The Houston Rockets have claimed two consecutive NBA titles (1994, 1995), four conference titles (1981, 1986, 1994, 1995), and four divisional titles (1977, 1986, 1993, 1994).
The players most noted for the two titles in '94 and '95, are Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler (Drexler was only on the 1995 championship team).
Since then, the Rockets have been plagued by above-average mediocrity. They have made the playoffs the past two seasons, but in both instances, they have been eliminated by the Utah Jazz in the first round.
This led the Rockets' management to fire Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy after the 2006-2007 season. Van Gundy was replaced by the great Rick Aldelman.
Aldelman has coached the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors.
When coaching in Portland, he helped lead the Blazers to three straight Western Conference Finals appearances from 1990-1992. In 1990, the Blazers advanced to the NBA Finals where they were knocked off by the Isiah Thomas led Detroit Pistons. In the 1991 Western Conference Finals, the Blazers were eliminated by the Magic Johnson led Los Angeles Lakers, and in '92, the Blazers made it to the NBA Finals again, before losing to the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls.
In 2002, Aldelman led the Sacramento Kings to the 2002 Western Conference Finals, where they eventually were beat out by the eventual champions, the Lakers.
As you can see, Aldelman brings great coaching experience and knowledge to this already loaded roster. Speaking of which, let's get right to analyzing the Rockets' current roster.
This roster is simply put, loaded with talent. There is also a calming presence of leadership to a relatively young team in some aspects. Here is my projected starting lineup for the Rockets:
PG: TBD
The starting point guard position is difficult to pick and/or predict. Steve Francis, who has been a starting point guard for many years, has been plagued by knee injuries the past two seasons. Still, when he is healthy, Francis is a beast. If Francis is not 100% coming into the season, I would give the edge to Rafer Alston, who has been in the league just as long as Francis.
SG: Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady is a franchise SG. His eleven years of experience bring knowledge and leadership to the table. McGrady can just flat as well. There is no question that he will start at SG, unless he is injured.
SF: Ron Artest
Artest reunites with coach Rick Adelman, as he played under Adelman in Sacramento for half a year. Artest brings offensive scoring to the team, and strengthens the already strong Rockets defense.
PF: Luis Scola
Scola has brought some much needed rebounding and inside presence that the Rockets desperately showed a lack of in their 2006 NBA Playoffs loss to the Utah Jazz, and he came at a very small price as the Rockets traded away seldom-used Vassilis Spanoulis for him.
Hopefully, Scola will be another piece of the puzzle that the Rockets are attempting to build so they can regain their elite championship stats from the 1990s.
C: Yao Ming
10 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
O'Dell Isaac II 10 months ago
Nice article.
The window is closing on T-Mac, who has a history of back problems (having to carry the Rockets last season could not have helped). I worry a little about Yao because he played in the Olympics when he probably should have been resting.
The West is strong. The Rockets need a favorable draw to get out of the first round.
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Spenser T. Harrison 10 months ago
Great article.
I'm a huge rockets fan but unfortunately I basically despise Yao Ming. I wish everyday we could trade him for a bonafide superstar but I know that this won't happen for economic reasons. It hurts, but I hope that goofy bastard can prove me wrong.
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Stephane Morneau 10 months ago
Hum,
Even with Francis healthy, the Rockets will opt in Alston at starting PG and use Francis as a swing guard off the bench. That's what they did last year and nobody complained about Alston who has stellar Defense.
Also, Ron Artest will probably start at the PF and let Battier in the starting line-up, putting Scola on the bench on rotation as center/forward, giving some rest to Mutombo who will see most of his minutes in the second half of the season.
And you're telling me that Battier's defense is 'not too shabby'? Is probably one, if not the best perimeter defender in the league, with Artest his new teamate, and you call that 'not too shabby'?
Nice read overall but do some research here and there before 'assuming' a lot and basing your prediction on past accomplishement that are far from the truth (Steve Francis in a starting line-up, for exemple).
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Fred Richani 10 months ago
Nice read here. I do agree that when healthy and that is a huge IF, then this team can advance past the first round and possibly go farther than the second round. Look at the Jazz. A couple years ago with a few veterans and a relatively young team, they advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals. The previous season they could have made the playoffs had it not been for INJURIES. If all are somewhat healthy come playoff time, the Rockets will certainly be a team that can compete with the best of them.
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Dave F 10 months ago
Francis isn't going to get minutes for this team, or any other. He's done.
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sam the fact checker 10 months ago
yea everyones right...alstons pretty much going to start every game again this season...the only thing bringing down this team is injuries...im pretty sure artest wont cause that much controversy...so if the rockets can only get over injuries...theyll be out of the first round for sure this time (probably 3rd time ive said that in the last 5 seasons)...haha
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Jaime Irvine 10 months ago
I agree with Stephane. Look for Artest to play plenty of PF with battier at the 3 and scola coming off the bench. The Rockets will be a very good team but do not think they have the talent to win it until they trade McGrady. I know that sounds crazy but i just dont think he is a winner like a kobe, lebron or KG is. His defense is awful and he is not a tough competitor. He can only take a team so far.
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Rick Aldeman 10 months ago
You're right, that does sound crazy! Trade your best play maker and scorer and you'll get better. The guy had something like 40pts 10 rebounds and 5 assist in the last playoff game.
If you're going to define the guy as not being a winner or competitor because of lack of post season success, then for the majority of Kevin Garnett's career he has not been a winner. The one year Kobe didn't have another superstar in the post-season with him, he lost in the first round.
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Robert Kleeman 10 months ago
Solid article, but one question: where's Carl Landry in your list?
The Rockets have not re-signed him yet, but he will be an integral part of the roster. I don't see any way he plays for another team next season.
They haven't re-signed Mutombo, either.
Also, this is my opinion, and I invite you to disagree as it is your article, but I would swap Shane Battier and Ron Artest.
Artest is a more complete player than Battier by a mile. The Rockets will be a much more dangerous team if he agrees to accept a sixth man role. All that matters for Artest is that he be on the court at the end of a close game.
I expect Adelman to ask Artest to accept such a role to bolster the second unit production, which has consistently stunk the last few years. So, between the five and three minute mark of the first quarter, you bring Artest, Landry and Barry off the bench and blast the other team. Barry shoots, defends adequately if unspectacularly, Landry wins rebounds and tip ins with hustle and Artest becomes the primary offensive weapon and defends whichever player is doing the most damage.
The sixth man scenario means Artest would play the same minutes he would as a starter, but he would sacrifice the vanity of the starting introductions to help the team's second unit. He has said in two different press conferences that he will be "the third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh man, whatever Adelman needs me to do."
Just imagine what this would mean against other Western Conference playoff teams. First, they deal with a starting lineup that has already proven statistically effective (Alston, McGrady, Battier, Scola, Yao), if not also in the regular season win column, and then Artest enters and takes the second unit and remaining starters to the proverbial woodshed. Yummy prospect, no?
Just my opinion. Good article, keep writing these.
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Robert Kleeman 10 months ago
Sorry, just noticed, that you listed Landry as a free agent. But, if the Rockets do re-sign him, which GM Daryl Morey says he intends to do (they saved the mid level exception for him), he will get a lot more minutes than Chuck Hayes.
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