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  • The Houston Rockets Thread

    With the retirement of Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets are officially rebuilding and are looking for a good start with the hiring of Celtics legend Kevin McHale to take the reigns in coaching the team.

    The veteran leader role will fall to Luis Scola, a veteran of international basketball.

    Despite rebuilding, Houston still has assets mainly in the collective talent they accumulated through trades for the past two seasons. Their back court consists of budding point guard Kyle Lowry while providing the scoring is Kevin Martin.

    Young pieces like Goran Dragic, Jonny Flynn, Patrick Patterson, Terrence Williams and Courtney Lee are currently in tow and to be utilized. Hasheem Thabeet is expected to start at center, atleast if the Rockets don't bring in a qualified center from the free agent market. The former 2nd pick overall will have a fresh start with a team that is desperately needing the presence of a center.

    The undersized center, Chuck Hayes is a unrestricted free agent. So much uncertainty with the post-Yao era.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Sad news:

    Former Houston Rockets President and General Manager Ray Patterson has passed away.

    Houston area news, weather, traffic, sports and breaking news from FOX 26 Houston. Watch live 57.5 hours of news and local programming every week on KRIV.
    Sacramento Kings
    HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

  • #2
    I'm not enthusiastic about the prospects for Houston this year. If they had Yao, even playing just 20 minutes a night, I think they'd be in the play-offs. But he's gone now.

    Center will be a problem. I hope Thabeet can make a great career, but from what I saw of him in Memphis, he's a back-up at best. I have no idea what Donatas Motiejunas' status is. If I were him (or any other rookie with the ability), I think I would take the best offer I could get outside the NBA. Chuck Hayes and Luis Scola will be the starting PF/C.

    Kevin Martin can score, but he does not his productivity is nowhere close to Scola's, which makes Scola their best player. Goran Dragic is pretty good. I'd like to see more from him. Kyle Lowry will get 10 points a game, but little else. Budinger can also score. Their other draft pick, Marcus Morris, I have no idea about, but I'm skeptical that he can match Scola's productivity.

    So, basically, this is a team with Luis Scola, an under-appreciated PF who is the last PF left off the West All-Stars, Kevin Martin, who needs to be a better playmaker, and a ragtag group of bench players.

    Maybe Kevin McHale learned from his mistakes in Minneapolis, but I don't see them making the play-offs.
    "I really like the attitudes of eagles. They never give up. When they grab a fish or something else, they never let it go. It doesn't matter. In a book, they write they find a skeleton of [an] eagle and there is no fish. It means that the fish beat him and killed him, but he didn't let go." -- Donatas Motiejunas

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    • #3
      Houston has always been an intriguing team for me because they have a number of underrated players- Scola, Lowry, Martin, Hayes, Patterson. Each of these guys don't get the recognition they deserve...........BUT....and this is a big 'but', none of these guys are superstars at the level needed to take your team far into the playoffs. They are all really, really nice supporting pieces (I'd love to have any of the above listed guys on the Kings) but they are lacking that one go to guy.

      Yao was supposed to be that guy, and was that guy for many years but as we all know, injuries slowed him. Same with McGrady when he used to be a star, they just could never get everyone healthy and productive at the same time. Its a real shame.

      Anyways, I really like this team still and I hope they can somehow, someway, land a big time Free Agent in the next few years. The majority of their key players are young, except for Scola who still has a couple more years of high level ball in him, so it would be great to see them land a big fish.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by mvblair View Post
        I'm not enthusiastic about the prospects for Houston this year. If they had Yao, even playing just 20 minutes a night, I think they'd be in the play-offs. But he's gone now.

        Center will be a problem. I hope Thabeet can make a great career, but from what I saw of him in Memphis, he's a back-up at best. I have no idea what Donatas Motiejunas' status is. If I were him (or any other rookie with the ability), I think I would take the best offer I could get outside the NBA. Chuck Hayes and Luis Scola will be the starting PF/C.
        Me too. I am tempering my expectations for the Rockets on year one post Yao Ming.

        I expect the Rockets to re-sign Hayes or go after a bigger and serviceable center on the free agent market after the lockout is resolved. Hayes maybe a good fit with the team as a reliever. At the moment despite the presence of Thabeet and Jordan Hill at center, that position is still their weakest.

        Kevin Martin can score, but he does not his productivity is nowhere close to Scola's, which makes Scola their best player. Goran Dragic is pretty good. I'd like to see more from him. Kyle Lowry will get 10 points a game, but little else. Budinger can also score. Their other draft pick, Marcus Morris, I have no idea about, but I'm skeptical that he can match Scola's productivity.
        I agree, Martin will provide the scoring. I envision Martin and Scola alternating as the team's top scorer in games. Martin can score but he barely plays defense and usually plays Matador Defense just to score on the other end quickly. Scola is without the doubt the leader of this team.

        About Lowry, I can see his statline being more productive from last year's late surge while Goran Dragic is a nice pickup. Whereas, I look for Dragic to re-discover his 2010 playoff form with the Phoenix Suns where he had a superb series against the San Antonio Spurs.

        Chase Buddinger will be a good role player for the Rockets. The man they call the Red Haired Rocket Man can shoot and will be very viable option to act as another pressure release shooter when opposing teams do double team Scola on the low block. It will not surprise me if Buddinger will have good scoring nights.

        Marcus Morris is definitely a project. Last time I heard is that Morris was working hard on his perimeter jumpshot. Scouts described Morris as a tweener in between the power forward and small forward, unlike his twin brother Markieff who is definitely a power forward. Marcus can definitely learn a lot from Scola.

        So, basically, this is a team with Luis Scola, an under-appreciated PF who is the last PF left off the West All-Stars, Kevin Martin, who needs to be a better playmaker, and a ragtag group of bench players.

        Maybe Kevin McHale learned from his mistakes in Minneapolis, but I don't see them making the play-offs.
        Me too. Playoffs are out of the question for now. Maybe a losing record for this team will be a blessing in disguise as they have a shot at the deep 2012 or 2013 draft where they can draft a franchise player like Andre Drummond.
        Sacramento Kings
        HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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        • #5
          Originally posted by NorCal View Post
          Houston has always been an intriguing team for me because they have a number of underrated players- Scola, Lowry, Martin, Hayes, Patterson. Each of these guys don't get the recognition they deserve...........BUT....and this is a big 'but', none of these guys are superstars at the level needed to take your team far into the playoffs. They are all really, really nice supporting pieces (I'd love to have any of the above listed guys on the Kings) but they are lacking that one go to guy.

          Yao was supposed to be that guy, and was that guy for many years but as we all know, injuries slowed him. Same with McGrady when he used to be a star, they just could never get everyone healthy and productive at the same time. Its a real shame.

          Anyways, I really like this team still and I hope they can somehow, someway, land a big time Free Agent in the next few years. The majority of their key players are young, except for Scola who still has a couple more years of high level ball in him, so it would be great to see them land a big fish.
          I too feel for the Rockets. The Yao-McGrady tandem had a lot of potential but fast forward, it fell apart and joined countless "Envisioned but Never Was" teams of the NBA's history.

          The cap space that Yao Ming left behind can be also a good start. After the lockout, they should run after Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol. Or rebuild the old fashion way of talent accumulation by drafting and signing good pieces along the way. I do fancy the chances of them nabbing Andre Drummond in the near future.
          Sacramento Kings
          HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

          Comment


          • #6
            NorCal, I share your opinion. I want the Rockets to be good because I like their players, but I just don't see it right now.
            Originally posted by CKR13 View Post
            About Lowry, I can see his statline being more productive from last year's late surge while Goran Dragic is a nice pickup. Whereas, I look for Dragic to re-discover his 2010 playoff form with the Phoenix Suns where he had a superb series against the San Antonio Spurs.
            I'll look for that in Lowry. You could be right. I hope Dragic can get back to that time against San Antonio. I forgot about that. That was awesome.
            Marcus Morris is definitely a project. Last time I heard is that Morris was working hard on his perimeter jumpshot. Scouts described Morris as a tweener in between the power forward and small forward, unlike his twin brother Markieff who is definitely a power forward. Marcus can definitely learn a lot from Scola.
            So Morris isn't starting, huh? What's your opinion? I don't think he is. Scola is too good...could he start at SF?
            "I really like the attitudes of eagles. They never give up. When they grab a fish or something else, they never let it go. It doesn't matter. In a book, they write they find a skeleton of [an] eagle and there is no fish. It means that the fish beat him and killed him, but he didn't let go." -- Donatas Motiejunas

            Comment


            • #7
              So Morris isn't starting, huh? What's your opinion? I don't think he is. Scola is too good...could he start at SF?
              At this point, Morris could come off the bench. Most likely the starting center and power forward would be Thabeet and Scola respectively. I do agree with scouts that Morris is still a project.
              Sacramento Kings
              HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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              • #8
                Houston to host 2013 NBA All Star Weekend

                The Houston Rockets have announced that they will host the 2013 NBA All Star Weekend.
                Sacramento Kings
                HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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                • #9
                  Waiting for Courtney Lee to have a break out season...

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                  • #10
                    It is given that Lee can contribute to the offense but I look for Lee's defense to help the team. Lee is a better defender than Kevin Martin at this point.
                    Sacramento Kings
                    HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by CKR13 View Post
                      It is given that Lee can contribute to the offense but I look for Lee's defense to help the team. Lee is a better defender than Kevin Martin at this point.
                      And kevin will never be a good defender, The Chicago Bulls failed to acquire Lee last season. too bad it did not happen I think he will flourish playing alongside with D.Rose.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by alex15 View Post
                        And kevin will never be a good defender, The Chicago Bulls failed to acquire Lee last season. too bad it did not happen I think he will flourish playing alongside with D.Rose.
                        I agree. Lee would have been the shooting guard that the Bulls had been missing. As they say, the Bulls' lost is Houston's gain.

                        Lee has bounced a lot on his young career and maybe Houston will be his home where he can thrive.
                        Sacramento Kings
                        HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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                        • #13
                          One day, Yao Ming #11 will hang in the rafters. Joining the likes of Olajuwon, Drexler, Tomjanovich and others.

                          Sacramento Kings
                          HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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                          • #14
                            Yao asks not to be nominated for hall of fame just yet

                            According to a report published by the Associated Press, Yao Ming has asked his agent to tell the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Committee to postpone his nomination for the Hall of Fame.

                            Yao felt that it was too soon to be nominated.
                            Sacramento Kings
                            HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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                            • #15
                              Yao Ming admitted in an interview that his left ear was partially deaf since he was eight years old.

                              Sacramento Kings
                              HERE WE STAY UNTIL THE COWBELLS COME HOME

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