I think the addition of Battier gives us a lot of options in terms of mixing up our lineup. A lot of posters don't seem to be considering the fact that the ability to change your lineup on the fly can yield a lot of success. That's a big reason the Mavs did as well as they did. Let's assume Novak and Hayes can provide solid, expected contribution off the bench. I'm also assuming we get Mike James. With Battier, we can deploy people in many different positions. What I've done is list each position and put every possible player on our team that could play it. You can switch each row around to make a different lineup. PG: Alston, James, Tmac SG: James, Tmac, Battier, Novak SF: Tmac, Battier, Novak, Hayes PF: Battier, Howard, Hayes C: Ming, Mutombo, Hayes So we have 2 players that can play 3 positions in Tmac and Battier. (Hayes would only play center in situations where the other team is going really small) You've got Alston dishing it out, Ming on the inside, Tmac and James ready to penetrate, and Battier and James ready to drain the 3. Tmac, Battier, and James create a potent mid-range game. That really spreads the floor on the offensive end, making it hard to defend: - Alston's shooting may be lacking, but he can rack up the assists. - Any double-team on Yao leaves open Tmac, James, and Battier (all 3-pt threats) - You can't keep Tmac or James from getting where they want on the floor since both are very quick - If Battier is up against a smallish PF, he can get position in the mid-range, and if he's up against the larger ones (Rasheed, KG, Dirk, etc.), he forces them to come out to the perimeter (respecting the 3), which opens up the lanes and front court. I really do think Battier was a great acquisition. Consider how the elite teams play. You'll realize that combined with James, Tmac, and Yao, the placement of Battier creates innumerable dilemmas for the defense. You can't double-team anyone, and our first 3 scoring options are great 1-on-1.
jumped in on this thread late. Do you think the Rockets brass thinks the Rockets can win a title with Howard starting at 4?? I hope they are smarter than that. I mean, if the Rockets care about winning now, they have to be looking for an upgrade over Juwan. Just about anyone would be an upgrade over Juwan. If Howard is the starting 4 come next year, I'm convinced that Rockets management is just plain stupid. I like the Trade for Battier. He's a good role player in the middle of his career, and the Rockets need some of those. All of the Rockets decent role players last year were old or old and injured, Barry, Sura, Deke.
First of all IMO We should trade the contract of sura- he is finished We should trade the rights to Spanoulis- he will never come to the Rockets on the cheap and will never come off the bench. We should trade Howard in a package with our 2007 1st round pick We use our 5.2 mil exception to sign JAMES We trade the Howard/pick package in a sign and trade with the Pacers to obtain Jamaine Jackson. We use our 4.2 mil to sign J R Smith We sign Cato to a Vets Min Contract. 2006-07 Rockets look something like this Guards: Alston,James, J.R.Smith, Frahm Forwards: McGrady, Batttier, Hayes, Jackson, Novac, Bogans BIGS Yao Ming, Mutombo, Cato ABOUT125 POINTS/GAME This is what I call a win now team.........................
the rockets won championships without a true great 4. horry was a 3 and we slid him over to guard alot of 4s for the playoffs, but if you'll remember, it was chucky brown and the likes of pete chilcutt. think battier can play D on the 4s like horry did? i'd take juwon over both of those guys. this rockets team is actually beggining to look familiar if we sign mike james....
i thought tmac want to play the 3 spot... battier is at the 3 spot so who is going to be chasing the 2s?
Well, Pete Chilcutt rarely saw the floor in the 1995 finals (it was all horry), and chucky brown came off the bench. But Chilcutt stretched the defense against the Jazz and Suns in the playoffs with his reliable perimeter shooting, something Howard can't do. Chucky Brown was actually a tougher, more physical player than the Howard of today is. I don't think Battier can do what Horry did in 1995, that's why the Rockets need a tougher power forward. The Rockets won't win a championship with Juwan Howard as the starting 4, That's as clear as day. It's up to Rockets management to get an upgrade, if they can't get that done or feel Howard should start, then they are idiots.
Wooow great proposal! The only thing I would change: trade Mutombo and Bogans for an other player (PF or SG) ... but if Houston could sign all those players together? Awesome!
Who are you saying we should trade Juwan and the pick for. Do you mean Jermaine O'Neil or Stephen Jackson. No way the pacers give up O'Neil for that. If you mean Jackson, I dont think the Rox would do that. Right now the 2007 looks like it is going to be unbelieveable. No matter what the Rox do, I hope they keep next year's pick at all costs unless we are getting a bonafide superstar.
i hope this is a joke. youre r****ded if you think jr smith is worth $4.2 million. i havent even heard of jamaine jackson
PG: Rafer Alston SG: Mike James SF: TMac PF: Battier C: Yao or PG: Mike James SG: TMac SF: Battier PF: JHoward C: Yao which one is better? (assuming that Mike James get signed by the Rockets)
I will go along with all of your stupidity if you tell us who the hell jamaine jackson is because the fact that you dont even know the guys name discounts you rite there!
Man and Jr is not even able to be signed because he isnt a free agent! But for your sake why dont we go sign dirk with the mle. gosh i mean come on where do you get this stuff?
Just throwing this out there. What about Ruben Patterson (Player Option) or Ron Murray (UFA)? If we target one of these SGs, what are the chances? Will the salaries match with our pocketbooks? Ruben Patterson (Kobe-Stopper?) would have a great FG% to complement Tracy and Yao, and can play above-adequate defense with his 6-5/6-6 frame. He might not be a JVG-type player though, with questionable character. But then again, Tracy and Rafer had similar stigma, until they came to Houston. Flip may not be a top-shelf SG, but taking a look at the rest of the 2006 free agents, choices are weak all across the board. He played encouragingly this past season for Cavs in the 2nd half and when Hughes was out. Also ranked right below Finley and Ginobili among SGs in CBS Sportsline's fanatasy basketball page. Not too shabby. Gives you 2.5-3 assists per game as well.
Looks like a lot of people are playing fantasy basketball right now. PG: Let's get Tony Parker SG: Mike James SF: TMac PF: KG C: Yao, with Shaq coming off the bench. With Battier, Yao, and TMac, I think we've got enough to win it all. With plenty of room for Rafer & Luther to make names for themselves. That's every bit as good as Wade, Shaq, and who else was on that team?? I also thought Juwan did a great job......... well, a really good job at the begining of the season. He helped out a lot, last year as well...... there's no way we should expect him to be our #2 scorer or anything like that. But with Battier, our gaurds, and Novak coming off the bench, we should be able to get that third scorer. It's hardly ever the same guy every night on most teams. I know throwing Novak in there might be kinda wierd, but the guys got great range, and moves well without the ball. If he can play defense, he might work his way to the starting line up. Personally, I can't wait to get the Battier thing done, so we can move on, and start playing some basketball.
Okay alot of people on the memphis boards have been saying that the deal is blowing up and that if this is not a 3 way there is no way to make it happen what do yall know bout that!
Yall heard about this! AND i dont mean the first reports im not that dumb but i again read it on the grizz forum!
I think our starting line-up will be: Rafer T-Mac Battier Howard Yao with Mike James Who? Mike James being our main 6th man... I think Rafer/MJ can split minutes like Kenny/Cassell did back in the day... or when we want to go small to match-up with a team like Dallas that has Harris and Terry at the guard positions, we can rival that with: Rafer MJ T-Mac Battier Yao I'm still worried how we can guard PF's like Duncan, Brand, KG... and we still can't run with Phoenix, but we can't be worse than last year.. so here's hoping for the best
