team needs from [nbadraft.net]

Houston Rockets
2007-08 Record: 55-27
Head Coach: Rick Adelman

The biggest problem keeping this team from moving forward is keeping stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady healthy at the same time. There are few two-man combinations that can hang with Yao and McGrady, but each player is seemingly always battling injuries -- either foot injuries for Ming or back problems for McGrady, limiting the time they play together. Yao's game is predicated on skill and his size (certainly not his athleticism) so he will more than likely age nicely and have a long career hitting mid-range jumpers and hovering around 10 boards a game, i.e. a Zydrunas Ilgauskus/Rik Smits type.

McGrady, while also quite tall and long for his position and supremely skilled, relies on his athleticism (or the threat of his athleticism) to keep defenders honest and give him space for his jumper, putting a shorter window on his prime years. If the Houston front office could somehow bring in some sort of space-aged medical staff, maybe the same staff that keeps George Hamilton's skin from charring or Joan River's face from splitting in half (now those are bona fide miracle workers ladies and gentlemen), then maybe they could hope for an entire season. Hell, how about 70 games together and ride the duo into the playoffs.

Outside of the two superstars the rest of the lineup is somewhat strange. Rafer "Skip to my Lou" Alston is the primary ball handler and is consistently good for about 13 ppg and 5 apg and one steal. While he is a decent three-point shooter, his overall field goal percentage leaves something to be desired. One would like to see more assists out of Alston, but as was the case last season the Rockets needed a secondary scorer once Yao went down for good and Alston was called upon to fill that role. He's a better backup than starter, but is as good as Houston has on the squad for right now.

Behind Alston is Bobby Jackson and Aaron Brooks. This is where the personal confusion begins as both of these players are shoot-first point guards. Jackson is a nice offensive spark plug off the bench but is frequently injured while Brooks is a Earl Boykins-type player with maybe slightly less speed and less strength. These two seemingly fill the same role, so why did Houston draft Brooks in the first round last year? A curious move to say the least. While I'm sure Brooks will fill a need farther down the road as an offensive bench dynamo, for a team looking to win now I just don't see the logic.

McGrady is the starting two guard followed up by Luther Head and Steve Francis. Head, like Brooks, was another reach by the Houston front office, an undersized two guard who played well enough to make the leap into the first round. His first two seasons in the league he put up modest numbers, but this past season saw Head regress completely, posting the worst numbers of his young career. The icing on the "Luther Head Cake of Shame" was his complete disappearance in the playoffs, where he was simply abused by the Utah Jazz, a troubling sign to say the least.

Francis is simply not the same player that he was five years ago, exemplified by the number of teams he has played for the past three season. Best-case scenario is that one of these four backup guards steps up next season and takes the reins as a primary backup guard, able to play both spots. Jackson is capable when healthy, and Head and Brooks are young enough to grow into the role. Francis has an opportunity next season, albeit slim. The position is definitely up for grabs.

Shane Battier is the starter at small forward and is an excellent fit on this team. He provides the perimeter defensive toughness that so many of his teammates lack. He hits open shots, can defend multiple positions at a high level and is a positive influence in the locker room. But...would this team have been better suited keeping its 2006 draft pick Rudy Gay? The team was looking for more defensive minded players to give then new coach Jeff Van Gundy, but with Gay's recent emergence one has to wonder "what if...".

Steve Novak is the backup small forward and is really only good for stretching the defense. He is a marksman from outside and the team's best three point shooter. His ability to receive kick outs from McGrady and Ming makes him valuable so look for Novak to see more situational floor time next season.

Power forward is an interesting position for Houston as they have three players who can contribute. Luis Scola is the starter, followed by Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry. Scola played well in his first season in the NBA, posting 10 ppg and 6 rpg. All three players are undersized, hustle-type forwards, but Yao's size allows Houston to play somewhat small at the four. Scola is the most skilled offensively, armed with a high basketball IQ and adept at hitting jump shots and passing. Hayes and Landry seem to be the exact same player. Both are small, but incredibly tough power forwards who rebound extremely well for their lack of size. Neither is an offensive force, but they know their role on the floor and play excellent defense while allowing the offensive players to do their job. The power forward position is an area of strength for the Rockets, especially given the bargain contracts that all three players are playing under right now.

Behind Yao we have the ageless wonder, Dikembe Mutombo. While it is slightly frightening to have a 40 year old defensive minded center backing up an injury prone offensive minded center, Mutombo is still a force defensively and is a great value. Ideally though Mutombo is a third option, a situational center whose defensive expertise is best served off the bench for 15-20 minutes a game. A more balanced backup to Yao is priority number one for Houston.

With the No. 25 pick, the Houston Rockets should look to shore up their center position with some youth and balance. If Roy Hibbert is available then he would make sense, but Hibbert figures to go off the board. Other players who figure to be in play at 25 include Jason Thompson, Nikola Pekovic and DJ White.

http://nbadraft.net/node/1210

 

ok then please lock, and i guess other people can read this if they haven't yet