"...how to parlay our bad fortune this year into our next re
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:22 pm
Something Moofs wrote a few days ago got me to thinking about the Rockets roster.
"...how to parlay our bad fortune this year into our next real roster" was the full quote-edit add.
To begin with,no Rocket other than Ariza has a guaranteed contract in 2011,so to say there is some flexibilty in the future is an understatement.
Here are the current Rockets w/their age on Jan 1,2010;
PGs Brooks(24),Lowry(23)
Wings(SG/SFs) Barry(38),Battier(31),McGrady(30)
White(27),Ariza(24),Taylor(23),Budinger(21)
Bigs(PF/Cs) Yao(29),Scola(29),Andersen(29),Cook(29)
Hayes(26),Landry(26),Dorsey(26)
We can see the outline of the future Rockets if Brooks continues to develope and if Budinger and Taylor develope into solid rotational players.
The PG,SG and SF all are stocked w/young,athletic,quick players who should form the core of the team for the next 5-6 yrs.
Brooks and Lowry make a very nice PG combo.
Ariza,Budinger and Taylor make up 3 of the 4 wing rotation spots. Ariza the complemetary wing,Budinger the 6th man and Taylor as the scorer. If Taylor can develope into a 20ppg scorer he will be the future SG,as his passing ability offers a much needed skillset,otherwise he's the instant offense off the bench guy.
Scola and Petersen will help w/the transition and prob one of them will stay as the crafty veteran fourth big.
Hayes(younger than I thought) will prob stay on the roster for the next 5-6 yrs,unless his legs go,as his modest contract,defined role and hard-working personality fit the Rockets as a 11,12th man on roster.
Landry and Dorsey are no longer quite so young and need to show more than being short,hi-energy guys that the Second Rd of any draft is full of. Chances of them being around in 2-3 yrs is very small.
If Yao's surgery and rehab are successful,he could easily play 25-30 minutes/game for the next 5 yrs or so. His game is based on his height and skills,not his running or jumping ability.
If I'm reasonably accurate the Rockets need to find 2 players over the next 2 yrs as the team transitions away from McGrady-Yao.(And to the great horror of so many,I think it 50/50 McGrady signs a 1 yr deal w/the Rockets if he has a successful comeback.Too many teams may not have the cap room they expected and I believe most of the top FAs will re-sign w/their own teams.) They need a PF who just eats rebounds and agile enough to block shots from his weakside help position. And they need an upper-echelon/elite SG who can get his own shots and make plays for his teammates. In the best of worlds Dorsey developes into the PF they need(personally,not very hopeful) and Taylor becomes a stud SG who can deliver 20-25/game and still create 10-12 good looks for his teammates.(If he just becomes a 18-20ppg scorer who makes a few plays,the Rockets become the Pistons,a team good enough to contend every yr.)
In general terms the Rockets in a couple of yrs like the late Showtime Lakers. A team that will run at every opportunity,in the half-court use motion and quick ball movement and in the 4Q of close games dump it into the big guy.
"...how to parlay our bad fortune this year into our next real roster" was the full quote-edit add.
To begin with,no Rocket other than Ariza has a guaranteed contract in 2011,so to say there is some flexibilty in the future is an understatement.
Here are the current Rockets w/their age on Jan 1,2010;
PGs Brooks(24),Lowry(23)
Wings(SG/SFs) Barry(38),Battier(31),McGrady(30)
White(27),Ariza(24),Taylor(23),Budinger(21)
Bigs(PF/Cs) Yao(29),Scola(29),Andersen(29),Cook(29)
Hayes(26),Landry(26),Dorsey(26)
We can see the outline of the future Rockets if Brooks continues to develope and if Budinger and Taylor develope into solid rotational players.
The PG,SG and SF all are stocked w/young,athletic,quick players who should form the core of the team for the next 5-6 yrs.
Brooks and Lowry make a very nice PG combo.
Ariza,Budinger and Taylor make up 3 of the 4 wing rotation spots. Ariza the complemetary wing,Budinger the 6th man and Taylor as the scorer. If Taylor can develope into a 20ppg scorer he will be the future SG,as his passing ability offers a much needed skillset,otherwise he's the instant offense off the bench guy.
Scola and Petersen will help w/the transition and prob one of them will stay as the crafty veteran fourth big.
Hayes(younger than I thought) will prob stay on the roster for the next 5-6 yrs,unless his legs go,as his modest contract,defined role and hard-working personality fit the Rockets as a 11,12th man on roster.
Landry and Dorsey are no longer quite so young and need to show more than being short,hi-energy guys that the Second Rd of any draft is full of. Chances of them being around in 2-3 yrs is very small.
If Yao's surgery and rehab are successful,he could easily play 25-30 minutes/game for the next 5 yrs or so. His game is based on his height and skills,not his running or jumping ability.
If I'm reasonably accurate the Rockets need to find 2 players over the next 2 yrs as the team transitions away from McGrady-Yao.(And to the great horror of so many,I think it 50/50 McGrady signs a 1 yr deal w/the Rockets if he has a successful comeback.Too many teams may not have the cap room they expected and I believe most of the top FAs will re-sign w/their own teams.) They need a PF who just eats rebounds and agile enough to block shots from his weakside help position. And they need an upper-echelon/elite SG who can get his own shots and make plays for his teammates. In the best of worlds Dorsey developes into the PF they need(personally,not very hopeful) and Taylor becomes a stud SG who can deliver 20-25/game and still create 10-12 good looks for his teammates.(If he just becomes a 18-20ppg scorer who makes a few plays,the Rockets become the Pistons,a team good enough to contend every yr.)
In general terms the Rockets in a couple of yrs like the late Showtime Lakers. A team that will run at every opportunity,in the half-court use motion and quick ball movement and in the 4Q of close games dump it into the big guy.
