If Morey can pull that one off, the NBA should go ahead and hand over the executive of the year award. Foster would be the perfect last piece for this team, IMHO. -Turbo
The opponent FG% was pretty good for a Charmin team... The team didn't really get "tougher" with Steve Francis & co. They got more talented. A lot more talented.
I have already jumped off the cliff with a smile on my face several times during this offseason, if the rockets were to aquire Foster I would have to do it again. Morey is on such a roll right now.
I agree with Da Dakaota that this team needed an influx of heart or fire or whatever that "it" is that makes good players make game-winning plays. I love Yao & T-Mac for their ability and humility, but we definitely seemed to lack the cajones to win at critical moments, especially in the playoffs. Like Da Dakota pointed out, everyone we've added this off-season seems to have some extra passion to go along with their game. -Mike James is convinced everyone is doubting him no matter how much love he gets from the local fans. -Brooks seems like one of those guys just waiting for someone to doubt his skills becuase of his size...and then blow by them before they can finish the thought. -Landry seems to be a high-energy guy looking to overcome his lack of ideal size. -Scola seems to bring that South American passion that we've seen in Ginobili plus a real determination to prove he should have been in the NBA all this time. -Stevie has always been lauded for his heart and determination, even though his basketball IQ never seemed to be able to macth that. -Bonzi is an ornery fellow too who probably wants to prove that he deserves onbe more big paycheck. So, the general concept of adding some fire and heart to the team is great, but I'm a little scared about adding too many guys like that at once, especially when each one of them is expected to still defer to Yao & T-Mac. I think they all know what they've signed up for, and I hope Adelman has a plan to keep them all happy, but it's a legitimate concern. That being said, I can't remember a time I was more jolted by an off-season than this one. I can't wait for the return of Clutch City!
Alston/ James/ Brooks/ Lucas III McGrady/ Francis/ Head/ Snyder/ Sura Battier/ Wells/ Novak/ Reed Scola/ Hayes/ Landry/Mike Yao/ Mutombo/ Butler and the two european players I think these are all the players under contract with rockets. Mike will be waived after the training camp, don't think those two european players will be coming over this season. JL3, Sura will be gone for sure. Now, here is the interesting part. Synder, Reed, Butler - these are the guys that I think will be in danger zone for trade, mostly fillers Alston, Head, Hayes, Novak - these will be requested by other teams. If i am the GM, i would keep Novak, Head, and Hayes as much as i can, because wells sure will be gone after his contract, SF is not a starter, Tmac will need a good backup. I will keep the core: James/ Brooks McGrady/ Francis/ Head Battier/Novak Scola/Landry Yao Package hayes along with other players for an upgrade at the 3 (possible for better shooter at the arc) Package rest of the guys for a semi-starter type at PF, because Scola is going to hit a rookie wall no matter how good and NBA ready.
Im definetly liking who the Rockets are becoming.But one concern I got is what if things are not going right, with all these players who play so emotionally, will the team will start to unravel(guys screaming at each other..etc.....Does anyone feel me on that?You know, like SJax...
Maybe Adelman should award PT between SF and MJ according to Ast/TO ratio. That'll make them think about passing first
I have seen this but is this just casual fan speculation or newspaper speculation(any source). I would imagine Alston + Head = Foster. That is a little more believable and would basically be a godsend. Either Deke or Hayes would be expendable at that point IMO although I would like to have one of them still.
Man I wish, that would make me 5 years younger.....I was 8 in 1972, and listened to the Rockets on the bedside clock radio...... Been addicted ever since. DD
One thing about that GS team is yes, they play emotionally and yell at each other and unravel but after the game they came together and won the next game and looked determined. Those guys showed a lot of heart and some announcers were r****ded to count them out because of that blowup at the end of the game. I think the Rox may have outbursts like this but for the most part these players are not mean guys although they can be on the court. I am sure they will know it was the heat of the moment and play on and forgive. I just hope someone steps up and takes a leadership role on this team. Battier will need to be the leader in the clubhouse and Tmac is going to have to step up and be the leader on the floor like he can be(waving James off). He might have to get it SF, Bonzi's, or James face once in a while but they will respect him more for that because after all he is still the man(nothing against Yao it's just he doesn't have it in him but is probably the most important player on the floor).
The team got much more competitive AND talented. Even JVG said the team lacked the fire and that they needed to surround Yao and Tmac with competitive people. I am glad that Morey is doing that, aren't you? DD
yea i think tracy has to really step up his "talking" part of his leadership b/c there are a lot of different personalities on this team w/ james, francis, bonzi. tracy is the guy everyone on this team respects so he can do it. yao seems so nice. he prollie won't wave off JL3 if JL3 goes off.
I'd be thrilled with a package like that. However, if we get Foster does that mean they won't resign Hayes? I love Hayes, but I don't think we'd need to resign him if we added Foster.
One of your best ever threads and posts. Charmin to Sandpaper, I like it. This is an utterly amazing turnaround. I thought the supporting cast for Yao and Tracy has been marginal for the last two years. A two and a half on five starting lineup and a weak bench. Now, suddenly, there appears to be a wealth of talent. Let the wuppins begin.
I agree the team needs to be a leader, but it doesn't need to be McGrady, nor does it need to be a superstar in general. On the '99 Spurs, with Duncan, D-Rob, and Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson was clearly the leader of the team.
