Who do you guys think will be the most important player that contribute to the Rockets run to the championship? TMac - always important player that can hit from anywhere on the court, and has that killer instinct. Yao - Personally I think Yao is the most important Rockets that need to break out and finally hit that 20+,10+ mark and play with dominance most of the time. Has the potential to be the most dominant player in the league. Swift - he will help out Yao tremendously, but playing D and hitting that open shot, save Yao from foul trouble and gives a great target for Yao or other guys to pass to in the post to score. He can also have a break out year finally fulfill his potential Derek Anderson - may become our own steady 3rd scoring option and have the ability to penetrate and play decent D. We could also benefit with him and Swift Yao, TMac, they're all very good in transition. We could have a high energy offense. Mutombo - he helped Yao out a lot last season not only by backing him up, but also teach Yao his techniques and Yao has a late defensive surge that eventually lead to Yao averaging 2 blocks / game. Barry - high IQ and always dependable, also decent in handling the ball. Hitting that open 3s. A lot of intangibles and a great person to have in the locker room for nice team chemistry. Sura - can board like nobody his position, pretty decent in hitting open 3s. Although hobble by injury last season, one of the key for Rockets to jell finally last season. Brings toughness every night, great leader. Luther Head - he's probably not gonna be very important next season. From what the games I watched him play, he has the skills, mental toughness and team first and winning attitude. Could be really helpful down the stretch consider our Rockets' age in certain positions. Other guys - Mike James: decent scorer can hit in bunches, ok ballahandler and can play OK D to contain opposing guards; Ryan Bowen: energy guy have a good chance to shut down another opposing stars, will be very important in certain match ups. Juwan Howard: if healthy can make Rockets one of the deepest frontcourt in the league. Consumate pro knows how to play the game, and great teammate with good work ethic and attitude.
T-Mac will be T-Mac. If Yao can be more consistent and take a step into superstar level, we will be hard to beat.
I think the key player for the Rockets this coming season will be luck on the health front. If hope we don't get hit with too many injuries.
You can't ask for anything more from T-Mac. If he were any better he'd be Jordan. Everything hinges on Yao's continued improvement. If he's able to stay on the floor for just 5 minutes more each game, he could be a 20-10 guy.
You missed Wesley. Let's face it, obviously the answer is Yao. We got 5 guards who more or less give us the same kind of potential production. They got different strengths and weaknesses but the success of this team is not dependant on any single one of them. T-mac might be the key in the sense that if he goes down with injury, our team will struggle badly. But otherwise, we know what we're going to get out of him. He'll put up MVP caliber numbers and carry the team for long stretches at a time. And I can't really put Swift's importance at the top. He's only got so much responsibility on his shoulders: Block shots, cut and finish at the rim when Yao and T-mac gets too much attention, rebound, and hit open jumpers. He can definitely do two of those things, and his rebounding isn't worse than Juwan, and supposedly he's got a decent jumper. So that brings us to Yao. There's no doubt in my mind with the additions this team has made and a full training camp to get everybody on the same page, this team would function perfectly well if Yao gives us a duplication of last year's production. But if we have any aspirations of being a championship caliber team, then Yao needs to bring it more than that. And I think he will. With his defense improving by leaps and bounds under the tutelage of Deke, his offensive game's steady progress, and the addition of an athletic PF who can give him some support on the defensive end, and finish those interior passes that Yao likes to throw, I don't see any reason why Yao can't achieve 20+ ppg, 9-10 rpg, 2-3 ast, 3 bpg on .600 fg% and 34 mpg.
Wow, this is an easy choice. YAO MING! TMac is TMac, end of that story. But, if Ming could "break out" of his "shell" and become assertive and aggressive, who can stop the Rockets? IF Ming has a coming out party, I look for the Rockets to play Miami in the Finals, I really believe that. If his ankle holds, if he gains confidence, gains stamina, gains determination, and a tad of meaness he could take over any game and the rest of the Rockets, especially TMac and Swift would have a field day. Just imagine a dominant Yao Ming, just imagine it. You have seen only a few glimpses of that, what if it happened most of the time? We can only dream.
I personally don't think we are only dreaming of better Yao. I'm almost certain we're gonna see a better Yao next season, who can at least do 20+/10+. If things work out with Swift as I supposed, we can't underestimate the importance of Swift, Yao and Swift is gonna help each other out a lot. It's alredy proven in NBA Live 2005. (Here is what I did in NBA Live 2005 without changing any player rating: I have Yao setting up in mid post, Swift roll toward the low post, Yao zip a nice pass to Swift, Swift dunk, swift scores. TMac run through a Yao screen, then a Swift screen and go straight to the cup for a jam. Derek Anderson entry post to Swift, Swift turn around and zips a pass to Yao for a easy layup.)
I missed Wesley because he most probably would not factor much in our coming season, I also missed Moochie, Vin Baker, Charlie Ward, Torray Braggs.
It's actually quite easy if we have the talented players to pull it off. So far, my Rockets are 26-0 I imagine JVG is laughing out in his sleep because he's so happy now he has the talent to do a lot of different things, tons of different plays we can execute now that we have more talent.
If we keep Wesley for any significant portion of the season I would have to disagree. As long as he's on the team and healthy you have to factor him in as a definite contributor. He can still shoot.
Yao will be my first option because he has three years experience in Nba and he will get great help with Swift's coming.Also, he known he has to change his playing style.
It will be Yao if we see the aggressive Yao that showed up in the Dallas series after game 1 I think the rest of the league is going to be shaking. It all starts with the man in the middle, he will create the lanes and spaces for all our other players to flourish offensively. On defense he is the ultimate shot changer and players like Swift and McGrady can improve their own man defense by being able to gamble at times when they normally wouldnt. We really need Yao to become more like Dream in his demeanor. Dream was and still is a gentleman off the court, but you and your grandma knew when he stepped on the court he would rip the opponents heart out with his game. Yao needs to go back and watch footage of himself in the Dallas series and in the olympic games when he played with that passion. Learn to harness that and you will see the playoff and utilmately finals success
This is agood thing... that JVG has basketball ralted topics to dream about. This will hopefully be a permanent replacement to his dreams of himself when he played the role in that movie with Henry Winkler, "Night Shift" or his huge role in the "Matrix Reloaded"... you know the guy at the subway?
we all know that tmac is the best player on our team and one of the league's top 5 players, so if asking he is key isn't really necessary because we know that everynight he's going to give us 25,5,5 at least...to me our most important player is yao because he has so much talent and ability that he just hasn't put out everynight. we need him to be the consistent rock that tmac is and be an elite player each and EVERY night. to me if he doesnt' average at least 20 & 10 and make a significant impact in every game this year i don't think he'll ever get there. yao has all the pieces in place to do what he needs to do be one of the league's top players. he just HAS to get it done...period. that's why he's our most key player.
I voted for Swift because JH wasn't listed. I really think the key to our season will be the 4 spot & how Swift & JH handle it. A respectable offensive 4 will limit the double teams Yao sees and a rebounding, shot blocking 4 will get us more 2nd chance points.
