I love Yao, but what has he ever won for you to call him a Champ? He will probably be a champ and he's on the brink of elite, but he's got a little more work to do before he gets there.
If it weren't for Yao, this entire team would not be anything like it is now. No Tmac. Perhaps no JVG, along with all the personel that he's let go and brought in.
I'm pretty shocked that Sura is ranked so high. Considering his health problems, I'd be shocked if he played up to last year's level. 1. T-Mac: Best player on the team. 2. Yao: If he improves to around 20/10, he'd be co-#1 for next year. But based on last year's play, his value to the Rockets is less than T-Mac. 3. Swift: This is based on an optimistic projection. Pessimists will point out that he has done nothing. But I'm more inclined to think that he has been hamstrung at Memphis by (A)playing out of position a lot and (B)not getting consistent enough playing time. Even assuming he plays on par with his Memphis years, that's still around 12/7 for about 25 minutes of play. Only Alston and Howard can have that kind of production on this team. 4. Alston: Like Swift, he has all the tools to have a major impact on the team. There's no shortage of people to pass to, and no shortage of wide open 3s to shoot. Alston's only problem is a fairly low 2-point FG%. Meaning he probably doesn't finish very well around the basket. I put him behind Swift because of Swifts extra defensive value. 5. Wesley: He ran out of steam last year. But if he gets reduced minutes, his impact can be great. Wesley's a mediocre offensive player, but not a liability. Where he shines is on defense, being perhaps our best perimeter defender after T-Mac. 6. Sura: If he stays healthy for the last 40-50 games + playoffs, I'd rank him #4. But he's also a candidate to be out for the season. So this is kind of like an average. Personally, I think he should take his time. Come back with about 20-30 games to go and be a factor in the playoffs. 7. Deke: His importance is indirectly proportional to Yao's minutes played. Since he and Yao basically split the 48 minutes at center. Too bad he gets only limited minutes, because he plays at near all-star level when he's in the game. 8. Howard: Since I'm expecting big things from Swift, I don't believe Howard will contribute much. My hope is that like Deke, Howard can play with more energy in limited minutes. 9tied Anderson/Barry: Neither are anything more than 15 min end-of-rotation players. They can contribute, but only in limited fashion. If anyone else on our roster makes an impact, the Rockets are either very lucky to find a hidden jewel, or have a ton of injuries.
1. McGrady- This should be a no brainer... He leads our team... Without him we might not even be a consideration for the play offs. 2. Yao- Very unproven. Not consistent but when he is on he is ON! 3. Swift- Definitely out of optimism... I think the guy is going to bring in the athleticism and attitude the team needs. 4. Alston- He is our starting point guards. Hands down... Even JVG said right before the trade... You will go no where without a point guard who you can't rely on to carry the ball up. 5. Howard- Purely for the lockeroom leadership 5. Mutombo- This man is insane when hes playing defense 6. Anderson- I really am out of optimism that he will step up and take the 2 spot and work it well. 7. Wesley/Barry / Sura- These guys are awesome... They all have great qualities they bring to the table... But they are basically just role players... Besides the energy they bring to the team and their work ethic. 8. Head- Could be the future of our team. Could be a bust 9. Bowen- Dirk Nowitzki and that its. 10. Norris/ Baxter- Trade bait with Norris for his contract and Baxter is a better ball player in my opinion. So they equal out... Go on criticize. Its just my opinion
1. Yao. dominates the paint. think of Shaq, Duncan, the Dream, Kareem, Wilt, Russell. 2. T-Mac. the best perimeter player in the world. No doubt about it. makes Kobe look like his biii.... you get the point. listed at 6-8 but is probably at least 6-9 or 6-10, playmaker, amazing athlete. 3. Stomile / Juwon. The combo gives us athleticism with Stro and fundamentals with Juwon. A great combo. Give them both 25 - 30 minutes a night. 4. DDub. highly underrated. runs around the court chasing the SG's of the league like a rookie even on his 35 year old legs. Leadership, veteran, polished, good shooter, warrior. cant say much about him. 5. Sura. highly underrated. brings a lot of intangilbles, rebounding, hustle, warrior. all around player, doesnt do anything spectacular but a warrior. hopefully he can come back and now with Rafer on board, he can take his time. 6. Deke. wow. 68 and still dominates on the Defensive side. He owns the paint when he's in. literally. he'll elbow you and break your face. another warrior. 7. Barry / Anderson . Great combo of guards. If Anderson can shoot better, and he should with Yao in the middle and TMac setting him up, he'll be a great asset. Barry is the glue that brings the team chemistry in my opinion. the guys love him. JVG loves the guy. and of course he'll drain a 3 in your face. 8. Bowen. dont care much for the guy. To me he's a liability, all he can do is hustle, and annoy a player or two. I think I'd rather have a George Lynch or Eric Williams with at least a little bit of an offensive game. Rafer Alston: if this guy can put up Jason Williams Assist / Turnover ratio, He'll slide to 3 in front of DDub; and I really expect him to have a career year and only get better. I'm really proud that CD pulled this off and thank you Sam Mitchell for being such an idiot. Luther: I hope he can be DDub lite with younger and more athletic legs. right now cant rank him cause I dont know what role he'll play with the team. doesnt sound like he's gonna play too much this year with the glut at the 1-2 spots. Baxter: yeah, he killed the summer leagues, and I remember him playing for Maryland on the championship team but they also had Dixon and Blake. he hasnt done squat expect put up Chucky Brown like numbers so I dont consider him an asset at this point. Moochie: wow. he is one of the luckiest men on earth. he sucks. he dribbles too much. he's the highest payed cheerleader / Rockets fan on the earth. I could trade places with him and maybe put up the same numbers. Vin: he's gone fishing. Ward: he's gone fishing. Spoon: he's gone fishing. CD: underrated. one of the best GM's around. JVG: a hell of a coach. love his heart for the game, discipline, and X and O's. We'll be in the 2 - 4 range in the West, probably make it out of the first but we'll have to see how this Rafer trade works out for us.
1. TMAC - one of the best players in the nba and clutch, our leader 2. YAO - a solid center who draws double teams 3. Wesley - the guy to hit the 3's when our 1 and 2 are double teamed 4. Alston - need this guy to take care of the ball and set up 1 and 2 Everyone else is a role player at this point
