1st Half Grades: Rate the Team and the Coach...

Amel · Post #1 » by **Amel** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:18 pm

1. Rafer Alston - improved his shot, its much smoother, runs the team well like always, improved his floaters/layups
2. Shane Battier - as always a good defender, his shot fell off tremendously since last season, he needs to improve that as soon as possible
3. Aaron Brooks - Nice pick up, very fast, decent shot, still makes some bad decisions when under pressure
4. Steve Francis - non existant for 95% of the midseason
5. Chuck Hayes - does what he does best, rebounding, hussling, stripping balls (basketballs), his weakness are and always will be his shot, his layups must improve or he will loose his job to someone else on the roster
6. Luther Head - improved his midrange jumper, good three point shooter, he still makes sometimes bad decisions under pressure, loosy dribbler, decent defender..
7. Mike James - no comment
8. Carl Landry - picked up some playing time the past 3-4 games, very athletic, likes to finish with authority, needs to learn to defend better, but it looks like he can do that, picks up things fast and is willing to do so
9. Tracy McGrady - obviously if he can stay healthy and make his shots we have a team that can make it to the playoffs and make things happen..if he continues to whine, ship him for some peanuts...
10. Dikembe Mutombo - great voice, long fingers, statue of liberty for Houston
11. Steve Novak - played a couple of games, has a deadly three point shot, did not improve his stamina since last season, he needs to bulk up and please get a beard
12. Louis Scola - best thing that happened to the Rockets this season, he hussles for every ball, never gives up, has a more than decent shot and rebounds the ball well, he could be very important for the playoffs
13. Kirk Snyder - he played just few minutes, showed some athelticsm, but thats about it
14. Bonzi Wells - lost a lot of weight, is in great condition, great rebouner and post up player, his shot needs to improve over the next 41 games
15 - Yao Ming - not much to talk about, he does what he does always: rebounds, makes shots, takes fouls...improved somewhat his TO's, is much better under the basket than the previous season...

Adelman - Obviously his plans are taking into effect, it will take some time to run everything smoothly, but since TMac's injury we have seen what our team is capable of. We are much more faster, we take shots sooner than with Gundy, the team is more upbeat. I like how he rotates the team and gives veryone a chance, especially the rookies.

I am very well satisfied with everything that has been going on with the team and I would say we deserve a C+ for the midseason.

jove9 · Post #2 » by **jove9** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:30 pm

C+ is about right. We're still a .500 team, and we are very inconsistent. One night we'll lose to the Sixers, then we'll beat the Spurs. I don't understand it.

Oh, and I hope T-Mac stops holding the ball for long stretches like he did his first game back against the Spurs. Our offense stalled when he opted to play his man one on one, and he usually missed the shot. I also don't understand why we played him so many minutes when Luther had a good first quarter against SA... but I'll shut up about that, as it should go in the game thread.

I'm REALLY pleased with our three rookies.

If it gets late in the season and we're not making the playoffs, I'd like to give our young guys (including Luther) more minutes.

BaYBaller · Post #3 » by **BaYBaller** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:48 pm

It's funny how even after all the off-season changes the team still has the exact same problems:

1) Prone to offensive droughts.
2) Lack of a rebounding PF.
3) Lack of a scoring PG.

I think the major improvement the team has made has been the improved play with T-Mac and/or Yao out, or in otherwords the bench play. Our bench is probably top 5 at least in the L right now and was a major weakness last season.

Another upside is that Brooks and Landry quite possibly could fill in the holes at PG and PF in the future, and much sooner than anticipated. Brooks needs to learn how to finish around the rim with his body better and not always rely on floaters, and Landry needs to improve his post defense, but all-in-all the potential is there. Our rookies are only going to improve, and that's very refreshing compared to the past few years where JVG only relied on vets.

And probably most important is that the team still has a very high upside. The chemistry is still not quite there. And we don't have any locker room cancers. And while I think this year we are set up for another disappointing first-round exit, the team is moving in the right direction. The only question that remains is if the team can reach the promiseland before the T-Mac + Yao window closes.

moofs · Post #4 » by **moofs** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:44 am

jove9 wrote:C+ is about right. We're still a .500 team, and we are very inconsistent. One night we'll lose to the Sixers, then we'll beat the Spurs. I don't understand it.

Oh, and I hope T-Mac stops holding the ball for long stretches like he did his first game back against the Spurs. Our offense stalled when he opted to play his man one on one, and he usually missed the shot. I also don't understand why we played him so many minutes when Luther had a good first quarter against SA... but I'll shut up about that, as it should go in the game thread.

I'm REALLY pleased with our three rookies.

If it gets late in the season and we're not making the playoffs, I'd like to give our young guys (including Luther) more minutes.

Yeah, I'd say that watching those 3 and the Rafer vindication have been my high points of the season. Regardless of what we do this year, I'm looking forward to next with more experience under Landry and Brooks' belts. I'm getting a feeling that the team will be running a bit differently by then.

Bay, we have a rebounding PF, and we have a scoring point. I'd agree with you and say "we need to pick up the system better", and am sure we probably do, except in all honesty I have no idea what all that really entails.

It's going to be interesting to see how the Landry/Scola/Hayes triangle is resolved over the offseason. Keep all three? Does Hayes fall out of the rotation next year? Much as I've liked Hayes these past couple years, I can see him becoming fairly expendable in the offseason.

Post #5 » by **King Roosk** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:41 pm

moofs wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Yeah, I'd say that watching those 3 and the Rafer vindication have been my high points of the season. Regardless of what we do this year, I'm looking forward to next with more experience under Landry and Brooks' belts. I'm getting a feeling that the team will be running a bit differently by then.

Bay, we have a rebounding PF, and we have a scoring point. I'd agree with you and say "we need to pick up the system better", and am sure we probably do, except in all honesty I have no idea what all that really entails.

It's going to be interesting to see how the Landry/Scola/Hayes triangle is resolved over the offseason. Keep all three? Does Hayes fall out of the rotation next year? Much as I've liked Hayes these past couple years, I can see him becoming fairly expendable in the offseason.

Agreed. Landry is a bit taller, more athletic, and offensively capable. I'd like to see a lot more of Landry and SOON.

jzmagik · Post #6 » by **jzmagik** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:03 pm

King Roosk wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Agreed. Landry is a bit taller, more athletic, and offensively capable. I'd like to see a lot more of Landry and SOON.

Hayes is still by far the better rebounder and defensive player, Landry is nice but he's still got a lot of defensive flaws that are worthy to sit him down.

BaYBaller · Post #7 » by **BaYBaller** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:38 pm

jzmagik wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Hayes is still by far the better rebounder and defensive player, Landry is nice but he's still got a lot of defensive flaws that are worthy to sit him down.

I wouldn't flat out say Hayes is a better rebounder. Hayes is definitely stronger and can strip rebounds better from people, but Landry has more hops and is bigger to sky for those rebounds (i.e. Hayes never would've been able to sky above Duncan from behind him to snatch a rebound). Landry also has the rookie hustle that Hayes had in previous seasons.

The major drop off from Hayes to Landry is post defense. Landry even seems to be a better help defender.

Post #8 » by **King Roosk** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:47 pm

jzmagik wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Hayes is still by far the better rebounder and defensive player, Landry is nice but he's still got a lot of defensive flaws that are worthy to sit him down.

Landry enjoys attacking the basket, while Hayes either passes the ball or does an awkward layup (which he tends to miss). Landry went to the FT line 10 times against Seattle! I don't think Hayes has ever done that.

compucomp · Post #9 » by **compucomp** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:05 am

King Roosk wrote: Landry went to the FT line 10 times against Seattle! I don't think Hayes has ever done that.

Do we REALLY want to see Chuck go to the line 10 times?

Post #10 » by **dream34** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:37 am

I love to emergence of Landry, who I thought was going to sit on the bench all season. I recognize that he's more talented than Hayes, but I hate to see him taking away his minutes.

Post #11 » by **King Roosk** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:07 am

compucomp wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Do we REALLY want to see Chuck go to the line 10 times?

Hell no. We won't ever have to worry about that though because he's such an offensive liability/too scared to attack the basket. Insert Landry...

A.J. · Post #12 » by **A.J.** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:04 am

now that the 1st half for us is over, what are your rockets player grades?

ill post in a min.

Texas Longhorns · Post #13 » by **Texas Longhorns** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:05 am

Yao Ming has to be at the top of the list and Carl Landry in top 6.

Amel · Post #14 » by **Amel** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:06 am

http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=752233

coolguy569 · Post #15 » by **coolguy569** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:17 am

1st half: everyone gets an A

2nd half: McGrady-D
Yao-B-
Battier-B
Alston-C+
Scola/Landry-A
Novak-A++++++

Post #16 » by **TMU** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:20 am

Yao: B+
Scola: A-
Battier: B-
McGrady: C-
Rafer: B
Wells: B-
James: F
Head: B-
Hayes: B-
Landry: A
Brooks: B
Novak: B-

HTown_TMac · Post #17 » by **HTown_TMac** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:22 am

I think he meant the season not the game lol

Post #18 » by **TMU** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:23 am

HTown_TMac wrote:I think he meant the season not the game lol

Yes, season.

A.J. · Post #19 » by **A.J.** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:27 am

Yao: A
Scola: B
Battier: B-
McGrady: B+
Rafer: B-
Wells: B
James: D
Head: B-
Hayes: B
Landry: B+
Brooks: C
Novak: D

Post #20 » by **TMU** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:30 am

Dude, seriously... Francis, James and Snyder would combine for no more than a D.