBA circles. OK, he punched someone or something this past summer...you can't say he isn't as passionate about the game as Cat and Steve. He may even be a good mentor for TMO or Boki.

If you agree with the SF Theory and don't think Latrell is the man, let's here your best SF for the job...a three teamer where we part with Rice + Cat but receive Odom and a bad contract?

Mobley lovers...please note! I am not picking on Cuttino. I am trying to objectively think what is best for the future of the Rockets. It is business. Both sharing the ball and winning contribute to chemistry which is changed via trades.

 

Rebounding is actually one of our biggest strengths. We're 3rd in the league in rebounding.

 

Eric Snow (or TJ Ford) at the 1, Stevie at the 2! A REAL coaching staff, not a bunch of former video coordinators.

 

Heres some free agents available this season who could help;
Jon Barry 6'5 SG-SF currently with Detroit
I still dont know why they let him go in Sac-land.Very high basketball IQ. And can drain three's consistently if left open.We haven't seen that since the glory days of Elie,Horry, The Bull,ect.


Eric Piatowski 6'6 SG currently with La Clips
I agree he's underrated. But he's been there since forever would he leave? But he's more of the same as Jon Barry. I'de take Barry though if it was my choice.

PJ Brown 6'11 PF-C currently with the Hornets
I really like him as a player. Plays good Defense. Brings it every night with an average of around 10 rebounds per a game. Downside he's getting older,but it means experience. He is what Kelvin Cato capable of.*sigh*


Elton Brand 6"8 PF currently with the La Clipps
I think Elton Brand has too many other places to make a bunch of green. The only feasible way to get him is if the Clipps wanna do a sign and trade. And even then we'de have to give up Rice (his wonderful contract that ends next year) and another player. The other player with addition to Rice would either be Griffin or Cuttino.Even then I still dont see Sterling( owner) paying the amount of 9 million to Rice for even a year.Mobley is really lucrative to teams. Getting him for 5.4 million over next few years is a good yard sale.But i'de honestly give up Griffin before Mobley.
But as far as signing Brand personally, no chance.
But thats my oppinion! We did land Antoine Carr on the market!!! lol

 

That would be nice. Most great centers have had a bruiser to do the dirty work (Hakeem had Ooooo Teeee, Otis Thorpe). If not PJ, someone like him who'll always have Yao's back.

 

I think Drewdog is trying to keep this real so let me point out something that I hope isn't taken to negatively.

IF the Rockets re-sign James Posey and IF that contract is reasonable, all we will have left is the MCE. In fact, that may be all we can muster with or without Posey.

I love PJ Brown, but he makes $7m now and I think he will get more than our MCE. Piatkowski we may be able to get but I'm sure he's going to draw some interest from the under the cap teams that can outbid the Rockets (Spurs, Jazz, and Wiz is what I recall). I also like the John Barry idea except I believe the Pistons have his Bird Rights and we easily outbid the Rox.

IMHO, if Brands available, the Clipps will get better offers then Cat+ Rice. They won't pay Rice $9+m for even one year. Rice alone would be almost 1/3 of their teams payroll.

 

This team has 3 major flaws:

The Guards are not compatible.

The starters are too inconsistent.

We can't hit 3's to burn teams for doubling Yao.

These are the 3 MAJOR holes in our team. Right now, I think the #1 priority is consistency, since we've shown we can cut it on defense, we can win, and Rice is respected from 3-pt range.

Adding Elton Brand would be amazing for this team. It's been said over and over and over again, offer ANYTHING outside of Steve Francis and Yao Ming. The Clipps don't want a whole lot of what we have, but Cato, Mobley and Boki are decent commodities, and obviously, we can get a 3rd team involved. I believe that we can definitely pull a deal with the Clippers in the summer (3-way) because we have SO MUCH good trade bait. Cato, Mobley, Rice, Griffin (if we're acquiring Brand-calibre PF's), Posey (is the deal is that good).

Yao Ming, Elton Brand, and Steve Francis. You have these 3, and you can fill the rest with anyone, FA's, current players, second round picks, whatever.

Brand is what this team needs. If we're unable to get Brand, then I'd offer Griffin, Mobley and Cato for Rashard Lewis and Brent Barry. Rashard can't be happy with the recent trade, so he may want to come home. He might even demand it.