Outsiders perspective on the Rockets roster:

[GP]

First- good series guys, you team was obviously undermanned and still gave its all. Here is my humble evaluation of the rockets roster, let me know what you think.

Yao-he's Yao, a great player, the 2nd best center in the league and if he can stay healthy will always be a force.

Sciola-Man, he's one of those guys you hate to play, but love him if he plays for you. He looks like a terrific pickup for you guys. Plays good defense and hustles. Was very impressed with this player.

Battier-Again, like this player. He doesn't talk, he just does all the little things to get keep you in the game, his defense is terrific and his offense is underrated.

T-Mac-One of the best in the league, unfairly (IMHO), gets a lot of blame for losses. He doesn't show up in the 4th qt because he is so tired from keeping the team running. He is distributer, rebounder and scorer for the team at different points.

Rafer-good pg, I liked his play in the playoffs (when healthy), maybe the one position where they can improve in the offseason.

Bench- there's some good and a lot of bad on the bench. The ageless Deke still is effective as a paint enforcer and is a perfect sub at center. Landry looks to be a very promising talent. Brooks provides a nice dimension with his speed. Unfortunately, the rest of the bench is junk. However, considering that there is a nice 8-man rotation (which is what most teams do in the playoffs) if the team can stay HEALTHY you guys are in for a much better year next season.

[Amel]

thats what we said 3 seasons ago

[Alex_De_Large]

3 years ago Yao was worst player than now and he was not injured.

[Rocketsterps]

First- good series guys, you team was obviously undermanned and still gave its all. Here is my humble evaluation of the rockets roster, let me know what you think.

Yao-he's Yao, a great player, the 2nd best center in the league and if he can stay healthy will always be a force.

Sciola-Man, he's one of those guys you hate to play, but love him if he plays for you. He looks like a terrific pickup for you guys. Plays good defense and hustles. Was very impressed with this player.

Battier-Again, like this player. He doesn't talk, he just does all the little things to get keep you in the game, his defense is terrific and his offense is underrated.

T-Mac-One of the best in the league, unfairly (IMHO), gets a lot of blame for losses. He doesn't show up in the 4th qt because he is so tired from keeping the team running. He is distributer, rebounder and scorer for the team at different points.

Rafer-good pg, I liked his play in the playoffs (when healthy), maybe the one position where they can improve in the offseason.

Bench- there's some good and a lot of bad on the bench. The ageless Deke still is effective as a paint enforcer and is a perfect sub at center. Landry looks to be a very promising talent. Brooks provides a nice dimension with his speed. Unfortunately, the rest of the bench is junk. However, considering that there is a nice 8-man rotation (which is what most teams do in the playoffs) if the team can stay HEALTHY you guys are in for a much better year next season.

Your on point except Yao is the BEST center in the league. Whoever you think is #1 -- just look at the head-to-head matchups in their game logs and holla back.

The Rockets are 3 players away from a ring.
1. True Floor General that defends & Shoots better than 42% to replace or back-up Rafer (Hinrich/Chris Duhon/Steve Blake/Kyle Lowry)

2. Long/Tall/Athletic backup C/PF shotblocker/rebounder/defender that can play the high-post and hit an open mid-range shot. (Draft: Alexis Ajinca/ Serge Ibaka/ or consider Marcus Camby/ Fransico Elson/ Johan Petro/

3. Long Athletic sg/sf that shoots 40% 3pt; defends; 3rd scorer. (Draft: C. Douglas-Roberts/ Brandon Rush/ OR consider Ron Artest/ Josh Childress/ John Salmons/Martell Webster)

[jove9]

Terps,
Kyle Lowry is a good player, but he's not capable of running a team... yet.

I agree with you that it would be nice to have a tall PF who rebounds, defends, blocks shots, and can hit the open mid-range shot. Unfortunately, players with this skill set are rare in the NBA.

Good players can do three of the five. The ones who can do them all are considered star players.

Chuck Hayes can do two (rebounds, defends).

Scolandry can do two and a half (tall - when standing on each other's shoulders, rebounds, open shot sometimes).

At this point in his career, Juwan can do one, maybe two (open shot, he's kind of tall).

As far as wings go, I can't shake the feeling that if we had one more decent wing player we could have made the series a lot closer. Someone like... oh, I don't know... Bonzi Wells. I'm no expert on the college game, but I don't see us getting an impact wing player in the mid twenties. Maybe I'm just pessimistic.

"Third scorer" are not words I would use to describe either John Salmons or Martell Webster. I also hesitate to use them for Josh Childress, but that Boston series has me reconsidering.

EDIT: Did I really just use my 1,000th post talking about John Salmons, Kyle Lowry, and Juwan Howard? I'm giving myself the crazy sign.

[Rocketsterps]

Terps,
Kyle Lowry is a good player, but he's not capable of running a team... yet.

I agree with you that it would be nice to have a tall PF who rebounds, defends, blocks shots, and can hit the open mid-range shot. Unfortunately, players with this skill set are rare in the NBA.

Good players can do three of the five. The ones who can do them all are considered star players.

Chuck Hayes can do two (rebounds, defends).

Scolandry can do two and a half (tall - when standing on each other's shoulders, rebounds, open shot sometimes).

At this point in his career, Juwan can do one, maybe two (open shot, he's kind of tall).

As far as wings go, I can't shake the feeling that if we had one more decent wing player we could have made the series a lot closer. Someone like... oh, I don't know... Bonzi Wells. I'm no expert on the college game, but I don't see us getting an impact wing player in the mid twenties. Maybe I'm just pessimistic.

"Third scorer" are not words I would use to describe either John Salmons or Martell Webster. I also hesitate to use them for Josh Childress, but that Boston series has me reconsidering.

EDIT: Did I really just use my 1,000th post talking about John Salmons, Kyle Lowry, and Juwan Howard? I'm giving myself the crazy sign.

Is Juwan Howard still alive? Why are you mentioning him?

I stated we needed a point that can replace or backup Rafer. Kyle Lowry would be a solid backup. He plays the point w/ the same passion and energy Landry plays the 4. He's a beast!

five-tool pf/c's are rare but we don't need a starter. We need a 20 min or less guy. The one's I mentioned could fill the bill.. Alexis Ajinca/ Serge Ibaka/ or Fransico Elson/ Johan Petro/ Andre Blatche. All these guys have mid-range games and defend the rim and can play w/ Yao against taller (6-10+) pf's or behind Yao as the backup center. Perhaps Loren Woods can fill this role but I'd rather get a proven guy or draft a future Landry type steal in Ajinca or Ibaka.

If we don't draft a big man I hope Morey lands Brandon Rush or Chris Douglas-Roberts or signs Josh Childress to replace Luther Head.

Finally, for the last time -- I hope, why don't you guys understand that Bonzi sucks??? Moreover, It was VERY necessary to trade him when we did. W/out the Bonzi trade we would have had ONLY Aaron Brooks once Rafer went down since Mike James SUCKS and was not in either teams rotation. Speaking of Mike James, he is TRUE rational for the deal. Mike James contract will haunt the Hornets instead of us for 2 more years. Meanwhile we will turn Bobby Jacksons expiring contract into next years Pau Gasol trade -- perhaps Mike Miller, Richard Jefferson, Jose Calderon, Ron Artest, Kirch Hinrich or Mike Dunleavy.

Finally, don't sleep on John Salmons game. He scores, defends (made Hollingers list this year), handles the ball, slashes, shoots the 3... When Kevin Martin & Artest were out of the lineup he went off. What else do you want?

[Shabi__5]

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Your on point except Yao is the BEST center in the league. Whoever you think is #1 -- just look at the head-to-head matchups in their game logs and holla back.

The Rockets are 3 players away from a ring.
1. True Floor General that defends & Shoots better than 42% to replace or back-up Rafer (Hinrich/Chris Duhon/Steve Blake/Kyle Lowry)

2. Long/Tall/Athletic backup C/PF shotblocker/rebounder/defender that can play the high-post and hit an open mid-range shot. (Draft: Alexis Ajinca/ Serge Ibaka/ or consider Marcus Camby/ Fransico Elson/ Johan Petro/

3. Long Athletic sg/sf that shoots 40% 3pt; defends; 3rd scorer. (Draft: C. Douglas-Roberts/ Brandon Rush/ OR consider Ron Artest/ Josh Childress/ John Salmons/Martell Webster)

Agree with you about the types of players we need but only Hinrich is better than Alston.
The other are the same or worse and they won't shoot such a high% on the Rockets especially Lowry who is not a good outside shooter.

[Rocketsterps]

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Agree with you about the types of players we need but only Hinrich is better than Alston.
The other are the same or worse and they won't shoot such a high% on the Rockets especially Lowry who is not a good outside shooter.

Blake shot 40% from 3, defends and is a great floor general. Duhon is like Blake but doesn't shoot as well as Blake. Lowry is just a bowling ball type of player that would score in the paint by slashing like Tony Parker does. I think all of the guys are upgrades over Aaron and Bobby in terms of running a team. If we had Blake or Duhon in the playoffs this year we wouldn't have missed a beat when Rafer went down. Bobby and Aaron are gunners. Aaron Brooks can replace Luther head as the wanna-be 3rd point.

[PocketRockets]

Right on. We'll hopefully get a PG through free agency/trade and the slasher/athlectic big man through the draft. I don't see us making any big shake ups this season. Morey will probably let it ride considering we were missing the best player on this team. If next year, we're all here and the same result occurs, I think this team will be flipped and either Tmac will be gone or the team will be gutted and gambled away on one player (like boston).

[A.J.]

First- good series guys, you team was obviously undermanned and still gave its all. Here is my humble evaluation of the rockets roster, let me know what you think.

Yao-he's Yao, a great player, the 2nd best center in the league and if he can stay healthy will always be a force.

Sciola-Man, he's one of those guys you hate to play, but love him if he plays for you. He looks like a terrific pickup for you guys. Plays good defense and hustles. Was very impressed with this player.

Battier-Again, like this player. He doesn't talk, he just does all the little things to get keep you in the game, his defense is terrific and his offense is underrated.

T-Mac-One of the best in the league, unfairly (IMHO), gets a lot of blame for losses. He doesn't show up in the 4th qt because he is so tired from keeping the team running. He is distributer, rebounder and scorer for the team at different points.

Rafer-good pg, I liked his play in the playoffs (when healthy), maybe the one position where they can improve in the offseason.

Bench- there's some good and a lot of bad on the bench. The ageless Deke still is effective as a paint enforcer and is a perfect sub at center. Landry looks to be a very promising talent. Brooks provides a nice dimension with his speed. Unfortunately, the rest of the bench is junk. However, considering that there is a nice 8-man rotation (which is what most teams do in the playoffs) if the team can stay HEALTHY you guys are in for a much better year next season.

If he is second, I am dying to know who is first.

[tosweet68]

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Blake shot 40% from 3, defends and is a great floor general. Duhon is like Blake but doesn't shoot as well as Blake. Lowry is just a bowling ball type of player that would score in the paint by slashing like Tony Parker does. I think all of the guys are upgrades over Aaron and Bobby in terms of running a team. If we had Blake or Duhon in the playoffs this year we wouldn't have missed a beat when Rafer went down. Bobby and Aaron are gunners. Aaron Brooks can replace Luther head as the wanna-be 3rd point.

Duhon should not even be a consideration. He didn't even play for the bulls at times this season. His shooting percentage is worse than Rafer except in FT shooting.

[GMF]

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Blake shot 40% from 3, defends and is a great floor general. Duhon is like Blake but doesn't shoot as well as Blake. Lowry is just a bowling ball type of player that would score in the paint by slashing like Tony Parker does. I think all of the guys are upgrades over Aaron and Bobby in terms of running a team. If we had Blake or Duhon in the playoffs this year we wouldn't have missed a beat when Rafer went down. Bobby and Aaron are gunners. Aaron Brooks can replace Luther head as the wanna-be 3rd point.

I've watched Duhon play a lot with the Bulls and at Duke, he's not like Blake at all. He's an okay back up, but I think he should be a last option as a back up for us.

[jove9]

If he is second, I am dying to know who is first.

I'm assuming Dwight Howard.

[ubernathan]

Duhon is like Bowen as a point guard, good on defense but his only offense is hitting the odd 3 pointer.

[PocketRockets]

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I'm assuming Dwight Howard.

It's hard to compare centers, especially when they play in different systems. If yao played on the suns he would be horrible (stats-wise). Likewise if Howard played for the spurs (a relatively slow/half court team), he wouldn't be as effective. I hate to say it but if I had to start a franchise, my center would be howard, but only because he's better than yao defensively, and I love defense. But, if i had KG also, I'd pick Yao as my center, so it all depends on who else is on the floor and that's the beauty of a team sport. It's not about having only all-stars, but moreso about chemistry and coaching.

If we want to see who's better, we'll just have to wait til both retire and compare it that way. It's a moot point now.

[A.J.]

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I'm assuming Dwight Howard.

Dwight is second on my list. Yao is in a center class by himself.

[jzmagik]

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Dwight is second on my list. Yao is in a center class by himself.

+1