Talent - no more excuses, the Rockets have enough.

i tried to look at it from this perspective:

how many players on those teams would start for other teams?

or how many players from a team would be in any other NBA team's rotation?

again, we could argue back and forth on talent all day.

but i do believe that though the rockets may only have two players that would start for any other team, they have bonzi, scola, battier, and arguably chuck, brooks, MJ (sf?) that would very likely be in most other NBA teams regular rotations.

 

Which of these teams has more talent than the Rockets?

Definitely
Celtics
Pistons
Spurs
Mavs
Suns
Jazz
Lakers

Probably
Warriors
Nuggets

Maybe
Hornets
Blazers
Magic
Bulls

I don't think we are close to being in the top 5. Not trying to be negative, just realistic. Considering SF & MJ are washouts, Shane is in decline and Rafer & Chuck remain starters, we rank ~9-15 talent-wise and our record reflects that.

 

ps.

NEW JERSEY?

... they'd be towards the bottom for me...

 

I don't see the Rockets winning a championship with Rafer as their starting point guard. I suppose it's possible, but in sports almost anything is possible, even if only remotely.

 

sorry DaDa, but I stopped reading right there..

too much intoxication during the holiday season isn't really good for your psychological and physical well-being..

 

not bad, but i would guess you were weighing the records pretty heavily in terms of judging talent.

 

I could see 3 of our starters (rafer, chuck, and maybe battier) being backups for many other teams.

Scola, Brooks, and MJ are definitely backups.

 

Of course records have something to do with it, but not everything. You have to look at rosters and the mix of talent on teams. I just don't think we stack up that well, especially in the West.

 

Chucking a bad shot IMO is a turnover

Rocket River

 

Ouch, and Mike Jame's contract isn't insignificant, and I believe it last another two seasons beyond this one.

 

If Scola can consistently give us 15+ ppg a game and get some calls etc then maybe. If not we need a PF or SF who can. There just isn't enough for a motion offense.

 

Agree DD 100%. I think the rockets overall talent is tops in the NBA, far and away. They have the horses and depth to compete with anybody. It's one of the few years I have felt that they could trade punches with any of the top teams. I'm expecting a big big run at some point. If healthy the cream with rise to the top.

 

I never thought this team is lack of talent. I just thought they lack of will to win and compete hard for the ball. Perhaps a break down of will to win is needed to go with the talents. The will to win is determined by the desperation to beat the opponent, the detest of losing, the intensity of play
and energy to wear and beat the opponent down even the opponent is superior or leading big. A few good examples would be Kobe, Jordan, even Hakeem. In fact, any players on the team that does not have the steel will to win should be benched. So a good team need to have all players willing to play hard to win. If every player has the will to win, he will pick up the slack or carry the team in some way to get a win when some of his team mates are off or did not perform well

Will to win -

Tracy - give up quick when behind big
Yao - has the will
Battier - no will but would be satisfied to be a supporting cast
Rafer - no will
Hayes - another role player and definitely does not will to win

Let's look at the current champion -

Duncan - will carry the team to win
Ginobili - will take over to win
Parker - will definitely fight to win
Bowen - will definitely fight to prevent from losing (can also make crucial shots to win)
Oberto - role player but can fight to win also (similar to Scola)

 

We don't have talent. We have overrated talent, and MJ and SF are on the top of this list. Brooks and Scola are the only added talent on this team.

 

Awesome! I was looking forward to the latest bi-weekly Dakota epiphany thread.

 

I would rephrase that TMac sometimes have the will to win but sometimes just quit. That's why when Duncan is out, SAS can still prevail as the other guys pick up the slack. Even Brent Barry, Finley, Horry can make clutch play and Finley can torch any team when he is hot. When Tmac or Yao is injured,
Rockets are crippled. Battier, Hayes and Rafer cannot or could not or well
could never pick up any slack because they thought they only role players and has no role in fighting for a win at all cost.

 

Rafer-- Strengths are: Dribble/low turn over guy---- Weaknesses are: Shooting, terrible on the ball defender, poor decision maker in transition, does not have the ability to attack the basket and finish. He is way behind Nash, Williams, Parker, Paul, Harris and the rest.
Hayes -- Strengths are: hustle and high BB IQ---- Weaknesses are:Shooting, size gets him abused in the post requiring help defense against most PF and he is not a strong rebounder (double digit rebounder), lacks a low post game and cannot shoot from the outside, he is a garbage scorer.
Battier -- Strengths are: Hustle/ BB IQ and good 3pt shooter but streaky---- Weaknesses are: Not able to create, often has to defend better players relying solely on his hustle and IQ, is not a strong rebounder and cannot get his own shot.
Tmac -- Strengths are: Scorer/ High BB IQ/ Good passer ---- Weaknesses are: Not mentally tough, tends to defer too much and does not stay in attack mode. Can be streaky with his shot- very good defender but does not concentrate on both ends, he either focuses on offense or defense.

Yao -- Strengths are: Low post scorer, High BB IQ, developing defensive stopper, runs the court very well---- Weaknesses are: lacks quickness and due to size cannot play a finesse game/hands need work-turnovers, lacks the quickness to dominate rebounds, but has the size to get his share
Scola -- Strengths are: Creativity/Rebound/hustle/BB IQ ---- Weaknesses are: purely inexperience - has not found his most effective play yet
Head -- Strengths are: Shooting ---- Weaknesses are: Defense/Dribbling
Brooks -- Strengths are: Quickness/playmaking/ shooting -will come with experience ---- Weaknesses are:Height/experience
Bonzi -- Strengths are: Postup/Strength ---- Weaknesses are:Outside shot, Quickness on perimeter

The team is still too reliant on Tracy, Yao is not suited to a transition offense and is too dominant in the low block to get more than a few points in transition. The PF spot really needs Scola to develop and an answer at PG is a necessity.

We should be ranked below SA, Phoenix, Dallas, Boston, Utah, Detroit, Orlando definately in talent and possibly Portland, LA, Denver, Toronto and NO


We are not anywhere near a championship unless TMac can deliver it.

It is obvious the supporting cast is not there yet.

This team does not have the pieces that surrounded Dream.

There is no Horry, Cassell, Mario, Max, Kenny etc.

We have TMac and Yao (and possibly Scola and Brooks in the future)

I think the rest are pretty expendable.