As a fan of the Rockets since 1972, I have seen many iterations of the team, many good teams, and some putrid ones as well. This last year was very frustrating, personally for me (probably couldn't tell from my posts) as I thought we had talent but not the right sort of chemistry. I believed losing Sura was huge for this team as Tmac is just not a fiery hate to lose guy, and while Yao is developing into that, he is also not the fire and brimstone type. So, when it came to the playoffs and it gets to gut check time, I felt the Rockets lacked.....well for the lack of a better word....heart. So, what does our Rookie GM do to address this issue? First he goes out and trades Juwan (Nice guy) for Mike James (emotional heart guy). Then he drafts Aaron Brooks (another chip on the shoulder heart guy). Is he done....no not by a long shot...... Luis Scola is next (He plays with incredible intensity and passion) Then, Steve Francis - Not always big on brains, but HEART HEART HEART..... And to top it off, he convinces Bonzi to stay (another competitor). So the team just went from Charmin to Sand paper in 45 days....... This team has everything, EVERYTHING......... Now it will all boil down to chemistry, Morey may have to move some newly acquired pieces as playing time will be hard to come by for a lot of players used to getting a lot of minutes. WOW WOW WOW !!!! The Toy Box just became the Tool shed......when other teams come to town... TAKE EM OUT BEHIND THE TOOL SHED BOYS !!! IT IS TIME FOR THEIR WHUPPIN !!!! No longer is this team soft..........Daryl Morey.....the KING of hearts !!! DD
Yep, we have to be ranked among the best in the West now. We had the two superstars, now we have great depth. I think the heart and toughness will carry this team to another home court advantage in the playoffs.
Deuce & Rowdy, I agree, but it seems the Rockets are taking the Mark Cuban approach which is to acquire the talent, and then worry about how it fits.... I LOVE that approach, you can acquire guys and move them for pieces that may fit better if they don't work out. Talent wins out - and if it doesn't fit, trade it for someone that fits better. I love it. They have skill position players, and guys with skills and heart......and enough talent to withstand injury and to allow our main guys to get more rest during the season, making the team better prepared for the long playoff run next year. Gonna be a great year..... DD
The fifth best record in the NBA makes significant improvements on their weaknesses, enough to make Hollinger list us as the most improved of the offseason, and THEN we bring back Francis. I haven't stopped smiling since I first read the news. Francis is going to mesh, he's in it for the victory, he'll do what's asked of him. I'm going to go buy some merch
Lets just hope we don't get unlucky again and have T-Mac or Yao miss any significant amount of time due to injury. This is certainly going to be an interesting season...
Daryl morey isn't doing this by himself. You must factor in Adelman's presence as well. Adleman did the same thing for geoff petrie in sacramento where geoff won executive of the year.Bonzi wants to comeback to play with adleman,Brooks was a guy adleman suggested,Scola was another player who fit in adleman's system and francis knows adelman is the ultimate players coach. Morey has done his share with negotiations and getting the business part of these deal square, but the coach is bringing this vibration to this franchise just like he did with the kings only this time he is looking to win it all.
I totally agree DaDa. However, I still think we need another big body like a Reggie Evans who can guard big 4's. That might be our only weakness, though our new PF shouldn't have much trouble on offense
So where do all of these guys fit now? Alston/ James/ Brooks/ Lucas III McGrady/ Francis/ Head/ Snyder Battier/ Wells/ Novak Scola/ Hayes/ Landry Yao/ Mutombo/ Butler
No argument with the concept but HECK NO to Reg - gie. Najera, yes. Haslim, yes. Etan Thomas, yes - if it brings JCN!
[Homer] Novak? cut John Lucas III? cut Hmmm...Bob sura? Yeah. You're gone [/Homer] I have no idea how we're gonna cut this roster down.
You'll have no Lucas III - He's reported to go to NO Orleans... So thats -1... Head AND Snyder will probably be traded for a BIG MAN at the 4... -2, +1 Novak will probably be on the inactive list but prob. not... (-1,0?) Landry will be on the inactive list, unless a player gets injured (-1) Butler will be on the inactive list, unless a player gets injured (-1) Alston/James/Brooks McGrady/Francis Battier/Wells Scola/Hayes/(New big guy?) Yao/Mutombo Equals 12, and that is YOUR Houston Rockets' roster for 2007-2008!
DDakota I couldn't agree with you more.. I thought what we lacked the most last year was the killer mentality.. With the changes we have made off the season will definatley get us past the 1st round all the way to the WCF!!! It will about Chemistry this season because the pieces are their.
I agree. All we have left to do is find an experienced big just in case Scola bombs. Unless our leftovers could fetch an Artest or Barnes which is very unlikely.
Forget those other teams that stockpile 3 bigs so they can spend 18 fouls. We now have Wells, James, Scola, and Francis. That's 7 techs we can give up and still keep one of those guys on the floor.
