a pretty dumb question to ask on the surface as one could easily say there are huge implications for a franchise every year, based on whatever subjective measures they are applying. but since this question will inevitably be asked at some point, i thought it would be best to inquire before the series actually began so that the mood/perceptions won't be skewered by hindsight. so the question is simple: 'if the rockets lose in the first round once again, will there be major changes to the roster?' (not including mcgrady) this isn't inclusive of mcgrady - assume he is gone. this also is not reflective of our performance in a theoretical second round match-up. this is strictly confined to the first round. by major changes i mean ron being released along with atleast 2 other major rotation players being traded. i voted no because a) i think a mcgrady trade will be made to upgrade the overall talent level and b) i think the team will/should get a free pass for the adversity they overcame this year. but i do think it is imperative they advance to build some sense of confidence within this nucleus heading into next year and the heart of yao ming's prime.
I think Ron is on the hot seat, as is Von, Battier, and Brooks. How they perform will tell Morey a lot as to what direction he takes the team this offseason. And I think there will be major changes to the roster if we lose in the first round...yes......and possibly even if we get through the first round. Morey will look at how they play together, and what other teams are doing etc, and look to get players to counter that. DD
I think Brooks is gone no matter, not because he sucks or anything, but because he is the best bait in a McGrady trade. Ron might likely be gone as well. I think the main guy on the hotseat, whos status will reflect management's confidence in this current scheme, is Shane Battier. he symbolizes the continuity of this outfit. if he's traded, that means they are completely changing things up.
I disagree. Though Battier is a vital piece to the puzzle, he is a mere role player. This offense/team will run through Yao. If anyone is on the hot seat though, it's Ron. He's got to step up... and I don't mean taking stupid jump shots.
I think Morey would basically trade anyone with the right deal.....I would not be surprised if Battier was traded, if Morey thought the team would be better off overall. Nor would I be surprised if Scola was traded if they get someone like Bosh back..... I think Morey is looking over the entire roster and trying to build around a slow footed 7 foot 6 inch guy with a nice touch...and he needs certain types of players.... To me...we just need to get better.....and as Gater has been saying...more athletic. DD
Anyone except Yao, of course. Even if is numbers told him that trading Yao would be a smart decision, he wouldn't/couldn't do it.
I agree....but he would do it for Lebron or Wade etc....but we all know those deals are not happening...so....I agree Yao is here to stay. And since he is...surround him with 3pt shooters who can slash and create their own shot... DD
I don't think Ron being jettisoned is indicative of any change in philosophy or re-tooling. I think there's a decent chance he's gone in any event.
I love his toughness, but I have seen enough of his craziness to know he is far too risky to put any serious money or length of contract on....he is just off his rocker, and too often does not play within the team concept. This team needs players who understand their roles, and execute them perfectly....Yao needs that.....anyone who goes nuts or one on 5 like Ron does.....is lacking the mental toughness or understanding of what winning basketball really is....he has to go, IMO. DD
I think Yao is actually the one having biggest pressure in this series. If they fail again, God forbid, it will be on him. Rockets probably wouldn't trade him, and he might not opt out either for he would want to pick it up at where he falls, as a proud person, unless he puts up some insane numbers they still fail. If they can't pass the first round this time, again, God forbid, Ron, AB, and maybe Scola could be the ones not perform well. I don't necessarily think that Ron or AB would be gone, but they might be removed from starting lineup, which could be great for the team. From the bench, those 2 scoring oriented players can be huge. Well, I just want this thread to be obsolete, I can't take another year.
What if Yao put up -2 points a game (scoring in the opponents basket) ? Would it be possible then that he would be traded? I don't think this team should be blown up just yet, even if we fail to get out of the 1st round. We are being robbed $22 million and still put together 53 wins, which could have and should have been more. Use that $22 million to bring in help; don't punish the entire team (although I do expect them to give Portland a beating that will bring them back to earth). We need a 2nd option on offense, or even a 1st. Yao is somewhere in between. You want him to be the primary focus, but when the defense really puts their focus on him, or when he gets tired, he will put up 2 points a quarter (Dallas game). We need a true point guard that can compete with other premier point guards in the league in both defense and offense (and size). Thanks!
I heard an interview with Morey on 610 am a couple of months ago. He basically said that this years goal was at least to get out of the first round (not in those exact words). But, if we fail i do think there will be major changes. I dont think there will be any coaching changes maybe just players.
There should be a way to track (and punish) "experts" and their credibility. I hate it when experts put their crap out there year after year, only to be proven wrong (last year's NBA finals, all the experts -- minus one -- predicted an LA dominated finals). Experts should have green bars. Experts should face fines. Experts should have to do community service. Experts must be disciplined. It all comes down to credibility. Experts must have that. The next time an "expert" is wrong, don't let him just laugh it off and say "my bad." He shall be made a fool of!
It seems to me that morey has a specific type of m.o. He seems to like to build with cheaper, young players and hope that a few of them hit. Brooks, Landry, Lowry, Wafer, Dorsey and even when we had Novak, Lucas and Snyder were those kinds of acquisitions. James White looks like the next Morey dice-roll. Then once he gets a few assets, they he can cash them in for a bigger trade (i.e. artest). So I wouldn't expect wholesale change, but more of the same low-cost talent acquisitions.
Regardless of what happens this year, we will reload, not rebuild. I see Morey upgrading the PG position and getting a backup for Yao. We will re-sign Artest. We will acquire a backup SG if Wafer jets. Save rebuilding for the 2011 if 2010 is a disaster. If we do have playoff success next year, then we will continue to reload.
Oh, I guess I haven't been saying this for as long as gater? I think they'll win against Portland and lose to La and that shouldn't change the thinking about upgrading. I've been trying to trade scola for a while, but I do acknowledge he's a good player. I think shane is a good player also, but as long as yao is here, they need a certain kinda player. Like gater and I have said for years, when you have a slow, unathletic, but skillful guy like yao, you need guys that can make up for his limitations. Quick, athletic, slashing type of guys that can run the offense and feed off the sometimes doubles he draws and attack attack the rim. Wafer,lowry, and brooks meet this critieria. The dillemma Morey will find himself in is will he rob a team of the fools gold in 2010 or will he be a fool in 2010?
Tough crowd here. (45-41 in favor of blowing it up, not to mention the brutal 1 star rating.) I want to agree with you on Ron, but I just have a serious problem with letting talent walk for nothing. That's why I was so in favor of dealing him before the deadline. I think Ron's problem doesn't stem from selfishness but the fact that he genuinely believes he's this team's best player and that it's his responsibility to carry us. I get this from the fact that he didn't pull anything remotely close to the crap he has been pulling of late when McGrady was still in action. Sure he didn't move the ball exactly like we hoped, but he wasn't trying to go 1 on 5, jacking up off balance 3's. I think this is because he recognized McGrady was the leader of this team. I think if we can acquire a similar talent that Ron would respect, you would see a mitigating effect. He scares me, but I would hate to rob the cupboard dry after it took so many years to finally build some respectable depth.
