The way I looked at this season, it was a transition season. We were in rebuilding. Many Rox fans won't admit it, but look at how many people we kepts from last year? Yao!!! NO ONE ELSE! I wasn't surprised earlier in the season if we didn't make the playoffs, but we did!!! The way we played alte in the season, it proves that we have what it takes to win. Take into account we've played Dallas without our starting PF, and are PF spot is our weakest position as it is. Look at how well we've played even with our dismal start. Look at how the Rockets have come together even though its a brand new team and we've had several players come and go. Our Team Chem is great and it hasn't even had time to develop. Next year we can solidify things and make a legitimate case for the title. This year was a transition season and we were 5th in the West. That is amazing.
I agree, after swallowing a tough 40 point loss the Rockets have to take this season and build from it. I think the team lacked focus, and I'm sure Van Gundy Gate was a big part of it. This team has nothing to be ashamed of though, and knowing Van Gundy he won't let his team forget the beating they took. The Rockets proved they can win on the road in the playoffs, and that is one of the hardest things to achieve. The Rockets also played well without their starting power forward available for any of the games. The series showed what changes the roster needs to make in the off-season and more importantly the T-Mac & Yao duo is an upgrade over Francis & Yao. Now that the Rockets know those two work well together they can start building around them and gearing up for another run next year.
Now I only hope Mavs to go further. While they're proving themselves, they're proving us, their opponent
In the same breath, you made all these trades because your FO saw something in this team that needed a few more pieces to the puzzel. You don't trade for guys like Barry, James, and Wesley if the team wasn't considered a contender. So you have to remember that this wasn't a throw away season. Keep the faith that this is a young team that still has years to come, but remember the feeling that this was a team that was supposed to compete.
probably the thing that makes us, rockets fans, heartbroken was the fact that we were leading 2-0 in their homwcourt first. But we slipped away the chances to win the series.. i dont know whether its because of being too complacent or let down but it was dissapointing. Nevertheless, im very proud of this team. My only concern is that we probably can't keep all these players because some of them is too old to play and therefore we are forced to build the pieces for yao and tracy from scratch again. Any ideas?
Pieces you definitely keep: McGrady - this guy is a stud; he will bring Houston another championship. Yao - with more experience and added toughness will be unstoppable in the post. James - should be your starting point guard. Pieces you don't want: Mutombo - getting old, trade him while his stock is high. Howard - unreliable offensively and not enough of a rebounding/defensive presence. Witherspoon - same as both above. Everyone else you should consider tradable if the offer is right.
yeah why do we even have howard??? he can't play any defence and as tall as t-mac. we need a taller PF whos a shot blocker
have you guys really watched the rockets game all season? howard is an important part of our team.. He constantly gave us numerous rebounds and crucial points.. When he's injured, we collapsed.. We have no substitue for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatever:</div><div class="quote_post">have you guys really watched the rockets game all season? howard is an important part of our team.. He constantly gave us numerous rebounds and crucial points.. When he's injured, we collapsed.. We have no substitue for him.</div> Thank You. Missing Howard is one thing that hurt the Rox chances because there was no way the Mavs would have gotten all of those rebounds. No one on the team seemed to have that "Go for the throat" mentality which let the Mavs get back into the series. When the Rox went up 2-0, I thought they would take it 4 - 2.
Uhhhh no bring Deke back (I swear people must not watch a lot of the Rocket if they think he's just a worthless piece of crap)....bring Deke back for another year,bring barry back for another year and go and get a starting PF so you can have howard and James coming off the bench (this would automatically make us a deeper team)......a starting PG wouldn't hurt either, James is better suited to come off the bench, because he has a scorer's mentality.
The thing about the Rockets in a rebuilding mode bothers me because I've heard it every year since the day Barkley retired. So, what is that, like 7 years now? This team has good ownership and management, but it's time to do something about it. I want the power forward problem solved. Next year, I want to see Juwan Howard coming off the bench and somebody that will make a real difference starting. That will take this team to the next level, like a 7 game series with the Spurs for the Western Conference title instead of with Dallas to see who gets embarrassed in the next round. I have a small beef with David Wesley because I just don't think he shoots well enough to be a starting guard. Other than that, I like him though.
I hope Deke doesn't retire.. maybe keep up this play for another 2 seasons (but playing fewer minutes). Keep Howard, his ability to hit the mid-range jumper opens things up for Yao. We need a bigger SG who can defend (*sough* Larry Hughes *cough*)
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We need a bigger SG who can defend (*sough* Larry Hughes *cough*)</div> Thats not happening in a million years. In my opinion- the players that have to stay on this team are McGrady, Yao, James, Sura, and Howard. Howard I don't really have a problem with since he has developed into a nice defensive player and still retains a bit of the old offense he used to bring. The rest of the guys should either be let go into free agency or traded for optimal value. I mean, Mutumbo is getting old and will probably retire soon so we should trade him now when his stock has risen as high as it will ever be. Jon Barry might not want to stay or he might want a bigger contract- so if it ever gets too expensive in negotiations, I say just let him go. Wesley is a bad defender in my opinion because of his size and when his shots aren't falling- he isn't doing anything really to help the team. Padgett's stock has risen a lot and probably won't opt for his contract extension so we're just going to have to let him go into free agency anyways.
Howard has been good for us late in the season, but he is replacable. Don't bash on the guys who want to see Deke go. We'va all watched him play great defense and rebounding well in his limitted minutes. No one is undermining what he has done for us, its a matter of what he'll do in the future and what talent (maybe young) we can get if we traded him. Sura is the heart of the team and should stay. James is good off the bench. Then you got the Mac and Ming combo. Howard is fine to stay but like i said, he can be replacable by other forwards in the league. He is good off the bench though. Spoon, Baker, Mooch, and Ward are the only players who 100% need to go. Some others are expendible but handy in the team. This includes, Bowen, Padgett, Howard.
I think Deke is a free agent now so we cant trade him. Guys we should keep are tmac, yao, james, and probably sura. The other guys we can live without. We jsut need to bring in a decent backup to mcgrady, add a PF(if badiane is available or the draft) that can play the 5, and clear out the useless guys. There is a lot of trash on this team. This way, we will have a lot of cap room next offseason and can make some big moves then.
Keep Barry! I love his hustle, leadership and attitude. He unites the team..For sure we have to get rid of Ward, Moochie and Vin. I like Ryan Bowen though, he hustles hustles hustles. Yeah, Howard would be great off the bench and James too. As for the PG woes, we have to see if Sura can stay healthy. If not, then we get another starting PG. I'm excited as to see who management will get to play for the Rockets next season
Yao surely gained toughness this season, but he lost his characters gradually. He's not as flexible as the first season: you can rarely see his magic steps now. And he also missed so many throws which he could also make before.
If the price is right there is no reason not to resign mutombo.. I don't think there's a better backup C in the league right now (Mourning - debatable..) and he seemed to enjoy his limited role here, I doubt he's really looking to start and play big minutes at this stage of his career. Howard is a potential third scorer for the Rockets who can get high percentage shots in the post (rather than all the other role players who all shoot from the outside). He's not a great defender but better than Padgett and was playing well before he got hurt. He's expendable but I think he can do well off the bench (like Mo before him, but a better rebounder) to backup a bigger, athletic PF. Obviously the guys to keep are Yao, T-Mac and James. Sura will be healthy next season and brought the toughness they needed. They really need a bigger SG.. OBVIOUSLY Washington is not going to let Hughes go, but that's the type of player the Rockets need.. someone who can 1 - create their own shot, 2 - distrupt the other team on D, and 3 - quick enough and tall enough to defend most 2-guards.
Lack of offensive firepower killed the Rockets chances. Even though they didn't defend well in game 7 they could have won if they match the Mavs offensive production on the other end. Only Yao and TMac has post presence. Dikembe is not an offensive post threat. James and TMac are the only ones who can drive to the hoop effectively and without fear. Wesley,Sura, Barry,Padgett and Bowen(if applicable) are all catch and shoot players who only drives to the hoop only on a fastbreak situations let say 2 on 1, 3 on 1 or 4 on 1 because they are always afraid of being blocked. Hey no one's perfect but if you can conquer your fear you'll score at your own will. They should realize that Earl Boykins can score despite his size. Of course if your outside shooting is poor you must rely on the inside plays instead of waiting and praying for your shots to fall in which always comes too late. Though they were effective in limiting Dirk, - Terry, Stackhouse,Daniels and Howard did most of the damage by scoring inside with their fearless drive to the hoop which sometimes draws a foul for a 3 pt play. The Rockets should add some versatile players who can hustle and score inside when outside shooting does'nt fall in. We need those high percentage shots if were going to match up against high-powered teams in the future and in playoffs time.
