what the record would be if Rocket did not draft Yao?

This thread is very misleading given that our failure has not been Yaos performance per se but more attributable to the teams chemistry (lack there of). We have not yet developed a system which maximizes the skill sets of our players. Arguably, our current "system" hinders our players development.

But back to the topic. I agree that our record will be similar with our without Yao thus far. Possibly 3-4 more losses etc. But please think about these scenarios?

What if we didnt have Steve this year?

What if we didnt have Cat?

What if we didnt have Eddie?

What if we had Phil Jackson as coach?

-2, -1, +2, +8. Those are the game differentials in order of the above listed players. IMO of course.

 

Without Yao, the team what be better as the other team wouldn't notice the Rox as much as they do now. Remember in the early part of the season and how well the Rox play, I would say they were playing better than they are now because the guards wouldn't be guessing themselves. And a good atheletic sf or center who would erase the rox's mistakes would be exactly would this team needed. But in terms of potential for this team, this team with Yao will be better in 3 years as chemistry developes, but the guards need to get some of their confidence back and Yao just needs to play with some attitude and we be set for a run at that point.

 

Your right...

3 - 56

You think its bad now...

We'd be like last year, heaving up bad shots and no transition D...

 

Honestly, I think the Rox actually have a great system as far as player developement goes, players overachieve when they play for us. Othella Harrington, a 31st pick. Mobley mid second rounders. Sam Cassell late first rounder. Kenny Thomas, around 18th pick if I'm correct. The Rox are know as a class organization that developes a good players. And for all of you that says the Rox are limiting Yao's growth and not playing a system beneficial to the big man, remember what Hakeem said when he came back? Something along the lines of "I was wrong coach, they don't (get it to center) like you do."

 

Its interesting how most here are calculating the benefits of Yao.

The actual way it should be calculated is by position and who would be there instead of Yao.

It would be Cato - backed up by Jason Collier.

So the real question is - How much better is a Yao with Cato backup than a Cato with Collier backup?

Yao shoots 50%, other numbers all decent (a little high on the TO count) but generally an all around positive. Cato gives better minutes in the backup role than he did as a starter. Cato is a better rebounder than Yao but rebounding is an area that you will have big improvements in over time.

So does having a true inside presence win games for the Rockets?

Of course it does. Get real. Yao was the difference in quite a few games. Steve and Cat in various shooting slumps during the season is what hurt the Rocks the most and a prime Wilt Chamberlain couldn't save us from that.

 

Come on, this team was like 4-2 before Yao started playing heavy minutes, I would say atleast where we if not better, but like I said, we'd always be just missing that piece of the puzzle and never go anywhere like the T-wolves.

 

Enough to make you chuckle? Perhaps you have a marvelous sense of humor?

For the season:
ATL > 1-1
CHI > 0-1
CLE > 1-1
DEN > 2-0
GSW > 2-0
LAC > 0-2 (they've owned us recently)
MEM > 2-1
MIL > 1-0
MIA > 1-1
NY > 0-2
TOR > 1-0
SEA > 1-1 (the loss was early w/GP & they were hot)
WAS > 1-1
-------------
13 W 9 L

My turn to chuckle...tell me you were expecting a season sweep against every team.

 

yeah, we really blew it in the draft last year. wasted our #1 pick on a center. a CENTER!!! where has anyone ever gone with a potentially dominant center w/ skillz and high b-ball IQ. just like when we drafted dream-the guy we really should have gotten was the #2, sam bowie. that dude could BALL!

 

Getting the ball is one thing but its the moving without the ball that really hurts. Let me elaborate on my previous statement.

Yes, players on the Rockets can still put up nice stats etc. Yao is averaging almost 14 points and over 8 boards which is decent. His FG % is over 50% which is pretty high.

But my point was that he had to "earn" all those points. Nothing comes easy with the Rockets offensive scheme. Every play seems to involve a nifty move or a very skilled shot. On the other hand, teams like Utah seems to get easy looks by simply moving around. Matt Harpring for example looks like a super star under Jerry Sloan. If he were on the Rox and given playing time, he would not even come close to his current output.

So my point is that the Rox system does not really make players look any better when you compare them with teams like Utah.

 

We'd be about the same.

 

Man, I couldn't agree with that statement more. Nothing comes easy.

Why is it that we're all excited to get Posey and he suddenly stinks? Why are Walt Williams & Dan Langhi in the starting rotation of playoff caliber teams? How does Kenny Thomas play alongside Iverson, get less touches and increase his shooting %.

It's not about the players we obtain. It's about how we are utilizing them.

 

Actually, I think you need to have a sense of humor to be a Rockets fan these days

I'm guessing that you and I have different definitions of the word "usually" though, as I don't consider a 59% win-loss record against teams that you are supposed to beat to qualify as "usually" beating them.

 

The Wizard still looks like he did for the Rox, up and down. KT is a supporyt piece and understands that in Philly. Here he acted as if he were THE PUZZLE PIECE. I liked and like Kenny, but come on, Posey is better for this team. BTW - does he remember he's playing for a new contract?

 

59-0

 

if said it once i say it again. MOBLEY IS THE PROBLEM

 

This was exactly what I said in another thread.

 

41-41.

 

We'd have like 10 wins. It would be just Francis and Mobley shooting from the outside the whole time. We would be so much worse without the inside presence of Yao. And Cato would be worse, he would crack under the pressure of starting again. Collier would be our starter at center. And we wouldn't have traded for Posey, because we would suck so bad we would just want the extra cap room from Kenny leaving. We would still be having Hawkins out there subbing for Rice. It would have been a nightmare.

 

It's starting to smell like a nightmare. One from which they can awake and see the light of day. Will they? Stay tuned, there is always this year.

 

If they had someone other than Yao, they would in my opinion be about 6 or 7 games under .500. They difference in the offense and defense is very different when Ming is out and Cato is in. Francis and Mobley would continue to be a 2 man show and we would be giving up a high fg% and more pts like last yr. Although we had injuries last yr, having Taylor and Rice in there would have killed our defense just like it does now. Call me what you want, but I think Ming is more important to the success of the rockets than anyone else on this team.