A lot has been said about our team needing a tall rangy shotblocker in the middle and needing more effficient perimeter offense. Some people continue to believe that Hayes is the problem, (Not my opinion) because of his lack of height defensively and lack of skills offensively. While others of us continue to complain about Battriza not being able to create and be efficient from the perimeter. I happen to fall into the camp that believes that the biggest problem is that we don't have that 3-tool guy on the perimeter and we are relying on 2-tool guys (shoot and finish) like Ariza and Brooks to create. Just wondering how this board breaks out on this issue right now.
Battriza is the scoring issue. With some 3-some combination of Hayes/Battier/Ariza/Lowry on the floor, zone defenses are killing us. We need more than 2 scorers on the floor at a given time. Obviously, investing in a big-man shot blocker when you have Yao Ming is absolutely ridiculous because he'd be obsolete next season when Yao is back.
Apparently we got one go-to guy in Carl, and on-and-off playmaker in Brooks, but sometimes we just can't keep knocking down those wide open shots. From my perspective we should at least add one or two consistent perimeter shooters except Brooks and C-Bud. Also consistent playmaker is needed since Ariza couldn't handle that job given his poor dribbling skill and hesitation on every penetration.
Didn't put it on there because I specifically wanted to see how strongly the board felt about primary need. If you want both, then vote for the one that has the least votes and help even it out.
Before the season started some people came in predicting that the dimutive rockets didn't need as much offense because they have an incredible defense to lean on in Hayes, Battier and Ariza. The rockets defense has turned out to be not so great due in my opinion to losing a 7'6 and 7'2 center to help clog the paint from last season. At some point the offense was going to be figured out with a very smart league and without a big rim protector to clog the middle its evident that both are needed.
Big, tall guy with good mobility who can block shots, rebound and score and who can complement (with his versatility) Yao when he returns -- so that, on occasion (or even for most of the time) both can be on the floor simultaneously.
Short term (this year): Tall athletic blocker Long term (next year and beyond): SG who can do it all Obviously we need both, but if I had to choose one with Yao coming back next year I'd choose a legit SG.
We need the perimeter guy who can score first and foremost. Battriza is getting so bad that if both guys are in the game with less than 3 minutes left the Rockets have to be up by 10 for me to feel somewhat relaxed about the outcome of the game. If the lead is less than 10, I know Battriza will be forced to shoot (because their defenders cheat off them on AB and Landry/Scola) and they will go a combined 0/5 and cost us the game or at least force Brooks or Landry to go into Superman mode in order to squeak out a victory in OT. A big man who can defend/rebound/block shots is definitely a need but right now this team is losing games because it's playing 3 on 5 (at best) at the end of games. If other teams figured out they can double off of Battriza all game long the team would be below .500. It's only a matter of time before they do figure it out.
I agree with T, we need to split the Ariza Battier combo we have in our line up and get a wing scorer/playmaker. I don't see Iggy being the answer to that, which may be the reason Morey is not acting on that deal, besides the fact that they want us to take Brand and Dalembert. Either way I don't see that deal coming to be and I'm not sure exactly how great the deal for Caron Butler will be since he too is a SF that has the ability to score but not much playmaking ability. This means that their could be a strong possibility that Morey decides not to make a deal. Just beacause theres not a deal providing the player we need. That would really blow.
A Big, please. I think it would behoove us to start working on how to play (spacing) with Yao now (using a new big) than wait until October to figure this out.
Most of the trade theories revolve around a SG who can give us some more threat on the outside.. Besides the Noah trade, I havent even really heard of anything by the Rox on trying to acquire a big man. I don't even think Bosh is a capability
Hmmm... let's see... A tall athletic blocker like... Samuel Dalembert? And a SG who can do it all... like... Andre Iguodala? I really think getting those two would be perfect for the Rockets, especially if the only cost was Tracy McGrady. Dalembert would expire after 2010-2011, too.
We need the most to hurry up and trade Tracy. I'm tired of checking clutchfans and the news once every 15 minutes for updates.
Those are the team's two biggest needs... but at least there IS help coming (we hope) next year with Yao. There's nothing in the way of a perimeter threat that can attack the rim at the two without Morey making a move.
The perfect player for us would obviously be a stud SG like Wade, Kobe, or Roy. Seeing how Brooks is not a traditional point, and worse vision than Lowry, we really need a guard who can close out games by creating for others and taking last shots (not saying that Brooks and Landry are not doing an admirable job for us). The fact is our last shot taking ability has been absolutely horrid.
Exactly, plus we have Andersen and Hayes to back Yao up when he returns next year. Our most pressing need at the time is SG, a guy that can drive, shoot, and pass. I don't see who that would be at the time though. Unless we do pick up a J.R. Smith or so, he's a little too crazy and wild when he plays though. Very out of control and breaks the plays the way Ron used to. From what I see. Hopefully we score on someone young and promising. I'd still take Caron Butler and see what he can do on our team, he fits our system perfectly; cutter, slasher, curler, scorer. IMO
Obviously the biggest need is a star player, a playmaker who is offensively efficient, passes well and fits the team's style of play. But as for the position of this player, I don't think anything should be ruled out. At this point it really depends on whom Morey can trade for, and at what position is the best talent available. If it's a playmaking SG/SF who can fill the void left by McGrady, fine; if it's a PF/C who can score and pass a la Chris Webber, that's fine too. Or it could even be one of the few upgrades at the PG spot worth trading Brooks for. Once such a star-caliber player is brought in, regardless of position, the remaining roster is flexible and talented enough to adjust. That is the advantage of having very good - but not great - talent level at all positions. Basically, it's not a matter of finding a player that best fits the needs of the current lineup as it stands - the final piece of a nearly completed puzzle. Rather, we should thinking in the opposite direction and looking for a player whom the puzzle can be molded around.
Id really like Bud's minutes to increase so we can see what he can do with 20+ minutes. I think he can offset Battriza's deficiencies some.
