How Important this was

by Ani Kumar on Feb 4, 2011 6:33 PM CST

I am covering 3 points in this post

1. We all remember and loved Carl Landry!! I was sad for a whole week when I saw that Carl Landry got traded for Kevin Martin in the Tmac trade!! Now I have been thinking why at this time, our record was better last year than it is this year! We have a far better team! Last year we had Aaron Brooks, Chase Budinger, Trevor Ariza, Chuck Hayes, Scola, Landry, David Anderson, Battier, BRIAN COOK, Lowry etc. Now we have a more Badass version of Scola, Aaron Brooks, Chase Budinger, Courtney lee, Jordan Hill, KEVIN MARTIN, Patrick Patterson, Terrance Williams, Brad Miller, Lowry, Battier, Hayes and even Ish Smith and Jarred Jefferies. Same coach, same offense, same GM, same owner and a far higher Payroll! Why cant we do better!!

A. This is the main reason. Rockets cant close this year at all. They are up by double digits and the loose that game! This has happened countless amount of times. This wouldnt happen as often last year because Landry was the most clutch person in the team last year. He was 2nd in the nba in 4th quarter scoring next to Ledouche...i mean lebron james. He could close out games and was a definate candidate in 6th man of the year award. This is why everyone loved him!

B. Injuries! This also goes back to Carl Landry and how he got teeth knocked out and still played hours after his Dental Surgery. However, last years injuries were bad. This year was much much worse.

C. Bad rotations because of too many good players.

D. Brian COOKS LUCKYNESS!!! LOOK HOW THE CLIPPERS ARE DOING!! BRIAN COOK WAS LUCKY (jk)

to change this we have to bring a player who can close out games! a veteran shooter (free agent) who can close out games is the easiest option but not the greatest. (jerry stackhouse)

otherwise we can make a trade but im not proposing anything! easiest option for trade can be jamal crawford!

2. We NEED a defensive center bigger than 6'10! Samuel Dalembert, Javale Mcghee, Marcus Camby, Emeka Okafor are some decent options!!

3. We should trade Yao for teams needing to save money. Hornets, Hawks, Jazz (ewww i know), Bobcats, Nuggets, Kings, Wizards are some options!!

And no more debates on who should run the point, Brooks or Lowry!! just put Battier at t he point!!

Please Comment any thoughts

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.

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Comments

Brian Cook was lucky?

What is this bullshit? Brian Cook was the greatest Rocket to ever put on a jersey, but never got the credit he deserved. That is unlucky to me.

I like the Rockets. The Rockets do not like me.

by Patrick Harrel on Feb 4, 2011 6:47 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

tell em

Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.

by batman713 on Feb 4, 2011 10:22 PM CST up reply actions

my only comment

Is that there were far too many exclamation points in that one. Its kind of like screwin ur ma, sure its fun once or twice but after awhile it just looses its pizazz

by ShookednShanghaied11 on Feb 4, 2011 8:05 PM CST via mobile reply actions

For me

I don’t think that screwin my ma is fun once or twice.

I like the Rockets. The Rockets do not like me.

by Patrick Harrel on Feb 4, 2011 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

how bout thrice?

by ShookednShanghaied11 on Feb 5, 2011 8:14 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

kids these days with their ADD... this felt like you are screaming at us...

I have a 10 week old who is calmer….

I now need a nap.

…but yes, Landry does kick total ass….

by John P on Feb 4, 2011 10:13 PM CST reply actions

Who knows, Landry may resign here.

The problem is, Patterson is supposed to fill the Landry role, and I think he could, if Rick would let him. But about now is the time when Rick finally let Landry out of his cage his rookie year. Patterson has a better shot, and is a better defender and defensive rebounder right now. Landry’s inside game was impeccable, though, as was his offensive rebounding. Patterson isn’t far off, though.

"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."

Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake

by Xiane on Feb 5, 2011 1:59 AM CST reply actions

If you look at

what Carl says about Rick and what he requires from his players, right about now is about as quick as a player should be able to get up to speed. Patterson is a real bright kid, and has more physical tools than Carl had coming in. Remember the training staff increased Carl’s vertical by several inches which helped him immensely. If you look, Pat’s minutes are starting to creep up and I think that will continue.
I think the same thing applies to T-Will. He is further behind the curve getting here mid-year. Also, I am thinking a lot more will be required from him. My guess is he will be something of a point forward with ABZ and another wing. Gives you some interesting match-up possibilities.

by makinmajik on Feb 5, 2011 8:32 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I dnt understand why ppl keep underestimating carl landry. He was a warrior, like u said he played wit his teeth knocked out and he dunked 66 percenyt of his shots.

by sluball3 on Feb 5, 2011 2:23 AM CST reply actions

Please stay away from a computer for another 5 years.

Then you’ll be in high school, which should hopefully improve your grammar and your intelligence.

I’ve said this over and over again. The fourth quarter stat was massively overhyped. It was the result of the fact that as we had a balanced attack, teams didn’t focus nearly as much on Carl as they do on Lebron or Wade. When they did focus on Carl, he didn’t do nearly as well. He played worse in January when teams began to realize the Rockets weren’t pushovers and when they actually focused on him, but we fortunately got rid of him for a guy who is a reasonable All-Star candidate. I like Carl, and I like his toughness, but he is somewhat overrated by Rockets fans because he was so tough.

The Rockets are doing worse this year as opposed to last year really for two reasons:
1. Teams are realizing that the Rockets actually are a threat, and you can’t just walk in, give 50% effort, and expect to win. That’s why we started off hot at the beginning of last season, and then faltered as teams actually began to take us seriously.
2. Brooks has seriously regressed from last year, especially compared to the end of last year. Lowry too, really, since he’s not been so much of a bulldog and at times is acting almost Rafer-esque with the three ball. PG play is important, and while the players are the same, the overall play this year is inferior to last year.

That’s what it comes to. On paper, this team is better than last year’s team, but the fact that teams are taking us more seriously, and that we’re worse at an important position are the reasons for the worse record.

Minnesotan Rockets fan

by Barragan on Feb 5, 2011 11:02 AM CST reply actions

Give me your address

I want to high five you SO bad…

I would mention on the point guard issue we’ve got Brooks who plays better as a player as a starter (Not particularly on any team but as a starter in general for rhythm) and Lowry has fallen in love with his three point shot to damn near Rafer levels.

We all like to talk without much to say...

by BD34 on Feb 5, 2011 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

A fellow Minnesota Rockets fan. Nice to see.

by seanbergmanrules on Feb 5, 2011 6:41 PM CST up reply actions

i really didnt even wanna comment on this post

Because to say carl landrys 4th quarter stat was overhyped is u jst being blind to the fact so u can proove ur point. Do u think professional ball players do not kno wht is goin on in their own league. They kno who the top scorers r in the nba. They kno top rebounderd. They kno who can play. And if carl landry was top five in 4th quarte scoring then it was known amongst the league. So give the man some credit seriously. He was a warrior and he had skill. I would love to have him back in a rockets uniform.

by sluball3 on Feb 6, 2011 9:17 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

No I don't think they know as much as you think they do.

Why should Anderson Varejao care that much about who’s scoring in the 4th quarter on a team he won’t play that often and won’t threaten him in the playoffs? Or Garnett?

Sure, they knew AFTER A WHILE. And then they double teamed him and started playing more aggressive defense on him – teams guarded Landry significantly differently in January compared to December. And then Landry no longer became that leading man.

Wade and Lebron routinely receive double teams and are the significant focus of the other team’s defense. Landry was not, because he is not as good as those players, and because Houston had other players who were just as dangerous. It’s the same difference with the fact that while Monta and Wade have similar stats, only an idiot would argue that they’re comparable players.

Sure, he was tough, and in a vacuum, I wouldn’t mind having him back. But on THIS team, a team that struggles with height, defense, and rebounding, and possesses a player with similar skillsets but much higher upside in Patterson, there is zero interest in having him come back. I view Landry the same way I view Artest – I liked both of them when they were here, and am a fan, but wouldn’t want either one back as they wouldn’t positively impact this team either today or in the future. The Kings committed the mistake of assuming that because Landry was good in the 4th quarter, they could give him more minutes throughout the game and he would still be as good – and so they screwed up to our benefit.

Minnesotan Rockets fan

by Barragan on Feb 6, 2011 12:10 PM CST up reply actions