THat's the thing. I don't think the Rockets are going to lose their defensive mentality over night. Just because they got Adelman running the ship, I don't think it means the Rockets are going to play GS type defense. You said it yourself. CONSISTENT scoring. Take Yao + Mac out the equation. I'll even give you James. Yao + Mac + James WHat's left? Wells? The Spurs have Manu, Parker and Duncan. Bowen can hit the 3's as well. Phoenix was a suspension away from advancing, and we know what firepower they have. Utah had Boozer + Deron, with Mehmet spreading the floor. AK also came up big doing everything. GS advanced because of their firepower, but got stopped because of their lack of overall team defense. The Rockets had Mac + Yao last year, and that was it. The more firepower for the Rockets, the better.
Dallas was one of the top 5 defensive teams in the NBA. All of the great teams in the west are versatile. Look at the final 2 Utah and SA. Utah played grind it out tough defensive basketball with us, then gunned it out GS. San Antonio went toe to toe with Phoenix scoring a lot, then grinded it out with Cleveland in the playoffs. The great teams can beat you 92-88 and also beat you 115-110. We coudn't score and we didn't have enough talent. Add Rashard Lewis and that helps a hell of a lot,
People thought the Pistons were going to stop playing defense when Larry Brown left and Flip Saunders came in, then the next yr they won 64 games and were still a top 5 defensive team.
Ugh... Why does he want to go to ****ty teams like Orlando and Miami? I can see Morey thinking hes got Rashard on lock just because he's from Houston.
Y'all have made convincing arguments and, as much as I hate it in terms of salary cap implications in the long run, I wouldn't mind seeing Lewis in a Rockets uniform. But the most pressing need, IMO, is a good PF.
THANK YOU!!! That's what I'm saying. I mean, let's get real here. If the Rockets get a Joe Smith, a PJ Brown, etc. even IF the ROckets get out of the first round, can they run with Phoenix? One way or another to come out the West, you'll have to go through Phoenix. All those years under JVG and with one of the best defenses in the league, the Rockets still couldn't beat Phoenix. With Rashard, and with Wells and James, the Rockets can run with anybody. And again, the Rockets aren't going to lose their defensive mindset over night. Especially in the playoffs. Again again, I know it's a long shot to get Rashard, but, if it means giving up Battier, I'm all for it.
Yeah, that's what i mean. I know Battier is a great defender, and I love him as much as the next Rockets fan, but, losing him doesn't equate to the Rockets are hopeless on the defensive end.
1. He's not getting a max deal from anyone. 2. He can only make $11.2 million to start or he would be BYC which eliminates sign and trades. 3. Orlando doesn't even have enough cap room to offer him a max contract. 4. At $11.2 million over 6 years, he would get about $85 million. 5. Some combo of Sura, Brooks, Head, Battier or Alston and taking back Ridnour's contract will easily land him in both players and money and won't really affect Houston's money situation. 6. Les Alexander had 3 max players in Hakeem, Barkley, and Drexler, he then had 3 max players in Hakeem, Barkley, and Pippen. He has done it before albeit they never won, but I think he learned from those in the past because they were all too old, now he targets max players that are in their primes. Big difference. And again, Lewis will not get anything near max money, he is not getting $110 million (the max for him) from some team. That's the same deal T-Mac got when he opted to stay in and extend with Houston. There's no way in hell Lewis can get T-Mac money. It would be more like the Nets or Suns with 2 max players and one highly paid player, not 3 max players. Lewis would not even be near it. What does Miami really have to offer Seattle? It's no better than Houston from Seattle's viewpoint. Basically for Lewis Houston makes much more sense than Orlando, but as pointed out already if Houston drives his price up, then Darko is probably out of there. If the Rockets nabbed Darko they are really going to be set.
I agree he won't get T-Mac money. The only way he could is through sign and trade, and he won't get much more than he can in free agency, just to make the sign and trade worth while. I am not sure that Drexler, Barkley, and Hakeem were max contracts, but I know for a fact that when Pippen came, Charles took the 1,000,000 exception so the Rockets could sign him, so at least then, they didn't have 3 max guys. But I understand your point, it won't be 3 max guys.
IMO, it would make more sense if the Rockets trade T-mac for Lewis...then try to build around Yao and Lewis, they complement each other better. T-Mac could mentor Durant, who I think will be everything T-Mac was supposed to be, as long as health does not become an issue.
Rashard Lewis - waste of time Joe Smith - could be okay Alan Henderson - who cares 3rd string trash Malik Allen - who cares 3rd string trash Melvin Ely - who cares 3rd string trash Amir Johnson - Might be good, but he'll cost some and if you are going to pony up the cash you might as well have outbid Allen to get the Phoenix pick because Amir is just about as unknown as any rookie P.J. Brown (maybe) - good stopgap. Have always liked his game.
REspectfully disagree- we need a banger to help Yao. Tough play and rebounding will help us more than another jump shooter. Does Rashard slash to the basket?
Trade 1: Rafer Alston Kirk Snyder John Lucas III for Udonis Haslem Alonzo Mourning Trade 2: Shane Battier Bobby Sura Luther Head Vassilis Spanoulis 2008 1st Round Pick (Lottery protected) for Rashard Lewis Note: Seattle can re-direct Luther Head and Vassilis Spanoulis to Charlotte for a some late draft picks. MLE: Split between Chris Webber & Smush Parker/Charlie Bell Depth Chart: PG: Mike James | Charlie Bell | Aaron Brooks SG: Tracy McGrady | Bonzi Wells SF: Rashard Lewis | Steve Novak | Justin Reed PF: Udonis Haslem | Chris Webber | Carl Landry Cn: Yao Ming | Alonzo Mourning
