What do the Rockets need to become an elite team?

[Young_Star11]

Not a lot really IMO.

Get Yao back healthy.

Factor in the improvement from our rookies Bud and especially Hill.

We're most of the way there.

[spolgar]

Brooks' court vision on the dribble penetration remains dodgy, but the stat sheet has said nice things about him. He seemed to have improved a great deal since his rookie year in this facet. He is no longer the black hole on offense. With the league getting smaller and faster, his height is less of an issue. Lowry covers up his (diminishing) imperfections nicely.

I'd like Martin to be a better ball handler, and seek out Ariza and Battier to be a better defender.

I'd like the fans to stop wanting another power forward. Scola is a 4 that can stretch, pass and bang. Other than his lack of athleticism, there is no other knock on him. The man is more than crafty enough to make it work. Love his game. He can play off of Yao no problem and that coast to coast sprint following Brooks today showed that Scola can actually run (He has shown foot speed as well in the Olympics). It remains a mystery to me why people want to give up a glue guy that can set picks for the guards properly, rebound well on the weak side, hit the spot up J, has an array of low post moves that can give Al Harrington a run for his money and drop some amazing stats when given the opportunity.

The 1,2,3,4 minutes will be sewn up with Lowry, Brooks, Martin, Battier, Ariza and Scola, with mostly Hill and Jeffries plugging in filler minutes. Without Yao, this team has enough B+ string talent to make it to the playoffs regularly when they are playing right. With Yao, this team will have the best offensive half court game in the NBA.

I guess if we get Camby, we really would be sick as hell then...

[spolgar]

And of course, quotes like this wouldn't hurt:

By ESPN:

"I was just trying to be aggressive," Carmelo Anthony said. "First half, Shane was playing a game with my face. ..."

[pass first]

He's not bad, but he's not the type of player that I would go out of my way to get. I guess he'll be good for the Rockets because he's a big man that could rebound and defend true centers.

He's exactly what the Rockets need and is a definite upgrade from any of our bigs that are currently on the roster.

I hope Morey goes after Haddadi or Gortat during the offseason, or at least drafts a legit C and not another PF.

I like Haddadi a lot. I've been following him since before he came into the NBA and he has a lot of potential. He has great footwork and mobility for a guy his size

I think it's odd that you love that about Haddadi and only think Gortat is so-so then, because Gortat is very quick.

check this fast break dunk v the Hawks, he outsprints the Hawks team from a half court situation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MigJ5EFU0XM (@1m43)

[Joseph17]

I think it's odd that you love that about Haddadi and only think Gortat is so-so then, because Gortat is very quick.

check this fast break dunk v the Hawks, he outsprints the Hawks team from a half court situation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MigJ5EFU0XM (@1m43)

I never said that Haddadi is better than Gortat now. I just think hes has more potential than Gortat because of his size and footwork. Gortat is definitely stronger and more athletic, but Haddadi has more potential and I think he could learn a lot from Yao. Haddadi also has freakish wingspan.

[grond]

health health health health ...

repeat ad nauseum

[Volcano]

Prime Tmac over Martin + back-up C + healthy Yao

[realfung]

Yao's back.

[pr0wler]

Houston Rockets will be a force if Yao comes back healthy. He's a 20/10 guy that fills the much needed void as a low post presence and defensive anchor on the team. Let's also not forget to factor in improvements on their young guys, including Brooks, Lowry, Budinger, and Hill. Battier is slowly declining but he's having less of a role on the team as time goes on anyway. Since they'll have a lottery pick, I'm hoping they can snag Cole Aldrich as their backup center. Their minutes rotation would look something like this:

PG - Brooks (36) Lowry (12)
SG - Martin (34) Lowry (8) Budinger (8)
SF - Ariza (24) Battier (16) Budinger (8)
PF - Scola (30) Hill (10) Battier (8)
C - Yao (32) Aldrich (16)

This is the lineup assuming everyone is healthy. The lineup is so deep that if say Ariza, Battier, Budinger, or Hill get injured they probably wouldn't lose a step. I love this 10-man rotation and I think this lineup would be a top 3 seed in the west.

[moofs]

I think it's odd that you love that about Haddadi and only think Gortat is so-so then, because Gortat is very quick.

check this fast break dunk v the Hawks, he outsprints the Hawks team from a half court situation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MigJ5EFU0XM (@1m43)

I never said that Haddadi is better than Gortat now. I just think hes has more potential than Gortat because of his size and footwork. Gortat is definitely stronger and more athletic, but Haddadi has more potential and I think he could learn a lot from Yao. Haddadi also has freakish wingspan.

If you asked me whether I'd prefer Gortat or Haddadi, I'd say Haddadi.

Why?
Owed 1.6 and 2m, rather than 6 working up to 7.7m over 4 years.

Gortat's contract could easily become a poison pill on the new CBA.
We don't really need Haddadi, though?