I'm not operating under the assumption that both will miss the playoffs. I'm operating under the assumption that both will be injured or hurting by the time playoffs start. Both Tmac and Yao spend a significant amount time trying to win games during the regular season. They average around 40 minutes per game, Yao may be slightly less, however, this is ineffective for man that size. So we basically limp into the playoffs on one leg and uncompetitive. We can obtain 2 6'7" wings that can get to the bucket. My apologies, I meant 2 6'7" wings that can get to the bucket and score. We are facinated with Shane and my apologies, he's not stepped up in the playoff either (Memphis/Rockets). Trading Shane and Luther or Bobby Jackson for a Richard Jefferson would do wonders for the Rockets. Sign and trade for a Cory Maggette would do the same. Both Richard and Cory would be great 2 and 3 options when either Yao or Tmac goes to the bench. So if you're recommending we stay stagnant at the 2 and 3 spots, we're setting ourself up for a big disappointment in the 09 playoffs We will always be known as a great regular season team.
The Spurs. . who are 1 year removed from a championship still have all three of their stars . . .ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE and get Maggette and folx want us . .. who have not move out of the 1st round .. to stand pat . . .primarily????? I'm with you . . . .we have to go get it!! Rocket River
I don't think anybody is disagreeing that getting RJ or Magette would do wonders for this team. It's just that it's easier said than done. Considering the Bucks didn't give up that much for Jefferson I'm sure we at least made an effort that included Battier as a centerpiece.
Morey would and should get fired if he doesn't address our weaknesses, but there's no way he doesn't... he is the Morey.[/QUOTE] This is the first time in a long time that we really don't have any OVERWELMING weaknesses. If Morey was fired for keeping this team intact, I would be shocked. He has been a hell of a GM in a short period. NO WAY HE IS FIRED!
Yeah we would now be crazies. Seriously I would love to have Artest on this team. He plays hard and has a game that would fit this team. As for being softies, there's nothing soft about Scola, and Dorsey looks bigger than Wallace. Oh by the way remember the game when Wallace made Artest look like a punk? Mr. Tough Artest had to run in the stands and fight skinny white men... Imagine what Artest would do if the Ray Lewis of the NBA slammed into him. Artest would be charge into stands after little girls wearing Girl Scout unis.
Everyone knows the Rockets are in the "Win Now" mode, and they're basically trying to build around T-Mac and Yao. I'm sure that everyone on this board would like to see trading T-Mac or Yao as a "Win Now" trade rather than see it as a move to take the team in a new direction towards rebuilding. The only trade ideas that I saw that looked like "Win Now" trades involved T-Mac going to the Detroit Pistons for at least a couple of their players in return in the thread titled "Pistons Possibly Trying to Land T-Mac for Billups and T-Prince" (http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=149928). A question that I consider rather debatable at this time concerning T-Mac or Yao is "Should the Rockets trade either one of the two this offseason rather than the next offseason or beyond?" The only reason I believe it's debatable is that the issue is the trade value of each of them, such as what it is now, or what it might be in the next offseason or beyond if either one of them get injured too much during the course of next season like what we've seen for the past three seasons.
But the Rockets getting 82 games out of T-Ming is not very high, so the need for a third star (with no history of injuries) is a must. The Rockets have no margin for error. Having no margin for error is not a formula for Championship aspirations, which is why the Spurs are presumably looking to add a 4th star. It's crazy to think this team should stand still.
I've said it before, this teams future failures is from the lack of a 3rd guy. If u just break it down, the rox have 3 guys (tracy, yao, jackson) that have ever avg 15ppg in a season in their career. Top that off, jackson hasn't done it in 4 yrs. Look at the final 4 and cross check that with the rox.
I think the Rockets team looks good except for the point guard position. the forwards should be fine and the key is health...again. Considering Yao is 7'6", 310 pounds and has a history of injury problems it's tough to expect him to stay healthy especially with him playing in the Olympics but hopefully this year he plays at the very least 65 games. I'm more optimistic about T-Mac's health than Yao's actually.
I'm absolutely fine with this team with minor additions. By minor, I mean Chris Mihm and Earl Boykins. Really minor. Then I would stand pat with our trade assets (Jackson, Luther, Francis, and in the right deal Hayes and Battier) and wait for someone really good to become available. I'm perfectly content being this team and waiting to pounce on the right oppotunity from now till the trading deadline.
You will get your wish, perhaps not with Mihm or Boykins, but with another "safe" player. We will field a winning team again this year and we will make a first round exit. The team is built for mediocrity rather than greatness. The "win now" philosophy plods on in the same gear as when we traded a pot of gold (Gay) for a pot of glue (Battier). Had we not been so foolish, we could win now. The Rockets are built to be a winning but mediocre team. We will never see a championship when we have starters like Alston and Battier, both of whom are good but very limited players. Then look at their backups -- BJax, Luther, Hayes, Harris, Woods and SF3 -- all of whom couldn't make another NBA team or who would be marginal at best. Mutombo is a wonder but he is aging. Novak is limited to being a magnificent spot up shooter but nothing else. The Rockets have some hope with Brooks, Greene, Dorsey and Landry (when healthy). Of course, our core (Yao, T-Mc and Scola) is superb, but two of the three are injury-prone. However, they are the principal reason we win.
i agree 100%...it's almost a given that either Tracy or Yao will go down for more than 15 games...and then with the other guys listed above i just don't see how anyone in their right mind would believe that we can beat the top caliber teams out West... exactly...we need one or 2 difference makers, LEGIT SCORERS that will take pressure off of Tracy's 30% shooting and alleviate Yao's 35 minute "foot breaking" minutes... there's a high possibility that this current team, even with the additions of our draft picks, will miss the playoffs by about 2 games...last year we baaarely squeeked in, and that was with a miracle 22 game win streak...that will not happen next year so they MUST play consistent basketball...
probably the best post yet...the reality is in this post...a mediocre good team...a team that will have a winning record, be up and down with inconsistencies and injury prone i wouldn't be surprised if they missed the playoffs next year...not saying they will - just not surprised if they don't...
Just because you want a player doesn't mean you can get them. Sure the Rockets are interested in upgrading the team. But the only real tradeable assets they have are Battier and Scola. No one wants are other scrubs. I am sure Morey wants to upgrade but I am also sure he doesn't think this current roster is mediocre. I do agree if Yao and TMac go down we are screwed. But the only true solution to that is to trade. Are you suggesting that? We won't get value for TMac and Yao is the franchise. So if you are pissed because the Rockets won't trade a injury prone Yao then you have a valid argument. Otherwise dreaming of getting an impact player for Luther Head is just a dream. Oh by the way a 22 game Win Streak does not equal Mediocrity.
Interesting post, but a bit too much reality for the average fan. I believe that the real issue is Les Alexander. He knows how to build expectations, how to market the team. He knows how to make money, but I don't think he knows how to build a champion. I am not even sure if that is his goal. Morey is clearly competent, but I wonder about the financial limits that are placed on him. Clearly, he is looking for bargains. Les is paying major money for TMac and Yao and they are his "money makers," but their temperaments and fragile bodies are not made for a championship run. They have always, and I mean always been surrounded by a "low budget" supporting cast. Compared to the elite teams in the West, the Rocket's roster, well, doesn't compare. Give the team it's due, they play extremely hard, work well together, give their all, win more games than they lose, but when the talent "rubber" meets the "playoff" road, they predictably "go flat." I hope I am wrong about the owner, I hope he has finally given Morey the "all clear" signal to "gitterdone." But, that doesn't sound like Moneyball. If there is any consolation, Dallas' owner is going all out, spending like a madman, wheeling and dealing with high budget players, but is going nowhere. It is isn't easy to be a champion in the NBA, but Boston proved it could be done if you buy several max. players and they actually get along and play as a team. The Rockets have the right attitude, they play well as a team, they just need more talent and in this league it is very expensive.
you would think that a team that wins 22 in a row could at least take 4 out of 7 from a team with almost an identical record... mediocre - check inconsistent - check soft - check
it is called the salary cap. when you are paying two guys as much as Les is paying Tracy and Yao, there's not a ton of $ left to go get an all-star team to put around them. Les has always spent when he needed to spend. The rockets have been in the top half of the NBA in player salaries for quite awhile. It's not about moneyball. Its not about being naive and playing Fantasy Basketball like Cuban does. Its about having an intelligent plan to build a team and sticking with it. That's how the spurs built their "dynasty". Not with flashy trades and overspending, but by being fiscally responsible and intelligent.
Sometimes I cannot believe that I am watching the same team as some of you people. Mediocre?? 22 games in a row no matter who you are playing in the NBA isn't mediocre. Inconsistent?? The only thing that's inconsistent is our shooting. Everything else about this team is a solid as a rock. They give effort every game, for the entire game. Soft?? Five of our players had surgery this year. Five (I originally forgot about Stevie..). Three of them played through the playoffs in a what was probably a great deal of pain and we STILL competed with the Jazz. If we had been healthy we probably could have beat them without Yao. I wanna know what exactly you think is the perfect franchise? Boston? Who until this year was bad for the last twenty years? The Lakers?? Who's star player was begging to be traded as late as the first preseason Lakers game because he hated his teammates. Portland?? Stockpiling young talent with no experience... and an already gimpy supposed to be superstar center? Just exactly what do you want this team to be? Good or fantasy?
