Those of us who spend our times pretty closely attached to the pro game of basketball have heard from our counterparts in the scouting scene that this year’s upcoming NBA Draft would be the kind that could yield a buffet of possible stars and permanent rotation players, the kind of haul not seen since LeBron and Co. gave about six teams franchise players on one day. The possibility of a pair of picks in the middle of the draft this year appears to be a much more exciting possibility than it may have been a year ago, but only the Knicks’ now-sure-to-be 15th pick can be certainly handed to Houston; a playoff spot, as most readers now know, will confer Houston’s first-rounder to the Nets, thanks to some shoddy Terrence Williams-related decision making (to be fair, most thinking associated with Williams isn’t the best). Adding in the possible Dallas pick (unlikely as it’s top-20-protected, meaning its falling to the Rockets probably won’t happen and, een if it did, would almost certainly necessitate a victory over Houston tonight), that’s three possible first-round picks for one of the league’s premier talent evaluators in one of the best drafts in ages. And why might we pass this up?

Most of us are calling it veteran experience, but what it comes down to is a little bit of hope. This fanbase has seen this story two years in a row, and three might be pushing the resiliency of an already flimsy group of followers (Not you guys. Reading this pretty much negates you from that group). All any of these fans want are a few games in which Houston looks capable against a title contender, a home win or two, a little bit of payoff for all of those stay-at-home Thursday nights that could have been spent relating better to significant others, going out with friends or generally bettering ourselves. Not that this game doesn’t always provide us with something great, but the playoffs… they’re different, and this fanbase knows it.

Just remember, there are options here, and if in late June you find yourself wondering what could have been as Arnett Moultrie or Austin Rivers or Perry Jones slip down the draft board, remember how much fun that one night in May was. As fans, the memories have to be worth as much to us, or what is any of it for?

I play a regular game, twice a week at noon, with some men who are mostly much older (and more financially stable, thus the ability for recreation at noon) than I. Most have played ball at varying levels of competition, from rec leagues to high school to the occasional college guy (one time, Bobby Sura showed up, but that’s not this story). At the moment, there’s a clear paragon among us, a 40-something with a dead-eye jumpshot from anywhere and covered in muscles in places I wish I were less soft. And that guy, well, he’s my size; therefore, when matching up, he and I often find ourselves guarding one another, though describing what he does to me as “guarding” seems to me a liberal application of the word. On the other end, though, I find myself at a loss. Too far back, and he steps up and guns a 30-footer in my face. Too close, and he’s by me, pushing off for any space he didn’t create with his first step. To worsen a maddening confluence of events, the pride within me allowed me to fall into his mind games and shake off help defenders, lying in wait for his impending, bullish charges toward the bucket, either because I knew someone else would inevitably burn us or just so I could make him pay for all of his taunts that my teammates “better give the boy some help”. I found myself almost ready to fight with him the other day, frustrated by the fact that everything I did still routinely ended with me on my back, as he put up another jumper (that usually went in).

Ever the insane person, I finally broke down and went home to study some videos of Shane Battier because that’s what a cartoon character such as myself would do. Immediately, I was reminded of the brilliance required to contain the world’s greatest scorers, with jabsteps that would break my 40-year-old’s knees and fadeaways that don’t get flustered by 7-footers, much less my stubby 6 feet. At first, the skill appears obvious, as the steals and blocks mesmerize and beg the viewer to recall Battier’s greatest hits when guys in the red and yellow could win 22 in a row, even if its ultimate culmination was just some nameless Sunday afternoon game against a badly injured Lakers team. But that first viewing wasn’t why I was watching these; I needed more, something I could use, some semblance of an imitable philosophy to stop what feels like an unstoppable force from simply imposing its will.

That’s when I remembered that Shane Battier’s brilliance never really lied (or lies, lest I write an obituary for a man or his career simply because he played in a different city for half of this past season) in Shane Battier; instead, most of his greatness comes from his ability to blend with, and use for his benefit (and for that of the rest of his brothers in red), his teammates, an innate understanding of where those around him should and would be. Yes, the imposing wall of man that was Yao Ming provided a pretty hefty target to shade unsuspecting (or should I say wholly suspecting) perimeter players toward, but only through brilliant footwork, kindergarten-teacher-like patience and a healthy trust in every single one of his teammates can Battier do the unthinkable, like limit the Kobes and Durants and D-Wades of the world. He goes way under screens, confident his partners in crime will be there waiting, denying what can’t be permitted. Despite the myriad ball fakes and misdirections of the eye thrown his way, Battier stays true and always contests without leaving his feet, at least until he’s sure, in that split-second available, that the demi-god he’s likely got to shadow around that particular night has committed first. In his brilliance, so much goodness can be gleaned, even verging on virtue.

In Shane Battier’s defense, we learn trust, commitment, solidarity, oneness. That D is like a Buddhist prayer, quietly acknowledging how little we can control but still trying to make the most of what we can. Trading Shane Battier appeared a necessary evil for the Rockets at the mid-point this year, and it was a deal I whole-heartedly supported, even if that heart was being broken by doing so. Still, just watching those videos reminded me why I so desperately want the Rockets to throw their first bit of post-lockout free agent cash his way. Not just because of his defense, or presence on the team; I’ve always secretly kind of hoped he’d go on to take a larger role with the team, to go all Obi-Wan and become more powerful than any of us could ever imagine. Maybe he’d be a coach, maybe a GM (I’m sure Daryl Morey would approve so long as it didn’t put him out of work personally. Morey and Battier’s beliefs in a cohesive unit’s success seem somewhat akin, especially given that Battier and Morey both seem to be more reactive than grounded in any one, stifling philosophy), although Battier’s breadth of knowledge and general well roundedness never boded well for his likelihood of being so deeply involved with the game after his retirement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tihuetXMG8U

Maybe, just maybe though, he could teach us all his secrets, though. Except for, while digging through videos trying to scrounge up some more material to use for my own selfish (and ridiculous) purposes, I heard from Shane’s own mouth that there is no secret to defense, just will and effort. Such platitudes generally run off the backs of sports fans so inured to the endless recitations of the athlete’s selfless coda, but out of Battier’s mouth, these things resonate. Just try harder, be smarter, care more, and you’ll be better.

After playing our normal six or seven games the other day (my playing mates’ older bodies rarely hold up to much more, and my own doughy corpse gladly accepts the layoff), one of my teammates came up to me and said of my failed attempt to stop my 40-something tormentor, “You know, you were reaching way too often. He wasn’t fouling you; he was being smarter than you and waiting for you to screw up before attacking your body when you left it vulnerable.” I knew this, even if I didn’t want to admit it. The next time I step pout there, though, Battier’s words, as empty as they would have been from almost anyone else, will ring in my head. There are no secrets, just will and effort. Stay true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMSEHzzc0TE

While the Rockets have seen their fair share of Hall-of-Famers and HOF-types stomp through town, no star left quite the indelible mark of Olajuwon. Calvin Murphy was a fine talent, but never the kind of franchise player that could elevate an entire team to greatness. Moses Malone probably has a few too many stamps on his frequent-flyer card to count Houston as his home solely because he once dragged them on his hulking shoulders to a laugher of a Finals appearance in 1981. Charles Barkley probably doesn’t even take calls from Les Alexander anymore. And Clyde Drexler, as many barbeque spots as he may open in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area or embarrassing stints as the coach of the University of Houston, this city can’t rightfully claim his legacy, as it belongs in the Pacific Northwest.

No, Hakeem Olajuwon stands alone in Rockets history (and, hell, Houston sports history) as the solemn, venerable titan of the franchise, so making sure that his name remains in the tossing about of the Abdul-Jabbars and O’Neals is of preeminent concern to those associated with the red & yellow. Sad then that instead of being bandied about with those GOAT-types, the genuinely strange arc of Olajuwon’s career (Finals appearance, long stretch as insolent superstar keeping ragtag crew together, UNMITIGATED GLORY, fade to black) and the even more peculiar skillset of his have left that legacy completely up for debate, a subject actually quite made for those aimless shout matches on AM radio.

Describing Olajuwon’s game, as with most greats of his ilk, devolves into a string of superlatives. His versatility on the offensive end of the floor may never be seen again (a fact evidenced by the fact that he is one of four NBA players to ever post a quadruple-double, and even had another one that was later rescinded by NBA officials who disputed one of the assists). He was at once the greatest post operator of his time, while still possessing one of the most impressive inside-out games in league history, much less in 6’10″ men history. Unlike other centers, he could, and often did, begin his attack from well outside the paint, facing up unprepared seven-footers, never quite ready for the move (or nine) he was ready to reveal. Perhaps most fearsome of his offensive game was the mere fact that when the defense did everything right, denying him and his infinite touch the chance to get to the rim or an outright open shot, he would seemingly fade into a miserable turnaround jumper that just so happened to be his pet move, the Dream Shake. On defense? He propped up decades of mediocre Rockets perimeter defenders (Kenny Smith, Sam Cassell, an antique Drexler) with his nose for the ball, eventually rising up to be the statistical leader in blocked shots in NBA history. Distinguishing himself at almost all aspects of the forgotten end of the court, Olajuwon further distinguished himself by being the only player above the height of 6’8″ to find himself on the top 10 leaderboard in steals.

Paragraphs like the former essentially write themselves when talking about all-time greats, but at some point, the fawning ends, and the ridiculous urge to know just how good develops, which of course means, “How good was he when compared to everyone else?” Well, given the lacking credentials, even putting his name up there with Russell, Wilt and Alcindor seems heresy, but that next tier of greatness seems about right. Still, I’m not so much as interested in actually trying to really put this into list form, but simply to reveal the wistful bias that time elapsed and nostalgia can produce. One of the prime reasons fans and advocates of Dream stand by the claim that he was, if not the greatest pivot of all-time, at least the greatest of his time is that he went toe-to-toe with the vast majority of his contemporaries in the playoffs and, particularly during the Rockets’ two title runs, handed them all their heads. Ewing, Robinson, O’Neal- all were slayed by the Nigerian man with the soft touch. Because of this, Olajuwon’s superiority to those of his time, particularly Robinson and Ewing, is just assumed thanks to his victory of the head-to-head battle; however, when measured fairly, Robinson’s numbers in specific serve as a stark counterpoint to that particular line of logic. When comparing career-long offensive output, the argument ceases to exist: Robinson was the superior regular season baller, posting highs in PER that Dream never sniffs (30.7, 31, 29.4 and 29.1, whereas Hakeem tops off with 27.3 in 92-93. For those without context, Robinson’s numbers are positively Jordan-like, and the only player to top him in league-wide PER in any of those years was, you guessed, Mike himself) along with superior true shooting and effective field goal percentages throughout the careers of both. Some of that could be attributed to Olajuwon’s career-wide usage rate advantage over Robinson, which would of course lead to greater inefficiency, but the diffferential in usage rates over their careers is but 0.9 percentage points. With only that slight difference in use of possessions, Robinson still managed to post ridiculous offensive ratings (as did Dream, just slightly less ridiculous); the real kicker, though, is the difference in the numbers created by The Wages of Wins author Dave Berri, whose Offensive Win Shares and Overall Win Shares numbers paint a portrait of Olajuwon as a perennial All-Star… and Robinson as a god. Robinson lead the league in Win Shares per 48 minutes played in five seasons in his career, though only in one season that Jordan played, while Olajuwon never comes near their dominance according to Berri’s stats.

While some would take this moment to point out the defensive contributions that Olajuwon made that Robinson simply couldn’t have, the numbers also betray Dream in this regard. Their overall block and steal rates are disarmingly similar, and while Olajuwon eclipses Robinson in Defensive Win Shares by a great deal over their respective careers, individual defensive rating favors Robinson. Most advanced statistics still haven’t fully captured the impact that players like Olajuwon and Robinson have on a team-wide defense, acting as the last line of help for a Mario Elie that got broken off the dribble or an unsure-footed Vinny Del Negro, so comparing team defensive efficiency can generate a somewhat clearer image of the kinds of defensive mavens both were. Even those statistics contradict Dream’s legacy, as his teams ranked among the league’s five-best defenses eight out of his first ten years in the league, but Robinson led his Spurs to league’s best defense four times in his first ten years in the league, as well as one of the league’s five-best defenses for seven years out of that decade (in all fairness, the Spurs led the league in defense featured teams led by defensive geniuses Larry Brown and Gregg Popovich in those four years of league-leading defense, as well as another young defensive-minded big man by the name of Tim Duncan, who also may have hop-skipped both Dream and Robinson in this all-timers debate, helping Robinson for those last couple of years to hold down the paint).

In fact, stats never tend to favor Hakeem in this debate, except for one glaring exception: playoff numbers, particularly those of Olajuwon and Robinson’s much ballyhooed matchup against one another in the 1995 Wesertn Conference Finals. In that series, Olajuwon elevated himself to the levels of sublimity that have created this vaunted image in recent years, outscoring Robinson 35 points a game to 23 and even outrebounding the year’s MVP, while shooting a 56% clip throughout the whole thing. Overall playoff numbers tend to favor Dream as well, as he has higher overall PER, offensive rating and even Win Share stats. The playoffs crafted the hazy, almost mythical representation that most ardent Hakeem followers hold today, and it would only make sense that it would be there, when the games mattered most, where Olajuwon would earn his statistical victories over Robinson and the rest of his contemporaries.

By writing this, I had no intentions of iconoclasm, simply a little air-letting in the sails of Olajuwon that can get so puffed up after 15 years of post-title trauma for Rockets fans. Because of this, so often do we as fans find ourselves creating a tall tale out of what, in and of itself, was already beautiful and unthinkable. When a gorgeous myth starts to steal part of the mind-numbing greatness of reality, we have to look back and remember what made us care in the first place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8CdhxScrV0

More of this type of nonsense can be read by following @JacobMustafa on Twitter or Throat Sung on tumblr.

But one of the more interesting similarities almost every player on the team shares came to me hours after that article was posted. The similarity I speak of is powerful enough to form a bond between all those who share it; strong enough to either shatter a man’s psyche or motivate him further than even he knew was previously possible. What I speak of is doubt. Doubt that’s relentless and constant. Doubt that attempts to cut a player at his knees before he’s able to stand.

At least six players expected to suit up for Houston next year have been left for dead in this league. Traded to the Rockets by organizations that had either given up or lost faith in their abilities and forgotten why they had been acquired in the first place. These players are Kyle Lowry, Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Jordan Hill, Terrence Williams, and Courtney Lee. (We aren’t counting Kevin Martin even though he came out of a small school, has been discarded from a rebuilding plan in Sacramento, and might be the most underrated player in basketball.)

Using Basketball-Reference to identify their various transaction histories, let’s break each player’s past down in an attempt to see why they were slept on, why it’s reasonable for their mental state to resemble a Faberge egg, and whether or not they have enough in them to right their inner ship and contribute towards a winning effort in Houston.

Kyle Lowry. Age 25. Drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 2006 NBA Draft. As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets; the Houston Rockets traded Rafer Alston to the Orlando Magic; the Orlando Magic traded Brian Cook to the Houston Rockets; and the Orlando Magic traded Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks and a 2009 1st round draft pick (DeMarre Carroll) to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Years of Experience: Five

Since entering the league half a decade ago, Kyle Lowry was pegged as a career-long backup, someone who could enter a game and give his coach 20 solid minutes at the point guard position, harassing opponents with bull dog defensive tenacity and a solid ability to score. With a revolving door of has-beens and hopeful investments coming in and out of the Grizzlies organization at point guard, Lowry was never given a legitimate opportunity to grab the helm. Guys like Juan Carlos Navarro, Allen Iverson, Damon Stoudemire, and Mike Conley Jr. caused a circuit overload of sorts until Conley Jr. was selected as the man moving forward. Lowry was shipped to the Rockets, where an equally eager to please Aaron Brooks sat in waiting.

What Lowry has become since moving to Houston, is a full-time starter and the brightest light on this list. Lowry’s ability on defense was understated coming into the league. Among those who stand below 6’3″ he’s now considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the entire league. Last year he ripped the full-time starter position from Aaron Brooks, allowing the Rockets to move Brooks and acquire Goran Dragic (a League Pass favorite) and Phoenix’s first round pick (which eventually became Nikola Mirotic). Along with Martin, Lowry completes the league’s most under appreciated backcourt, and if he can continue his ascension towards placing himself among the league’s point guard elite, Houston could have one of the game’s most important positions all set for the next three-five years.

Hasheem Thabeet. Age 24. Drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 1st round (2nd pick) of the 2009 NBA Draft. Traded by the Memphis Grizzlies with DeMarre Carroll and a future 1st round draft pick to the Houston Rockets for Shane Battier and Ishmael Smith.

YOE: Two

The most polarizing player in the whole division, the best/worst case scenarios for how Thabeet’s career will play out from this day on are so widely separated it’s impossible to say where he’ll end up. He’s started 13 games in his career, clearly incapable of taking the pressure that developed with being named the second most worthy person to enter the most prestigious basketball league in the world a couple years ago.

The Grizzlies were willing to part with a first round draft pick in order to lose Thabeet. That stings. Looking back can only do further damage, and the 24-year-old has been granted a fresh start on a hungry team. Here are two possible roads he can spend the next few years driving down.

Best Case Scenario: Starting today, Thabeet sits in front of a television, tapes his eyelids to his forehead, and absorbs countless hours of Dikembe Mutombo footage. He then willingly digs into a role as the team’s last line of defense, blocking shots and serving as a life preserve for perimeter defending teammates who used to feel like they were stuck on an island. Thabeet completely forgets about the offensive end and pushes himself to solely focusing on preventing the other team from scoring. Thabeet is a perennial league leader in blocked shots and consistently earns votes for Defensive Player of the Year. He’s twice awarded as starting center for the NBA’s All-Defensive Third Team.

Worst Case Scenario: Michael Olowokandi, only not quite good enough to bounce around the league. Like a dog relieving himself on a burned out car, Thabeet marks his territory as the best center in D-League history.

Jonny Flynn. Age 22. Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1st round (6th pick) of the 2009 NBA Draft. Traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves with Donatas Motiejunas and a future 2nd round draft pick to the Houston Rockets for Brad Miller, Chandler Parsons, Nikola Mirotic and a future 1st round draft pick.

YOE: Two

Everything about Jonny Flynn is intriguing: The fact that he had to be dealt from Minnesota in order to make room for Ricky Rubio; the way people gave up on him before he had the chance to prove anything, both ways. Flynn was disrespected by Minnesota, told Rubio was the point guard of the future before the Spaniard had played a minute. Flynn is good enough to start in this league which is why he was drafted so high. He has great vision, handle, and plays the game with the right balance of raw emotion and unruffled demeanor. Right now, though, he’s stuck behind Kyle Lowry on Houston’s depth chart. His role on the team next year could be limited one, or it could be him outplaying Lowry and grabbing hold a share of the starter’s well deserved minutes.

Flynn is one of the bigger question marks in the league, but with Lowry and Dragic on board, he’s an affordable one who could emerge as one of Daryl Morey’s smartest acquisitions.

Courtney Lee. Age 25. Drafted by the Orlando Magic in the 1st round (22nd pick) of the 2008 NBA Draft. Traded by the Orlando Magic with Rafer Alston and Tony Battie to the New Jersey Nets for Ryan Anderson and Vince Carter. As part of a 4-team trade, traded by the New Jersey Nets to the Houston Rockets; the Houston Rockets traded Trevor Ariza to the New Orleans Hornets; the Indiana Pacers traded Troy Murphy to the New Jersey Nets; and the New Orleans Hornets traded Darren Collison and James Posey to the Indiana Pacers.

YOE: Three

It was there, on the tips of his fingers. Off one of the greatest side inbound plays Stan Van Gundy has ever created, Courtney Lee could’ve been basketball’s big hero. He could’ve swung the tides of a Finals series that was much closer than the 5 games indicate. But nope. The rookie missed, LA won, and Lee was shipped up to New Jersey as the central piece in a deal for Vince Carter. Huge bummer. Then just as he’s getting his feet wet in the Jersey swamps, Lee gets a call that he’s going to Houston in a four team deal. Jersey wanted cap space (Troy Murphy’s contract) and Lee didn’t factor in with that whole “getting LeBron James” game plan. In his first season in Houston, Lee saw improvements in almost all of the major per 36 minute statistics. His three-point percentage jumped from 33.8% to 40.8% while attempting just one fewer per game than his year with the Nets. By all accounts Lee is a solid overall player, a flexible cog on a unit that would like to compete for more than playoff berths. Let’s hope next time he takes it a little lower off the glass.

Jordan Hill. Age 24. Drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1st round (8th pick) of the 2009 NBA Draft. As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the New York Knicks with Jared Jeffries and a future 1st round draft pick to the Houston Rockets; the Houston Rockets traded Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks; the Houston Rockets traded Joey Dorsey and Carl Landry to the Sacramento Kings; the New York Knicks traded Larry Hughes to the Sacramento Kings; the Sacramento Kings traded Hilton Armstrong and Kevin Martin to the Houston Rockets; and the Sacramento Kings traded Sergio Rodriguez to the New York Knicks. Houston had the right to swap 1st round draft picks with New York in 2011 but did not do so.

YOE: Two

Jordan Hill was, perhaps, unfairly selected as high as he was, by a team that should’ve been looking elsewhere in the first place. He is not, and will never be, an All-Star caliber force. Similar to Courtney Lee, he was discarded in an attempt to move salary space around and eventually acquire LeBron James. He’s one of the largest players on the team, which is obviously valuable. However out of all the players here, Hill might have the steepest climb ahead. The expectations remain low.

Terrence Williams. Age 24. Drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 2009 NBA Draft. As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the New Jersey Nets to the Houston Rockets; the Houston Rockets traded Sergei Lishouk to the Los Angeles Lakers; the Houston Rockets traded a 2012 1st round draft pick to the New Jersey Nets; the Los Angeles Lakers traded Sasha Vujacic and a 2011 1st round draft pick (JuJuan Johnson) to the New Jersey Nets; and the New Jersey Nets traded Joe Smith, a 2011 2nd round draft pick (Darius Morris) and a 2012 2nd round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers.

YOE: Two

The NBA is filled with ridiculous athletes capable of fulfilling myriad duties. Terrence Williams is one of those ridiculous athletes. A superstar who seemed capable of doing just about everything at Louisville, scouts feared Williams’ wide ranging abilities wouldn’t translate to a league that favors specialists. The jury is out as to whether or not that assessment is correct or not, but when a player selected 11th overall in the NBA draft by a team looking for youthful athletes looks to deal said youthful athlete before 100 games are played, something’s up. Williams was never projected to continue his “man amongst boys” level of collegiate dominance upon entering the NBA, but he still has the physical tools to lock down defensively and spring highlight after highlight on an unsuspecting big man’s head.

Once acquired, Williams wasn’t exactly the apple in Rick Adelman’s eye. With Kevin McHale on board and looking to inject new life on the defensive end, Williams may have found a nice little role for himself on a team that’s hopefully on the rise.

So, what we have here are six players selected in the top 25 of their respective draft—including four of 2009′s top 11 picks—nobody older than 25, and, apart from Kyle Lowry, nobody who’s spent more than two years playing for the same team. Hill, Flynn, and Thabeet (a combined six years of NBA experience between them) have all already been labeled busts, and it’s of popular belief that Lee may have hit a road block on a career that looked all the more promising a couple years ago.

Walking up and down the aisles of the NBA’s roster placement super store, this is an unusual collection of talent Daryl Morey has assembled. Most of these guys had a bright red tag on their forehead, marked down as unwanted products that just needed to get off the shelf. Buying low isn’t a bad economic strategy, but can only pay off if one of the players turns out to be worth the investment. Where we stand right now, Houston looks to possess a few who, if properly motivated and placed in the correct role, are talented enough to do just that.

Twitter: @ShakyAnkles

Last week’s draft filled in the missing pieces of those trades, allowing for evaluation:

From the Battier trade came Hasheem Thabeet and Memphis’ 2013 pick.

From the Brooks trade came Goran Dragic and the #23 pick in this year’s draft.

The team traded the #23 and the Memphis pick for this year’s #20 (selecting Donatas Motiejunas), Minnesota’s 2nd round pick in 2012, Jonny Flynn (the #6 overall pick in 2009), and the opportunity to dump the remaining $10million on Brad Miller’s contract.

If you’re still following along, Daryl Morey essentially traded half a season of Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier for Goran Dragic, Hasheem Thabeet, Donatas Motiejunas, Jonny Flynn, a likely high 2nd rounder, and some cap relief by expunging the poison pill that was Brad Miller’s contract.

Regardless of whether Thabeet ever pans out (he likely will not), the timeline above is yet another example of Morey creating assets out of nothing.  Had he complacently held on to Battier and Brooks, the team would have less talent in the pipeline, would have lost Battier for nothing, and likely would have been forced to overpay to retain the restricted Brooks [the point guard was expected to command at least $8million annually; the comparably productive Dragic is on the books for only $2million next season] or lost him outright as well.

That’s smart management and the Rockets’ future is brighter because of it.

The Rockets have long been considered a less lovable Portland, the perennial “contender” beset by bad luck, broken bones and mediocrity. To the vast majority of the world, the face of the Houston Rockets still stands 7’6″ above ground, usually with some sort of walking boot. For those people, and obviously by “those people” I mean “most people”, their perception of Houston likely won’t change until the Rockets make themselves relevant to the mainstream media again through a high-profile trade or lurid scandal (or maybe even by that least interesting of PR tricks, actual winning). Still, for all those that can’t keep up with the goings-on of the Rockets on a nightly basis, what represents Rockets basketball? Is it Chuck Hayes and last year’s collection of midnight warriors, readily dropping teams with sheer effort if the opposition planned on sleepwalking through a game? Perhaps the Rockets’ image is that of the flaccid jump-shooters that lack the ability to get a stop even in the most dire of situations, holding a not-as-bad-as-their-record-would-indicate point differential because they just can’t come through in the clutch? Maybe, just maybe, the Rockets are really that new hotness, the second-best team in the league since the All-Star break boasting its best offense and an ever-improving chemistry within its ranks?

If image means everything, than the Rockets just might not be about anything, and while this seems like a non-problem, the Rockets’ lack of a public image stems not just from a dearth of marketable faces, names and games: it’s also just uncertainty. What is this team about? As captivating as this post-ASG tear has been, calling the progress that has been made some sort of framework from which the beautiful butterfly the Rockets soon hope to be will emerge seems disingenuous (and weird. Way to use those metaphors, me). Will the Rockets forever pour in the points, whipping the ball around the court in the name of gestalt and scores in the 100′s? Perhaps the insane rate of efficiency with which Houston’s currently working is simply a symptom of the current squad’s newness, as there is little to scout on a team that’s basically been playing together for two months (hmm… this feels oddly familiar). Camaraderie’s been known to make pals ball way over their heads, even a couple of months at a time. There’s always the greatest fear: that this could all just be a product of that dreaded variable hot shooting, as fickle as a toddler choosing a Baskin Robbins flavor.

Because no one else knows what the Rockets are, neither do (or will) they. Maybe after an offseason of fighting for certain CBA adjustments or free-agency or a draft (stuffed with wing players, almost on cue for a team that’s likely due some tinkering at the 3), all will be settled. Futures will be secure, and we’ll all rest in our knowledge of the Rockets’ imminent triumph/doom. Until then though, the Rockets hope to keep leaving us all guessing, since the most surprising thing of all has been all of this winning.

Amazing run for the players & coaches - since 2/24 we have been 11-4 w/the best offense & 11th best defense (5th off/23rd def prior to 2/24)

March 29, 2011 8:27 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@dmorey

Daryl Morey

Something to which some thought should be given.  It’s been said by Morey himself that, requisite to contention are both a top 10 offense and a top 10 defense.  This team has achieved both distinctions since the deadline.

Can they reproduce those efforts over the course of an entire year?

The other thing which seems to make Martin so unique is his pattern of development. To the consternation of basketball coaches, trainers and analysts, free throw shooting is a skill which tends to stay fairly static over time. Over the past ten seasons the league average FT% has never dropped below 75.2%, and never risen above 77.1%. Over the course of a player’s career their FT% tends to stay fairly similar as well.

Despite entering the league as a very good free throw shooter, Martin has seen his FT% rise substantially. He shot 81.7% his last season at Western Carolina but just 65.5% as an NBA rookie. Even if we dismiss his rookie season as a blip we still see steady improvement. He’s increased his FT% almost every season, and is shooting 89.0% from the stripe this year. Even more impressive is he’s done that while substantially increasing his number of attempts. As a rookie, Martin averaged 4.4 FTA/36. This season he’s averaging 9.6.

While the first part of Levy’s article gives a very thorough, thoughtful take on how good Martin’s free throw shooting has been in comparison to the NBA’s elite (quite frankly, he is among them in terms of free throw shooting), this idea that Martin has worked on a skill so easily taken for granted, a skill that he has already near-mastered, evokes as much hope for Martin and the Rockets’ future for me as much as any string of post-All-Star wins could. Martin seems, to Rockets fans, to not quite embody the vision of a Houston Rocket that has been so ably embodied by Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry and Shane Battier over the last few years, making his fit here so dependent on his nightly production.

Most of that incongruity with Martin and the vague notion of Rocket-ness has to do with Martin’s seeming non-effort (or at least utter incompetence) on the defensive end of the floor, yet the mind-numbing amount of work that this man has put into such a vital, unappreciated skill such as free throw shooting evokes a completely different image of Kevin Martin, that of a physically limited player who has turned his greatest skills into even better ones through diligence and patience. Martin actually echoes Luis Scola as an offensive stalwart who has decided to curb the negative effects of his, or their, defensive deficiencies by becoming much greater forces on the offensive end. In this, Martin actually becomes the ideal “Rocket”, a veritable bastion of hard work and overcompensation.

Even that new level of accessibility for Martin is not what most gives my spine a tingle here; instead, I like then idea that Kevin Martin improved a talent that supposedly cannot be improved beyond a certain level of development in an NBA career. This either means that Daryl Morey has picked the kinds of players that will continue to elevate their games long after most are expected to have plateaued, or that he has an eye for developing, older talents, those players who might be ready for a career renaissance long after their peers are comfortably filling their roles around the league. Either concept bodes well for the Rockets, its management and Martin’s future, as they should; who else expected any of them to keep getting better at this point?

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned center Hasheem Thabeet to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Thabeet, who is the third Rockets player to be assigned to the Vipers this season, also averaged 13.8 points, 11.2 boards and 3.17 blocks in six games (four starts) with the NBA D-League Dakota Wizards in 2009-10.

To be very honest, Hasheem Thabeet probably won’t ever be a very good NBA player. He also factors in little, if at all, in the Rockets’ current playoff push, so his departure to the Vipers, especially in a week in which there will only be a couple of games, makes perfect sense as both a personnel move (in Thabeet’s roster spot, most common Rockets retread Mike Harris will suit up in the ketchup and mustard) and a developmental one for the still raw-as-Medellin Thabeet. Still, I can’t help but wonder if, had the Rockets not begun the improbable run they now actually appear capable of realizing, the team would not have done well for its own future had it not already left Thabeet and similar boom/bust prospect Terence Williams on the proverbial back burner, leaving Thabeet limp and disengaged while Williams simply continues to simmer until another meltdown.

Given Chase Budinger’s recent injury, minutes will likely be up for grabs in his wake, yet does there seem a thing less improbable than Williams, the obvious reinforcement at the wing, cracking Rick Adelman’s rotation as the team scrapes to get into the playoffs? Courtney Lee ably filled Budinger’s spot in Sunday’s game against the Jazz in which Budinger’s ankle went to bits, and he’ll likely do so in the interim. Lee’s a fine player, a defensive-minded do-everything sort that can occasionally light it up from deep, but his potential doesn’t even scratch the surface of Williams’, whose ability to create shots for himself and teammates has no rival on this team (except maybe NBA Western Conference Player of the Week Kyle Lowry).

I know these kids look dumb and completely ill-prepared, and that’s because they are; however, Adelman seemed to have no interest in seeing what he could develop in either of them, as is and was his right as this team’s coach on the last year of his contract. Still, the Rockets gave up valuable assets to acquire both of those numbskulls; as a Rockets devotee, I feel silly about the chance that both could flame out so quietly. Not because they should have been better (both have “bust” engraved in their general auras), but because no even tried.

One more thing from Rox practice: Jermaine Taylor in rotation, Ish Smith out. Courtney Lee backup point.

December 6, 2010 2:12 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite

@Jonathan_Feigen

Jonathan Feigen

EDIT: I filed this under “Food for Thought” as on initial read, I assumed Jonathan just meant that in scrimmage, Ish Smith did not play with Jermaine Taylor taking his spot with the backups.  On second pass, this looks like a report in which case, this is actually news and relatively important.

If JT is really getting a chance, I’m glad and I hope he can make the best of it.  I’ve been impressed by his play since last season.

EDIT II: Given the timing of this, I wonder how much of it relates to Lee’s play down the stretch in Chicago, defending the ’1′. With Ish’s play tailing off of late, and Lee having been a bit shaky offensively to this point, perhaps the desire is to try Lee as the defensive half of the backup combo with Taylor taking his place as the offensive half?

EDIT III: Since they’re basically running the offense through Brad Miller these days, why not just shore up the perimeter ‘D’ with Courtney at point?

Another ten assists tonight for Kyle Lowry.  Via 82games, on jump shots, Lowry has a eFG% this year of 22%.  Yikes!  (By comparison, Aaron Brooks is at 44%.)

As I’ve said since last season, I’ve never quite understood how a player who is close to elite (yes–check the stats–Lowry is near elite for a point guard in nearly every other statistical category) at every other facet of his game hasn’t taken the time to develop his jumpshot.

Rockets 5-man units

via 82games, the Rockets’ top 5-man unit, overall, has been the one featuring Lowry-Martin-Battier-Scola-Miller with a +/- of +22.  Replacing Miller with Hayes has produced a +2 overall, though that lineup has been much stingier, predictably, on the defensive end.

• Opposing point guards are shooting 45% against the Rockets, good for 26th in the league.
• Opposing shooting guards are shooting 44% against us, good for 19th.
• Opposing small forwards are shooting 47% against the Rockets, good for near-last at 28th in the league.
• Opposing power forwards are shooting 50% against the Rockets, good for 25th in the league.
• Opposing centers are shooting 52% against the Rockets, good for 20th in the league.

Frightening numbers.

EDIT: Thanks to a reader for pointing out that the numbers above are actually for the 2009-2010 season.  Here are this season’s numbers.  The difference in the small forward and power forward numbers stand out immediately.

• Opposing point guards are shooting 46% against the Rockets, good for 26th in the league.
• Opposing shooting guards are shooting 45% against us, good for 18th.
• Opposing small forwards are shooting 43% against the Rockets, good for 10th in the league.
• Opposing power forwards are shooting 47% against the Rockets, good for 9th in the league.
• Opposing centers are shooting 52% against the Rockets, good for 20th in the league.

I do feel that given Lowry’s inability to score and create, he is a bad fit next to Battier in the lineup.  But thinking long-term, with Shane most likely not part of the future (at least as the starter), I just still feel Lowry’s passing and playmaking gives this team the best chance to win big, especially at his pricetag.  One thing is clear, with the play of Ish Smith, it’s not likely that both Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry will be a part of Houston’s future at point guard.

As we know, Yao went down at the end of Game 3.  Look at the divide in Artest’s numbers between the first 3 games of the series, and the last 4.

I then looked on 82games.com and was not surprised to see that Yao-Artest was the player-pair team leader for the Houston Rockets in 2008-2009.

So while the duo of Ron Artest and Yao Ming led all Houston Rockets duos in production, the Lakers series indicates that much of Artest’s production may have been positively impacted by the presence of Yao Ming.

I already thought it was a no-brainer to let Artest walk.  He’s on the wrong side of 30 and too wildly indisciplined for my taste.  But some of the numbers seem to confirm that he isn’t the ‘standalone star’ that he has been made out to be.

Courtesy of 82games, we take another look at the Houston Rockets’ top five-man floor units.  The second column, Off, gives each unit’s points per possession.  It comes as no surprise that Kyle Lowry, Chase Budinger, and Carl Landry are all part of the team’s top two offensive units, thus far.

The fourth column, +/-, gives the team net points for the unit.  The quintet of Aaron Brooks, Lowry, Budinger, Landry, and David Andersen has by far the highest.  Take this for what it’s worth as the +/- is unadjusted – this doesn’t mean this unit is necessarily the best, but just that they have produced the most efficiently up to this point against their competition.