What Rox is doing well: Penetration, Blocking shots, Rebounding, Transition D. What Rox is doing ok: Low Post D, Cutting, Steal What Rox is not very good at: 3-pt What sux most: Fastbreak, Ball movement, CatchNShoot, Rotation on D, PnR How could a Elton Brand help us fix these problems? If we got him, Rudy would iso him in the post like another SAR, Jamison, Walker... Do we need that? Would a star PF(Dirk excluded) helps us knock down 17 footers better than an average NBA SG? Do we ask PFs to run fastbreak and swing the ball on the primeter? To distract the double team from Yao? A sharp shooter would certainly work better. To bang and throw elbow... for what? We are ok in rebounding right now. I want a Brent Barry/Doug Christie/Lamar Odom on the team. If Steve wants to play PG and is improving. Why don't we go get a PASSING SG/SF?
Hmm...lol. Dirk is one special guy. Yes. You're right. Get Lamar Odom or Brent Barry or Doug Christie or Jon Barry. BUT HOW?!? Give me ideas.
This is what Brand would bring to the Rockets. The statistics in bold is what I believe would make Brand a valuable asset to the Rockets. Not only would acquiring Brand guarantee a playoff spot it would make us a true contender in the West. I was a not fond of Brand at Chicago cause he was playing in the weak East. However, he has show he can play with the big boys and still be an efficient player. The numbers don’t lie in this case. Year 2003 Points = 18.4 <B>FG% = .482</B> 3P% = .000 FT% = .688 <B>OFF = 4.4</B> DEF = 6.7 <b>RPG = 11.2</B> <B>APG = 2.4</B> SPG = 1.1 <B>BPG = 2.53</B> TO = 2.63 Here are his Rankings Ranks #14 in the NBA in Field-Goal Percentage(0.501) Ranks #4 in the NBA in Blocks Per Game(2.53) Ranks #16 in the NBA in Minutes Per Game(39.4) Ranks #2 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds(265.0) Ranks #1 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds Per Game(4.4) Ranks #16 in the NBA in Total Rebounds(669.0) Ranks #10 in the NBA in Blocks(152.0) Ranks #5 in the NBA in Double-doubles(42.0) Ranks #7 in the NBA in Triple-doubles(1.0) Ranks #4 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(5.4) Ranks #14 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(13.6) Ranks #12 in the NBA in Blocks Per 48 Minutes(3.09) <B> Ranks #9 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking(23.97) Ranks #12 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking Per 48 Minutes(29.2) </B>
Brand has beautful stats. But....let's put it this way. Even you put T-Mac, Kobe, Shaq, Iverson, Piece in the same team, they won't score 150 pts every night. What killed us it the old ISO offense..... Rudy used to like it but he's going to change it, Francis also. The problem is this team is not talented/mature enough to accept the team offense from Rudy, such a nice/not-tough-enough/lack-of-ability(??) head coach, in a short period of time. CD and Les have to choose, either trade for some mature/smart players, or replace RT with a tough coach. Or... just wait. However, a PF is not going to help much.
Absolutely, the first thing that needs to be done is to add new elements to our playing style. Iso is not enough. I also believe we need an adjustment at point guard. Francis, is good at playing instinctual basketball but not good at decision making basketball. We need a think first point guard. This player does not need to be incredibly athletically gifted, just someone who can run an offense, lead a team, and a consistent three point threat. Some people are just natural leaders on the court, Francis is not such a leader. I'm not sure how well Francis would play at shooting guard. But, even if Francis moved to shooting guard, he would still have to improve on passing, ball movement, movement off the ball. In fact the whole team needs to work in these areas. As for Elton Brand, I am high on Brand because the guy is a hard nose player. Not going into detail of the statistics again, Brand fills our weaknesses in the front court. Taylor is a poor mans version of Brand, if we can even make a comparison. Now, Imagine Taylor stronger, more active, shooting a higher percentage, being a supreme shot blocker, supreme offensive rebounder, and making smarter decisions. Or think of Taylor as an all star level power forward. Then consider if we would have made the playoffs this year? With Brand, our front line is very very formitable. Defense: Block Shots: Brand is number 1 in shot blocking. Yao is no cup cake in this area. Rebounds: Brand is extremely strong in this area. This is a weakness in our team. Francis, averages 6 rebounds a game. This is amazing for a point guard; however, this also indicates that our front line is not doing a good job of rebounding. Toughness: Brand...ouch he would protect our big man and would force defenders to have to worry about him as well. Therefore, there would not be as many double/triple teaming of Yao cause Brand himself demands double teaming. This would be our line up: It's kind of a fantasy line up. This is what we have. As you can see, I am really hoping that a couple of our players improve on their 3 point shooting J. In bold is what they are good at J. Center: Yao - <B>shot blocker, low post threat</B>, rebounder Power Forward: Brand - <B>shot blocker, rebound specialist, low post threat, all around tough guy</B> Small Forward: Posley - 3 point shooter, <B>defensive specialist, slasher</B> Shooting Guard: Francis: (<B>slasher</B>, mid-range jump shooter, and 3 point threat, defensive specialist) Point Guard: (floor general, 3 point specialist)
