2009-2010 Rockets – All Positions by Committee
by Kari on Jul 3, 2009 10:56 PM CDT
Email
PrintRockets will most likely start (or play the entire) season without their three marquee players, McGrady, Yao, and now Artest. The team is composed of a bunch of good role players, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks, and now Trevor Ariza. They will have to give up one or more of these players to gain anyone with considerable talent – something that they can not afford. So, the prospect for the Rockets looks rather grim for the next season.
Well, as our former Secretary of Defense, Mr. Rumsfeld, famously remarked, you go to war with the army that you have, not the army that you wish that you had.
Rockets have decided that they are going to address the PG assignment by committee – Brooks/Lowry. It worked reasonably well in the post-season even in the absence of Yao/McGrady, and with Ron Artest disappearing on the offensive end. Brooks has shown that he can beat his man and penetrate. Without marquee players, the Rockets would have to replicate that approach at every position. The flowing offense that Adelman keeps preaching about all these years would perfectly fit a team like that is 10 man deep – even if none of them are elite players.
If they can create a truly contributing 10-man roster, this team could be very interesting, and entertaining to watch. Sometime ago, there was this excellent article in NewYorker (read it, if you have not read it already) which describes how underdogs can break the rules, and create havoc.
I know well that it is nice to have a team with superstars. But, I do think, that offensive philosophy of teams with superstars also becomes predictable, and that can be a liability. That is why, often you find, role players such as Robert Horry, Fisher, Kerr make key shots in the playoffs. A team without superstars can play well, if they buy into the coaching philosophy, and play the right way.
Without Yao, McGrady, Ron Artest, the rest of the Rockets can play an up-tempo game, and they can play freely. No one is expecting them to win any way right? If I were a coach, it is an interesting challenge that I can look forward to. If last year is any indication, Coach Adelman appears to be perfectly suited for the job!
I think the Rockets may usher in the era of ‘all positions by committee’ approach in 2009-2010, and in a few years, this will be followed by most NBA teams. Well, that is until, Rockets can snag a superstar like James in 2011 :-)!
No cursing in title. No pirated material, such as links to online game streams. Do not cut/paste entire sections of content from other websites. Thanks.
11 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Remember this is a team
that went 22-0 when Yao went down in 2008, and beat the LA Lakers twice without both Yao and McGrady. I mean this is a team that is scrappy, smart, and plays with passion. We caught the imagination of the basketball world the last two years. People were marveling at our team—the little team that could. Resilient.
This year we might not win a lot of games, but I know they will play in a way that will make me very proud of this team. Let’s not sell our team short and let us keep watching their games.
by RoxBeliever on Jul 4, 2009 7:00 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
So down on our guys...yet
You know what, there are teams out there with much more talent (Golden State, Toronto, New York) who don’t have the one thing Houston has: Heart. Look at these guys. Yeah, we have a lot of “lunch-pail” players (Brooks, Lowry, Battier, Scola, Landry, Hayes and now throw in Ariza to the mix). This will still be an exciting team next year.
PG: Brooks/Lowry/Barry
SG: Ariza/Taylor/Barry
SF: Battier/White/Buddinger
PF: Scola/Landry/Hayes
C: NEW SIGNEE or Yao/Hayes/Dorsey
Yao could come back to this team, THEN look at these guys. You know, for all the talk of a closer, that could very well be Aaron Brooks next year.
B^2
In Daryl Morey, Rick Smith and Ed Wade we (usually) trust.
What about him?
I didn’t include Mr. McGrady in my discussion above b/c he’s out till January-February. Now, if he proves otherwise, shows up in tip-top shape and can start playing with a vengeance, then we’ve got something for next year.
B^2
In Daryl Morey, Rick Smith and Ed Wade we (usually) trust.
Can't win
The problem with having a team without stars is that it’s Un-American. Referees, the league, fans, and the government could not let that happen. We’re talking communism here. It’d be like Hollywood embracing the Constantin Stanislavski acting method. America is “up the individual” and “down with collectivism.” In every field in America it’s all about the star—the expert—the genius. That’s why they get the big bucks, and everyone else the peanuts. Everywhere it’s a two tiered system of pay. There is no doubt that a team playing as a team could beat any assembly of stars trying to be the star, but the American mind-set would even go so far as to change the rules to keep that from ever happening. New York and LA will always have the advantage in a star dominated system because stars will go there for less pay just because the lights are brighter and they can expand their range of stardom.
There is some truth to what you have said. However,
in my view, the American attitude is about winning. Remember, just before the playoffs, when the Rockets traded Rafer, Charles Barkley said that the Rockets are throwing in the towel for the season. Many of the pundits made similar proclamations. They changed their tune, once the Rockets started winning. I, remember, Kenny Smith being giddy about the little Rockets that could :-).
So, yes, the American system loves and promotes stars, because they think that the stars can bring in trophies. So, if Rockets start playing well, and start winning, you may yet see the media jumping in to the bandwagon.
I think it takes a lot of guts to fight the established system with a different philosophy, and with a different attitude. If the Rockets marketing is any smart, they will come up with a marketing message that captures the imagination of the local crowd. Of course, it is a lot challenging to market a concept/attitude than a well known star such as Lebron James. They probably need to hire the marketing team of Apple, which used to market not a product, but an idea – Think Different.
Can the Rockets organization pull it off? I sure hope so.
Kari
however
There is one great thing about having a superstar (beside them being a superstar and all that): superstar calls. All those ticky-tack fouls guys like Kobe and Bron get because they’re so important. Not that Yao ever got any, but still. T-Mac got some, but now we won’t be getting any.
Close game, Rockets up 1, Kobe/LeBron/D-Wade with the ball, my money’s not on the Rockets. Just sayin’.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Strong Roster - Need Center
I think Nitroberg has proposed a very good line-up here:
PG: Brooks/Lowry/Barry
SG: Ariza/Taylor/Barry
SF: Battier/White/Buddinger
PF: Scola/Landry/Hayes
C: NEW SIGNEE or Yao/Hayes/Dorsey
I would also push for trading T-Mac to get a good quality center because we’re going to one.
In the West?
I see this as a lottery team – the gap is only getting larger between the top and bottom teams…and without any semblance of a big 3 (more like medium 10), they won’t be able to compete in the first two months of the season. Once their chemistry comes together, maybe they can make a run in Jan/Feb and beyond, but in the stacked West that’s too late to get hot. I know what you’re thinking – 22 games in a row – but come on.
It’s just sad because this had the potential to be a top 3 team with all their players.
we'll be ok
i’ll let the haters hate i know wat the team is capable of n its a bright future for the rockets if we keep the guys we have n get a solid back up center that we’ve been needing since i dnt know when but hey i hope this year they get it right, but i still dnt understand why i takes Yao to get hurt to get a center bc if we had one we wouldnt be in trouble but know where runnin around like chickens with no heads lookin for a center we shouldve already had!!!!! I blame GM Morey get a center now or ur job is in question????
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Video: Kevin Durant is rapping for real
- Jeremy Lin starts for the Knicks, lives in his brother’s living room, ‘has his own couch’
- Larry Bird would like to team with Kobe for the win, LeBron for the fun
- Will Ferrell will run the player intros at Wednesday’s Bulls/Hornets game
- Seattle is still working hard to get an NBA team, but at what cost to Sacramento?
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
