Mario Peña

There are not many playoff teams the Rockets shouldn't run with but I think the Mavs have the personnel to out run and out gun Harden and company. Rockets need to control the boards, slow the tempo and use Johnson in the first half to tire and abuse Berea while preserving Terry/Prigioni for the second half.

Yao versus the Spurs that year was unstoppable on both ends and Bynum would have been schooled. Sloan had the perfect team with his jump shooting center, Williams as the penetrator which lead Yao to take on a role many centers would have had problems with, a quick and strong midrange shooting (with a high arching shot) power forward in his prime. To me it wasn't on Yao that much as much as it was on the superior roster construction of the Jazz not that the Rockets was bad but at that time the Jazz were a well oiled machine.

 

Also, I do agree with you on Yao and his ref game. He was too nice and it was not in his cultural background to argue with refs perhaps, who knows. Maybe Yao played the game as it ideally should have been played with not much aggressive lobbying of refs but in the real world that's how the NBA works and as was often the case the realities of this world caught up to Yao unfortunately.

 

I was and still am a Yao fan so take that for what it's worth. I was never a McGrady fan.

johnnygold your video (and that game) reminds me of how little respect Yao got from refs. I usually don't complain about the refs but even from what you posted I see bad calls that haunted me for days after that (as did the shots I downed that night, if memory serves me right I was at Doc's on Congress)...

 

That was just a bad matchup and the Lakers, Dallas and even the Spurs might have been better for Yao in a seven game series.

Maybe Harden was sending James a message as in "you better not even think about holding me down like you did Pat!" Harden is the toughest superstar we have had since Dream.

Come on now Rahat, a reader? I've been a forum moderator a relatively long time.

ROUND 1

1 LeBron James, Cle SF P Chill Cutters

2 James Harden, Hou SG Club Aguada

3 Anthony Davis, Nor PF I am Moreyballsy *****Traded to Atletico San Pancho

4 Kevin Durant*, OKC SF   Da Clubbers

5 Stephen Curry, GS PG PAT MAN

6 Russell Westbrook, OKC PG Team Fenn

7 Chris Paul, LAC PG Atletico San Pancho *****Traded to I am Moreyballsy

8 Carmelo Anthony, NY SF Team Couey

9 Blake Griffin, LAC PF The Defenestrators

10 John Wall, Wsh PG Team Stanton

 

ROUND 2

11 DeMarcus Cousins, Sac C Team Stanton

12 Damian Lillard, Por PG The Defenestrators

13 LaMarcus Aldridge, Por PF Team Couey

14 Kevin Love, Cle PF Atletico San Pancho *****Traded to I am Moreyballsy

15 Serge Ibaka, OKC PF Team Fenn

16 Andre Drummond, Det C PAT MAN

17 Kawhi Leonard, SA SF   Da Clubbers

18 Chris Bosh, Mia C I am Moreyballsy

19 Nicolas Batum, Por SF Club Aguada

20 Kyrie Irving, Cle PG P Chill Cutters

 

ROUND 3

21 Dwight Howard, Hou C P Chill Cutters

22 Joakim Noah, Chi C Club Aguada

23 Al Jefferson, Cha C I am Moreyballsy *****Traded to Atletico San Pancho

24 Paul Millsap, Atl PF   Da Clubbers

25 DeAndre Jordan, LAC C PAT MAN

26 Marc Gasol, Mem C Team Fenn

27 Mike Conley, Mem PG Atletico San Pancho *****Traded to Team Couey

28 Ty Lawson, Den PG Team Couey

29 Al Horford, Atl C The Defenestrators

30 Dirk Nowitzki, Dal PF Team Stanton

 

ROUND 4

31 Kyle Lowry*, Tor PG Team Stanton

32 Klay Thompson, GS SG The Defenestrators

33 Derrick Rose, Chi PG Team Couey *****Traded to Atletico San Pancho

34 Kobe Bryant, LAL SG Atletico San Pancho

35 Monta Ellis, Dal SG Team Fenn

36 Ricky Rubio, Min PG PAT MAN

37 Nikola Vucevic, Orl C   Da Clubbers

38 Goran Dragic, Pho PG I am Moreyballsy

39 Kenneth Faried, Den PF Club Aguada

40 Gordon Hayward, Uta SG P Chill Cutters

 

ROUND 5

41 Rudy Gay, Sac SF P Chill Cutters

42 Rajon Rondo*, Bos PG Club Aguada

43 DeMar DeRozan, Tor SG I am Moreyballsy

44 Jabari Parker, Mil SF   Da Clubbers

45 Eric Bledsoe, Pho PG PAT MAN

46 Derrick Favors, Uta PF Team Fenn

47 Michael Carter-Williams*, Phi PG Atletico San Pancho

48 Wesley Matthews, Por SG Team Couey *****Traded to Atletico San Pancho

49 Chandler Parsons, Dal SF The Defenestrators

50 Kemba Walker, Cha PG Team Stanton

 

ROUND 6

51 Brook Lopez, Bkn C Team Stanton

52 David Lee, GS PF The Defenestrators

53 Josh Smith, Det SF Team Couey

54 Thaddeus Young, Min SF Atletico San Pancho *****Traded to Team Couey

55 Dwyane Wade, Mia SG Team Fenn

56 Trevor Ariza, Hou SF PAT MAN

57 Jared Sullinger, Bos PF   Da Clubbers

58 Lance Stephenson, Cha SG I am Moreyballsy

59 Kyle Korver, Atl SG Club Aguada

60 Brandon Jennings, Det PG P Chill Cutters

 

ROUND 7

61 Greg Monroe, Det PF P Chill Cutters

62 Marcin Gortat, Wsh C Club Aguada

63 Zach Randolph, Mem PF I am Moreyballsy

64 Tony Parker, SA PG   Da Clubbers

65 Victor Oladipo*, Orl SG PAT MAN

66 Deron Williams, Bkn PG Team Fenn 6

7 Nerlens Noel, Phi C Atletico San Pancho

68 Jonas Valanciunas, Tor C Team Couey

69 Jeff Teague, Atl PG The Defenestrators

70 Jrue Holiday, Nor PG Team Stanton

 

ROUND 8

71 Pau Gasol, Chi PF Team Stanton

72 Ryan Anderson, Nor PF The Defenestrators

73 Andrew Wiggins, Min SG Team Couey

74 Joe Johnson, Bkn SG Atletico San Pancho

75 Arron Afflalo, Den SG Team Fenn

76 Markieff Morris, Pho PF PAT MAN

77 Nikola Pekovic, Min C   Da Clubbers

78 David West, Ind PF I am Moreyballsy

79 Kevin Martin, Min SG Club Aguada

80 Jimmy Butler, Chi SG P Chill Cutters

 

ROUND 9

81 Roy Hibbert, Ind C P Chill Cutters

82 Jamal Crawford, LAC SG Club Aguada

83 Tobias Harris, Orl PF I am Moreyballsy

84 Terrence Jones, Hou PF   Da Clubbers

85 Terrence Ross, Tor SG PAT MAN

86 Tyreke Evans, Nor SF Team Fenn

87 Jeremy Lin, LAL PG Atletico San Pancho

88 Brandon Knight, Mil PG Team Couey

89 Tim Duncan, SA PF The Defenestrators

90 Robin Lopez, Por C Team Stanton

 

ROUND 10

91 Reggie Jackson, OKC PG Team Stanton

92 Danilo Gallinari, Den SF The Defenestrators

93 George Hill, Ind PG Team Couey

94 Larry Sanders, Mil C Atletico San Pancho

95 Andre Iguodala, GS SF Team Fenn

96 Andrew Bogut, GS C PAT MAN

97 J.J. Redick, LAC SG   Da Clubbers

98 Jose Calderon, NY PG I am Moreyballsy

99 Elfrid Payton, Orl PG Club Aguada

100 Luol Deng, Mia SF P Chill Cutters

 

ROUND 11

101 Patrick Beverley, Hou PG P Chill Cutters

102 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mil SF Club Aguada

103 Jeff Green, Bos SF I am Moreyballsy

104 Eric Gordon, Nor SG   Da Clubbers

105 Danny Green, SA SG PAT MAN

106 Avery Bradley, Bos SG Team Fenn

107 Bradley Beal*, Wsh SG Atletico San Pancho

108 Jordan Hill, LAL PF Team Couey

109 Tyson Chandler, Dal C The Defenestrators

110 Darren Collison, Sac PG Team Stanton

 

ROUND 12

111 DeMarre Carroll, Atl SF Team Stanton

112 Tony Wroten, Phi PG The Defenestrators

113 J.R. Smith, NY SG Team Couey

114 C.J. Miles, Ind SF Atletico San Pancho

115 Alec Burks, Uta SG Team Fenn

116 Anderson Varejao, Cle C PAT MAN

117 Wilson Chandler, Den SF   Da Clubbers

118 Manu Ginobili, SA SG I am Moreyballsy

119 Gerald Green, Pho SF Club Aguada

120 Trey Burke, Uta PG P Chill Cutters

 

ROUND 13

121 Rodney Stuckey, Ind SG P Chill Cutters

122 Josh McRoberts, Mia PF Club Aguada

123 Dion Waiters, Cle SG I am Moreyballsy

124 Gorgui Dieng, Min C   Da Clubbers

125 Isaiah Thomas, Pho PG PAT MAN

126 Enes Kanter, Uta C Team Fenn

127 Paul Pierce, Wsh SF Atletico San Pancho

128 Julius Randle, LAL PF Team Couey

129 Channing Frye, Orl PF The Defenestrators

130 Dante Exum, Uta SG Team Stanton

It's just great. It's perfect.

I don't think they need to change up too much. Aldridge had a classic game, one of the best games by a big man in the last few decades, top and bottom that was the Lamarcus Aldridge game.

I wouldn't mind seeing about 15 minutes from Motiejunas especially since he had some relative success defending Aldridge in games 2 and 3 of the regular season that I recently rewatched. I would like to see Motiejunas use those 5 fouls in a deliberate manner as I believe this team needs to get physical.

Dwight is more of a patroller but he could use a couple of guys dishing out hard fouls, you have to toughen up during the playoffs. Beverly can't be the only crazy guy in the rotation and a crazy big would go a long way.

I completely agree Rahat. Just throwing different looks at him will be good too. In addition to Asik and Harden I would like to see Parsons pressure him, Motiejunas hack him and Howard matchup with him if he is not in foul trouble. Aldridge will get his but making him work and take a large quantity of shots will be enough to get the win.

Half tangent, I think we really need to contextualize the Rockets injury situation. Whenever we say that the Rockets are only doing or not doing xyz due to injuries, we kind of make it sound like everyone else is peachy while the Rockets are crawling through the trenches. But every team has injuries. Every team's bench is depleted to some extent.

I'm switching back to data mode here, since statistics nerds love comparison groups. The important mental exercise is to ask if the Rockets injury situation is different than other teams'. If so, how is it different? It it different in how many players are injured, how many starters, how many games they miss? Because it's dubious to say that the Rockets are suffering in x manner due to injuries if other teams are also injured but are not suffering in x manner. At that point it becomes something internal with the Rockets, not about injuries.

Merging with the topic at hand, take this quick and dirty and cherry picked example, last week I was Daily Diming the Spurs Rockets game. The Spurs were just as injury ravaged as the Rockets, with Splitter, Green, and Leonard out before the game, and Ginobli going down in the second quarter. The Rockets were missing Harden, Asik, Garcia, and Smith.

The Rockets played 8 guys. Four players played 36 minutes or more with Lin as the high (44 minutes). The Spurs, with all their injuries and a depleted bench, used a 12 man rotation. One player played more than 36 minutes (Belinelli had 38). In total, the Spurs bench played 26 more minutes than the Rockets bench. Covington and Brewer were healthy but didn't play. No, they're not great players, but neither are Aron Baynes, Jeff Ayres, and Nando de Colo, who all logged meaningful minutes for the Spurs.

For lots of reasons, this isn't a 1:1 comparison. But it goes to show that the Rockets reaction to a common situation isn't the only possible reaction. Oh, and the Spurs lost the game

 

 

 

You ask what is the difference between the Rockets' injuries and other teams' injuries? And to me it's quite simple. All the teams ahead of the Rockets in the Western Conference have been together longer with a better understanding for systems and schemes that they have been working on.

 

Overhyped in my opinion are the Warriors who have had their core for a few years now (obviously I know they're behind in the standings but it drives me crazy that many have been hyping them). Then there are the Clippers that have had Paul and Griffin together for a few years plus some support players there the whole time as well. The Trailblazers had last year to get acquainted, specifically Aldridge, Lillard, Matthews and Batum and are rolling but could cool off. Oklahoma City has been building it's system around Durant and Westbrook for years with anchors like Ibaka,Collison and Perkins their identity is well established. San Antonio has had their core for a decade and some support players they have are well established. In stark contrast the Rockets James Harden and Dwight Howard have just been put together 50 games ago and along the way Lin is learning to lead the bench, Jones is virtually a new player, Beverley has been thrust in as a starter and many other new developments I don't have to mention have or are taking place. Injuries can take a greater toll on a developing newly put together team than a team with well established chemistry and systems to fall back on after years of experiences in the regular season and playoffs. Just my opinion.

I disagree with Rahat's premise that playing time is the same thing as player development. The first thing that NBA players have to learn is that if you don't do things the right way, you don't play. It is absolutely vital--especially on teams that have ambitions of becoming contenders--that the best players play without exception. Jones didn't play last year because he wasn't as good as the other options (including Greg Smith). But that experience helped Jones, as he freely admits.

With all the injuries to all the big men, D-Mo has had plenty of time to establish himself as a viable option. He's failed to do so, so why reward that failure with more playing time? It would be devastating for morale, as the players would see it as a white flag of surrender.

I completely agree with your counter that game experience does not necessarily equal player development. It's a very debatable point but since everyone discussing this topic for the most part watches games the assumption seems that that is where players develop and to me that is a naive fans perspective.

Worst case scenario this situation is what rockets best fan and timetodie are saying, that Motiejunas just isn't a rotation player in the NBA. I believe it's overly optimistic to believe by giving him starter's minutes now he can develop. I think what Rahat and johnnygold are saying is let's drive him around the block and see where he is at but I just don't believe that to be fair to him or the team. This would be a different topic but the rotation players are working on multiple problems and throwing the kid in would be like setting him up for failure. I don't believe he can swim by himself which is understandable but the rotation players cannot carry him right now either. These guys are not X's and O's. In addition Motiejunas is just not ready, throwing him out there now is serving him to the wolves on a silver platter. Considering his cost he is worth developing and waiting till next year to assess. The injuries have put the roster in rough situations but I admire McHale for staying the course. This is the only core in the West that is brand new, all the others have had time to gel. I advocate patience with the team and patience with Donatus Motiejunas as he travels down his own road.

Barring another catastrophic injury, Howard will definitely be more valuable than Asik.
I've said this before, and I'll say it again: almost none of the bigs to whom Howard is often compared can match up with him in every category. Kevin Love is more skilled on offense, but defensively, it's not even close. Roy Hibbert is a defensive beast (although his teammates cover up for his struggles with the pick-and-roll), but his rebounding and offensive production isn't close to Howard's level. Asik is about on par with Howard defensively, but offensively, he's not even in the conversation. Aldridge and Anthony Davis are about the only bigs in the league that would make me think about a trade involving Howard, and Davis' injury history is starting to cause concern.
Howard's post play is more valuable in the reality of the NBA playoffs than it appears to be based on regular season stats, simply because it is a way to exploit matchups. Over 82 games against 29 teams, Howard in the post isn't the most productive offensive option. Over 7 games in a playoff series, it could be the only thing that gets Houston to the next round. Remember when the Spurs destroyed the league in the regular season and then ran into Memphis in the playoffs and got destroyed? Remember how the Utah Jazz destroyed the Yao Ming teams by fronting Yao? Remember how Dennis Rodman destroyed Utah's pick-and-roll game? The graveyard of NBA history is full of teams that hung their hat on a single, efficient offensive option, and didn't have a backup plan. That's why Dwight Howard is more valuable than Omer Asik.

Could not have said it any better. It's not even close regardless of whatever statistics some of you want to twist. The amount of overvaluing players by fans never ceases to amaze me.

Justin, I like how you are playing mostly Rockets players tonight. Kind of makes it hard to root against you, of course it's all about Harden playing 42 minutes and dominating, I hope.

It's really hard for me to come to a final conclusion because I believe if you can acquire a star player you do it every time. Now saying that if there was ever a fit that I had doubts about Anthony on this Rockets roster is definitely one. I cannot reconcile those two things at this point enough to have an opinion.

Also, I wonder where Anthony is mentally. I wonder if this start in New York has humbled him or changed him in any way. The Rockets would have to be in touch with his camp and see where he is.

Morey and Alexander in my opinion would need to run this by Harden, Howard and McHale and see how they view this. I think it's a lot of moving parts and if the team made the conference finals it would be a small miracle with a splash of luck. The expectations hoisted on a big 3 of Harden, Anthony and Howard would be unrealistic but there might be enough cushion in a city like Houston to absorb the expectations with the sense of excitement tha would come with having a bonafide big 3.

I commend you on the thought you put behind this topic and I do like Horford but I don't think Ferry let's him go for a non All Star. I personally would like to see Morey acquire Jeff Green for a multitude of reasons, on court reasons as well as off the court reasons.