<div class="quote_poster">Blurr#7 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You know who else will be happy!!! </div> Man... Yao loved Francis... the whole Houston did (thats why he made it to the All-Star game so many times).. and he loved Houston. Now that he's back.. thats added motivation to Yao's game (tmac + francis) we gon' be killllllla man.
The Rockets are stackedd. The obvious is that if everyone stays healthy this team can do serious damange in the west. But I'm still surprised he didn't choose the Clippers, and Cuttino.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post">I am sure Locke is gonna look forward to replying to this thread!</div>Damn right! I am so psyched right now. With the roster the way it's looking, it's not absurd to think at all that we can go for 60 wins. The Midwest Division is going to be amazing in terms of depth and strengths of the teams. We can potentially have three teams out of five each with more than 55 wins. Francis gives us that third scorer and someone who can run the break. For someone who pondered retirement last year, if this doesn't give him a jolt then nothing else would. With the point guard situation, I don't think it'll be hard to deal either Alston or Head for a power forward. We need to do some package deals to clear up the roster spots, and Skip + Head + maybe Sura or Reed's contracts can maybe get us a guy like Anderson Varejao in a sign-n-trade. I'm pretty sure that the salaries match up as well. Then either waive or trade Lucas for a pick, and I'm sure the roster would be whittled down to an ideal size. Snyder can be moved also. I have a lot more to talk about but I'm just so psyched right now to think it through. I'm sure there might be some chemistry issues on offense in the beginning but Adelman is the guy who has the flexibility to fix it. This roster is built for a coach with his style, and he'll prosper with it. Unlike past seasons where I've been pessimistic about our chances, this year will be the year. Even defensively, we still have players that are great. Let's not forget, Francis was a solid defender with Van Gundy and if he has the lateral quickness back, with Francis, TMac and Battier we have one of the quickest perimeter defenses in the West. Then throw in Mike James and Head off the bench and it's pure orgasmic. I'm expecting something from Rock4life but whatever, I'm too happy right now to be combative!
I wonder what's going to happen now. Alston gone? Head gone? Francis would be uber as a 6th man. <div class="quote_poster">dakeem1 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Pleeeeaaase don't say that. The Blazers you refer to were severe under-performers. As for the posey proposal? I like that. It could definitely work. And it gives us the other athletic wing we're looking for. Not to mention another former Rocket.</div> Not really, that specific squad was together in the 99-00 and they were 6 minutes away from the finals (and likely would of won it all). So no, they weren't severe under-performers.
I'd rather Francis start. He did terribly when he came off the bench in New York, and with his ability he brings more to the table than James. With Bonzi, James and Head off the bench we still have enough offense. Besides, the chemistry with Francis and Yao is already there.
The West has gotten so much better this off season and the Rockets have done the best!!! Not only did their draft pick Aaron Brooks tear up the Summer League, they bring back Stevie Franchise. They will have to clear room in the back court now though can't have Brooks, Head, Alston, Francis, James etc and find playing time for all. The Nuggets will take one of them for you!!!
ZOMG!! Wow, we got Stevie Franchise!! WOOT!! Omg man I am so excited. I used to love Francis and his combo with Yao and Mobley. He was an amazing player when he played for Houston, heck he even started All Star Games. That doesn't mean much but man he has a lot of popularity in Houston. I am glad he chose us over better teams. After he got traded, he was so mad because he wanted to stay in Houston and I am so glad he is back. So now, I am guessing John Lucas and Rafer are outta here, possibly Head. But man I am so happy we got Francis. We basically traded Mobley and Cato for Tmac, Howard, and Lue. Wow, I am so happy!! GO ROCKETS!
<div class="quote_poster">fatballer_10 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The West has gotten so much better this off season and the Rockets have done the best!!! Not only did their draft pick Aaron Brooks tear up the Summer League, they bring back Stevie Franchise. They will have to clear room in the back court now though can't have Brooks, Head, Alston, Francis, James etc and find playing time for all. The Nuggets will take one of them for you!!!</div> How about 2 and an expiring contract? Alston, Head/Lucas, Sura for Camby. D$ will make this happen. Though I hate Camby's contract, he brings rebounding to the table. We wouldn't have to wait on Deke anymore, sign him up for some sort of consultant position or something, so we can still here the Cookie Monster's voice. Question: Would you all start Camby at the PF over Scola? We should want to see how well Scola pans out as a starter, though. Let me say that I don't completely endorse the trade I mentioned. Though Camby has the rebounding ability we need, his contract is horrid, and trading Rafer, as critical as I have been of him, might be too many significant moves in one off-season (though this is a petty excuse). Rumors flying around of Haslem from Miami, and Diogu or Foster from Indy. D$ is not done, yet. The Wizard-Ninja will strike again!
Unfortunately that would leave us without a leader in the paint!!! Sure Nene has improved and KMart will be back, but we need Camby. You can take either Kenyon or Nene for Alston and someone!!! The Rockets have improved out of sight though!!!
I think if Alston gets traded, we would have problems running the offense. Mike James and Francis are "score first" mentality PGs. I dont have faith in these two getting the ball to Tmac or Yao. We have the talent, like many of you have said, but the chemistry is the interesting part.
The acquisition of Francis made Alston expendable. With 17 players under contract plus 3 more under negotiation(Hayes,Deke, Landry), it would seem that the sure goners are Lucas, Sura and Alston. Soon to follow are Reed and Harris(with potential/2 year cheap contract). The Rockets might want to stick with Luther(2 more years of rookie contract) because Wells, Snyder and Francis(2nd year as player option/if this move did not work out) have expiring contracts. By next offseason the Rockets will be thin at the SF/SG position. If for some reason we could get a good role player for Head that would be great.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'd rather Francis start. He did terribly when he came off the bench in New York, and with his ability he brings more to the table than James. With Bonzi, James and Head off the bench we still have enough offense. Besides, the chemistry with Francis and Yao is already there.</div> Couldn't agree more. People tend to forget that Yao and Stevie were like best friends.
<div class="quote_poster">ownage Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think if Alston gets traded, we would have problems running the offense. Mike James and Francis are "score first" mentality PGs. I dont have faith in these two getting the ball to Tmac or Yao. We have the talent, like many of you have said, but the chemistry is the interesting part.</div> As far as I know, in Adelman's system, Everyone passes the ball during offense and that ensures a steady flow in our offensive production. I'm not too worried about Stevie beng a 'score first' PG as our offensive system in 2007-2008 will be all about ball movement.
<div class="quote_poster">ownage Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think if Alston gets traded, we would have problems running the offense. Mike James and Francis are "score first" mentality PGs. I dont have faith in these two getting the ball to Tmac or Yao. We have the talent, like many of you have said, but the chemistry is the interesting part.</div> No you won't, because the offense is run through the high post, which would be the responsiblity of TMac and Yao. The point guards in Adelman's offense just need to be able to shoot from the outside, move without the ball, and push tempo. TMac is likley going to be the primary ball handler and with all the scorers surrounding him now, he won't have to spend as much energy trying to create for himself.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">No you won't, because the offense is run through the high post, which would be the responsiblity of TMac and Yao. The point guards in Adelman's offense just need to be able to shoot from the outside, move without the ball, and push tempo. TMac is likley going to be the primary ball handler and with all the scorers surrounding him now, he won't have to spend as much energy trying to create for himself.</div> I agree. Chris Webber and Vlade Divac were giving so many oppurtunities to distribute the ball in the high post. Look for Yao's numbers to go up. Look for Tmac to distribute the ball in the half court. It is just a plus that we have the 3 best fast break point gaurds on our roster in francis, james, and alston
I'm not exactly in love with this move from the Rockets standpoint. Francis will definitely take away shots from Yao and McGrady. I don't like using the word 'selfish' since it's so overused in basketball, but Francis if not 'selfish' is ball-dominant to say the least. He's gotten fragile, and isn't exactly the Franchise of old. If he were, the Blazers wouldn't have been so eager to get rid of him, especially with only two years remaining on his contract. I don't expect the Rockets to be much better. They might be able to get our of the first round, which is a plus.
