Landry to remain a Rocket

[moofs]

That 3-yr team option essentially makes this a 2-yr deal if his knees fall apart. I like it. Landry is overrated like crazy on this board though. Scola too.

Landry's currently rather overrated, but still a good player, and as you said his contract is a good deal as well.

Not following how Scola is overrated though ('course we've also argued on that one before). He's a 3 million PF that's a capable/average rebounder, smart defender (seems to be above average in team defense), and above average at offense (even if his number isn't called that often).

Not drinking the Kool-Aid on this.
Landry is the fourth PF on the team,NONE of whom are taller than the SG.
Yao has no back-up.
Alston's back-ups are the miniscule Brooks,the still injured Francis,and Strawberry "who needs to work on his PG skills".(But Barry can play the point you say,sure,and he'll do just fine defending Paul,Williams,etc.)
McGrady is still the only playmaker on the team.(Artest passes as a last resort,not as a first option.)
If Artest starts,the only player off the bench who can create his own shot is Head,who struggles finishing at rim.

All pretty valid problems the team still has, but they have to be taken in light of the benefits we have as well:
- LOADS of depth (REAL depth, not "Mike James, Steve Francis, Stromile Swift", etc)
- 3 big go-to options
- 5+ very effective role players (Alston, Barry, Scola, Landry, Battier, and to lesser degrees Hayes, possibly Dorsey, and Deke)
- 6 capable (though only 3 good-to-exceptional) outside shooters
- 3 offensive low post options (Yao, Artest, Scola), 2 guys good at feeding off others in the paint (Landry, Hayes)
- A GREAT defense - GREAT (I'll be freaked out if we aren't, given that we were awesome last year and UPGRADED)
- 2 big advantages we have on the Celtics is that, unlike Garnett, Yao actually plays in the post (though he's not as good on defense) and Artest isn't 49 years old like Ray Allen
- 2, possibly 3 playmakers (even if Alston isn't great at it, I'm counting Francis/Artest as a single "potential" there just for giggles)
- If Artest starts, we'll probably manage our minutes such that there are still 1 or 2 of the Yao/McGrady/Artest combo on the floor at any given time in non-blowout games
- Yao's backup is Hayes/Scola/Dorsey (unproven) and possibly Deke (if he's signed), same as last year, and possibly improved. We were all expecting the Dorsey/Deke deals to happen after Landry, so hopefully they're soon.

Also,
- Barry wouldn't be guarding Paul or Williams, he and/or Strawberry and/or Brooks would be guarding Brevin Knight/Ronnie Price/Mike James HAH/Mo Pete/Jannero Pargo

Re: Landry is the fourth PF on the team,NONE of whom are taller than the SG.
- Not many teams have a 6'10" sg. There's also the whole wingspan thing that was covered a lot last year (not that I know our PFs wingspan stats and am sure theirs is still less than McGrady's) I'm 6'3" but can be outreached by a LOT of people who are 5'11" and under (sometimes by people that are short as 5'7-8").

Here's why I've been whining for a tall shot-blocking big.
Last yr Landry had all of 7 blocks in 711 minutes. Hayes in a little over twice the minutes-1573-had 6 TIMES as many w/43. Scola had 19 in 2024 minutes.

Some more fun w/numbers. Following are Rockets at end of yr w/minutes,blocks/steals,minutes per block/minutes per block and steal combined.

Yao.........2044....111/25....18.4/15
Deke.........619.....48/11....12.9/10.5
Scola.......2024.....19/60....106.5/25.6
Landry......711.......7/17....101.6/29.6
Hayes......1575.....43/85....36.6/12.3
Novak.......264........3/2.....88.0/52.8
Battier....2907.....90/77.....32.3/17.4
Harris.......159........3/6.....53.0/17.7
T-Mac.....2440.....30/68.....81.3/24.9
Head.......1379......9/44.....153.2/26.0
Alston......2526....18/98.....140.3/21.8
Jackson.....498......2/13.....249.0/33.2
Brooks.......608......5/13....121.6/33.8
Francis......199........5/9....39.8/14.2

Wonder how many bar bets could have been won with:
Shane had second most blocks on Rockets
Shane had more blocks than Scola,Landry and Hayes combined
Luther had more blocks than Landry
Brooks had 2 less blocks than Landry in 100+ fewer minutes
Alston,Brooks and Jackson had 1 less block than Scola and Landry
Alston had less than 90 min more than McGrady
Battier aves better than a block a game,Hayes gets a block every other game,Landry every 6 games

As was stated in the other post, blocks, while nice, can be easily overrated. Charles Oakley was a great defender but never got many blocks. Wes Unseld (Who I'd compare Hayes to from what I know of him, as a rich man's version) couldn't have blocked Muggsy. Steals, while nice, can be overrated. Sure Scola didn't get many steals, but he picked up so many loose balls, who cares? Stockton used to average a ton of steals from playing the passing lanes, but wasn't really that great of a defender. Iverson's similar (though probably a better 1v1 defender than Stockton). For Hayes, he doesn't get many blocks because he plays defense from a positional standpoint - keep the guy away from where he wants to be and swipe at the ball (a la Malone) before he can get it up - which I don't think is credited as a block.

All in all, I don't think the situation is bad, in spite of the fact that we aren't a shot blocking or steal-heavy team. Those stats really aren't important. They're supposed to indicate how good your defense is in certain ways, but from all other stats, I'd say our defense is excellent, so why does it matter that those two stats are low?

That said, some of them are hilariously bad. BROOKS only had two less blocks than Landry?

[KiDdFrESh]

I dont care what the stats say (they gave me a headache just trying to read them), the Rockets are a BETTER team with Landry.....Simple as that!!!

Thats all that matters.

The Rockets are trying to put together a team that they feel has a legit shot at winning the whole thing. Like Moofs said, its nice have to real "quality" depth for once.

Deke will be re-signed and Dorsey will be signed as well for sure.

PG: Alston, Francis, Brooks
SG: McGrady, Barry
C: Yao, Mutombo
SF: Artest, Battier
PF: Scola, Landry, Hayes

IR: Strawberry, Head, Dorsey

[BaYBaller]

That 3-yr team option essentially makes this a 2-yr deal if his knees fall apart. I like it. Landry is overrated like crazy on this board though. Scola too.

Landry's currently rather overrated, but still a good player, and as you said his contract is a good deal as well.

Not following how Scola is overrated though ('course we've also argued on that one before). He's a 3 million PF that's a capable/average rebounder, smart defender (seems to be above average in team defense), and above average at offense (even if his number isn't called that often).

I consider a player being worth his contract or not, and being overrated/underrated or not two separate things. Scola is without a doubt worth his contract (he is actually underpaid IMO), and Landry very likely will be worth his as well. But I've seen numerous mentions of Scola being a "potential all-star" or have "all-star talent." You can probably even find an instance or 2 of that said in this very thread! Now that's overrated.

And to tisbee I hope you are aware that block statistics are the most overrated stat in basketball. Now I don't disagree that Landry and Scola aren't great defenders, but Hayes is very very good defensively at his position, despite his height and stats.

[TiMacMania]

damn! now we are set for the season

can't wait for this one

[tisbee]

Another bar bet that would have been a winner-who drew the most charges?
Scola 42,Battier 39,then McGrady,Yao,Landry w/7.

Look,I think Landry is a fine energy guy off the bench. He can excite the crowd and provide a spark to the team. But,his D is bad and the idea of him being a starter is ludicrous. He doesn't have the strength of Scola or Hayes and as we see by his meager shot-blocking totals he can't use his leaping ability to block shots.

BayBaller,I've never said Hayes isn't a good defender-quite the contrary. And I also disagree w/blocks being way over-rated. Why are the Rockets better defensively when Deke is playing instead of Yao?
Now I agree there are different ways of playing defense and that it's really team defense,not individual D that matters. The thing about shot-blockers is the effect they have on the other team,where players will hesitate to go inside,rush their shots or take off balance shots. And it's nice having someone who can come flying over and prevent the other team from taking advantage of a breakdown.
Landry doesn't have the bulk to body other PFs out of their favored spot;he doesn't have the quick hands of Hayes to get steals;he doesn't have the anticipation of Scola in drawing charges;he has shown little ability to convert his leaping ability into blocked shots. He is a nice spark-plug off the bench,I just believe there are 2 major needs for the Rockets that should have been addressed first.

[That Nicka]

scola has all star potential

[ShaY]

scola has all star potential

If Bynum is going to be better than Wilt, then Scola has all star potential.

[franchise73]

scola has all star potential

If Bynum is going to be better than Wilt, then Scola has all star potential.

f that, if Bynum can be better then Wilt, im going to be an allstar hahahahahaha

[jove9]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTHTmeDvShQ&feature=related

Sure, Carl Landry is a great dunker in traffic, but check out this guy. He's 5'8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4OwWLfS ... re=related

(Don't you feel useless now?)

[King Roosk]

Some of you guys are looking into this waaaay too much. Here's the bottom line: Carl Landry did wonders for our team last year. It's no coincidence that as soon as our PF rotation became Scola and Landry, our team began playing great basketball. Landry is great at what he does; he can finish in traffic, pull down rebounds, hustle his ass off, and he's a great spark off the bench. He has some defensive deficiencies, but this isn't a math test...it's basketball. Sometimes talent overrides being shorter than the guys you're playing against.

[tisbee]

...and sometimes a talented big man will override anything a shorter player does.

King Roosk,
Landry is a short PF who hustles his butt off on offense,
Chuck Hayes is a short PF who hustles his butt off on defense,
Dorsey is a short PF who from what I've read hustles his butt off rebounding and running the court.
I just wish there was a tall PF on the roster who hustled his butt off.

I won't whine anymore on this subject. But in my defense,what else is there to obsess about before camp starts?

[moofs]

How Jessica Alba is inferior to Jennifer Beals in every way possible, even though Beals is like 45 now?

For each of those others:
Landry is a short PF who hustles his butt off on offense,
- Which is why his health has been such an important issue on both this board and to Morey. Thankfully Mr. Bobcat let us sign him at a cheap enough price that the health risks are handled by the price. He's undersized, yes, but when healthy he gets up and down so ridiculously fast it doesn't matter.

Chuck Hayes is a short PF who hustles his butt off on defense,
- Ask Barkley how important positioning is for post players. He wouldn't know about defense so much, but could confirm that point on rebounding.

- Dorsey is a short PF who from what I've read hustles his butt off rebounding and running the court.
Dorsey can reach as high as a lot of 6'10-11" guys, and is hella stronger than they are, so what's the difference?

I just wish there was a tall PF on the roster who hustled his butt off.
- Scola. He's not one of the taller PFs, but he IS undeniably average-sized. If you want someone else, mmm.. well we had Ryan Bowen. Um. Crap I dunno, Varejao? I'm glad we don't have him, personally. Our guys are better and not annoying.

Care to name names for a taller hustling pf? I think you've mentioned Jeff Foster before. Hey, I'd be open to him too if we didn't have our needs met. As is, you'd need to tell me why we want http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jeff_foster/index.html at 2+ times the price of any of our current options (other than "he's expiring", which wouldn't help us much unless he opts out of his player option, not that it's not moot anyway).

I consider a player being worth his contract or not, and being overrated/underrated or not two separate things. Scola is without a doubt worth his contract (he is actually underpaid IMO), and Landry very likely will be worth his as well. But I've seen numerous mentions of Scola being a "potential all-star" or have "all-star talent." You can probably even find an instance or 2 of that said in this very thread! Now that's overrated.

Yer, agree with that too. Scola isn't all-star material unless there's another big-man down year (see: Dale Davis, Jamaal Magloire, etc), in which case all bets are off, cause there have been some not-so-great players make it in at the last minute.

What I DO think he is though, like you said, a PF who is easily worth 5.5-8.5 million/yr (possibly more as he could average 15-18/7-9 if given enough touches - he averaged 14/9 in march/april)

[tisbee]

Moofs,Moofs,Moofs... since everyone has their own idea of beauty,I'll let your first comment slide.

As to the PFs,I like Scola and I think he has a better understanding of the NBA and will be even better this yr. IMO,he'd be best as the third big,coming in for either Yao or a more defensive oriented PF. But I have no problems w/him as the starter.

Interesting you should mention Varejao. He's the type of player I would like to see Rockets have. Yes he flops and has the Sideshow Bob hair and all the rest,but if he's on your team he suddenly becomes wonderful. He will rebound,defend and not ask for the ball.
Robin Lopez would have been a rookie I'd love the Rockets to have drafted.
But I imagine what we have is what we'll have. I just wish there was somebody on the team who could contest Duncan,Amare,Gasol on their jump shots when Scola gets in foul trouble during a Playoff Series. We all agree Yao has a tremendous advantage because he's several inches taller than his defender,why do we not think the same is true when a taller Rocket foe is going against a shorter Rocket PF? Individually,I like the Rockets PFs,collectively...

[moofs]

Moofs,Moofs,Moofs... since everyone has their own idea of beauty,I'll let your first comment slide.

(seriously though, check her out, in 25 years she HAS NOT AGED, it's freakish)

Interesting you should mention Varejao. He's the type of player I would like to see Rockets have. Yes he flops and has the Sideshow Bob hair and all the rest,but if he's on your team he suddenly becomes wonderful. He will rebound,defend and not ask for the ball.
Robin Lopez would have been a rookie I'd love the Rockets to have drafted.
But I imagine what we have is what we'll have. I just wish there was somebody on the team who could contest Duncan,Amare,Gasol on their jump shots when Scola gets in foul trouble during a Playoff Series.

I actually mentioned Varejao as an intentional trap (bahaha ), since I figured you were leaning that direction. The main thing you were asking for was a taller PF. WHY you were asking for one though was so that, as you said again, they could contest Duncan/Amare/Gasol when Scola gets in foul trouble.

1. Gasol is a pansy, the answer to him is senor Chuck Hayes - keep him out of his spots and he's largely neutralized even before shot contesting
2. DUNCAN couldn't contest Stoudemire, and Hakeem couldn't contest Kemp (yes, I know, but they're similarly athletic) how is anyone else going to?
3. By now it should be obvious that no one's really been contesting Duncan all that well either, and he's getting old anyway
4. Varajao's career steals/blocks: 0.8/0.5 Career highs: 0.9/0.7 (in different years). Jeff Foster is 0.7/0.3. Scola and Hayes are both comparable to those guys, and probably alter about as many shots (relatively few), but they're both paid a LOT less.
5. For 1. and 3., we should also have Mutombo/Yao, who, given that both players named are really C's playing from the PF slot, who both play in the post, are capable of working fairly well if need be.
6. If you want a player to "rebound, defend and not ask for the ball.", again, we have Hayes
7. "but if he's on your team he suddenly becomes wonderful." - we already have one guy that we're hoping will fill this spot, why keep rolling the dice? Varejao also makes 6m this year with the ability to opt out after it, which given his contract dispute last year, doesn't seem an overly safe bet.

[Mr. E]

Between Scola and Landry we may be getting the most bang for the buck at PF in the league! Those guys at those contracts are real bargains in the League.