Is there a more disappointing team in the NBA this season than my beloved Houston Rockets?
We came in with a team which won 52 games and went 7 games in a tough first-round playoff matchup. By the end of that our guys were tired and couldn’t keep up…so in the offseason they added depth to what was considered to be a very good, but shallow team.
What happened?
Steve Francis, Mike James, Luthor Head…none have particulary stepped up this season. Bonzi has been inconsistant. McGrady has been hurt. Battier is having an off year. Yao can’t do it alone.
We’ve had our bright spots: specifically the fantastic play of rookies, Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola. Brooks spent time in the NBDL this season and wasn’t expected to get much time. He has proven that he deserves more minutes in his play. Scola has shown that he acclimated to the NBA game much quicker than anyone expected. but he is still prone to silly fouls. That will be remedied by seasoning and experience. In his few appearances, Carl Landry has shown why he is the coaching staff darling. The kid needs to see more time.
Of our veterans, the oft-maligned Rafer Alston has picked up the Adelman system better than any other guard, but once again we’re asking too many minutes of him. Chuck Hayes continues to be one of the most underrated players in the game, but at this point we have to start thinking about giving more time to Luis Scola. This is not a knock on Hayes, but rather recognition that Scola is our future at that spot.
Yao, of course, is Yao.
So, where does the team go from here? There are rumors that McGrady wants out of town, but count me amongst the possible gullible types who aren’t buying that. He will never find a city where he’ll be treated with such kid gloves by media and fans as he finds here. Some may be frustrated with him, but they will always accept him. If he does want to go; however, then I won’t be too upset or feel betrayed in any way. We’ve given this Yao-McGrady combo several years, and if he wants a change then I think that the Rockets should accomodate him, but only if we get back something of value. I know that it is difficult for a team to get true value for a superstar (if he’s still considered that), but I see no reason to believe that we’ll get lowballed for McGrady.
Personally, I’d like to see him stay here so that he and Yao can finish what they started; but, if they decide to make a change then I’d only rank McGrady as #5 on the list of Rockets that I would consider “untradable.”
This is how I see the Rockets in terms of being “untradable:”
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Yao Ming – you do not trade a big man of his talent who brings so much to the team and city, on and off the court.
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Luis Scola – this guy is the real deal. He’s a taller Manu Ginobli with tremendous upside.
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Aaron Brooks – He is our point guard of the future, and he can actually get the ball in to Yao, which is apparantly difficult at times for other players.
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Shane Battier – I know that he’s having an off year, but I would not trade Mr. Glue for anything short of an absolute blockbuster.
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Tracy McGrady – it is time for him to step up, tho.
I know that I have taken the best possible trading pieces off of the board, but I am of the belief that this team, despite underperforming now, is still capable of greatness; and that they should not change just for the sake of change. I don’t want to see us give up anything of value for a half-year rental (and unpredictable headcase) like Ron Artest; and I don’t think that bringing in a point guard is the best idea, seeing as how Alston is playing reasonably well and Brooks is progressing nicely.
That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing Sam-I-Am back to finish his career where he started it. Hell, adding him could be good just to try to light the fire of competition in McGrady, who seems to lack it at times. He would also provide enough of an offensive punch to allow guys like Battier to get back on track by concentrating on defense.
Whatever happens, one thing is certain: it is going to be a long second half of the season in Houston…
