30 Teams In 30 Days: Houston Rockets

[Boston34Celtics]

Here we go, it's that time of year. Basically what I'm doing is making decent-sized team previews, one per day in alphabetical order. Today's featured team is your Houston Rockets.

Teaser:

Unless you firmly believe that Tracy McGrady has been struck with a curse, it seems as though the only thing that will hold this team back from doing serious damage is health. While “T-Mac” is currently battling injuries to the left knee and arthritic left shoulder (which will require surgery next summer), to go along with his ongoing back troubles, Yao has missed a total of 86 regular season games over the past three seasons.

When your perimeter star is looking as though he’ll be in need of a walking cane by age 32 and your post presence is missing an average of 28.7 games per season, you’ve got the right to be as worried as Eddy Curry when he found out his new head coach was in favor of running.

If the core of this team can find a way to stay out of street clothes on the sidelines, then Rick Adelman may have something special to work with. If not, however, I don’t blame the entire Rockets fan base for engaging themselves in emotional therapy.

Read the Full Article Here

Comments appreciated.

[Iggyemu]

I thought it was good. You hit on all the reasons why and why not and those were pretty accurate. Health if of course the main concern. Its not that we won't get injured..its just the timing of it. Will it be early..will it be late..will it be mid-season and would they be back at 100% for the playoffs. Thats what you worry about...the big injuries. If McGrady has to miss 10-15 games throughout the season..or Yao...you can live with that. If its 25...30 or more...thats when you get into trouble.

And yep..if we get past the health issues..the next thing is very erratic role players...especially off the bench. Not counting Artest (who I think will start sooner or later)...we have not one legit count on scorer off the bench.

[RocketsRule]

"as worried as Eddy Curry when he found out his new head coach was in favor of running."


LMFAO

[jove9]

We didn't lose Novak to free agency; we traded him to the Clips for a high five and a bag of chips.

"Ming"' is Yao's first name. For stylistic reasons, the second sentence of the fourth paragraph should be corrected to read "McGrady and Yao". Make the same change in the sections titled "Biggest Strength" and "Biggest Weakness".

As far as your analysis of our "Biggest Weakness" is concerned, you're right in terms of our role players not stepping up, but you're wrong on who those players are and why they did not. Rafer was hurt last year. We won the games he played. Rybo did all he could in 2005. He played Dirk extremely well and forced him off of his game. As far as that goes, Rybo DID step up. The other players you mentioned deserve to be there, especially Luther Head.

Finally, you forget that our defense last year was second in the NBA behind Boston's. You only give us half credit when you call it "well above average." That should probably read "excellent."

Anyway, for the most part that's a fair assessment of our team. Though what's the deal with ending up with the same record as last year?

[Boston34Celtics]

Thanks for the comments guys, I appreciate it.

I personally would love to see a Celtics/Rockets Finals.

[Boston34Celtics]

We didn't lose Novak to free agency; we traded him to the Clips for a high five and a bag of chips.

"Ming"' is Yao's first name. For stylistic reasons, the second sentence of the fourth paragraph should be corrected to read "McGrady and Yao". Make the same change in the sections titled "Biggest Strength" and "Biggest Weakness".

As far as your analysis of our "Biggest Weakness" is concerned, you're right in terms of our role players not stepping up, but you're wrong on who those players are and why they did not. Rafer was hurt last year. We won the games he played. Rybo did all he could in 2005. He played Dirk extremely well and forced him off of his game. As far as that goes, Rybo DID step up. The other players you mentioned deserve to be there, especially Luther Head.

Finally, you forget that our defense last year was second in the NBA behind Boston's. You only give us half credit when you call it "well above average." That should probably read "excellent."

Anyway, for the most part that's a fair assessment of our team. Though what's the deal with ending up with the same record as last year?

Thanks for your constructive criticism, jove.

Although as for Rafer Alston, that's a reason why I decided to highlight the years in which players struggled. For Alston, note that I put (2007), not 2008, because I realize his circumstances last season.

Bowen also shot 32% from the field on 111 attempts in that series. That just goes along with my point of players failing to knock down shots at crucial moments. If I remember correctly (correct me if I'm wrong), Bowen missed a few of those.

The reasons why I predicted the same record as last year:

1. You have to expect/compensate for injuries at some point throughout the year with this team.
2. The West is still extremely strong.

[jove9]

You're right.

Thanks for the reply.

[MrCheerios]

I thought this was a great, thoroughly researched preview. It addresses the concerns and the possibilities. Just to nitpick, I think the text is a little small, making it hard on the eyes to read. Also, the links in the right hand column are all in light gray, which is horrible to read against a white background.

[RoxFan08]

Very, very good job, especially coming from someone who probably doesn't follow the Rockets as closely as we do.

I would say that was about as spot on an analysis as you could hope for.

I'm allowed to be a homer, and I would've predicted 57-25, but that is really the only area of the article I differ with you.

Again, great work, thanks for the read.

[Iggyemu]

Just something Jove....I know McGrady isn't the most popular guy around here lately but he was the one and only reason Dirk has a bad series in 05. That was all McGrady...Bowen didn't guard him except for a few minutes here and there.

And again I think this guys analysis is on point. Alston is too erratic of a shooter to player a position where teams choose to double off of. You guys do realize that if teams couldn't double off our PG position we would score 105 or so points a game right? Alston has to shoot over 40% and not just from one spot...he has to hit 3s from any part around the arc.

This celtic guy is correct. Its not that we can't get stops when we need them..its that we can't make the big shots and thats because teams won't let Yao or McGrady beat them..they let Battier and Alston and Head etc take those shots and they haven't made them. From Wesley's open 3s in game 4 of the 05 Dallas series...3s that had he made we would have won that game...to Juwan Howard absolutely stinking up the 07 Utah series....to Bobby Jackson and Head doing the same in last season's Utah series. I think at points McGrady and Yao give you enough to win but our role players don't make the shots defenses make them take to finish it. If we stay healthy this year...that will be the next biggest thing. The Celts had 3 legit allstars and still needed Perkins and Posey and House to make big shots....D-Wade was the best player on the planet in 2006 and still needed Payton and Posey to make shots....LeBron absolutely dominated a game against Detroit but still needed Gibson and Marshall to make shots....you get the idea....

[jove9]

Just something Jove....I know McGrady isn't the most popular guy around here lately but he was the one and only reason Dirk has a bad series in 05. That was all McGrady...Bowen didn't guard him except for a few minutes here and there.

My comment about Rybo wasn't a dig at McGrady, so I don't know where that first part is coming from.

You're wrong to think that Bowen didn't guard Dirk but for a few spot minutes. He started the first three games in that series with the sole purpose of harassing Dirk!

...and it worked twice.

Van Gundy changed the lineup and started Padget the other four games because Rybo can't shoot (surprise!). Of course, Padget isn't as good of a defensive player as Bowen, so McGrady had to step in and help guard Dirk.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/box ... 30DAL.html