State of the Roster

[moofs]

Nah, it's really more simple than that, you're not contending with Lin as your starting PG.

Mario Chalmers, Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue, etc. He's better than all of them. I'd say if he can recover to last year, he's slightly under Tony Parker.

I don't like LMA at all, really. I don't claim to know what kind of PF would work for us, but names that come to mind are Mandry, Ryan Anderson, Amir Johnson, Derrick Favors, and David Lee.

[moofs]

I really hate posting from my phone...

[No-Man]

Nah, it's really more simple than that, you're not contending with Lin as your starting PG.

Mario Chalmers, Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue, etc. He's better than all of them. I'd say if he can recover to last year, he's slightly under Tony Parker.

I don't like LMA at all, really. I don't claim to know what kind of PF would work for us, but names that come to mind are Mandry, Ryan Anderson, Amir Johnson, Derrick Favors, and David Lee.

Aldridge would work nicely, the best fit is Bosh, but there's no way Miami deals him.

Lin is better than them, yeah, but Lin reaaally needs the ball, I'd love to have a guy like Teague, sharpshooter, awesome defender, next to Harden, he can also run the point.

Lin is fine for now, I mean, Rockets at best will get in the PO, but, in the future, I think the two spots that can improve for this team to contend are PG and PF, for sure.

Lin could be an awesome back-up at the right price

.... the Parker thing, its a joke right?

[Mr. E]

Is Teague an RFA this offseason or the next offseason?

[No-Man]

Is Teague an RFA this offseason or the next offseason?

This.

[Mr. E]

How cap-conscious are the Hawks right now?

[moofs]

Why Teague? He's perfectly middling...

As for Parker, he's been pretty good most seasons, but he's never been great. Lin should easily be able to have a Parkernian career. Seriously, he's not overly special.

I love Asik, but he really needs to get hit TS up and TOs down.. I think he can, and if he does, we'll be very set at C.

That pretty much leaves PF and our first 2 backup slots available for improvement, but I don't think that's good enough. Hence my confusion...

[No-Man]

Parker is a top3 PG of the league and finals MVP... how he's never been great? Lin at best is a fine starter...

Teague is better than Lin and more important is a better fit next to Harden.

[BaYBaller]

Starting PF is far and away our weakest link at the moment. The lack of defense and rebounding from that position is quite concerning since I do not believe PatPat, Morris or T.Jones will ever be good defenders or rebounders. Not sure about D-Mo, he has the size for it but haven't seen him play much.

Parsons and Asik are on bargain contracts, so they are here to stay for the duration of their contracts unless trading them pulls us something highly favorable, although I wouldn't rule out getting somebody like Josh Smith (I know a lot of people hate him but he would be lethal in transition and as a slasher) and having Parsons come off the bench. Harden obviously is Harden, he's here to stay. Jury is still out for Lin. I think worst case is he'll be a great 6th man. Bench could obviously use improving but that is usually the last thing you do after you field a contending team. We have so many young players that it may be that we some vets and have a wicked bench starting with Parsons and Lin.

[BaYBaller]

Parker is a top3 PG of the league and finals MVP... how he's never been great? Lin at best is a fine starter...

Teague is better than Lin and more important is a better fit next to Harden.

So far Parker and Lin's early career trajectories are pretty similar. There were a lot of questions about Parker's jumper and defense early in his career, how he was an undersized score-first PG, etc. He's likely never going to be as good as Parker because Parker is a wizard finishing around the rim but we'll see. Lin seems to be the better passer and is bigger so he maybe able to make up for his lack of finishing touch by drawing more fouls. Also I don't know anybody who would rank Parker as a top 3 PG today.

[No-Man]

Parker is a top3 PG of the league and finals MVP... how he's never been great? Lin at best is a fine starter...

Teague is better than Lin and more important is a better fit next to Harden.

So far Parker and Lin's early career trajectories are pretty similar. There were a lot of questions about Parker's jumper and defense early in his career, how he was an undersized score-first PG, etc. He's likely never going to be as good as Parker because Parker is a wizard finishing around the rim but we'll see. Lin seems to be the better passer and is bigger so he maybe able to make up for his lack of finishing touch by drawing more fouls. Also I don't know anybody who would rank Parker as a top 3 PG today.

Seriously, better passer? Parker plays in a system were players dont get a lot of usage, they play with each other and pass the ball every time, if Parker got the same ball usage as Paul/Rondo he would put up 9-10 assist per game easily.

Lin is nowhere near, and it's just a high quality issue, PArker is a historic player, one of the best PGs to play this game.

Parker is better than Rondo, only Paul and Rose (if he comes back healthy) are clearly better than him, Westbrook 50/50.

Parker is a stud, and you really underrate him.

By the way, you compare his trajectoriaes, with 24 years old (Lin age), Parker was about to enter the season where he ends up winning Finals MVP...

[BaYBaller]

Parker is a top3 PG of the league and finals MVP... how he's never been great? Lin at best is a fine starter...

Teague is better than Lin and more important is a better fit next to Harden.

So far Parker and Lin's early career trajectories are pretty similar. There were a lot of questions about Parker's jumper and defense early in his career, how he was an undersized score-first PG, etc. He's likely never going to be as good as Parker because Parker is a wizard finishing around the rim but we'll see. Lin seems to be the better passer and is bigger so he maybe able to make up for his lack of finishing touch by drawing more fouls. Also I don't know anybody who would rank Parker as a top 3 PG today.

Seriously, better passer? Parker plays in a system were players dont get a lot of usage, they play with each other and pass the ball every time, if Parker got the same ball usage as Paul/Rondo he would put up 9-10 assist per game easily.

Lin is nowhere near, and it's just a high quality issue, PArker is a historic player, one of the best PGs to play this game.

Parker is better than Rondo, only Paul and Rose (if he comes back healthy) are clearly better than him, Westbrook 50/50.

Parker is a stud, and you really underrate him.

By the way, you compare his trajectoriaes, with 24 years old (Lin age), Parker was about to enter the season where he ends up winning Finals MVP...

I'm comparing Parker at similar "experience" levels with Lin, there's no point comparing a vet to somebody who is essentially a sophomore in terms of minutes played. And it's better to compare experience/"wear-and-tear" than age. I forget where I saw it but decline in production had a much higher correlation with minutes played than age of the player. Parker is a stud, but no way a top 3 PG. Hell I wouldn't even put him in the top 5. Go on the general board and ask who thinks TP is a top 3 PG and see the responses you get.


The point is the jury is still out with Lin. Our PF position is in a much more precarious situation because there is no plausible scenario where I can see any of our PFs outside of maybe D-Mo who will ever be an above average defender or rebounder.

[texasholdem]

How about a minor deal:

Patrick Patterson, Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas and Scott Machado to PHOENIX
for Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall?

Marshall has struggled so far in the NBA but still like his size and passing ability.
Markieff has gone from bench to starter back to bench but would be cool to see the twins play together on occasion. He can hit the 3 point shot like his bro too.

P-Pat needs to go see Grant Hill's ankle doctor in Phoenix.
Could see Motiejunas starting next to Gortat eventually.
Hate to lose TJ but this is essentially a 14th pick, an 18th pick and a 20th pick for two 13th overall picks.

lol...minor?

Minor as in it's basically a healthy Markieff Morris for an injured Patrick Patterson. They rebound and defend at the same rate. Right now Motie and TJ are not factors for us and neither is Marshall for Phoenix.

MKMorris for Patterson straight up works just as well if Phoenix is willing to gamble on PPat's ankle.

[BaYBaller]

How about a minor deal:

Patrick Patterson, Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas and Scott Machado to PHOENIX
for Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall?

Marshall has struggled so far in the NBA but still like his size and passing ability.
Markieff has gone from bench to starter back to bench but would be cool to see the twins play together on occasion. He can hit the 3 point shot like his bro too.

P-Pat needs to go see Grant Hill's ankle doctor in Phoenix.
Could see Motiejunas starting next to Gortat eventually.
Hate to lose TJ but this is essentially a 14th pick, an 18th pick and a 20th pick for two 13th overall picks.

lol...minor?

Minor as in it's basically a healthy Markieff Morris for an injured Patrick Patterson. They rebound and defend at the same rate. Right now Motie and TJ are not factors for us and neither is Marshall for Phoenix.

MKMorris for Patterson straight up works just as well if Phoenix is willing to gamble on PPat's ankle.

PPat's defense has been pretty bad this season but still it's been better than Morris IMO. They are both terrible rebounders though. I'd much rather see what we have with D-Mo and T.Jones before shipping them off so quickly unless you think the Morris brothers can merge together like voltron and become some super player.

[texasholdem]

Kieff did grab 17 rebounds vs Dallas a few weeks ago and has had 10 boards on two other occasions.
Patterson's game high this year is 9 rebounds vs Miami and 8 boards on two other occasions.

[Wolfgang]

Why are people giving up on Lin? Man, the guy needs at least another season and another summer just to grow and evolve his game. Like his jumpshot for example. I'd like to see him focus on his spot up 3 point shooting more than anything as far as jumpshot goes. He get's a lot of spot ups with Harden and he misses so much.

Did Lin really get to work on his game this summer? Because I recall he was injured throughout the whole thing and he still wasn't 100% when the season started. I think by next seasons trade deadline Morey will get a feel of what Lin is going to be and if he wants to keep him.

Everybody should relax. Houston will get into the playoffs. They'll get the experience and grow from it. I think 2 years from now they'll be in contention if they continue their progress. Harden is the star player who is here to stay for sure.

[Nebula1]

I think Lin has only gotten better considering coming off an injury, a new team, new system and major expectations.. all while playing next to Harden, who likes the ball in his hands alot.

I think they're finding a good balance and Lin is a big part of the Rockets' run.


Again, I'm all for getting Markieff on the Rockets.

[tsherkin]

I think Lin has only gotten better considering coming off an injury, a new team, new system and major expectations.. all while playing next to Harden, who likes the ball in his hands alot.

Been nice to see those two finding some chemistry, for sure.

[Nebula1]

I think Lin has only gotten better considering coming off an injury, a new team, new system and major expectations.. all while playing next to Harden, who likes the ball in his hands alot.

Been nice to see those two finding some chemistry, for sure.

I agree. This entire team has great chemistry right now and I think Lin is a big part of that so I would be opposed to changing point guards at this time.

I think the key issue right now is Patrick Patterson and his injury. The Rockets are only running 8 or 9 guys and Morris is getting pushed so we'll see how that continues to go.

All in all, I think the Rockets have the best roster they've had in years and are probably the scariest team in the NBA (outside Miami or OKC) to play.

[tsherkin]

I'm liking Asik in his constrained role, Lin/Harden... They look good. The Rockets are still one big piece away, or maybe two moderate pieces, but they're growing and looking good (and fun) in the process.