A New Paper Tiger: Rockets the next new West contender?
Jul 21st, 2007 by ToddAllen
Time to add a 4th team to the dice roll of predicting who comes out of the West. For the last few years, you look at the rosters and you think it will come down to the Mavs, Spurs and Suns (in alphabetical order) with the outcome to be determined in the playoffs.
It looks like its time to add the Houston Rockets to that list. There’s a couple of chronically cranky players that make this a little conditional on playing to potential, but the starting line-up is likely:
Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Luis Scola and Yao Ming.
And key bench players could include:
Mike James, Rafer Alston (if he isn’t traded), Dikembe Mutombo (still a solid back-up), Bonzi Wells
With Wells, you have to think Adelman knows how to utilize and motivate him. With Francis, you have to think a return to more of a running game will help. With Scola… well, this one is taken on faith by the universally high opinion everyone who’s played against him seems to have.
Still, if you subscribe to the “three musketeers” theory that you need three all-stars to win it all (or 2 all-stars and a _solid_ third option), you’ve got a lot of names to stick next to Yao and McGrady.
Chemistry counts, but it looks like the Western Conference just got uglier to survive.
Now before you Jazz fans get all over me, the Jazz are not the killer on paper that they are on the court. That’s the benefit you get from Farmer Sloan on the bench. Jerry runs a well-oiled machine and uses his weapons very well… and chemistry counts.
Francis is shot. Legs gone. Poor shot selection, extremely turnover prone. He will not start for the Rockets, McGrady and Yao will NOT like playing with him. Mike James will have a much bigger impact.
I think people are extremely overating the rockets moves this year. Scola has never played in an NBA game and Euro success doesn’t always mean NBA success. Francis will likely spend most of the season injured, may not be that good when he plays, and brings a negative attitude. Mike James and Rafer Alston are back-up point guards at best and kind of crappy ones at that.
Barring any injury specially on Yao and McGrady, the Rockets with Adelman at the helm is the team to beat. Ric Adelman is the right coach for the Rockets and you will see how well he will use the hot headed Bonzi Wells to Rocket’s advantage.
I like the addition of Stevie! But I think for the Rockets to succeed is still how far Yao Ming would take them! It’s not your fault Tracy and it’s not on you! I’m not saying it’s Yao’s but all I’m saying is that, when Yao Ming reaches the same level of a Hakeem Olajuwon, Duncan or Shaq, then Houston would likely be the next Dynasty. Since Jordan retired, in the last 9 years, Shaq and Duncan won 4 apiece. The other one was Detroit in ’04 with a frontline of Big Ben and Sheed and they beat the Lakers, led by Shaq of course. So basically, Shaq or Duncan is in the Finals every year and I wonder if they were on a different conference since ’99, they probably met in the Finals every year(with due respect to Detroit, Dallas, New Jersey, Philly, Cleveland). That’s why no wonder in this year’s Draft, Portland chose Oden over Durant. Rick Adelman deserves a championship after all those years in Portland and Sac.
1st!
‘da Rockets have certainly improved w/ letting Jeff Van Gundy go as he could no longer motivate the team he was coaching with his restrictive philosophies & replacing him w/ Rick Adelman who will be a fresh energy at the helm of a very talented team ! Luis Scola will most certainly be a huge help at the power forward slot w/ his size, toughness & experience- as an Olympic player, he was very impressive against the USA big men ! Jackie Butler will be effective coming off the bench both at the 4 as well as the 5 & Bonzi Wells will blossom w/ Adelman coaching ! All of these moves will help make Houston more competitive in ‘da NBA playoffs… BUT the acquisition of Mike James & Steve Francis could be quite disruptive at the point as they compete w/ Rafer Alston who is a maturing talent that played well all season. Francis & James are shoot-first tiny shooting guards whose disruptive influence [if they are allowed to run the point w/ their selfish playing style] could destroy the chemistry that was working effectively last year between Alston, McGrady & Ming !!! If coach Adelman can help Bonzi play up to his potential & if he can make Francis & James play team-first ball BEHIND Alston at the point guard slot- then, in an injury-free season, i believe ‘da Rockets will advance in ‘da NBA playoffs- maybe all the way to the conference finals ! BUT they are still no match for the returning champion SA Spurs if they stay healthy- too much experience & winning experience that Houston still has to create with the new team they are assembling… ‘love ‘da Rockets BUT ‘worry ’bout keeping Francis & James under control !!!!!
Its all Bonzi Buckaroo
The return of the Bonzi ! I believe if Bonzi played last playoff Rockets would have went further.
Long live Buckaroo Bonzi
I really think that Houston’s 1st round pick Brooks is the darkhorse in the Rockets PG situation. Based on pure PG skills and running a team, I got him rated ahead of James, Alston and Francis. He may start the season on the bench but come playoff time I think it should surprise no one if he is starting for the Rockets.
its alot of stuff i hear. That dotn sound good about the Rockets. True basketball fans, know the rockets can only get better. we have the same team we been playing with for 2 years going on 3. The only person we lost was Juwan Howard, other than that we just been adding more solid players. we picked up Mike james because he bring that attitude and hunger to the table. Mcgrady tends to lack that self motivation of getting in the hungry level when its time for him to take over the game. so james bring a lil more attitude; but he is still james he is not a caliber player and most definately not an all-star. Im sure we wouldnt have picked up mike james if we knew we was going to luck up on Steve Francis for that price we got him for. Now Francis is an all-star; nothing has changed about Francis; yeah his numbers went down and this and that. Francis never wanted to leave the Rockets and it hit hiim hard when we traded him. Because reality hit a cocky all-star in the face; when he thought whe was too good to be traded. but now he is reunited with the person he was traded for. Now he dont have a streaky cat (mobley) shooter at the 2 for him but he has a all around true all-star (mcgrady) being his shooting guard. If you watch the tapes of the rockets and the tings francis did without dribbling all the time he did some amazing things as in assist to yao ming. but yao was just getting into the nba taste and francis assist was to fast and smooth for the defense and ofcourse yao ming. im telling you right now. The rockets is trouble. with the vision mcgrady brings to the table then you add a rebounding .scoring point guard like francis. who still is a threat. casue he can still drive and dunk. and hnow we have a bencjh. bonzi, head, james, brooks, alson, . its so many was adelman can rotate his players. for speed on the court or for slow pace low-post and screens. I will put my mony on the rockets with the roster and coach they have. adelman is a very good coach. and he has a very talented team and we will have a highlight season
I’m confused by signing Francis. Alston played well last season and Francis is bound to start. Which guard will they get rid of? Everyone talks of this fast play stuff… But Yao isn’t an up and down player… And if Yao is the key to the Rocket’s success, then why would the team want to play fast? Adelman is a confusing hire as well, with Larry Brown out there. Luis Scola??? This is all too confusing. They should consider making a move for a forward like Udonis Haslem, trading away one of these extra guards, someone proven and not just a Euro player. No offense to Scola, we just don’t know how he’ll do in the NBA.
Been around the world, ay, ya ya, and the’ve been playa’ hatin’. thank you all the rocket haters. this is what i want. usually if fans are building the rockets up they fail. but oooooooo how i love the sweet sweet haters. you’ll be kissin that firm back side come may.
thank you ballasworld. we lost nothing and gained a lot to a team that won 52 games while missing yao for 32 games. and lets not forget they are probably gonna trade for another PF. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
First of all for all you basketball purists and naysayers Jeff Van Gundy although in the Western conference didn’t coach a west coast offense style of play.Rafer Alston can run with the best of them but had to stop once he got down court and wait for either Tracy or Yao and run the plays designed for them.Secondly what about the chemistry. You bring back the the franchise but you still have Tracy who you traded the franchise for. Don’t believe the hype! What looks good on paper may not work on the court.You do the math; add one marquee player with a bad back,to another marquee player with arthritic knees,plus an unproven power foward, a sloo center with no low post moves and guard who last season couldn’t distribute the ball for the Wolves so they sat him on the bench all that adds up to is Houston we have a problem.
I think Battier, Yao, Scola and McGrady are all such unselfish and professional ballplayers at this point in their careers that even Bonzi Wells AND a point guard logjam will not be enough to overthrow the team’s chemistry. Remember when Shaq, Zo and D-Wade managed to keep Antoine Walker, J-Dub and Payton in line for a season? Championship!
getting rid of van gundy and adding james and francis were key. alston really didnt do all that much in terms of running the offense and his shot was pretty inconsistent. james is a bit better controlling the tempo but francis can score and should be happier in houston. i dont understand why so many people complain about getting francis – he is a steal.
hopefully wells can return to his old self and quit being a headcase. small chance that will happen as he’s an oldtimer and if the light hasnt turned on by now, probably not going to happen. i dont think adelman has that much influence over bonzi despite what many people are saying.
scola is an unknown. lots of talk about this guy but with euros, its hard to say. he has size and reports are that he is physical. both are needed by a rather soft frontcourt. yao needs to strengthen his hands as he always is getting outrebounded or stripped – IMO its the missing link in his game.
hopefully the rockets are working to trade for some more interior guys as they have a lot of promising young guards on the roster in lucas, head, brooks – plus alston. not a lot of trading power though.
i like the moves thus far. it would be great if they got a tough veteran PF though.
Houston Houston Houston, my second home. The Rockets hands down have had the most productive off-season. With the acquisitions of James, Frances’, Scola, Butler, and Alderman they will defiantly make some noise in the west. As long as they can stay healthy I can see them making it to the conference finals. Now me I am a Spurs fan, I bleed sliver and gold but if there is one team besides my Spurs that I would rather win it be the Houston Rockets. Alderman will have Bonzi Wells in position to make many plays and there aren’t many players in the league that can deal with a healthy and driven Wells. As for Mac and Yao they are going to get there’s but I think the big surprise will be the number draft pick Aaron Brooks, da can flat out play. All I can say is that the west has gotten even tougher and now there are seriously six teams in the west that have a real possibility of winning the title. I will never be a cheerer of GO Rockets Go while my Spurs are still in contention but if San Antonio is down and out I’ll be one of the first to jump ship until the off-season begins…
True Spurs Fan,
Brandon
Thanks John J. If your in Houston we may have to catch you at the game as we cheer all the way to the playoffs. Rockets now have a rotational team. We picked up Aaron Brooks and i dont know if they expected him to be that good in the summer league. but to me and from what i’ve been reading Rockets didnt believe they would end up in the position they are in. Morey did a good job on not chasing free agents and taking time with his coach and finding out what they need for the right price.
Our chemistry will go good i believe for the simple fact just like B said. we do not have a selfish team. Mcgrady would love to past the ball at the end of the game. He lacks that leader role sometimes. i feel he has a weak heart. but Mcgrady can still play. i dont doubt him about that. i would rather mcgrady than kobe any day. Just because Mcgrady has vision and he shares the ball. but people or complaining about Francis. which he knows what he can do, and i know some games he is going to clown and do some flashy things. but he been through it and he knows he has to do good this year so he can get a big contract before he retires just like bonzi wells need to do. both of them are on this prove yourself year. Which makes the Rockets a threat. besides the other weapons they have. Bonzi and Francis have to look good this year for a better contract. Now battier is a solid player. we might see him starting 1-3 qt. but in the 4th qt. you should expect bonzi out there for sure with francis and Mcgrady along with yao. its alot of ways the rockets can rotate there players. 4th qt. yao dont even have to be out there. which speeds the team up alot. I know basketball. and i know what the rockets can do. i havent forgot about luther head, or Kirk snyder. those player aint going anywhere. because you have to take mcgrady back in consideration. he played alot of games this year and it seems the waco doctor is doing his job. but it may be times Mcgrady needs to sit out a game. so you haters keep hating. We have plenty playing time for the ones who deserve to be on the court and adelman know’s how to make his players come together and make great chemistry.
O yeah! Alston can sit on the bench or be traded he was very inconsistent and pose no threat. teams left him open. sometime he hit 3’s but look at how many shot he took. he did have a good floater when he did drive into the paint but he wasnt a great penetrated; with francis out there you have to double him when he gets hot you have to stay doubling mcgrady and yao then that leaves you to good shooters open. and thats when we change the game and set up shooters.
Steve “fuck the team” Francis. No longer the franchise player, but continues to make moneyoff of idiot GM’s who look to old highlight clips. Why don’t the Rockets sign Kevin anderson, Kevin Johnson, and Spudd Webb. Hype got them no where also. Enjoy Rockets, another season crashing like the Challenger. Mcgrady still shakey and Yao (the verdict is still out on if a 7’5 or whatever player can play or even live past a certain “basketball” age)
Rockets: Definately a contender in the Wild Wild West. Utah, we`re coming. Mavs, good luck with the hunt(if not panic). Spurs, thank you for Scola and Butler. Suns, I luv to watch you play.
Ok…lets breathe for a second. Being from Houston, I have to back up the Rockets. They are going to be a team to be reckoned with. It all depends on the chemistry. Coach Adelman is going to do big things. I think Rafer and John Lucas are gone though, I really wanna see JL3 in the league he deserves is. But who am I to say anything, I aint a GM.
But watch out for them Rockets.
Although I have some concerns in the 1-2 positions (7 guys for two slots), how can you not be enthusiastic about this coming season? I mean, really? Look at the horsepower this team has added since last May. That was a team that was a couple of defensive rebounds away from advancing to round two over the Utah Jazz (which made the WC Finals). A 52 win team last year. I’ll give ground on the defensive aspect…JVG was a defensive specialist and no one can argue that. But, the core of that team is still intact and I don’t think the D is going to fall off as much as some might think. The offense on the other hand is going to go through the roof. I think the Rox as a team will easily average a triple digit average over the course of the regular season. And, better yet, we will create matchup problems for opposing teams for a change, instead of the other way around. Chemistry problems, ehh…the Rockets are a deep team. Over the course of the season, each player will find his niche, I have faith in that. Top 3 seed in the West and deep into the playoffs we go…..