How about this line up + JVG as coach= Rings!!! No seriously though it's sad that Morey was not around to give JVG these kind of line ups to coach, but then again he had Yao & T-Mac. That was supposed to be the next Shaq and Kobe
Brooks/Lowry Martin/Budinger/Taylor Ariza/Battier/Jefferies Scola/Hill/Patterson Yao/Miller/Hayes If these are our guys, I see: 1) Unproven backup scorer/defender at the 4 2) Thin at backup PG. Can Taylor play the 1? 3) Not much defense at the 1 or 2. 4) No proven scorer at the 3 Definitely room to improve.
* I have no worries about Yao playing under a "different" style. That's what people were saying when Rick was first hired, and yao, having that high basketball IQ, adjusted to the system perfectly. Besides, Lowry is the one that is most gifted when it comes to changing tempo. It will be his job to do that while yao is getting his rest. lacking a superstar? If we're speculating that yao is healthy, then yao is that go to guy. I know that many love to hate on the guy's skills, but if you don't think he's clutch and wants to win like no other, then you were not watching the 2009 playooffs. The refs might not give yao star treatment. The media might not give yao start treatment. But one thing is certain, opposing coaches will give him the star treament. Yao will be the focus of defensive game plans and that's when the brilliance of Morey will shine and his master plan will finally be revealed. Superstars are overrated in Rick's system. They're only good for two things, blogging and manipulating refs. The only thing we're lacking is the pope's blessing.
1. a great playmaker who is also a great scoring threat 2. defense in the backcourt 3. health All three will be difficult to improve upon as long as Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming and Kevin Martin are the main cogs of our team.
The rockets have a full roster now. The only upgrade they can make is adding an all star like Granger or Paul, otherwise truth be told this team is 3 deep at every position except PG PG Brook/Lowry SG Martin/Budinger/Taylor/Brooks SF Ariza/Battier/Budinger PF Scola/Hill/Patterson/Hayes C Yao/Miller/Hayes/Hill All they need is health and experience, we haven't even given this unit a chance to see what they can do.
In that case, we'll be the 17th best DEF in the league or whatever that number was last year for half the game and 4th best or so for the other half...average out to 11th for the whole game...
No not done yet, we are missing Jesus Christ He is the missing piece to that Championship! With Him everything is Complete!
All we need is to improve one of our starting positions (without downgrading at the other 4 positions) and pick up a shot-blocking specialist. We've already identified some of the upgrades at SF that we would like: Granger, G. Wallace, Iggy. Granger provides the most offense and friendliest contract. He also has the go-to mentality and ability to create his own shot. Wallace provides defense and toughness. Iggy provides better playmaking and likes to drive more than shoot jumpers. Some shot blocking specialists that could be had for the minimum: S. Williams, Turiaf, Diop I don't even know if Williams is in the nba anymore (I think some trouble with the law?) Turiaf would be great but would be the hardest to acquire. Anyone know anything about Diop?
Need a superstar perimeter player and we don't have that nor can we get that. Seems Morey is taking the load-up on assets to trade for one route.
Tough shooting guard. Martin/Budinger/Brooks = swiss cheese on defense. I've got doubts about Battier and Ariza. It seems they depend the most on their teammates to be effective bec., by themselves, they're not very good basketball players.
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BDisI6866vw&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BDisI6866vw&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> The Difference between Ariza and Battier...
1 and 2 could be solved getting CP3, giving Aaron Brooks (recent MIP has his trave value at peak level) + several of the bunch of good role players and picks Rockets have available now as assets....
PG Brook/Lowry SG Martin/Budinger/Taylor/Brooks SF Ariza/Battier/Budinger PF Scola/Hill/Patterson/Hayes C Yao/Miller/Hayes/Hill That is a pretty deep team. We've got three potential 20 point scorers in Ming, Brooks and Martin. I can't wait to see the kind of looks Kevin Martin will get with Yao. When Scola and Ariza are the 4th and 5th option, I think we'll be pretty good. We've got the ability to run and slow it down. Our backcourt defense will be tested but at least we've now got size inside to help. I honestly think this team could beat the Lakers. They just don't have an answer from Brooks/Ming, while we've got Ariza, Battier to run around after Kobe and make his life a little difficult. I think there is a chance we could do some damage next year as a darkhorse.
Stability. Since the championship years the Rockets have had a pattern of "fruit basket turnover," every year a new combination of players who never really have time to get used to each other. This trend has moderated somewhat under Morey, but still the pattern of more change than stability remains. Take note of the elite teams in the NBA, they develop a core, make a few adjustments, but the core stays consistent. The Spurs are a good example, the Lakers have also stabilized into a familiar core of players. The Rockets need to do this. I really felt moving Landry significantly upset the team. They will get over it, but constant change will never produce the cohesion necessary for a successful team.
