Verse- I'm talking about being a true title winner. Guys will take less like finley, stoudimire for a real chance at a ring. I think they view houston as a good team and houston defintely has a better night life, but guys want a real chance like when we had dream. Barkley re-signed for peanuts so they could get pippen. Wings want to play in phoenix and dallas for less. Those swing players will now start to look at N.O with cp3 because as a young team, they took the spurs to 7 games. Now with la, people will take a "winners" discount.
That may well have been the best played Rockets game of the year. If they had played that way against the Jazz, with a healthy Yao, things would have likely been far different.
While I tend to agree with your point, I want to fix some errors....Finley did not take less to play in San Antonio, he already had a MASSIVE contract being paid by the Mavs...... Same for Stoudamire, he already was being paid when he signed..... The Rockets may not get the discount players, but I have not seen too many players doing that outside of Boston last year...with House and Posey..... Even this year...Magette didn't do it, and I don't see any other players jumping at that chance either....... I think at the end of the day, money matters....... And to counter your point, Brent Barry signed here in Houston for the bi-annual exception, and he might have gotten more elsewhere, and if not...he did not go to Phoenix or re-sign with San Antonio. Houston may not be Boston, LA or San Antonio, but they are on par with Phoenix, Dallas & New Orleans as a destination.... And this year with a healthy team, they will jump up dramatically, IMHO. DD
in recent years, how many players have gone for a "contender" for less money? very few. finley, stoudmire, etc. already had gotten paid big money. sacrificing a little moeny makes sense for them. sf3 to an extent made a similar move. a few years back, payton and mailman to the lakers after decades of getting paid big $. so no, very rarely it happens that f/a's going for less money just because they're going to a "contender". in the end, money talks, and money walks. latest examples? see elton brand and maggette.
agree with your "3rd scorer" assessment. just curious - do you have any type of inside source on carter being our target this season, or is it just your opinion?
DD and Ibm- I think we're saying the same thing. I know matters, but we see guys who can help get bought out and didn't even look at houston. I mean , we could talk about finley who couldve made the same money and played more in houston. Stoudimire was the same and houston wasn't even considered. Barry wasn't even offered the bi annual by phoenix and the spurs gave 3m to mason jr. I wonder if houston even gave pj brown a call when they saw the lack of size and experience at the backup 4/5 spots last yr. Yall know I was pushing for him in december and january. I'm just saying there are a lot of teams in the west that players view more of a title contender than the rox right now.
We did not need PJ at that time, Scola had begun starting and Landry was coming into his own. And, he sort of falls against your, younger, more athletic agenda as of late. I just don't think the Rockets are that far away, and don't buy the "Outhustle" during the regular season theory, I think the team does play hard, but that translates to the playoffs as well, with a healthy Yao. I am just of the opinion that the team should take small risks, with potential large payoffs, chemistry and basketball accumen are difficult to garner, and the Rockets have a bunch of great guys who are VERY smart and play well together. That is why they got rid of Bonzi, he was a knucklehead......do not bring in any more knuckleheads..... This team is RIGHT THERE.....just add small pieces and if you can steal a quality Wing or PG at the trade deadline as other team's realize that their core needs to be changed and they are going into rebuild mode....you make the deal then..... DD
not that i disagree with your thought. and i know morey thinks similarly. but this trade deadline plan really needs a backup plan b, imo. and you don't have to wait until the deadline. what if we don't a suitable deal in february? then what? what is plan b?
The problem is Landry, you can not do ANYTHING until his situation is resolved, so the Rockets are stuck twiddling their thumbs until he either gets an offer or signs here in Houston. Which probably takes the team until training camp if not later..... As for contingency, what contingency do they need? If Brooks develops then he is a legitimate Rafer backup - problem solved...and another creative penetrating player. And Barry solves the Luther Head backup SG problem. This team has enough as assembled to win it all if healthy.... Sure it would be great to get a Hinrich or an Andre Miller, or Mike Miller, but not if you have to gut a quality roster to do it. I think the Rockets know that they are close, and are looking to tweak.....and the right deal....very smart if you ask me.. DD
DD- My problem last year when I wanted pj was the lack of size and experience at the 4/5. I do remember you saying they were ok. My whole point of contention was relying on 2 rookies, one international and 1 with a known injury history, and one under sized, useless on the offensive end hayes and like wise deke. I thought Brown would be a good alternative to hayes and deke to cut yao's minutes. The rox small size is really what did them in against Utah. U may not agree with me, but if pj brown is coming in for deke vs hayes or late in the game, the rox probably still win that series. I like the veteran presence in moderation. At least if u lose atheleticism at least u have ur length. If ur a guard, its magnified because its on the perimeter.
The Rockets are not small with Yao at Center, that is what did them in against Utah...they were missing 22 points and 10+ rebounds per game. Smarts beats athleticism, IMO..... It is why players like Stockton can be effective so long and Francis won't.... DD
I agree, if healthy this is one of the top teams in the league. And of course, we have some weaknesses. But all teams do. Not every team has a all star at each position or a super bench. Every team has a area they'd like to upgrade.
Two points: Bonzo was dumped because he wasn't playing like a guy who had a $30+mm contract offer, or a guy playing like he was worth any new contract. The fact that je is a knucklehead did not help his cause. This team is NOT right there. It is a good team, but one needing some definite help. Landry may be causing himself irreparable harm and thus the team. But, even a developing or developed Landry is not enough. And, if the Lakes were to get Artest (and KT) for Odom (+ te return of an even improved Bynam) then oops, look out WC and NBA! CP3's and D-Will's squads seem poised to improve, and look out in the NW for the blazing Po'landers. Thus, I am in the 'camp' of hoping there is a Pistons deal, likely a three team deal - yes, in the reality.
A team that finishes 55-27, Two games out of first in the entire Western conference, wins 22 in a row, and is missing their best player for 27 games most at the end of the year, to me....is RIGHT there. A fully healthy Yao and Tmac is what is primarily needed.....the rest of the team you fill with quality role players....and that team is one that can contend for it all. DD
DD- the rox are a small team with yao because they have no versitile players. When yao goes out, now u have to bring in deke. The problem is he's ur only option and similar to yao except he can't score unless he's 2 ft from the hoop. The other options were 6'6 and 6'8 at center. Once they traded wells, the only options behind the 2/3 were all 6'3 or shorter. DD, I think ur falling into that "our hands are tied" thought process. Let me ask u this, why can't the rox make a move for Josh Boone that is on a rookie deal that can back up yao and scola or make a move for wilcox ? Then offer the mle to JR Smith and let Landry walk. Wilcox and Boone will do the same thing as landry, plus adding a atheletic young scorer off the bench like smith makes the rox better. Plus they could have jackson and wilcox expirings at the trade deadline.
Was just reading the Spurs forum at Spurstalk.com, and LOLed at all the Barry >>>> Finley comments... Barry will give us a guy who sees the floor well, makes great passes, plays with a high BB IQ and most importantly, hit the 3 ball at a great clip. Not bad for less than $2M a season - just hoping (like with all other Rocket players) that he can stay healthy.
I think the Rockets believe that Landry is a more effective player than the one's you mentioned and will only get better. So why take a shot on a lower talent when you have a better fit already restricted to the Rockets. I know the team is somewhat undersized with Yao out. but that does not bother me one bit...and honestly, if it were not for Deke's locker room presence, I would let him walk....I would rather go small when Yao goes to the bench to give a different look. As for overall size, let's take a look...IMO. Look at our starting lineup. Yao - taller than average Scola - about average Battier - About average Tmac - taller than average Rafer - about average Primary bench players. Brooks - smaller than average - but very quick Landry - about average Barry - taller than average That is NOT a small team, sure they could use some 6'10 jumping jack type of players...but height and athleticism are the most overated thing about basketball players. You played the game Leeb, I am a bit perplexed why you think they need so much height.....what they need is good chemistry and everyone to fill their roles correctly. Was Boston all that tall? They, just like the Rockets were tall at some spots and short at others......but they fit well as a team, THAT is what matters most, IMHO. DD
DD, I think u need a good mix of production, potential, toughness, and chemistry. I also think the lack of versitile players causes this team to have roster spots being occupied by 1 dimensional players. They don't have players except tracy and to a certain extent battier, that can play multiple positions. Some of that is size,skill, and atheleticism. I think francis,jackson, and head are all redundant of each other. I think scola and landry are too. I think guys need to bring something different than the other guy and play other positions effectively. I mentioned Josh Boone as a example and have mentioned tim thomas and al harrington before. With Boone, don't know if they can get him, but he's 6'10, atheletic and can play the 4/5 . He could get 15mins behind Yao and 14 behind scola. In those minutes, he'll probably get you 9pts and 8 rebs, but what he really do for the rox is let landry walk, deke move on, and make hayes expendable or really a situational player. That move alone opens 3 roster spots. By opening those 3 roster spots and the mle, they could offer the mle to a deadeye shooter at the pg spot like Sasha or a good 3pt shooting atheletic guy like JR Smith. Either one of those moves opens up another 3 more roster spots. Sasha gives the team a chance to trade rafer and make Brooks the backup 1. That really makes head,francis and jackson moveable player. Getting smith gives the team no use for francis,jackson, or head either because he can backup Tracy for 10 mins and Shane for 20 mins. Rick could really have some flexibility. It doesn't happen like that because we're waiting it out. If landry is that high or if he scouted landry and had that high of a grade, why was he only given a 1 yr deal. I always thought 2nd rd picks get at least 2 yrs with a option for a 3rd. This team needs some streamlining in the worse way, but I'm not sure it will happen anytime soon. A team do need something other than atheletes, but having atheletes that can play really make a difference.
