Non-bb: Yao Ming out for the season

[MusicMan]

Per ESPN and local media - Rocekts are having an afternoon press conf.

The team was almost certain to set a team recond winning streak - they are only 2 1/2 games behind the Spurs for the 2nd spot in the conference - and now this.

I'm trying to think of an injury in Astros history that equates.  Obviously, JR's stroke is the first thing that comes to mind, but thank goodness this isn't that serious.

[Andyzipp]

For what?

[MusicMan]

For what?

Stress fracture in the foot, according to initial reports.

[Bench]

For what?

If this is asking for what type of injury, it is a stress fracture in his foot for which he will undergo season ending surgery.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I'm trying to think of an injury in Astros history that equates.  Obviously, JR's stroke is the first thing that comes to mind, but thank goodness this isn't that serious.

Reminds me of Bagwell's broken hand(s), actually.

[tophfar]

Reminds me of Bagwell's broken hand(s), actually.

I was thinking the same thing.

[MusicMan]

Reminds me of Bagwell's broken hand(s), actually.

Good one.  Fortunately/unfortunately, depending on your point of view, there's no NBA strike looming.

[Lurch]

Devistating, especially in western conference.

[Navin R Johnson]

Rub some dirt on it.

[Lefty]

Wow, that pretty much sucks.

I'm sure China will run him out there for the Olympics, 100% healed or no.

[legs_of_eggs]

I wanna die. God hates Houston sports.

[Greg M]

That sucks.  This Rocket team's been the first I've followed since the Hakeem days.  I really thought they had a chance this season.  Adelman and Morey have done a hell of a job.  Mutumbo now the starting center?

[legs_of_eggs]

I'd say Scola starts at center with Landry at power forward with Hayes and Dikembe backing those two up off the bench. The real question is why keep winning now can we really win a championship without Yao? The lottery is only a few games away

[austro]

The lottery is only a few games away

Not really. You've got an entire Eastern Division to fall behind.

[ValpoCory]

I'd say Scola starts at center with Landry at power forward with Hayes and Dikembe backing those two up off the bench. The real question is why keep winning now can we really win a championship without Yao? The lottery is only a few games away

You play to win the game.   

Even if you didn't, the odds of "winning" one of the lottery's top three spots is about 1%.  Might as well get the extra revenue from at least 2 playoff home games. 

[ValpoCory]

Not really. You've got an entire Eastern Division to fall behind.

I assume you meant Eastern Conference.   All teams that miss the playoffs are in the lottery, regardless of record.   All teams that make the playoffs are not in the lottery, regardless of whether they have 10 less wins than a 9th place team in the other conference.

[TheWizard]

I am so f'ing depressed right now.  This team was legit, and now they will be hard pressed to make a serious run in the playoffs.  TMAC needs to step his game up.  I don't even know who is going to play 5 now, there is no other real C other than Deke.  I can barely type coherently right now, why does Moses hate Houston?!                                                                                                                           

[legs_of_eggs]

You play to win the game.   

Even if you didn't, the odds of "winning" one of the lottery's top three spots is about 1%.  Might as well get the extra revenue from at least 2 playoff home games. 

I agree but now the team faces the dilemma of having to play the veterans to win now or play our youth to win bigger next year when (knock on wood) hopefully were healthy. Who gets more minutes Brooks or Bobby Jackson? Dikembe or Landry? Do we play gerald green 15-20 minutes now to really get a handle on whether or not we extend him? I say we go with the youth movement and prepare for a big 08-09.

[TheWizard]

I agree but now the team faces the dilemma of having to play the veterans to win now or play our youth to win bigger next year when (knock on wood) hopefully were healthy. Who gets more minutes Brooks or Bobby Jackson? Dikembe or Landry? Do we play gerald green 15-20 minutes now to really get a handle on whether or not we extend him? I say we go with the youth movement and prepare for a big 08-09.

Can't do that.. this team has come too far to just toss the season.  Bobby J is going to continue to get his minutes.  There's no reason Deke can't play along with Landry, they don't play the same position.

And I'm happy that Green came over since he's a Houston guy.. but he sucks.  He's not getting 15-20 min a game, not in this lifetime.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Magloire is available and may be servicable in combination with Mutombo.  You really aren't going to replace Yao, even if he's no Olajuwon.  Scola is too small to play C, as is Landry.  Should be interesting, to see if they can adjust.  They could run the hell out of most teams without Yao in the lineup, not to say they are better without him (because they aren't).

[homer]

The real question is why keep winning now can we really win a championship without Yao? The lottery is only a few games away

This ranks right up there with the most fucking idiotic things I have ever read. Congratulations.

[Burzmali]

Wow, that pretty much sucks.

I'm sure China will run him out there for the Olympics, 100% healed or no.

He needs to just defect to America and stop playing all year.

[TheWizard]

Magloire is available and may be servicable in combination with Mutombo. 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/022708dnspomavsbriefs.2eca182e.html
Magloire is signing with the Mavs.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/022708dnspomavsbriefs.2eca182e.html
Magloire is signing with the Mavs.

Yet another reason to dislike the Mavs (and Mark Cuban specifically).

[legs_of_eggs]

Can't do that.. this team has come too far to just toss the season.  Bobby J is going to continue to get his minutes.  There's no reason Deke can't play along with Landry, they don't necessarily play the same position.

And I'm happy that Green came over since he's a Houston guy.. but he sucks.  He's not getting 15-20 min a game, not in this lifetime.

Deke, Landry, Scola, Hayes, and Novak are our entire power forward and center rotation, each guy affects each others minutes because 4's and 5's are interchangeable. I'm hoping its Landry, Scola and Novak getting the lion's share there, they need to mature and learn the NBA on the fly for a more favorable contending season next year. Saying Gerald Green sucks is retarded. He's 22 years old. He got 20+ minutes a game last year with the Celtics and showed huge upside. The guy could be as good as McGrady but could be as bad as any high school NBA bust. But he shows way more promise than not.

[TheWizard]

Deke, Landry, Scola, Hayes, and Novak are our entire power forward and center rotation, each guy affects each others minutes because 4's and 5's are interchangeable. I'm hoping its Landry, Scola and Novak getting the lion's share there, they need to mature and learn the NBA on the fly for a more favorable contending season next year. Saying Gerald Green sucks is retarded. He's 22 years old. He got 20+ minutes a game last year with the Celtics and showed huge upside. The guy could be as good as McGrady but could be as bad as any high school NBA bust. But he shows way more promise than not.

4s and 5s are not interchangeable.  I don't even know where to begin on that one.  We'll be forced to play small now, which is the team's fault for not having a backup C, but 4s are not 5s.... that's like saying all guards are the same.

Gerald Green sucks.  I'll say it again.  He's 22 years old.. yes.  That's about where your argument stops being legit.  He couldn't even crack the rotation on a horrible Minnesota squad.  Maybe he'll be a decent player a few years from now, right now, not so much.  To say he could be as good as McGrady is ridiculous.  Right NOW, he is 22 years old and hasn't shown the ability to shoot the ball consistently well, doesn't get to the line, and averages more TOs than assists.  The 9-fingered man is not getting into the Rockets rotation because Yao Ming got hurt.   He wouldn't play over Rafer, TMAC, Bobby Jackson, Brooks, Battier, or Luther Head.  The rotation, even without Yao, is already way too deep to throw in a random, young, struggling player.  I'll stand corrected the day RA is playing Gerald Green 15-20 minutes a game.....

[legs_of_eggs]

This ranks right up there with the most fucking idiotic things I have ever read. Congratulations.

Did you miss the game this season that Yao missed against the Jazz? Have you seen the fact that we won 12 games in a row and are still only 7th in the West? Its a brutal world living in the west and you can't have enough talent. Losing the most important player WILL make us significantly worse and it only makes sense going with a youth movement to develop and have a more favorable position in the lottery. Besides we need to know if Green deserves a contract extension and in a cap-driven NBA world that is a big deal. Nows the perfect time to develop our youth for a big next year.

[legs_of_eggs]

4s and 5s are not interchangeable.  I don't even know where to begin on that one.  We'll be forced to play small now, which is the team's fault for not having a backup C, but 4s are not 5s.... that's like saying all guards are the same.

Gerald Green sucks.  I'll say it again.  He's 22 years old.. yes.  That's about where your argument stops being legit.  He couldn't even crack the rotation on a horrible Minnesota squad.  Maybe he'll be a decent player a few years from now, right now, not so much.  To say he could be as good as McGrady is ridiculous.  Right NOW, he is 22 years old and hasn't shown the ability to shoot the ball consistently well, doesn't get to the line, and averages more TOs than assists.  The 9-fingered man is not getting into the Rockets rotation because Yao Ming got hurt.   He wouldn't play over Rafer, TMAC, Bobby Jackson, Battier, or Luther Head.  The rotation, even without Yao, is already way too deep to throw in a random, young, struggling player.  I'll stand corrected the day RA is playing Gerald Green 15-20 minutes a game....

4's and 5's are not interchangeable? Is that why Landry and Scola play on the floor at the same time often and Scola slides to center when Yao goes to the bench? Is this also why Dikembe hasnt played significant minutes all year? Yao is the only center on our roster after Deke yet we've been playing a center for those minutes that Yao is on the bench so yeah 4's and 5's are interchangeable.

Saying Gerald Green does not suck. He's extremely talented who immature and does not know the NBA. He couldn't crack a rotation of a glut of combo guards in Minnesota yet he somehow produced fairly well in 22 minutes the season before with the Celtics. Knit pick all you want the guy is a young stud who just needs maturing and NBA experience.

[Holly]

Did you miss the game this season that Yao missed against the Jazz? Have you seen the fact that we won 12 games in a row and are still only 7th in the West? Its a brutal world living in the west and you can't have enough talent. Losing the most important player WILL make us significantly worse and it only makes sense going with a youth movement to develop and have a more favorable position in the lottery. Besides we need to know if Green deserves a contract extension and in a cap-driven NBA world that is a big deal. Nows the perfect time to develop our youth for a big next year.

Homer was reacting more to the "tank it and go for the lotto!" I believe.

[legs_of_eggs]

Homer was reacting more to the "tank it and go for the lotto!" I believe.

Isn't this the exact reason why The Dream was a Rocket?

[BudGirl]

Yet another reason to dislike the Mavs (and Mark Cuban specifically).

I'm hoping  I'm done with another argument about Cuban.  He's an ass.  He is the reason I hate the Mavs.

I'm sure they started planning the parade route for this season's championship after they traded for Kidd.

[TheWizard]

4's and 5's are not interchangeable? Is that why Landry and Scola play on the floor at the same time often and Scola slides to center when Yao goes to the bench? Is this also why Dikembe hasnt played significant minutes all year? Yao is the only center on our roster after Deke yet we've been playing a center for those minutes that Yao is on the bench so yeah 4's and 5's are interchangeable.

Saying Gerald Green does not suck. He's extremely talented who immature and does not know the NBA. He couldn't crack a rotation of a glut of combo guards in Minnesota yet he somehow produced fairly well in 22 minutes the season before with the Celtics. Knit pick all you want the guy is a young stud who just needs maturing and NBA experience.

Yao played 40 minutes a game.  It was RARE when both Landry and Scola are on the court at the same time, hell Landry just barely got in the rotation himself now that he has proven he's a monster.  But both are too short to consistently play at 5.  And Deke hasn't gotten significant minutes because he's old as dirt.  Just because the Rockets put all their eggs in one basket, and didn't have the foresight to sign another C other than Deke, doesn't mean that 4s are interchangeable with 5s.

Gerald Green has 6 guys in front of him at the G/SF positions.  He is not getting in the rotation.  Hell, the 9-fingered man is the 11th or 12th man on the bench, who knows if he'll ever even play in a Rockets uni or be around next year.  Even Novak would play at SF before Green would, so that would make it 7 in front of him.  You say he's the next TMAC...  when McGrady was 22 years old in 2000-2001, he was putting up 26.8 ppg along with 4.6 APG and 7.5 RPG, he was already a stud.  Gerald Green doesn't do any of that, and the bottom line is that almost any player that is averaging more TOs than assists is not going to be playing consistently on a good NBA team.  The Celtics were TERRIBLE at that time if you recall, which is the only reason he was playing.  You are right, maybe a few years from now he'll be a decent player.. maybe.  Not now he isn't though, right now he'll be fighting to remain the 12th man.

[Holly]

Isn't this the exact reason why The Dream was a Rocket?

And if you don't get that magic ping-pong ball, what did you tank for? Better to play as hard as you can, than to purposely go limp and hope someone comes along later and a) hope there's "A Dream" in the lottery and b) hope you are the lucky one drawn from the pool. Or something. Not every team that tanks gets the first pick. In fact, only one team does... Yao was obtained through that luck of the draw, and there were other teams with worse records than the Rockets that year.

[legs_of_eggs]

Yao played 40 minutes a game.  It was RARE when both Landry and Scola are on the court at the same time, hell Landry just barely got in the rotation himself now that he has proven he's a monster.  But both are too short to consistently play at 5.  And Deke hasn't gotten significant minutes because he's old as dirt.  Just because the Rockets put all their eggs in one basket, and didn't have the foresight to sign another C other than Deke, doesn't mean that 4s are interchangeable with 5s.

Gerald Green has 6 guys in front of him at the G/SF positions.  He is not getting in the rotation.  Hell, the 9-fingered man is the 11th or 12th man on the bench, who knows if he'll ever even play in a Rockets uni or be around next year.  Even Novak would play at SF before Green would, so that would make it 7 in front of him.  You say he's the next TMAC...  when McGrady was 22 years old in 2000-2001, he was putting up 26.8 ppg along with 4.6 APG and 7.5 RPG, he was already a stud.  Gerald Green doesn't do any of that, and the bottom line is that almost any player that is averaging more TOs than assists is not going to be playing consistently on a good NBA team.  The Celtics were TERRIBLE at that time if you recall, which is the only reason he was playing.  You are right, maybe a few years from now he'll be a decent player.. maybe.  Not now he isn't though, right now he'll be fighting to remain the 12th man.

Dude listen. I'm not saying Green should play because he DESERVES it but because we need to know if he's worth giving a contract to at the end of the season, cap space dictates everything and we need to know if that millions of dollars is worth investing in a Gerald Green. The only way to know is giving him a chance to show off his abilities to the coaching staff in real-game situations not just practice. And 4's and 5's are interchangeable just ask Amare Stoudemire, Al Harrington, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, Mehmet Okur and Lamarcus Aldridge.

[kevinG]

It depends on the offense you're running for 4s and 5s to be interchangeable. With Yao on the floor, they certainly were not. Scola/Landry at the 5 work very differently within the Rockets' system than Yao.

I'd like to see the Rockets try a more uptempo system with Yao out. They certainly have the personnel to go small and push the ball. Alston/Tmac/Battier/Landry/Scola could be a viable starting lineup, and with Brooks/Jackson/Head/Novak/Hayes on the bench, they've got the players to be an energetic run-and-shoot team. As much as I like Deke, he's not gotten the minutes this season and I suspect the coaching staff doesn't believe he's got much left. He should be in the game strictly against the offensive centers no one else has the size to defend (like Howard).

Obviously, significantly altering your offense late in the season is a huge risk, but they simply can't replace what Yao has meant to this team. They've got little to lose, because I don't think they'll be able to consistently score in the half-court offense if no one is commanding double-teams on the block.

I don't know much about Green. I'd like to see him get a shot, but I doubt he can be a significant contributor at this point in his career. And with a playoff spot still possible, I'm not in favor of putting the season in jeopardy by rolling the dice with such an unproven.

[Greg M]

I think PJ Brown's available.  Not sure what he has left in the tank.

[legs_of_eggs]

It depends on the offense you're running for 4s and 5s to be interchangeable. With Yao on the floor, they certainly were not. Scola/Landry at the 5 work very differently within the Rockets' system than Yao.

I'd like to see the Rockets try a more uptempo system with Yao out. They certainly have the personnel to go small and push the ball. Alston/Tmac/Battier/Landry/Scola could be a viable starting lineup, and with Brooks/Jackson/Head/Novak/Hayes on the bench, they've got the players to be an energetic run-and-shoot team. As much as I like Deke, he's not gotten the minutes this season and I suspect the coaching staff doesn't believe he's got much left. He should be in the game strictly against the offensive centers no one else has the size to defend (like Howard).

Obviously, significantly altering your offense late in the season is a huge risk, but they simply can't replace what Yao has meant to this team. They've got little to lose, because I don't think they'll be able to consistently score in the half-court offense if no one is commanding double-teams on the block.

I don't know much about Green. I'd like to see him get a shot, but I doubt he can be a significant contributor at this point in his career. And with a playoff spot still possible, I'm not in favor of putting the season in jeopardy by rolling the dice with such an unproven.

You're right, the system dictates 4's and 5's being interchangeable, Mike D'Antoni and Don Nelson don't even play centers where Popovich and Van Gundy don't play without a center. And of course matchups dictate this too. I don't think the offense has to change much without Yao though. Scola's skill set is similar to Yao's and Landry can score with his back to the basket posted up. The offense will look the same, if anything less vanilla and generic because Yao pick and rolls and post ups were so dominant, we can now get more exotic with our looks and try more Adelman/Princeton offense type things with back cuts and ball movement. I just would like us to approach the rest of the year with a developing mindset and not necessarily a desperation mindset.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

It depends on the offense you're running for 4s and 5s to be interchangeable. With Yao on the floor, they certainly were not. Scola/Landry at the 5 work very differently within the Rockets' system than Yao.

I'd like to see the Rockets try a more uptempo system with Yao out. They certainly have the personnel to go small and push the ball. Alston/Tmac/Battier/Landry/Scola could be a viable starting lineup, and with Brooks/Jackson/Head/Novak/Hayes on the bench, they've got the players to be an energetic run-and-shoot team. As much as I like Deke, he's not gotten the minutes this season and I suspect the coaching staff doesn't believe he's got much left. He should be in the game strictly against the offensive centers no one else has the size to defend (like Howard).

Obviously, significantly altering your offense late in the season is a huge risk, but they simply can't replace what Yao has meant to this team. They've got little to lose, because I don't think they'll be able to consistently score in the half-court offense if no one is commanding double-teams on the block.

I don't know much about Green. I'd like to see him get a shot, but I doubt he can be a significant contributor at this point in his career. And with a playoff spot still possible, I'm not in favor of putting the season in jeopardy by rolling the dice with such an unproven.

Going small may get them to the playoffs, it won't get them far.  Versatility is key, obviously.  If they can play small, as their strength, but keep it close in the half-court game (should they run into a dominating half court team like San Antonio and Phoenix - assuming Shaq blends with that team) they will be fine.   

The nice thing about Adelman, he's had successful teams with centers like Vlade Divac and Duckworth.  He knows how to structure an offense around a non-dominant center.

[TheWizard]

Dude listen. I'm not saying Green should play because he DESERVES it but because we need to know if he's worth giving a contract to at the end of the season, cap space dictates everything and we need to know if that millions of dollars is worth investing in a Gerald Green. The only way to know is giving him a chance to show off his abilities to the coaching staff in real-game situations not just practice. And 4's and 5's are interchangeable just ask Amare Stoudemire, Al Harrington, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, Mehmet Okur and Lamarcus Aldridge.

Luis Scola is going to be playing some 5 now, out of need.  He's the only guy with post moves.  He's only 6'9 though (if you believe he's that tall).  Did you see him get abused by the worthless Bulls C Gray???  Now imagine running through the Western Conference's inventory of Cs.  He won't be able to take that pounding every night, and play offense.  He's too small.  Its a big difference doing that 8 minutes a game, and doing it 30-35 min a game.  The team is going to be looking for another C. 

And all of those guys you mentioned are taller than either Scola or Landry, ranging anywhere from 6'10-7'1.  Amare and Harrington played C in a completely different offense than the one the Rockets run, where its get up and down the court.  Amare struggles at C, which is why they got Shaq, and why previously they had Kurt Thomas.  Not to mention he's bigger (6'10) than Scola or Landry.  Harrington wouldn't be playing C in any other system.

All those other guys you mentioned have Cs because they wouldn't be able to shoulder that load.  Garnett starts alongside Perkins.  Bosh has Nesterovich.  Wallace is playing C this year, but is also 6'11.  Gasol will have Bynum (not to mention he's 7'1).  Aldrich has Przybilla.  My only point is there is a big difference between sliding over to play C for 5-10 minutes a game as opposed to starting and playing there an entire game.  Almost any of those guys you mentioned would be worn down and/or get in foul trouble.  When a team plays a 3G set, that doesn't mean guards and forwards are the same thing.  They are just temporary adjustments.  The Rockets can't go the rest of the season playing PF at the C position.

But in the end, you are right, we are going to need to push the ball more with a smaller lineup.

[legs_of_eggs]

Luis Scola is going to be playing some 5 now, out of need.  He's the only guy with post moves.  He's only 6'9 though (if you believe he's that tall).  Did you see him get abused by the worthless Bulls C Gray???  Now imagine running through the Western Conference's inventory of Cs.  He won't be able to take that pounding every night, and play offense.  He's too small.  Its a big difference doing that 8 minutes a game, and doing it 30-35 min a game.  The team is going to be looking for another C. 

And all of those guys you mentioned are taller than either Scola or Landry, ranging anywhere from 6'10-7'1.  Amare and Harrington played C in a completely different offense than the one the Rockets run, where its get up and down the court.  Amare struggles at C, which is why they got Shaq, and why previously they had Kurt Thomas.  Not to mention he's bigger (6'10) than Scola or Landry.  Harrington wouldn't be playing C in any other system.

All those other guys you mentioned have Cs because they wouldn't be able to shoulder that load.  Garnett starts alongside Perkins.  Bosh has Nesterovich.  Wallace is playing C this year, but is also 6'11.  Gasol will have Bynum (not to mention he's 7'1).  Aldrich has Przybilla.  My only point is there is a big difference between sliding over to play C for 5-10 minutes a game as opposed to starting and playing there an entire game.  Almost any of those guys you mentioned would be worn down and/or get in foul trouble.  When a team plays a 3G set, that doesn't mean guards and forwards are the same thing.  The Rockets can't go the rest of the season playing PF at the C position.

But in the end, you are right, we are going to need to push the ball more with a smaller lineup.

Scola didn't get abused by Gray, in fact Gray sat most of the time in foul trouble and finished with 2 points. Scola had 17. I agree Landry and Scola are a small front court but its also one of the quicker front courts. Landry blocks shots Scola takes charges. There's pluses and minuses to each but they equal out to our best front court combo without Yao. Hayes deserves increased minutes again now as well. All the guys I mentioned are power forwards by trade but play center in specialized lineups therefore in their offenses they're interchangeable.

[TheWizard]

All the guys I mentioned are power forwards by trade but play center in specialized lineups therefore in their offenses they're interchangeable.

This is obviously all semantics, and I know its just getting annoying and nit-picky now... so my bad I'll quit after this.. but that doesn't translate to interchangeable, because there is loss of function if those guys were to play C.  Those guys, for the most part, just go 5-10 minute stretches in games without a C in the lineup.  That doesn't mean that they are interchangeable as a 5, they don't change their individual games any.  You wouldn't sign, for example, LaMarcus Aldridge to be your starting C.  If all these players were truly interchangeable as Cs, you wouldn't sign a true center to start alongside them.

[Craig]

I remember in the early 80s when there were signs at the Summit that said "Lose one more for 7-foot-4." Of course the lottery changed after that too.

[kevinG]

This is obviously all semantics, and I know its just getting annoying and nit-picky now... so my bad I'll quit after this.. but that doesn't translate to interchangeable, because there is loss of function if those guys were to play C.  Those guys, for the most part, just go 5-10 minute stretches in games without a C in the lineup.  That doesn't mean that they are interchangeable as a 5, they don't change their individual games any.  You wouldn't sign, for example, LaMarcus Aldridge to be your starting C.  If all these players were truly interchangeable as Cs, you wouldn't sign a true center to start alongside them.

The problem that I see is that the Rockets really have no other options. I doubt that Deke is up to playing even thirty minutes a game, so for the most part, they'll have to go without a true five. What I could see being useful is starting Deke at the five, letting him play 5-6 minutes, then going small, boosting the energy, and try to keep Deke's minutes down while wearing down bigger opponents.

I haven't seen enough of Novak (6-10) to judge his defensive capabilities, but if he's anywhere close, he's a big body, and someone who could be a Mehmet Okur-type player. The Jazz, by the way, trot out Boozer (6-9) and Okur (6-11) as their frontcourt, neither of whom is a true center.

[TheWizard]

The problem that I see is that the Rockets really have no other options. I doubt that Deke is up to playing even thirty minutes a game, so for the most part, they'll have to go without a true five. What I could see being useful is starting Deke at the five, letting him play 5-6 minutes, then going small, boosting the energy, and try to keep Deke's minutes down while wearing down bigger opponents.

I haven't seen enough of Novak (6-10) to judge his defensive capabilities, but if he's anywhere close, he's a big body, and someone who could be a Mehmet Okur-type player. The Jazz, by the way, trot out Boozer (6-9) and Okur (6-11) as their frontcourt, neither of whom is a true center.

Yeah, unfortunately we have to go small because Deke can't handle the heavy minutes.  Novak is a defensive liability and can hardly guard anyone in the NBA.  Its the reason he's struggled to get in the lineup and why he got sent down to D-League despite the fact he can shoot lights out.  So don't expect much out of him in that department.

[legs_of_eggs]

Yeah, unfortunately we have to go small because Deke can't handle the heavy minutes.  Novak is a defensive liability and can hardly guard anyone in the NBA.  Its the reason he's struggled to get in the lineup and why he got sent down to D-League despite the fact he can shoot lights out.  So don't expect much out of him in that department.

Novak has been played at power forward mostly thats why he hasn't gotten minutes, he's playing behind 3 guys. He's more of a SF in my opinion, his height is probably more like 6-7 and he's skinny. We don't have to necessarily go small excessively now, I think Scola has ample offensive skills to work out of the post as does Landry. Both can rebound as well. The offense will pick up its pace but is more predicated on good shooting from everyone else. This isn't such a good sign since Yao was our best shooter.

[Limey]

Not really. You've got an entire Eastern Division to fall behind.

No shit.  There's entire divisions in the Western conference that the Rockets would top.

[MusicMan]

How did tanking work out for the Celtics last year?

[TheWizard]

How worn is that "Houston: We have a Problem" headline that ESPN uses anytime Houston loses a game, loses a player, etc etc?

[strosrays]

How worn is that "Houston: We have a Problem" headline that ESPN uses anytime Houston loses a game, loses a player, etc etc?

"First The DA, And Now This!"

"Yao!  That Hurts!"

"That's What You Get For Drafting A Tall Chinaman"

"Adelman Addled By Ming Ding"

"Rockets Have One Foot In The Grave"


See, it could be worse.

[tophfar]

"Adelman Addled By Ming Ding"

See, it could be worse.

Worse?  Hell no, that's gold.

[Limey]

"First The DA, And Now This!"

"Yao!  That Hurts!"

"That's What You Get For Drafting A Tall Chinaman"

"Adelman Addled By Ming Ding"

"Rockets Have One Foot In The Grave"


See, it could be worse.

"Ming's Mercy-Less"

"Slow Boot to China"

"Great Gangly-Mangly!"

"Injury Gives Rockets Mingingitis"

"Crouching Center, Hidden Fracture"

"House of Flying Dagnabits"

[Lurch]

12 and 0 : Riceless

[JackAstro]

"Adelman Addled By Ming Ding"

This is the best thing since Bob Loblaw lobbed a law bomb on the Bob Loblaw Law Blog.

[legs_of_eggs]

12 and 0 : Riceless

I make one silly african joke and you come with this and call me not classy?

[HudsonHawk]

Isn't this the exact reason why The Dream was a Rocket?

Ummm...no.  But Dream being a Rocket after Ralph Sampson was a Rocket is exactly why there is a lottery now.  Had the Rockets lost the coin flip in '84, Michael Jordan would have been a Rocket instead of Hakeem.

ETA:  And Patrick Ewing being a Knick is exactly why the "lottery" is now a lottery instead of a random drawing for picking order.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Ummm...no.  But Dream being a Rocket after Ralph Sampson was a Rocket is exactly why there is a lottery now.  Had the Rockets lost the coin flip in '84, Michael Jordan would have been a Rocket instead of Hakeem.

Were they going to draft Michael or Sam Bowie? I was pissed they took McCray instead of Drexler.

[BUWebguy]

"Slow Boot to China"

I think that's what the Canadian press went with.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Were they going to draft Michael or Sam Bowie? I was pissed they took McCray instead of Drexler.

At the time, they didn't need Drexler, with Lucas, Wiggins, and Lloyd handling the guard spots.  They did need a SF and McCray filled in nicely.  Hindsight at this point....

[HudsonHawk]

Were they going to draft Michael or Sam Bowie? I was pissed they took McCray instead of Drexler.

They would have drafted Jordan.  They had just drafted Sampson the year before, and didn't need another center.  Olajuwon was drafted with the idea of being a power forward.  They didn't want Bowie, he was just a slower, weaker version of Sampson. 

As for McCray over Drexler, a lot of people in Houston were pissed, but it was a sound move at the time, drafting a need.  A lot of people in the NBA were surprised at how good Drexler turned out to be.

[Lurch]

I make one silly african joke and you come with this and call me not classy?

Exactly... it could be worse than "we have a problem".  Terribly offensive, even.  Good thing we're classy.

[dirty steve]

This ranks right up there with the most fucking idiotic things I have ever read. Congratulations.

seriously.  i was wondering when i read the first "if were winning all these games without yao..."  les alexander has WAAAAAY too much $$$ tied up in yao, for one, to even consider moving him.

granato implied this morning that the rockets should employ two different styles of play within the same game to cater to the skill sets of each player.  great, like it didnt take the team long enough to "take" to the adelman style.

[Limey]

granato implied this morning that the rockets should employ two different styles of play within the same game to cater to the skill sets of each player.  great, like it didnt take the team long enough to "take" to the adelman style.

You don't understand.  Basketball is a slow methodical game that allows for intricate changes in styles and systems as the game dictates.  It's not like football or baseball where the ball is always moving and no one has time to get together to think about anything.

[MusicMan]

Ummm...no.  But Dream being a Rocket after Ralph Sampson was a Rocket is exactly why there is a lottery now.  Had the Rockets lost the coin flip in '84, Michael Jordan would have been a Rocket instead of Hakeem.

Unfortunately, the Rockets turned down Portland's offer of Clyde and the #2 for Sampson.