Rockets Looking to Lift Off
As we get closer and closer to NBA Training camp opening up (can’t come soon enough right?), the Houston Rockets remain a team that could be a major dark horse in the Western Conference if all the pieces can fit together. They have retooled their roster to fit Coach Rick Adelman’s Princeton Offense Scheme that has proven to be mighty successful in the past.
Looking up and down the Rockets roster, the first thing anyone has to notice is the amount of depth and solid talent at each position. GM Daryl Morey made a major decision and decided that the Rockets probably had overpaid for Trevor Ariza and shipped him off in a 4-way deal that landed the services of Courtney Lee. Trevor Ariza was clearly exposed last year when he was put into a more featured role (shot 39 percent from the field) and had major difficulties creating off the dribble versus being a spot up shooter/slasher in Los Angeles. With Lee, the Rockets get a cheaper and more versatile player that has the potential to be even better as he grows under the tutelage of well known trainer/ESPN analyst David Thorpe. (You can see his analysis of Kevin Martin after the trade here .
One of the more notable trades of last season was the deal the sent guard Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings to Houston for forward Carl Landry. Kevin Martin has been notorious for being injury prone and has been unable to shake that stereotype. However, when healthy, we are talking about one of the most efficient and quickest scorers in the game that can play without the ball, get to the free throw line between 8-10 times a game as well as play the passing lanes. This is his opportunity to finally play with significant upgraded talent at every position around him as he will be entering the prime of his career. He seems pretty confident along with Courtney Lee that this team can contend in the West. The statistics show that when Kevin Martin is not the main man defenses key on, his efficiency is sky high. The Rockets have multiple scoring threats at every position in order to make this a reality again.
Kevin Martin will be a major part of whether Houston contends in the West
Of course, the key to the Rockets season and what has hurt them more than anything the last 3-4 years has been health issues. Yao Ming changes the entire dynamic of the team if he can play at the level of his 06-07 season when averaged 25 pts and 9 rebs. This might be Yao’s last stand as he has hinted at retirement if his foot cannot hold up for the season. Kevin Martin’s health as was mentioned before will be watched as well. Most importantly, the Rockets must get production from Yao, which will be more than satisfactory if its at the level of his first 2-3 years in the NBA.
How much can Yao give the Rockets this year?
The addition of Brad Miller (another familiar face with the Princeton offense) should help keep Yao’s minutes down along with providing a good outside shooting and passing. Aaron Brooks is an excellent scorer and pick and role player. Kyle Lowry and Chase Budinger are great energizers off the bench. Luis Scola (who is also very skilled offensively) and Chuck Hayes provide the inside toughness and Shane Battier provides perhaps the best perimeter defense in the NBA today. The Rockets also have assets such as Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, and Patrick Patterson whom they can package in a major deal they make before next season’s trade deadline (Carmelo Anthony should be the target). All in all, if everything comes together and the Rockets can stay healthy (Clutch City, cross your fingers), this team could be anywhere between the 7 -4 range in the West and should win at least 50 games this season. One thing is for sure, this team will scrap and battle tooth and nail for every game as we have seen them do in the last couple of years and that goes to show the type of underrated coaching that Rick Adelman has done.
This is just an opinion, so please…Pardon My Bias
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