T-mac could play point...just like Lebron does...and just like Kobe does most of the time... Then we could find a good shooter at SG and a big bruiser PF... Please get real with these "lets get..." things... There is this thing called a salary cap...and the Rockets are tapped out....we have two max salary guys...we aren't signing any more...so stop goofing with the Billups talk and the Bibby talk...that is just asinine...the Rockets don't have the money. The Rockets still owe Jho $7 Mil a year for 2 more years...Rafer 3 more years at $5 Mil each, Bob Sura is still owed $3.8 mil for next year too....Vspan is owed $2 mil for one more, Snyder is owed $2 mil for one more, Head for $1 mil for one more year, Lucas and Novak will get $700K each next season. We will have Jake's $2 mil rolling off and Deke's $2 Mil and Bonzi's 2 Mil, and Charlie Ward's $1.5 Mil and Ryan Bowen's $1 mil all coming off. I think we should resign Jake and Chuck Hayes though...they both need contracts for next year.
I completely agree! During the game, Steve Kerr made a comments about how Tracy had to do EVERYTHING for Houston's offense. That does take a lot of his energy away given how physical the Jazz is. Rafer is not a bad point guard, but he's a backup at best. He can handle balls, yet he doesn't have the ability to break down defense or penetrate. Watching the game, I am disturbed by how many times Tracy has to handle the ball instead of our PG. On top of that Rafer can't hit 3's consistently. If our PG can't run our offense and can't shoot, we should definitely look for someone else. It is clear Rocket has a lot of problem, IMO they rank as follows in the level of importance: 1> coaching: it's clear JVG got out coached by Sloan tonight. What's troubling me the most is JVG's specialty should be defense, yet Jazz killed us with very high shooting percentage. With Yao and T-Mac and all the shooters surrounding them, we should score easily, yet we can't buy a FG in many long stretches in this series. We drafted specialist, brought in European T-mac, and picked up free agent bargain, and yet we don't have a bench that's even close to respectable. When I was watching the earlier games between the Bulls and Pistons, commentator made a point about how other coaches make conscious effort during regular season to develop bench players. Where is our bench after the regular season? If our coach can't do offense, defense or develope players, go with a new one. 2> PG. too much has been said about our PG, and I am too heartbroken to repeat. 3> PF: Howard should retire, Hayes should be bench player at best. 4> our bench: Actually I think if we have a better coach, bench problem will be solved. All in all, what a disappointing way to end a promising season. I am sure it will take us a few weeks to accept the fact our season is over. After that, I sure hope management make moves to get us over the hurdle.
I'll repost this over here to once again to remind everyone that despite the fact that Rafer is nowhere near the best PG, he didn't lose us the series: Other G in the playoffs with a 3PT% Equal or less than Rafer (since this is what everyone seems keen on complaining about): Stats through game 5 (from NBA.com who hasn't updated since our game 5 I believe) - Rafer Alson .324 - Jason Richardson .324 - Jerry Stackhouse .318 - Kirk Hinrich .313 - Jason Terry .308 - Allen Iverson .250 - Mickael Pietrus .250 - Luther Head .211
With JVG likely gone, and hopefully an uptempo coach to follow, would Steve Francis be such a bad idea at PG. I'd love to see him return to the player he was before JVG and play with tmac and yao, he was awesome in the only playoffs he had in 03, almost putting up a triple double every game, the anti-rafer.
I don't think 3s are the problem. The problem is that right now the offense is T-Mac, Yao, and 3s. We need someone who can create something. Drive into the lane, draw a double team (what Yao and T-Mac tend to do). We need someone who can break down a defense. The great PGs in the league like Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Kirk Hinrich, Chauncey Billups, and Jason Kidd aren't known for their 3 point shots. We don't need a 3pt shooting PG. We need a PG that can make plays by breaking down a defense, or score consistently when the superstars, Yao and T-Mac, are double teamed. We need consistent scoring, not 3s.
