PG - Brooks SG - Martin SF - Budinger (Maybe Battier) PF - Scola C - Yao What is this... the all-offensive team? We essentially go from defensively top heavy to offensively top-heavy. Even if Battier starts, he's a man in decline. He can't go out there and guard the best of the best anymore. He's still got the IQ to pull a few tricks out of his sleeve, but his one-on-one defensive lockdown days are pretty much gone. Are the Rockets relying too much on Yao Ming being there to intimidate guards and preventing them from driving in? Because that's the only thing they will be able to do with this lineup. While I agree Trevor wasn't exactly a huge hit with the Rockets, adding Courtney Lee doesn't really make much of an impact on the court... Hopefully this trade is more like a precursor to a even huger trade later on this off-season or even somewhere near the trade deadline...
I think the hope is that with shooters like Brooks, Martin, and Lee around Yao we will be elite offensively and Budinger, Lowry, Lee, Battier, and Yao are enough defensively to keep us respectable. Although, Morey has mentioned multiple times that the backcourt defense (Brooks and Martin) WILL improve either with them getting better chemistry or through trade.
Ariza was not a defensive stopper. Sorry, he just wasn't. He got some defensive stats, but he didn't stop guys one-on-one. I don't feel Budinger is significantly worse on defense than Ariza.
I don't know how you put Bud in the starting line up over Battier, our defensive center piece, if you're gonna complain about defense. We haven't we even seen this lineup play together yet. These guys aren't NBA2k chess pieces where all you need to do is look at their defensive rating. I'd rather hold off with the "on paper" analysis until we actually see them on the court. Plus, with shot blockers on the court, there's no way we'll be worse defensive team than last year.
simple, there is none. Absolutely hilarious how people try to downplay Ariza and then overrated Budinger's defense just to make them feel better. Defense wins championships if you people have forgotten.
the offensive capabilities of several teams are rising, at some point, with that trend, you have to give in more to offense than defense, but retain some defensive capabilities. We 're far from being the suns.
I used to defend Trevor the last year in the middle of all that criticism, but must recognize that his D was been VERY disappointing during all season, saving a few games. Very good potential, poor attitude. Reading what draftexpress (reliable source) says about Lee's defense, I'd say we have to be optimistic, at least in this sense.
Yao will be in foul trouble all game as Brooks, Martin, and Budinger repeatedly let their man get to the cup.
Yao will bring a lot of that back it wasnt like we were a elite defensive team last year with shane and trevor we werent a good defensive team because we lost Yao and Deke, there was no one to protect the rim. And seriously you guys it wasnt like Ariza and Shane were playing at the same time. We saw what happened when that took place and it wasnt pretty. Sure Martin is a TERRIBLE defender but on most nights he will outscore his counterpart. Martin + Ariza or Shane >>>>>>>>>> Ariza + Shane in terms of overall impact Now consider that Lee is a far better defender most people give credit for he can come in and play defense on the bigger PGs, the SGs in the league along side with Shane if needed. If a defensive stops are needed throw out: Lowry Lee Battier Hayes Yao or Hill (depending on opposing teams C) and we'll see how easy it will be for teams to score with that lineup. Because of the versatility of Lee being both a good defender (but maybe not as good as shane or trevor) but being a far better offensive player than either of them actually improves the team tremendously on both ends. Lee is a great on the ball defender according to Stan Van Gundy and Trevor was never a great on the ball defender he played the lanes exceptionally well personally for me i rather have better on the ball defenders than people who play the passing lanes. Having Yao back is going to improve the defense tremendously next year losing Ariza (or having lost Battier but the Teflon Don is here to stay..for now) would not make the defense any worse than last year.
Gosh, I forgot how awesome defensively Ariza made us last year. He really shut guys down, such as... uh. Hm. Gimme a minute. Brooks and Martin are still Brooks and Martin. Nothing's changed there. Battier, Hayes, and Jeffries are still our defense-first guys. Nothing's changed there. The only thing that's different is that Ariza won't be lingering in the passing lanes. Well, that and the two 7-footers we'll have in the middle.
We lost Ariza but gained Lee, who is a very good defender. We'll be fine, especially with Yao protecting the paint.
We will be fine if Yao is healthy. We also loaded up on interior big men (Miller, Hill, Patterson, Jeffries can play D too) Check out our defensive ratings the years Yao played (even the injury years that limited his games) Yao career as a Rocket: 2002-03 to 2008-09 Rockets Team Defensive Rating & Opponents ppg 2002-03 102.6 (14th of 29) 92.3 (8th of 29) 2003-04 99.0 (5th of 29) 88.0 (5th of 29 2004-05 101.7 (4th of 30) 91.0 (3rd of 30) 2005-06 103.3 (6th of 30) 91.7 (4th of 30) 2006-07 100.7 (3rd of 30) 92.1 (3rd of 30) 2007-08 101.6 (2nd of 30) 92.0 (4th of 30) 2008-09 104.0 (4th of 30) 94.4 (7th of 30) Without Yao last year: 2009-10 108.0 (17th of 30) 102.7 (22nd of 30) Click on Hoston Rockets and look at their Defensive Rating that year and Opponent PPg: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/ Interior Defensive big men/Shotblockers make a huge difference in team defense.
People are too high on Budinger...he's NOT a starter alright! Battier is our legit starter at the 3 and we NEED HIM night in night out to guard players like Kobe and Lebron. Imagine playing HEAT and you have Brooks Martin and Budinger against Lebron and Wade? lol. With those thin frames?? OMG...forget it man!! So, it is absolutely essential to start Battier. At least he can nullify one of those superstars and give us a chance to win. Most team have only 1 superstar that hogs the ball...so Battier will take care of him with no problem and this allow Martin and Brooks to do their thing. Maybe Morey do this trade not only because Courtney is a good solid player but because he wants Battier to start and he can't have Ariza sitting on the bench b****ing about not being a starter. And perhaps maybe issue with Ariza not willing to cooperate or something to that nature maybe one reason to get rid of him for the better of the team. Honestly i don't feel good with Ariza guarding the best player night in and night out as our starter. But i feel safe and confident in Battier. I know he will take care of business. So when we play the Lakers or Nuggets, at least i know we have Battier to take care of the high scorers. And don't forget 2 years ago, it was Brooks Battier Scola and Yao on the floor. If you add Martin instead of Artest and we have a better team. Artest can't shoot shyt. Off the bench, Lowry Budinger Lee Patterson and Miller.
