The Lakers are ousted. Well, after all, heaven exists and "the church is true!!!" (Only Darkhorse knows what I am talking about here). Hereis the apparent landscape in the West right now: The Spurs will probably win it all this year, and when they pick up a couple studs in the Summer, they might rule the league for a while. The Lakers will be contending until Shaq retires. The Kings, losing Divac to age, will be on the downhill. The Mavs are still rising, and if they add some good FA in the summer, they will be up there with the Lakers and challenging the Spurs. The Suns are rising along with Amare Stoudamire. How far they go depends on him. The Jazz is in transition, and won't matter for a couple of years. The Blazers will get a new GM, and their fate depends on that guy. If they stop blazing jails, they will be a force. The Wolves won't be contending as long as they have no one but Garnett. The Warriors are up and coming. But if they loses Arenas to Denver, it would be a killer to their momentum. Now, how does the Rockets fit into this picture? We all know not getting into the playoffs this year is a major setback. We have underachieved. However, it is not life ending and the future is still bright. We are still on the rise, just a little behind the Suns. I hope sooner or later, we will be a title contender. But how soon and how late? What's your expectation for the next few years? What goal should we set for the franchise? Here is my understanding: SF and YM will be the deciding factors for our success. SF is 26 already, he's entering his prime and his future improvement won't be too astounding. What you see if probably what you'll get from him. So, the scale of our success will depend on YM's growth. If he reaches the level of Shaq/Duncan, then we will be a contender for sure. If he only reaches the level of Divac/Ilgauskas and even D. Robinson(in their primes), then we need help. Of course, EG and Boki are x factors. Below is my goal for the team. As a fan, if my team fulfills this, I will be happy. 2003-2004: Get into the playoffs(preferably by stomping on the Suns of Biotches). 2004-2005: Improve the record, try to get into the second round. 2005-2006: Get the home court in the first round, and make to the second round. 2006-2007: Yao would be 26 and enter his prime at this time. We need to become a title contender and open up the window of opportunity. 2007-2011: Yao (27-31), SF (31-35) age wise. Get a few rings in these years. The more the better, of course. 2012- future: inject young blood. Rebuild the backcourt and keep contending until Yao is old. Then, an overhaul is needed. What's your take?
Yeah Baron Davis might take over Steve's position as the starter for the all-star game. Give me a break... Go Rockets!!
I think the new alignment is next year, and the expansion team joins the league the following year. Not sure though. Anyhow, this team needs to pick up a 3rd semi-star to compliment Yao and Steve. Yao is one of the few true post players left in the league, and is fully capable fo being a regular 20/10 guy in side. Francis will always be a 20/5/5 guy regardless of position. All we need now is an Odom, a Brand, a Bibby, someone who is the 3rd wheel, but can be the first wheel when needed. We just need to really get this team DEFINED. We need to have CLEAR starters, with a spark off the bench and a competent coach. Right now, we're not sure about any of our F positions, our coaching situation is up in the air, and we lack a consistent spark off the bench. This team needs big time work.
The Rockets will be contenders for the next 10 years because we have one thing the other teams don't: a potentially dominant big man who's only 22. Build around Yao and Francis, keep stupid contracts like Taylor's and Moochie's to a minimum, and the Rockets will be fine. That said, adding a good PG next year would definitely help our odds!
Problem is that Mobley think's he the first star or second star at worst. If he could figure out that he was out third option, I wouldn't mind keeping him. But he has a shoot first mentality that just won't allow him to accept that role...
Jamala looks good to me and I hope it all works out for us! Although I wonder if we need to strengthen our present Team before we get onto the first step?
The most realistic assessment of the Rocs I've seen in ages. This is how I see it. I think the furor over the caoches and Mobley etc. is secondary. Whether we win it all or not probably depends on a little luck, like we had with Horry and Sam in the draft and San Antonio had with Parker.
I think Eddie Griffin WILL be our 3rd star in 2-3 years. oh yeah, and if we keep Mobley he could become our spark from the bench. I Believe.
Tweaking is not what the Rockets need. We are not good enough to just tweak ourselves a bit. We need some magor changes to compete. Here is a trade that helps out multible teams that are struggling and only includes players that need to be included. Meaning there are no fillers and stuff like Doleac just to have stuff in the trade. This helps out all teams and leaves no team short changed. It looks out for the interest of all teams involved. It is big and complicated but it solves big complicated problems Golden State trades: PF Danny Fortson (3.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.7 apg in 13.1 minutes) SG Jason Richardson (15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg in 32.9 minutes) PF Troy Murphy (11.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.3 apg in 31.8 minutes) PG Gilbert Arenas (18.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.3 apg in 35.0 minutes) Golden State receives: PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 20.6 minutes) SF Lamar Odom (14.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.6 apg in 34.3 minutes) PG Andre Miller (13.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.7 apg in 36.4 minutes) SF Corey Maggette (16.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg in 31.3 minutes) Change in team outlook: +4.3 ppg, -4.6 rpg, and +1.9 apg. Houston trades: PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 20.6 minutes) C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 17.1 minutes) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) PG Steve Francis (21.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 6.2 apg in 41.0 minutes) PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.5 minutes) Houston receives: PF Danny Fortson (3.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.7 apg in 17 games) PG Gilbert Arenas (18.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.3 apg in 82 games) PF Chris Wilcox (3.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.5 apg in 46 games) C Wang Zhizhi (4.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 41 games) SF Kevin Garnett (23.0 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 6.0 apg in 82 games) Change in team outlook: -7.1 ppg, +0.8 rpg, and +2.3 apg. L.A. Clippers trades: PF Elton Brand (18.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.5 apg in 39.6 minutes) SF Lamar Odom (14.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.6 apg in 34.3 minutes) PG Andre Miller (13.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.7 apg in 36.4 minutes) SF Corey Maggette (16.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg in 31.3 minutes) PF Chris Wilcox (3.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.5 apg in 10.4 minutes) C Wang Zhizhi (4.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 10.1 minutes) L.A. Clippers receives: SG Jason Richardson (15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg in 82 games) PF Troy Murphy (11.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.3 apg in 79 games) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 73 games) PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 77 games) PG Troy Hudson (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.7 apg in 79 games) Change in team outlook: -4.0 ppg, -3.9 rpg, and -1.5 apg. Minnesota trades: SF Kevin Garnett (23.0 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 6.0 apg in 40.5 minutes) PG Troy Hudson (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.7 apg in 32.9 minutes) Minnesota receives: C Kelvin Cato (4.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.3 apg in 73 games) PG Steve Francis (21.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 6.2 apg in 81 games) PF Elton Brand (18.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.5 apg in 62 games) Change in team outlook: +6.8 ppg, +7.7 rpg, and -2.7 apg. Clippers get similar talent that put up similar numbers for players that are locked up with small contracts. Rockets get Garnett who will be phenomenal with Arenas. Wolves get a starting competitive team that put up more numbers in points and rebounds then the original team. SF and Brand will be great there. G.S. lose two pf for one pf and a swingman which they need. Progected line up and point, assist, rebound distribution: Rockets: Arenas 16ppg 7apg 3rpg Posey 14ppg 4apg 5rpg Garnett 25ppg 5apg 11rpg Fortson 6ppg 2apg 9rpg Ming 18ppg 3apg 10rpg This line up improves our rebounding a lot. Ming will get more shots and will help our lost of ppg there. Arenas is a better "pg" than Francis is. This is one crazy rebounding team that has many scoring options. Timberwolves: Francis 21ppg 6apg 5rpg Wally 17ppg 4apg 4rpg Smith 8ppg 2apg 6rpg Brand 22ppg 3apg 10rpg Cato 7ppg 1apg 8rpg Francis and Brand more than compensate for Hudson and Garnett. Cato adds more rebounds. This team is a lot better than the original team. Warriors: Miller 15ppg 8apg 3rpg Maggette 16ppg 3apg 4rpg Odom 14ppg 5apg 6rpg Jamison 20ppg 4apg 8rpg Foyle 10ppg 1apg 7rpg The best rebounding team in the league lost some rebounding presence. But rebounding is useless without players to put the ball in the basket. Enter Miller Maggette and Odom who can all score with ease. This is a more high scoring team then the original with Taylor to come off the bench for a spark in points. Clippers: Hudson 14ppg 7apg 3rpg Mobley 18ppg 3apg 3rpg Murphy 15ppg 2apg 10rpg Richardson 17ppg 5apg 4rpg Ely/Griffen 9ppg 2apg 8rpg This team is young. This team is talented. This team is completely on either rookie contracts or small contracts. They unload 3 potentially max contracts. In return they get a Murphy Griffen combo to make up for Brand. They get Hudson to make up for Miller. Mobley and Richardson can easily make up for the lost of Odom.
Hmmmm.......you thought that out well, but that's way too complicated. That trade would be murder for chemistry, as every team is giving away almost all of their starters. It would be like a whole new team for every franchise. I also doubt some of those teams would be willing to give up some of their all-stars just like that.
If Nicky Van Exel and Bobby Jackson can come off the bench Mobley should have NO problem doing the same. We need a disciplined head coach like Van Gundy that will sit Mobley's a** on the bench and make him understand the system. IMHO, Mobley would be the perfect 6th man.
