Rockets, at this stage, better or worse than last year?

Heck, I would have chosen Pike and Griffin over Posey even if the salaries matched. Don't get me wrong... I thought Posey made a nice contribution last year, but getting two veteran players that you know will contribute in areas the Rockets needed (perimeter shooting, ball movement, and defense) is huge. Takes the pressure off Nachbar, and I think Rice will make a big contribution this year as starter.

If you look at successful teams, all have solid role players like Piatkowski and Griffin coming off the bench. And both of these players will contribute more under JVG's new system. HOU *will* make the playoffs this year... and getting solid role players will improve the odds of making some noise in the playoffs.

 

If you are comparing this time last year with this time this year you would have to ask if we are better with Pike and Griffen minus Kenny Thomas TMo and mabey Hawkins. I say we were better this time last year with KT.

 

we are not done adding yet.

we ave only spent half of our MLE (pike), and half of our $1ME (griff).

we could stilll add another two players.

 

If that's your opinion, as long as you realize there was no way the Rockets were going to be able to retain Kenny Thomas after this season anyways.

I think we're better this time last year simply because Yao has a year of experience under his belt and he'll be a starter on opening night.

 

IMO, Posey rates an 8 out of 10 on defense + 5 on offense = 13.
AG 7 on def + 5 on off = 12.
Pike 5 on def + 7 on off = 12.

U can rate them 1, 2 point either way but they are still close.
I am happy with AG and Pike.

 

KT costs an arm and a leg. That's not just money, it means u don't have the money to acquire or retain other talents.

KT has no place on this team with EG and MoT. He is worth close to 0 even if he is a good player.

We can still get TMo and Hawk but they r not any better than AG on def and worse than Pike on offense.

 

Do you what position he played in Philly and in Houston most of the time. He played the 3. KT is a better 3 than Posey will ever be, and he was our best 4 last year. No we probably would not have been able to afford KT, but looks like we can't afford Posey either. At least we would have been in the playoffs though.

 

The 02-03 Rockets had two players with playoff experience - Cuttino and Glen Rice. With the addition of Pike and AG, they now have 4 players in the rotation with playoff experience. And they still have a little $ left for a Mark Jackson or Charles Oakley-type vet.

I voted this year as better.

 

This year.

Yao's education last year was tremendous. He knew he needed to get stonger and appears to have done so evidenced by the recent pics. Guys were able to lean on him last year. If he's put 10-15lbs on the upper body, it could get ugly.
He knows what to expect from the NBA and should be able to pace himself.

He'll have another year to teach the rest of the team how to play real basketball.

Along with the money reasons, the Pike + AG over Posey adds another player to the rotation. We needed fewer DNP-CD and more players to contribute.

This team still needs a headhunter and Oak sounds like a good fit.

 

Posey is a more complete player, but not for what he signed for.

They have made smart move with regard to the mentioned signings, but that is a result of having an owner who will not pay the luxury tax, but I am reluctant to say they are "better."

In order for this team to be "better" people like Steve & Cat are going to need to improve and make changes in their game, and Ming will have to be more of a force and become an effective first or second option.

This team is not a contender for anything but making the playoffs, does ANYONE truly believe that we are a threat to win even one series in the playoffs with a team that really is no better than last year?

 

I am sitting on the midcourt lines wondering whether losing James Posey will hurt us more or adding Pike and A. Griffin will help us more.

However, to be blunt, your statement, "we could stilll add another two players." isn't quite correct. We could add a bunch of league minumum players, but would that help the team? Maybe, maybe no. One good player is better than a bunch of scrubs. The question is whether JVG can pluck diamonds out of the sand or whether Jerry West gets away with a jewel heist.

 

I can tell you for sure that Jerry West ain't getting away with no jewel heist. At the very best, Posey will perform up to the leve of his contract. There's no way he's going to be considered a steal or a bargain.

 

There is no doubt in my mind that Posey > Pike and A. Griffin.

But I still believe that as far as this team goes we are a better team with 2 experienced vets. than another overpaid guy that really hasn't proved that he is worth the money.

All in all I think the Rockets have made good decisions so far and the off-season ain't over yet.

Oh by the way does anybody remember another JVG coached team that seamed to get filled up with a bunch of SG/SF tweeners. hmmm... oh well at least none of ours cost 125 million.

 

I think the poll is a little misguiding. It shouldnt be Posey vs. Piat and AG. One of our main weaknesses this offseason was shoring up our shooting. We did that perfectly w/ the addition of Piat. Piat did not prevent us resigning Pose, it just filled a different weakness. Its the AG signing that makes me think the Rockets are saying bye bye to Pose.

I think the poll should be taken a couple of weeks for now, when the Rockets add a veteran pg and another player w/ the money they have left over. U see, the Rockets thinking is this: We have only this much to spend, and thats it. Should we spend it all on Pike and resign Pose, or go the other route and fill other roster spots w/ players who might be able to contribute very cheap. Then u can compare: Are we better, lets say, w/ Piat, AG, Best or Jackson, and another player w/ the left over money, or would we have been better off just signing Piat and resigning Pose.

Now these are the things to think about: are the other positions really that important to fill that we weaken our SF position?? Thats the question to think about. So basically its not Pose vs. Piat and AG. Its more like Pose vs. AG, pg, another veteran player. Piat would have been signed regardless.

 

Improvement isn't going to come from adding or losing bit players like Posey, Piatkowski, and Griffin, so I believe the question is irrelevant. It is up to Ming and Francis to improve the team. As they get better the team will get better. The Rockets were going to improve by default next year, no matter who was added.

 

On the surface, your statement is correct. But from a more practical standpoint, who the Rox sign as role players can significantly determine the success or failure of their season.

For example...if Steve Francis severely twisted an ankle and was out for 6 weeks, wouldn't the Rockets be better off having signed Mark Jackson as a backup? That one signing could have as much impact on the end result as how much Yao narrowed the gap between Shaq and himself.

I think your view is too narrow. But then I'm probably on your ignore list so I doubt you'll see this.

 

I agree with Smoothie and Gater and whoever concurred with them...

If you are saying.....which is better? Posey or Griffin and Piatkowski? Then I would say the LATTER. It's better to be deeper and we saved some money too.

BUT...we have also lost Terence Morris...so I guess we're even from last year.

We do have a new coach though...and everyone is expected to improve.

And we do have more players with playoff experience.

 

Yes I do. He played the 4.
The short experience at the 3 did not work.
If u think KT can play SF, then u know nothing about BB.

(note: A lot of people can play out of position but that does not mean it's the best thing to do!)

 

By the way.....

SF 36/MN 12
CM 36/EP 12
AG 25/EP 15/BN 8
EG 28/MT 20
YM 36/KC 12

We really don't need Glen Rice! I'm satisfied with our team right now......but if we could make a big trade that improves our power forward position....then woohoo! It seems kinda likely.