| Pre-Draft Summit: Houston Rockets Authored by Andrew Perna & The RGM Rockets Forum - June 18, 2008 - 11:10 am
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Last month I posted a series of Lottery Summits for each of the league’s fourteen non-playoff teams. I posed a set of questions, almost exactly the same as the ones asked in the first series of Pre-Draft Summits, to each of the NBA’s playoff team forums as we continue our up-to-the-minute, expert 2008 Draft coverage. The following responses were compiled from our Houston forum, the people who know the Rockets better than some of the players themselves.
The Houston Rockets:
2007-08 Record: 55-27
Difference From 2006-07: Three More Wins
Playoff Result: Lost In Six To Utah (First Round)
Restricted Free Agents: Carl Landry, Steve Novak (T)
Unrestricted Free Agents: Dikembe Mutombo
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
Shabi__5: If we stayed healthy and got better field goal percentage from the role players, but the shooters especially.
MaxRider: We need to be healthy. We can't win when four of our regular five starters are injured. We had one season-ending injury and three players that required surgery in the offseason.
Julio: Health, better production from our point guards and more help for Tracy McGrady. But health is really the key.
moofs: We should have rolled everyone onto the court in full body armor.
TMACFORMVP: We really could have attacked the basket better and taken advantage of the chances we had throughout the series against Utah by hitting open shots, rebounding better and making our free throws.
A.J.: Our team could have attacked the rim more aggressively to draw more fouls.
YaoZai: Hit our open shots and free throws, as well as grab more defensive rebounds.
DraftBoy10: Win? We actually wanted to win? We had zero chance to win the series even before it began.
Dinky Bits: Even with all of the injuries, we still could have won if we'd rebounded, shot a better percentage from the free throw line and actually guarded Deron Williams.
Ribalding: Instead of asking Chuck Hayes to do anything truly useful on the court, Rick Adelman should've sent him into the game with a pair of brass knuckles and a hit list. Ditto for Luther Head. What other options did we have, since the NBA doesn't score on an injury-based curve?
sweet_jesus: If we had a healthy Rafer Alston for more than just three of the games. Without him on the floor the offense was stagnant. Add that to lack of our role players, missing open shots and easy put backs. That all makes Tracy's job a lot harder.
McGrady2Head: Nothing. Yao Ming was injured, so we had no shot. Although less playing time for Head might have helped.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Shabi__5: Defense and chemistry.
MaxRider: Chemistry; there's no bad blood on this team.
T-Mac United: Defense and chemistry
Julio: Defense, chemistry and Shane Battier.
moofs: Defense, chemistry and Luis Scola's wacky lay-ups.
TMACFORMVP: Our defense, chemistry and heart.
A.J.: This team’s biggest strengths were our defense and post-play.
YaoZai: Defense and chemistry
DraftBoy10: Defense and chemistry, by far. We work well on defense, and we work well together.
Dinky Bits: Hustle, heart and chemistry.
Ribalding: Attractive spouses. Seriously, have you seen Battier's wife?
sweet_jesus: General manager Daryl Morey. The guy turned Juwan Howard’s horrible contract into what is now a $6 million expiring contract. He drafted two rookies in Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry and managed to pull off a deal with cross-state rival San Antonio for Luis Scola. And let's not forget Coach Adelman.
McGrady2Head: Hustle and hard work.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Shabi__5: Carl Landry.
MaxRider: Landry. He was a great spark off the bench. His athleticism surprised lots of people, we didn't expect him to be in the rotation this season.
T-Mac United: Landry.
Julio: As others said, Landry did quite well. Scola had a good year as well.
moofs: Steve Novak. I expected Landry and Scola to have good seasons after watching their preseason performances. I didn't expect Novak to get any significant time, least of all in semi-critical games.
TMACFORMVP: Landry, easily. We were at one point wondering if he even deserved a roster spot. It’s crazy to think about that now.
A.J.: Landry, without question.
YaoZai: Landry and Scola. I kind of doubted Landry, but I'm glad he proved me wrong. Scola was foul machine (sometimes still is) and that really concerned me, but I guess he’s coming to terms with it.
DraftBoy10: Alston and Landry. At first Carl was a project, now he's a rotational piece. Rafer wasn't even supposed to be with the team for this season, but he played his best season as a pro.
Dinky Bits: Landry was a huge surprise. He was absolutely key to our success this season, particularly during the winning streak. He provided just what we needed at power forward. Rafer also shocked me with his competence.
Ribalding: Scola. My man Luis isn't afraid to hit somebody in the mouth. He comes in ready to scrap. Who cares if he's allergic to dunks? He ain't afraid of the devil.
sweet_jesus: Bonzi Wells. I'm not sure if it was just playing for his old coach, but Bonzi came ready to play this year – physically and mentally. Although, he never became the monster we saw when he was with the Kings in the playoffs.
McGrady2Head: Scola and Landry.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Shabi__5: Mike James, who eventually got traded.
MaxRider: James.
T-Mac United: Head and James.
Julio: Bobby Jackson wasn’t great, James was terrible and having Steve Francis back was just a pipedream.
moofs: Brooks and Mike Harris. I thought Harris would do somewhat better than he did, though not as good as Landry (save for his one killer game in the streak). Brooks did ok, but I thought he'd be better than he was by the end of the season.
TMACFORMVP: James was expected be one of our main perimeter scorers, but he couldn't even get himself into the rotation. I would say Head, but I already had soured on him after last year’s playoffs.
A.J.: Head. He was supposed to give us instant offense off the bench and he failed at doing that.
YaoZai: James and Francis. I placed great faith and confidence in these two. In the end, I was disappointed.
DraftBoy10: Battier, he really stinks at times. When there's no legit swingman to guard, he is pretty much useless. He rarely attacks the basket, camps out at the perimeter and seems unathletic. We need to keep him, but add onto the swings.
Dinky Bits: James, Francis and Brooks. We were supposed to be stacked at the point guard position, but they all disappointed.
Ribalding: Kirk Snyder. He makes Vin Baker look like a workaholic.
sweet_jesus: Francis. With all his talent he was still benched behind Alston and James. Then he gets "hurt" and sits out the rest of the season. I never expected him to return to the former All-Star he was, but geez.
McGrady2Head: Head.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Shabi__5: I’m pretty confident.
MaxRider: 50/50. We have done some good and bad things in the past. The Scola trade was great, but James was awful.
T-Mac United: In Morey, we believe.
Julio: I'm torn. I'm sold on Landry and Scola, but Luis was a no-brainer. Brooks had been good, but James, Francis and Jackson stunk.
moofs: Morey hasn't done a single thing wrong (in my eyes) as of yet. Even Francis and James, his two seemingly worst moves, freed us up financially. Francis is a potential trading chip (I think) and James helped our cap. Both were possible, though never plausible, backups at point guard, which we've needed.
TMACFORMVP: Morey has been solid, so I have faith in the front office. However, I do have concerns that they feel we can just stand pat and compete if we stay healthy.
A.J.: I am very confident in Morey.
YaoZai: I am quite confident in Morey, but I'm concerned about Leslie Alexander's approach - he might turn miserly again.
DraftBoy10: Very. We don't need anything unrealistic and unattainable, just two simple things – developing our youngsters and getting a third option on offense.
Dinky Bits: I've been impressed with what they've been able to do so far, I just pray that they see the need for a third scorer, as our offense is still pitiful.
Ribalding: 100%. Give Morey two months to work some more Jedi-Mind tricks on opposing GMs – by July, he'll pull some crazy move off.
sweet_jesus: In Morey I Trust.
McGrady2Head: If they understand that our biggest need is a third scoring option, and that anyone is tradable except for Yao, T-Mac, Landry and Scola – I am pretty confident.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Shabi__5: A swingman with size that can create his own shot and shoot from outside, and an athletic big man.
MaxRider: Our biggest need is a backup big man, who's at least 6-foot-10. However, judging from this year’s draft prospect we are better off drafting the best player available.
T-Mac United: A swingman who can score without the ball, since McGrady and Rafer both have a high usage rate, and a big man with athleticism and size.
Julio: I don't know much about the draft, but a backup for Yao and an athletic wingman would be good.
moofs: It all depends on how we can trade: a swingman with shooting range, a backup point and a backup center.
TMACFORMVP: A third option that can create his own shot and be more consistent, and efficient role players that can shoot from the outside. An upgrade at point guard would be nice despite Rafer's improvement this season.
A.J.: Our team's biggest needs are at backup center and the wing position.
YaoZai: A center, if Dikembe Mutombo retires, and a wing.
DraftBoy10: We don't really need much from the draft, but if we keep the pick I say go after a swingman with size.
Dinky Bits: A backup center.
Ribalding: Trades.
sweet_jesus: A swingman that can create his own shot and attack the basket. To a lesser extent we need a backup center to replace ‘Deke.
McGrady2Head: A shooting guard/small forward that is taller than 6-foot-5.
7. Who would you like your team to select?
Shabi__5: In the first round: Brandon Rush, Robin Lopez, Donte Greene, Mario Chalmers, Chris Douglas-Roberts or Joe Alexander. In the second round: J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker, Joey Dorsey, Courtney Lee or Keith Brumbaugh.
MaxRider: Derrick Rose (just kidding). I’m thinking Douglas-Roberts, but I don't think it's possible either.
T-Mac United: In the first round: Rush, Douglas-Roberts or Devon Hardin. In the second: Giddens.
Julio: Nicolas Batum, even though that's not realistic, but I would be ecstatic!
moofs: I don’t know. Jalen McElroy. Who's even playing?
TMACFORMVP: I don't know much about the draft, but Rush seems like a nice prospect. He seems to have a good feel for the game and has good size for a shooting guard. A guy like Lopez would be solid as well, especially if Mutombo retired.
A.J.: I would like us to select either Rush, Roy Hibbert or Wayne Ellington.
YaoZai: Rush or Hibbert.
DraftBoy10: Rush, Douglas-Roberts or even me.
Dinky Bits: I want to trade the pick.
Ribalding: Richard Jefferson...again.
sweet_jesus: It doesn't matter. Morey will select someone we've never heard about or trade the pick. We'll pout and whine all offseason, but when it works out on the court we'll praise his name and offer up our first born once again to appease the basketball gods.
McGrady2Head: I would like them to trade the pick along with Battier and Jackson's expiring contract for an amazing third scoring option.
The Draft Summit Archive:
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The Toronto Raptors:Draft Summit
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The Cleveland Cavaliers:Draft Summit
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The Dallas Mavericks:Draft Summit
The Phoenix Suns:Draft Summit
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Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM. If you’re a fan of one of the many teams that we have yet to feature, surf over to our forums and weigh in on what is happening within the organization. If you’d like to contact Andrew, shoot him an e-mail at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
