Rockets falling apart

RocketFan · Post #1 » by **RocketFan** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:09 am

How good are we to contend next year? I say we finish 4th in the division just slighty behind the grizzlies. Are we making anymore deals or is this it for this season?

fisterkev · Post #2 » by **fisterkev** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:27 am

Contend? For what? With what? The wheels have completely come off.

Tank. Get a high pick and then be ready for a big splash on '10.

JSB · Post #3 » by **JSB** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:36 am

Trevor Ariza > Than Ron Ron

BaYBaller · Post #4 » by **BaYBaller** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:37 am

The heavens would have to align for us to even sniff contention, i.e. Yao and T-Mac healthy, but I'm telling you guys our supporting cast is too good to tank. We'd probably end up with like the #9 pick with no impact players left on the board. Being big players in the 2010 FA bonanza will be a much bigger factor than what pick we get next year.

Teckon · Post #5 » by **Teckon** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:51 am

Rockets are a team with lots of competitive spirit. They will do their best to compete with or without Yao. So the word "Tank" will not be in their books. Yes they will lose more games but they will not be in the bottom of the conference.

RussellandFlow · Post #6 » by **RussellandFlow** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 2:03 am

I think the wheels have come off, and it's time the Rockets traded T mac. Maybe he should see the Suns medical staff as they did wonders with Grant Hill and Shaq. Next year is a great year for both free agency and the draft. Anything is possible, 2002 could happen again and you get the top pick (John Wall anyone?)

Syke · Post #7 » by **Syke** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 2:32 am

JSB wrote:Trevor Ariza > Than Ron Ron

I agreed with you there.

Watching this year playoffs and finals, Ariza was one of the reason the Lakers won the championship. He could be the next Horry for the Rockets, he is clutch on the 3 point line and his defense is awesome.

dunleavyjr · Post #8 » by **dunleavyjr** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 8:16 am

defensively, artest and ariza are the same, though ariza has the youth advantage.
offensively, artest is world ahead of ariza.

Zerostatic · Post #9 » by **Zerostatic** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 11:55 am

Ariza is not even close to what Artest is nor do I think he will ever be. Ariza is a role-player plain and simple. Artest is a guy who could be the 3rd or 2nd best player on a contending team. So to put it bluntly, at his best Artest is a star, at his best Ariza is a very good role-player. Don't let yourselves get deluded.

dunleavyjr · Post #10 » by **dunleavyjr** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 6:37 pm

If Yao wasn't injured, Artest would have signed extension with Rockets....right?

Post #11 » by **TMACFORMVP** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 10:00 pm

We chose Ariza over Artest, we didn't put up a respectable offer for Artest, and we knew it. If he took it, great, if he didn't, we'd rather have Ariza is basically what the organization said.

KobeFarmarEra · Post #12 » by **KobeFarmarEra** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 9:04 am

JSB wrote:Trevor Ariza > Than Ron Ron

Whatever helps you sleep at night. Hope you enjoyed the 2nd round because it wouldn't have happened with Ariza on Houston instead of Artest, I promise you. He's a solid role player in the right system but no where near as dynamic as Ron Artest. Ariza's man defense is extremely overrated. Where he really stood out was his gift for anticipation (aka gambling) on almost every play. Ariza has great length and athleticism but inferior basketball IQ on the defensive end compared to Ron.

Whether you want to admit it or not, Artest guards the elite shooting forwards in this league as good or better than anyone else. That's a fact and the statistics back it up.

shortfuse3 · Post #13 » by **shortfuse3** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 9:25 pm

theres no doubt in my mind we will make the playoffs. we are still a good team without Yao. it's not like we are 0-20 when Yao misses games. In fact, we have a winning record without him. This is exactly how everyone thought when Yao went out in game 3, that we'd lose in 5. Just watch the Rockets are going to suprise everyone yet again.

JSB · Post #14 » by **JSB** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 3:54 pm

KobeFarmarEra wrote:
JSB wrote:Trevor Ariza > Than Ron Ron

Whatever helps you sleep at night. Hope you enjoyed the 2nd round because it wouldn't have happened with Ariza on Houston instead of Artest, I promise you. He's a solid role player in the right system but no where near as dynamic as Ron Artest. Ariza's man defense is extremely overrated. Where he really stood out was his gift for anticipation (aka gambling) on almost every play. Ariza has great length and athleticism but inferior basketball IQ on the defensive end compared to Ron.

Whether you want to admit it or not, Artest guards the elite shooting forwards in this league as good or better than anyone else. That's a fact and the statistics back it up.

I like Ron but for me last season he got lazy when I saw him play, needs to have more heart and hustle.

The Laker Kid · Post #15 » by **The Laker Kid** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 5:25 pm

Zerostatic wrote:Ariza is not even close to what Artest is nor do I think he will ever be. Ariza is a role-player plain and simple. Artest is a guy who could be the 3rd or 2nd best player on a contending team. So to put it bluntly, at his best Artest is a star, at his best Ariza is a very good role-player. Don't let yourselves get deluded.

What are you talking about?? Trevor was THE key player that did most of the dirty work to win the Championship. In the contrary, Artest has a few loose screws in his head that could prove to be detrimental to LA - this is opposite with Trevor who is a very humble, quiet, low key and productive player. There's simply no risk with Trevor that he can "blow up" in your face, Artest is a ticking time bomb.

I don't understand why Rox fans are writing off their team. Last time I checked, they still have Tracy McGrady, Luis Scola, Shane Battier, Aaron Brooks, and now Trevor Ariza. That is a championship-caliber core if you ask me. I have a feeling that Tracy will be healthy this year so don't be surprised if the Rox get deep in the playoffs again.

old rem · Post #16 » by **old rem** » Thu Jul 9, 2009 10:53 am

fisterkev wrote:Contend? For what? With what? The wheels have completely come off.

Tank. Get a high pick and then be ready for a big splash on '10.

Minus Yao..Artest...T Mac?

Seems like a truck with one wheel left. there's hardly anyone left who can be a 15 ppg guy.
Draft high and hope Yao comes back at 100%

houstonPG · Post #17 » by **houstonPG** » Thu Jul 9, 2009 12:51 pm

Too risky to tank when Kings, who had the biggest chance, got #4 pick in the draft a month ago. I overheard there are not much out there in next year's class.

LakersSquad · Post #18 » by **LakersSquad** » Thu Jul 9, 2009 1:50 pm

The Laker Kid wrote:
Zerostatic wrote:Ariza is not even close to what Artest is nor do I think he will ever be. Ariza is a role-player plain and simple. Artest is a guy who could be the 3rd or 2nd best player on a contending team. So to put it bluntly, at his best Artest is a star, at his best Ariza is a very good role-player. Don't let yourselves get deluded.

What are you talking about?? Trevor was THE key player that did most of the dirty work to win the Championship. In the contrary, Artest has a few loose screws in his head that could prove to be detrimental to LA - this is opposite with Trevor who is a very humble, quiet, low key and productive player. There's simply no risk with Trevor that he can "blow up" in your face, Artest is a ticking time bomb.

I don't understand why Rox fans are writing off their team. Last time I checked, they still have Tracy McGrady, Luis Scola, Shane Battier, Aaron Brooks, and now Trevor Ariza. That is a championship-caliber core if you ask me. I have a feeling that Tracy will be healthy this year so don't be surprised if the Rox get deep in the playoffs again.

Cut it out the Lakers went to the finals without Ariza, We could have replaced Ariza with Matt Barnes and been fine. I love Ariza but he's no more than a great role player. Talent wise him and Artest isnt close. Ron is much better and theres a reason Kobe had to defend Ron & Melo at times.