Rockets will not make playoffs with SF-TMAC Trade

The greatest thing about that lineup is that Everyone is a threat to score and the Rox don't have to play 4 or 5 offense like they did when Cato was starting.

 

Baloney! Double Baloney! They will roar into the playoffs and steamroll the first two teams they meet. You have no idea what a Ming-TMac combo could do. Howard is a smart player, solid. JJ is solid as they come. Derek Fisher will soon follow. The bench will be restructured. Good times are ahead for Rocket's fans (If Francis doesn't screw it up!)

 

Exactly. One of the main problems with running Cato at the 4 was his inability to hit the open 12-18 foot jumper, one of the strengths of Howard's game. With Yao and TMac commanding double teams, JJ, Howard, and the PG to be named later will have a LOT of open opportunities.

 

Exactly jboslett. People upset that the Rockets are trading Francis act like the Rockets are going to be a two man team with a bunch of garbage. The starting line-up would look like this:

I was woried about the trade when I at first thought it was McGrady, plus complete trash for our three starters. What is wierd is that we are getting, with the possible exception of Dwight Gooden, Orlando's most productive three starters back in return. Except for the loss of Cato on defense we aren't losing that much to get McGrady.

Aside from Cuttino who has always been one of my favorite players, I will miss the Yao, Cato combination, the only one in the NBA who could somewhat control Shaq. Shaq still got his even in the Detroit series.

 

Well I think with Van Gundy stress on defense, you will see a better defensive effort from McGrady. He is sure athletic enuf to play solid defense. I think that Juwan Howard is better than what we have now. So we upgrade that postion along with the shooting guard postion with Mac. So the only position that is weaker is the point guard position. But who know with a pure point guard the team might run more smoothly and more efficinently than with Steve. So overall, I think we have improve from last year. So, I think we shold go further in the playoff rather than missing the playoff with the addition of Mac and others.

 

Man, why didn't the Rockets think of that? Somebody call the Magic and tell them the offer is now only Mobley for TMac. Thanks tsl99...you saved the Rockets from having to include Francis in the deal.

 

We should be much improved offensively, but will JVG take advantage of this new strength? If we have better offensive players, it makes sense to want to have more possessions in a game. Maybe we will speed the tempo up a little bit? If not, we will just have a bunch of offensive players hustling on D and playing an unnecessarily slow, grind it out offense.

 

I don't understand how this is meant to support your argument.

Yes, we all know Francis tried very hard to fit in. We all applaud him for changing his game to fit into the system. The problem is...he just doesn't fit.

For example, I couldn't shoot or pass the ball well if my life depended on it. If I were the starting PG on the Rockets, I would TRY VERY HARD to pass and shoot well, but I can also guarantee you I would just flat out suck. Would you still want me on the team even though I'm trying really hard?

From his days in Toronto, we see that McGrady is capable of playing good defense. From his shooting percentages (minus last year), we can see that he's capable of shooting efficiently. You're right, we don't know if he has the heart to play that way every game.

Regardless, I'd much rather take a chance with someone we know is capable, than with someone we know will never fit into the system no matter how hard he tries.

 

I don't think this tread should be locked just because someone has a different point of view than someone else, it's just childish to think that way. Anyway, I don't think they'll make the playoffs either, or if they do they won't get much further than last year.

 

Wth? i always thought Mcgrady was a good FT shooter.

 

That's a typo. Career FT 75.6%

 

if his numbers are already this good w/o a big man, imagnine how good they will be with a big man. He will not see constant double teams like last seasons. Ill give this