Too many roster changes have killed the team's chemistry--that magical, undefinable something that's almost impossible to define but easy to recognize. In the end a bunch of "lesser" pieces who could work well together make for a better team than guys who are better on paper (K-Mart) but who don't really fit. With chemistry the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts. Is the situation recoverable? Probably not. In hindsight it just goes to show how unique that 22 game win streak was.
I don't see why you had to make a whole new thread just to point out some random thought you had. Chemistry can be developed by anyone as long as they play enough time together and they don't hate each other's guts. Since chemistry will happen sooner or later, its best to make changes now without thinking of chemistry. That way later on you'll have both an improved roster AND chemistry, instead of just chemistry alone.
McGrady would have been gone no matter what. So are you saying you'd rather have Landry and Ariza back and whatever cap relief from McGrady's expiring instead of Martin, Lee, Hill, Jeffries and the NY pick package?
Wrong, you'll get some level of chemistry with guys that don't hate each other's guts. On the other hand once in a blue moon you get teams where everyone just clicks. That is extremely rare, it doesn't happen with every team and in the Rockets' case it produced the second longest win streak in NBA history. That chemistry is gone and I don't think it's coming back.
Yes. Multiple roster changes really kill teams. That's why 2 years ago, we were done in by basically overturning over half our roster with Scola, Landry, Brooks/Lowry(in place of Alston/Brooks), Artest, Wafer coming in. I don't know why we didn't learn from that mistake. Obviously getting new players is never the answer.
Whoa, Rafer getting some love? He's getting missed a bit? Rafer got alot of flak when he was here. And granted he put his share of bricks, the guy was tough as nails, could play defense well, and run the team. Some defense would be nice right now.
I don't think roster changes are inherently bad....I wrote this in another thread this morning, though: I think the makeup of this team is nonsensical. As if each player were chosen without thought to anyone else who is on the roster. Like each move is in a bubble, independent of all others. In particular, I do not understand adding Kevin Martin to a backcourt that already contains Aaron Brooks...while at the same time trading away someone like Ariza who plays defense. I don't get it. The only way it all makes sense to me is if the Rockets are currently not serious about building an actual team...and are interested solely in acquiring pieces with favorable contracts that they can package for a real difference maker.
1. Teams usually struggle in the beginning when a bunch of roster changes happen. 04-05 Rockets started off 6-11. 2. The 22 game win streak started in February so what makes you think this team cannot develop chemistry in 3 months? Im not saying they will win 22 in a row but the chemistry should be better if we have the same guys as we do today.
BTW we don't know how a Lowry/Brooks + K-Mart looks like. We haven't see them play healthy all that much.
I've wondered the same recently. Did Morey 'build' this team as just a group of assets or a group who can actually play basketball together/with each other?
Are roster changes necessary? You tell me. Starting Lineup =========== Yao - soft big man, injury prone, poor rebounder / defender / closer Scola - scorer, no vertical game, poor defender Battier - really no impact on any game tangible or intangible; net negative Martin - scorer but poor defender, undersized Brooks - scorer but poor defender, undersized Mix in players like Hayes (undersized, terrible offensive game) and maybe that's why we have the 3rd worst record in the league.
I'm so torn with this team... at times i want them to tank and start over, and at times, i just wanna see a winning team! It's been a rough start this year because we were hoping to have Yao and Brooks leading the way. Even before Yao hurt his ankle, discussions were taking place to increase his work load and allow for back to backs. We got hurt early without having Lowry and Budinger in training camp and at the start of the season. Lowry comes back, Brooks gets hurt, then Yao shortly after that, and then Budinger. We still have a bunch of new faces and we need time to have a full complement of players for this team to really start gelling. I'd give them until the end of December to see if they can get to .500 to see if this season's gonna be a bust or not.. ...on a side note... i dont think Budinger is playing healthy which is why he's been struggling. It hasnt been reported, but to me, it seems fairly clear that he's still favoring that ankle that he's sprained twice in a span of about 1 1/2 months. He doesnt seem to have the same lift or elevation on his jump shot which is why his shots look so flat. And he's not as aggressive attacking the rim like last year.
They killed the Chemistry of a team that made it out of the first round....once! nothing of value lost.
Defensively.. i think the effort is missing. It doesn't take much athleticism or skill to play defense. It just takes a lot of effort. It doesn't matter how slow or fast you are, or how big you are.. as long as the effort is there, you'll do well defensively. I think at this point, since that's our biggest weakness, RA should begin playing those who are committed to giving 110% on defense. If they dont, do what JVG did.. sit them on the bench. The offense will be there in this system. Its not a fluke that we're the 5th highest scoring team in the NBA.
The People making this team very bad at this point is "Battier" "Yao" "Lowry" "Budinger" and "Morey" "Adelman"....y??? Battier- Cant shot and no longer can defend Budinger- Is in the worst slump ive ever seen a bball player in he needs to step up or hit the road. Yao- Im really getting sick and tired of this team waiting around for this chump. He can only play 24min and cant play back to back games. Thats killing us too. Lowry- Only thing lowry is doing is he is starting and he throws up stupid ****s he knows he cant make. hey lowry if your reading this hear me out "STOP SHOOTING JUMERS< YOU CANT SHOOT N***A!!!" Morey- Stop waiting for Yao you fool, hes not making you look any smarter by keeping him and letting him run the show. PLay him or trade him. Adelman- WTF are you doing??? Y are you not playing jordan Hill enough?? and if cbud is in the slump he is in now why dont we try and play someone else like hmm lets see maybe jermain taylor thats a thought. freaking idiot, than he comes back on the next interview and admits to his F*** up, umm i think i backed off of so so and maybe i need to get back to that so so player more often because they are playing great but i guess im just to stupid to know or see it.
I think that WAS the plan. But no body showed up. So apparently, we move on. Now we have to decide if we want to trade our pieces for draft picks, or use our draft picks for more pieces.
