thejohnnygold

With Jason Terry Agreeing to a 1-yr. $1.5M deal today it appears the Rockets' roster and salary are just about set.

 

Here's what basketball-reference.com has on us so far:

 

 

Chuck Hayes hasn't signed yet, but it is rumored to be a 1-yr. vet min. deal similar to Terry's.  For some reason, Harrell's contract info. is tough to find, but rumors say it is a 4-yr deal.

 

I'd love to see Wood get offered a "Morey Special" similar to Tarik Black's 2-yr/$845K contract from last season, but who gets cut?

 

That would be 16 players.  Unless we can get Chuck Hayes to sign as a coach (but keep him ready to go in case of injury), we can't sign Wood.  Another scenario is Morey swings another trade, but I find that highly unlikely.  They keep talking continuity, chemistry, and next phase stuff.  Getting Lawson was the last big move.

 

We are as deep as a team can be.  We've got starting-caliber players at 3 of our back-up positions--Beverley, Brewer, and Jones.  Possibly 4 if you consider Marcus Thornton a starting caliber SG.  Brooklyn, Phoenix, and Boston all felt like he was not and Sacramento couldn't make up their mind.

 

I truly believe Harrell is NBA ready.  He will look like a rookie on defense at times (as most do), but he knows his strengths and will use them well.  I think he will see time at C this season with mixed results.

 

I'm still not sure what we have in Dekker.  I have high hopes, but we will likely not get to see him this year.

 

I still don't know how KJ McDaniels finds floor time, but we really, really need to find a way.  I think at some point in the pre-season we will see Harden on the floor with Ariza, McDaniels, Brewer, and Jones/Harrell.  I can't say what will happen, but I am excited to see it.

 

Let's get hyped!  What are everyone's thoughts?  ESPN recently ranked us #3 heading into the season and predicted we would have the same record as last year.  I'll be fine with that.  Yet, I can't help but think we are better than last year as long as we have healthy bodies.

 

We are set now and for the future.  Go Rockets!

 

It's here.  Our destiny has been laid out for all to see.  Now is the time for all Rockets fans to peer into that crystal ball, predict how our fate unfolds, and curse/praise the Gods whose meddlesome nature knows no bounds.

 

LINK to the schedule.

 

Someone else did the counting, but I'll pass the info along.  There are 5 teams with 20 sets of back-to-backs this season: Houston, LA Clippers, Golden State, Milwaukee, and Detroit.

 

The good news is 2 of our main conference rivals suffer the same fate as we do.  The bad news is 3 of our other conference rivals do not (MEM, SAS, OKC).  I do not consider Portland or Dallas a threat.  Phoenix is still up in the air.

 

Looking at our early schedule I can easily see us getting off to a slow start.  We will be missing Lawson at the beginning of the season (15 games?) and we even lose Dwight for the opener against Denver.  We could easily be 2-5 (or worse) before getting into a little softer bit of the schedule.

 

Of course, we are very, very good and could be 7-0.  Who knows???  

 

I think we will need to be patient and know that we close the season on a seemingly easy set of games with good amount of non-playoff caliber teams over the last 12 or so games.  Odds are we make a little run at the end so stay strong Rockets fans--it's going to be a bumpy ride.

 

What does everyone think?

Start dreaming up nicknames now because this guy is going to become an instant fan favorite.

 

For those who don't know, it's pronounced Mon-trez (with a soft "e").  However, due to mispronunciation and that ridiculous 7'4" wingspan Montrezl "The Pretzel" seems inevitable.  His game seems more prone to the moniker "Mon-Star".  His rim defense may even earn him the nickname, "The Hall Mon-itor".  Hopefully, someone more clever than myself steps in and gives him a real nickname.  

 

None of that matters.  What does matter is how convinced I have become that Morey is carrying a horseshoe, 4-leaf clover, rabbit's foot, and no less than 9 other lucky charms on his person at all times.  Getting this guy in the 2nd round should not have happened.  Lucky for us, there are no take-backs or do-overs.

 

I can't give any reason other than the eye test and listening to his interviews for being so sure of his future awesomeness.  Maybe I'm delusional.  I don't think I'm overly biased nor do I think I am drinking too much Morey kool-aid.  Check out these videos.  Listen to his interviews.

 

He grew up in the shadows of basketball royalty (Tarboro, NC).  He went to a military academy in high school.  He displays the traits of discipline, determination, and humility that come with that.  He stayed 3 years at Louisville and got his diploma during that span despite being considered a first-rounder since he arrived on campus.  Very few players pass up NBA money to stay and complete their diploma ahead of schedule while being a top level player in the premier conference for collegiate basketball.  For those who think character matters this guy is for you.

 

Forget all that, let's watch him fly around the court!  (If I've posted any of these before I apologize.)

 

First, his draftexpress profile

 

 

Perhaps you would prefer to see him dominate a single game?

 

 

Ever wonder what sort of exercises a man has to do to make arms that long look like they belong on an action hero?  Here's your answer!

 

Here he is talking to the Boston media pre-draft.  Just more of that humble, disciplined character stuff.

 

Here he is doing a pre-draft interview for NBA.com.  He is HUGE...those guys next to him look child-sized    I love the part where they are talking about Coach Pitino making him take it easy on the other front court players in practice so he wouldn't destroy their confidence.

 

Take a look at his game logs from last season.  Look at the quality of competition he faced and the solid stat lines he put up against them.

 

Pundits all want to talk about him as a traditional PF and focus on his energy, motor, tenacity, etc.  I see more.  I think the guy can develop a decent shot and at least NBA 3 pt. range from the corners.  I think he has the ability and the mentality to do the necessary work to get there.  I think he can defend all 5 positions.  I think he will be able to beat guys off the dribble on close-outs.

 

I hate to be trite and compare him to the NBA's flavor of the month, but I think he is our Draymond Green.  I think we can call him Cookie Monster cuz he's gonna be doing a lot of dunking.

 

 

This is where the Rockets (and their fans) find themselves.  It's quiet.  Too quiet.  Here we are, entering the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors.  It seemed destined since the beginning of the season.  The Warriors and Rockets broke out of the gates strong and, as the season draws to a close, are pitted against each other to determine which team will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

 

My apologies to the Cavs and Hawks, but this year's champion is coming from the Western Conference.  Thus, in this fan's biased opinion we are watching the true NBA Finals starting tonight.  History won't record it this way (nor should it).  As fans--as people who live, eat, and breathe this game--we owe respect and acknowledgement of this reality to both the Warriors and the Rockets.  One of them has to overcome a champion-caliber juggernaut just to earn the right to play for the actual trophy.

 

Technically, this has already occurred for both teams.  Houston toppled a very good Clippers team after dispatching short-handed Dallas while the Warriors overcame a strong Grizzlies team (thanks, Tony Allen's hamstring) after giving Anthony Davis his first taste of post season competition.  I think most of us agree that any of the 4 teams in the Western Conference Semis was good enough to win it all.  In the end, there can be only one.

 

In my excitement for this upcoming series I scoured the internet for some Rockets articles to help feed the fanatic in me.  It's been....disappointing.  It's almost as if no one wants to stick their neck out and hype the Rockets for fear of appearing foolish since, apparently, we are 100% losing this series.  What!?!?!?

 

There are lots of reasons this series is up for grabs.  There are lots of reasons to be excited beyond the joy of simply being here.  We can win this thing.  I'm completely serious.  WE CAN WIN THIS THING!

 

 

That was us.  Yet, instead of becoming extinguished under the power and the pressure of the NBA playoffs something else happened.  We rose up.  We grew stronger.  From coach to player, everyone found a new, deeper level.

 

I have seldom found myself inspired by Dwight Howard.  Awed?  Amazed?  Amused?  Aghast, even?  Yes.  Yet, in game 6, after getting two early fouls, there he was on camera waiving off Coach McHale who wanted to sub him out in order to protect him from further hindrance.  Two things happened.  First, McHale believed in him and allowed him to stay in the game.  Second, Dwight came through playing 40 minutes, posting a 20 & 21, and playing his butt off on defense while netting only 2 more fouls.  Dwight inspired me with that performance.  It showed me that he gets it--he is ready.  (He tried it again in game 7, but McHale wasn't going to roll the dice two games in a row--which I also agree with).

 

Josh Smith will always be Josh Smith...and I've made my peace with that.  Yes, he makes risky passes, jacks unnecessary threes early in the shot clock, and is just as likely to fill a box score as he is to leave it empty.  Yet, there he was taking it to Blake Griffin, making him work on defense and offense.  There he was, in the biggest of moments blossoming under the pressure--not wilting.  His path has not been easy and the meat grinder the public and media have run him through over the years would have left most people a rattled mess--at best.

 

People will continue to pick on his flaws, but what I see in Josh Smith is a guy whose resilience and lack of fear make him a nightmare for other teams.  Combined with a quiet determination, a knack for defense, and a skill set that would please Bruce Lee if he were here watching the NBA.

 

 

Combined, I believe Dwight and Josh make each other better and stronger mostly because they truly love one another and don't want to let the other down.  You can't measure that and it cannot be over-estimated.

 

James Harden takes a lot (read: tons and tons and tons...) of flack for just about everything he does.  Even compliments come through clinched teeth and are usually delivered in the most back-handed fashion.  I suppose if I only read box scores and Twitter I'd feel the same way.  The reality is he is an MVP and opposing teams know it.  Take a look at this and think about the level of defense/game planning he has had to fight through to achieve it.

 

 

That's seriously good, people.  He's playing less and producing more.  He's also got a .618 TS%.  

 

The Warriors will test him with Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala along with having Green and Bogut help inside.  I don't think the Warriors will offer much more resistance than the Clippers did.  Redick and Paul played inside James' jersey as much as the referees would allow and DeAndre Jordan is an excellent rim protector (despite popular opinion I can't understand).  I actually think James will have a better go of it against the W's defense.

 

The W's will have to prove they can defend our pick n roll sets.  They will have to keep Bogut out of foul trouble.  They will try to force us into playing small ball only to realize we are also good at small ball.

 

Personally, I want us to try and shut down everyone else and let Curry go wild.  It won't be pretty.  It may hurt us at first, but I think he will wear down over a series as fatigue and pressure begin to burden him.  It is a strategy that requires diligence to see it through and is risky considering who he is.  I believe it takes a team to win and I believe taking his team away from him (as best we can) will work.

 

Our role players--that filthy, nasty term--are what will make this series.  Harden will be there.  Dwight will be there.  Josh, Corey, Trevor, Jet, Pablo, and Terrence are what we've got to stack up against the W's group of Green, Barnes, Livingston, Iguodala, Lee, Barbosa, Speights (who is out for game 1), and Ezeli.  Yes, they are deep and talented.  They have speed, length, size, offense, and defense on their bench.  Whatever is needed they can adapt to.

 

The challenge is real, but so are we.  Be patient as there is a strong chance we come home down 0-2.  That is ok.  We all know it's not over until one team wins 4.  I have yet to find a single soul outside of the Rockets' camp who thinks we stand a chance.  That's just the way we like it...

 

I thought we could use a place to discuss the other series.  Also, I wanted to post this graphic that I saw at Reddit.com.  It swaps each conferences' top 4 seeds' first round opponent.  The East would be in trouble...

 

 

I think only Atlanta maintains their comfort level of getting through to the next round.  Meanwhile, all 4 West seeds just breathed a huge sigh of relief knowing they will all be going to round 2.  Maybe Portland gets knocked off by the Wizards.

 

The East would very likely play out as such.  ATL, CLE, SAS, and MEM go to 2nd round.  Memphis grinds out a 7 game victory over Atlanta while SAS dispatches the Cavs.  MEM and SAS play with SAS winning in 6.

 

I'm not sure I like re-formatting the playoffs as it decreases the likelihood of developing rivalries through repeated playoff clashes, but it certainly has performance-based merit.  Here's how it would look if they did it based off of W/L record alone.

 

I think this would make for a better quality product as far as showcasing the best talent for longer, but would it be worth it at the risk of losing rivalries?  Is it probable that this creates new, and ultimately, more rivalries?  Maybe...