Are the Rockets now a big threat to the Spurs?

[Solid D]

Holy crap that's the longest post I've seen in SpursTalk history.

Props. I might have to read that in the morning, though

That's more like a filibuster than a post. If it wouldn't set a nasty precedent, I could almost recommend a spur under his le.

[sandman]

Yeah, I think a lot of these "rockets are not contenders b/c of health and shiit" need to remember that Houston won 52 games last season with Yao out for nearly 1/2 the season and Tmac out for 10 games or so.....

Just think for a moment if they have no significant injuries......just try real hard, I know it's tough.........but........they were and are le contenders.

More realistically, they will have to adjust to all the new coaches/players/system while not forgetting about D. But, as Adelman says when asked the same thing........"let me reiterate, we need to prove our strengths on the court".

I agree with him, no team will feel threatened by the Rox if they continue to get hurt, continue to lose key games against division rivals and other key teams during the season, or go through a significant losing streak and finally not get out of the first round.

So, to those that say yes....thanks....

to those that laugh at the Roxs and say no, I understand you are going on past history.....but if health, learning curves and a bit of luck go our way........who the fawk knows.....

but man am I looking forward to next season

If by le contender you mean that they had a better record than most of the league, then you are correct. But they were not able to get out of the first round with all of their players healthy and home court advantage. Considering that has been their MO over the last several years (not making it out of the first round), then it would be hard to argue that they have been le contenders.

If you want to say that they can/will be le contenders in this upcoming season, that is a different story, one of which will most certainly be debated to death in the coming months.

[sandman]

I think the Spurs fans said that about the Mavs....until the Mavs beat them in the 06 playoffs.

I'm not saying the Rockets will beat the Spurs, but they've added enough pieces to make it interesting...in the regular season OR the playoffs.

No, the Mavs still suck in the playoffs, regardless if they beat us once. See: Miami and Golden State. That is what makes that series so heartbreaking. We lost to the team that would go on to the biggest back-to-back choke jobs in the history of NBA playoffs.

[Emeyin]

I wouldn't say Houston is a big threat but they are a legit threat. Scola was a good pickup for them and I think it's going to work out pretty well.

[Hoy]

they are only a thread if bonzi wells plays like its a contract year again....

Well, it is his contract year.

[Russ]

Scola fell into the Rockets' lap and could be a real contributor (or at least score some points and fill the lane). Butler can't hurt (even if he just takes up space like with the Spurs).

The Rockets seem to have a very nice roster. But I thought the same last year.

The one thing no one has focussed on is the possible negative effect of having Tracy McGrady on the squad. I think he's a team-killer of Kobe Bryant-like magnitude. And like the Lakers, the Rockets can't live with him and can't live without him.

The Rockets need a real leader to counter McGrady's effect and the humble Yao just isn't it. (Yao needs to be more like Mao.)

The one curve ball could be Scola -- but not so much for his play as his possible leadership. He seems like a no nonsense guy that the Rockets could use.

On the Spurs, he'd just get on Tim's nerves.

[Roxsfan]

1. Houston Rockets
(added Mike James, Luis Scola, Jackie Butler and Aaron Brooks; lost Juwan Howard and Vassilis Spanoulis; replaced Jeff Van Gundy with Rick Adelman)

While you're focusing on the San Antonio-Dallas-Phoenix triumvirate in the West, don't sleep on Houston. The Rockets have quietly put together a roster that could very well be the last team standing in that conference in 2008.
Start with the decision to replace Van Gundy with Adelman -- a change in direction that will likely make the team more up-tempo and offensive-minded. They'll miss Van Gundy's defensive genius, but given the offensive stagnation this club showed in 2006-07, it's not a bad trade.

Moreover, hiring Adelman was especially important in this case because it basically adds another player to the roster. Bonzi Wells bristled under Van Gundy after showing up out of shape, and hardly played last season. But he seems excited by being reunited with Adelman, who coached him to a strong campaign in Sacramento two years ago.

From there, add in two vastly underrated trades. The first one pilfered James from Minnesota for Howard, giving the Rockets a do-over on the disastrous James-for-Rafer Alston trade two years ago. The second nabbed Scola and Butler from San Antonio in return for Spanoulis.
Scola, a skilled Argentinian who has been one of the best players in Europe for the past half-decade, will make an immediate impact as a starting power forward. Butler, as a young center with strong scoring skills in the post, should energize a second unit that was bereft of offense last season.In the big picture, the Rockets aggressively addressed their three main problems: stagant offense, point guard and power forward. Between the coaching change, the additions of James and first-round pick Aaron Brooks at the point, the pickups of Scola and Butler up front, and the de facto addition of Wells, this team suddenly looks loaded. At this point in the offseason, nobody has upgraded more than this club.

[Marcus Bryant]

Had the Rockets been able to attract a Derek Fisher I'd be more worried. As it stands, they have a couple team guys in their starting lineup in Battier and Scola. It'll be interesting to see how Yao and Scola play together. They could be really good. Overall, I believe they have improved over last season. Plus Adelman should be able to mesh McGrady and Yao's games more successfully than JVG did.

[x_roux_x]

Is this really being asked? I dont believe they are...too many question marks...under the new system i see them as the next Suns team...a team who can score(not as good as the suns though) and a team that will play semi mediocre defense(which would be better than the suns). I can see them giving us some good games in the regular season but if it came down to the playoffs I will not be worried at all.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Hmmmm, how is Yao, notorious for his conditioning problems over the years, going to play in a high tempo offense? Ditto, Mutumbo. Does that mean Butler plays a bit?

Other than that, I think they will be better than last year, and when I saw them beat us in SA they looked pretty good to me. They'll be a top 5 team in the West, so we should treat them with respect.

However, I don't see them beating us in a playoff series.

All depends on whether the chemistry comes together for them, as it does for every NBA champion since Michael's Bulls (who seemed to glide through seasons to me...)

[Avitus1]

Whos taking over for Van Gundy?

[Streakyshooter08]

Francis is comming to the rockets.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...un_in_houston/

We will see if its good or bad for them...

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Whos taking over for Van Gundy?

Rick Adelman. The Kings coach before Eric Musselman.

[ArgSpursFan]

Francis is comming to the rockets.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...un_in_houston/

We will see if its good or bad for them...

If all peaces fall in place for the Rockets thay could have a better season tham last year.But not a championship caliper team yet.

[mardigan]

I find it funny that the Rockets wanted to find a point guard, so they bring in three new point guards that dont pass. T-Mac is going to have to wrassle the ball away from them

[ArgSpursFan]

I find it funny that the Rockets wanted to find a point guard, so they bring in three new point guards that dont pass. T-Mac is going to have to wrassle the ball away from them

it will depend on How Adelman puts it together.The good thing about it it´s that Francis,T-Mac,Yao,Scola and Co.have no NBA rings yet.
i see T-mac playin better if he is not the one and only scoring option in the perimeter,and If francis is willing to play the SG pos. they can complement each other real good.
i don´t know if they pass the playoffs 1st round,but it´ll be fun to watch though.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Defense..defense...defense..defense..

[SAGambler]

Francis is comming to the rockets.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...un_in_houston/

We will see if its good or bad for them...

Just when the Rockets thought they had assembled a good group, they go and screw it up.

Any vbookie on whether Franchise or TMac puts up the most attempts next season?

[Marcus Bryant]

it will depend on How Adelman puts it together.The good thing about it it´s that Francis,T-Mac,Yao,Scola and Co.have no NBA rings yet.
i see T-mac playin better if he is not the one and only scoring option in the perimeter,and If francis is willing to play the SG pos. they can complement each other real good.
i don´t know if they pass the playoffs 1st round,but it´ll be fun to watch though.

Yeah, if McGrady essentially runs the offense it could work well. Did so for the Bulls ( and no, I am not saying TMac = MJ).

[Testing]

Ok the rockets are officially a threat (if healthy). I can't believe the roster overhall they've managed to complete this offseason.....getting Scola, Butler, and now Francis gives them a lot more offense which they were lacking previously. But they still have good defense in mutombo, yao in the paint, and of course Shane Battier. Add to it if they manage to keep bonzi wells and play him...that's a great team right there and adelman is a great coach for them...