What are they? If I stopped watching last year (I didn't though), what are the bright spots for the upcoming season?...I'm trying to justify it to someone and if you have to give the top brightspots to watch for someone who became disenfranchised the last year all together then please give me ammo for collective thought. My opinion is that Yao is going extend his late season progress, but what else? This is speculation, but part of the fun. Thanks.
both Yao and Tracy will stay healthy Battier will be very solid and help chemistry Alston - shoots better Novak- will be a steal and hit some key 3's Howard- rejuvinates and is solid Snyder- surprises and becomes a key contributor Sura- returns and we end up with home court in the first round of the playoffs Vspan- tough as nails and in the rotation That is about as rosey as I can paint it. BRIGHT!!!!!
ROX, here's my 2 cents: Yao picks up where he left off in the second half, before the foot injury, becoming, without a doubt, the dominant 5 in the league. That's groovy, because it's a tradition in Houston that we have a dominant center, the most dominant center, more often than not. Yao explodes out of the blocks and doesn't look back, having his best season to date, and killin' opposing defenses. Tracy stays healthy all season and in the playoffs. No prediction needed for his performance. The man has proven himself to be an elite player, one of the very best in the league. All he has to do is remain healthy, and he will. Battier shows why we got him, playing wherever matchups dictate, setting career highs in scoring, being more wide open than he ever dreamed, and career highs in assists, because of the two dudes mentioned earlier. He does all the little things that translate into wins, and becomes a fan favorite. Alston has a career year in assists, still struggles with his shot, though, and his defense, with pressure from the guys behind him to take his job and push him back to the first 1 off the bench. By the second half, that's exactly what happens. Howard continues to be on the team, the Rocks, despite trying, being unable to move him. He struggles with coming off the bench, which is what he should be doing at this stage of his career. Hell, what he should have been doing the last two seasons. In the second half, he adapts to his new role, and becomes a productive 4 off the bench. Being the most anyone expects, there is joy here in GARM. Hayes makes solid improvement in his game, continuing his great work on the boards, and finding a way to score just enough to give him decent minutes. His defense improves and despite his size, he proves adept at defending opposing PFs, depending on matchups. Solid rotation player. Deke? I'm not sure what he does. Has he anything left in the tank? If he can come close to the season before last for 10 minutes a game, we are ecstatic. I just doubt that he can. Big question mark. Luther? In my opinion, Head ain't here, but if he is, he continues to improve, and grabs minutes at the 2, if we don't pick up someone like Wells, and at the one, because of Alston's struggle with defense and shooting. Head's minutes would also depend on what the guy from Greece does... KillBill? If Van Gundy gives him enough minutes, the bright, rough and tumble Sura wannabe picks up the system, figures things out as a rookie in the NBA, makes the adjustments, and uses his play to demand minutes. Will he get them? If he does, he pushes Alston to the bench after the break, and becomes our starting 1, swinging to the 2 spot depending on matchups. Solid rotation guy, and future, and possibly current (in the second half) starter for the Rocks at point. JLIII? A sparkplug off the bench, if he can maintain confidence beyond the summer league, and into the NBA. If he does, he grabs some minutes in the rotation. If he doesn't, he stays inactive, and is strictly a practice player, and insurance against the "I" word. Novak? The guy is a true rookie... no seasons in Europe, no brief time in the league, and only one summer league stint. Can he make the transition? I'm going to take the DaDakota approach with the guy, because I am feeling optimistic this morning. He picks up the system, because he's intelligent. Serious work with the staff puts muscle and endurance into the dude. He keeps his confidence in the one thing he has always had, that sweet shot from all over the floor. Because his defense sucks most of the season, he's used in situations where it isn't a big liability. As he keeps hitting his shots when he gets some minutes, Jeff gains at least a little confidence in him. By the playoffs, he's a surprise sparkplug on offense for the Rocks. I think that's the most we can expect this year. Snyder? One of my biggest question marks. The man has all the tools to be a serious contributor, and possibly a starter. Could log serious minutes as a swing man between the 2 and the 3. Could become a defensive stopper. Can hit from downtown. Hell, the guy could be a starter at the 2 if he plays to his capabilities, and doesn't get in Jeff's doghouse. If we don't sign Wells, and we move Head to get a 4/5 to backup Yao, like Ely (which I would love!), then Snyder will have every chance to be a big rotation player and possible starter. Obviously, I hope he does. I'm just uncertain. Sura? I don't expect him to play. If he does, effectively, it's a huge bonus. Bowen? If he hasn't been cut, he's inactive. Jacobsen? Have no idea. Asubiuke? Look for him in next year's summer league. I doubt that he makes it past training camp. Haryasz? Have no idea. I doubt he gets past camp, because I expect us to pick up some sort of proven backup for Yao. Deke is just getting too long in the tooth to count on. If I forgot anyone, my bad. Clearly, I'm being optimistic, and I'm expecting the Rockets to just be a holy terror the second half of the season, going deep into the playoffs. If we get Wells, and he plays like he did last season, it's gravy, and also complicates things a little for my "scenario," lol!
a] All three point Guards, have career highs in assists to Yao Ming. b] Steve Novac develops into a NBA leader in Free Throws and Three Pointers. c] our non starters become a crack up tempo unit to rival Phoenix d] We have Bonzi just incase............................. e] Our starters with Bonzi are the best starting five in the NBA. f] Yao Ming continues to live upto all my pre Yao predictions.
Yao wins first MVP T-Mac wins another scoring championship and Finals MVP Novak shoots a deadly 90% from the free throw line... and 3 point line V-Span develops great into the NBA game Luther goes through a season without hitting that rookie wall Alston raises his fg% by a crazy 15 Juwan gets into a freak accident and suddenly after recovering has a league leading 60inch vert. He becomes a dunk and blocking machine... then he announces retirement after the season and we cry Bowen hits the buzzer beater 3 in game 7 of the NBA Finals for the win I might be off, but thats the way i dream it
