How far the Rockets have come

[tlance]

Just two years ago, the Rockets were mired in mediocrity with a bunch of players nobody wanted. Fast forward to today, and Daryl Morey has turned a roster featuring Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and Kyle Lowry into a far more intimidating group. If they are able to finalize a sign and trade for Josh Smith, they will have a very strong nucleus.

Time will tell if the Rockets are able to gel into a real contender, but either way, Morey's fleecing of the Thunder, signing of Howard along with the potential deal for Smith has to go down as the finest GM turnaround since Ainge's coup that landed the big 3.

IMO the Heat's rise isn't quite as impressive from a front office stand-point because of the way Morey pulled this off. This could be a true rags to riches story if the Rockets are able to gel.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Being mediocre is the hardest to overcome, lottery teams at least get some pieces to build around for a few years before they leave to Miami or LA or NY.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Personally I see the Rockets being as good or almost as they were with McGrady and Yao Ming but always a day late and a dollar short of a championship. Jeremy Min is a decent guard, but they do not have the capability of winning championships in the next two years and by that time there are too many other teams rising up and Howard's best chances of winning a championship soon would have been with the Lakers or Dallas. Mark Cuban would have built quickly around him.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Personally I see the Rockets being as good or almost as they were with McGrady and Yao Ming but always a day late and a dollar short of a championship. Jeremy Min is a decent guard, but they do not have the capability of winning championships in the next two years and by that time there are too many other teams rising up and Howard's best chances of winning a championship soon would have been with the Lakers or Dallas. Mark Cuban would have built quickly around him.

I disagree. I think they have as good a shot as anyone in the West next year if they get Josh Smith.

 

[shitsho]

Theyre going to need a season first. After that they will be a force. This will be fun to watch because I'm looking at 2 things: Their progression the first year and the 2nd season cohesiveness. Of course this is barring any injuries or major trades. I think this is going to highlight just how good the Heat are as a team to be able to make it to the Finals the first year.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

What about the Celtics winning it all their first year?

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Quite frankly while Dwight Howard is really a good player, I didn't think he played all that well this last season for the Lakers. The first notable thing that many Lakers fans noticed is that he is never serious or focused. It all seems to be fun and games for him. I just don't see Howard as a top center in the NBA with multiple championships like Lebron or Kobe and many of the others. Yes the Rockets will ba force and yes they will be good, but not good enough to be the Miami Heat

 

[Tubbs1518]

Quite frankly while Dwight Howard is really a good player, I didn't think he played all that well this last season for the Lakers. The first notable thing that many Lakers fans noticed is that he is never serious or focused. It all seems to be fun and games for him. I just don't see Howard as a top center in the NBA with multiple championships like Lebron or Kobe and many of the others. Yes the Rockets will ba force and yes they will be good, but not good enough to be the Miami Heat

Depends on what Howard shows up in the finals if they made it. There is no one on Miami though could do anything with him. If he was focused he could put up 35 and 20 a night.

 

[shitsho]

What about the Celtics winning it all their first year?

A little different and I actually thought they would win it when everyone was doubting. All of them were multi-year established vets. All of the big 3 had labored away trying to win a championship while being the focal point of their team. All of them have incredible work ethics plus they had Doc as a coach who is an excellent motivator. All of them are leaders in their own right. All of them played different positions and had different specialties. I knew they were going to the Finals and had good chance to win it all.

Houston on the other hand has a different dynamic. Only Howard is established. Only Howard is really battle tested as the go to guy. Harden is still young and just coming off his first year of being a leader. (Showed in the playoffs) Parsons is young and untested. If they get Josh Smith you have a potential head case that may sway Howard into goofing off instead of going to work.

 

[Logicallylethal]

I think a lot of people forget how good Dwight really is when he is completely healthy and surrounded by an array of shooters.

Houston is no guarantee to win a title...but the West is as wide open as it ever is...and if Dwight returns to his Orlando form...Houston is a legit title contender...especially if they get Josh Smith

I mean we have OKC who was a lock for the #1 spot for years to come until they traded Harden away...and now they've lost Kevin Martin.

Clippers...they improved by acquiring Doc Rivers and adding Redick...but can they generate offense to win in the playoffs. Cp3 is still the only consistent source of offense...Blake really needs to step his game up

Spurs...Manu has obviously declined...can Leonard have a break out year to make up for it? Can Duncan still have an all star caliber year?

Warriors...looks so great on paper especially after that playoff run of their's...but they're likely to lose Jack...Bogut would be huge for them if he can stay healthy and average 14-10 but can he stay healthy? How often will steph sprain his ankles?

I think 1 to 5 in the West are all interchangeable. OKC can finish 1 they can finish 3 or 4. Houston can finish 2 they can finish 5 etc

 

[HammerDown]

 

[OregonDucks]

Harden looks like a g-damn terrorist.

 

[shitsho]

I think a lot of people forget how good Dwight really is when he is completely healthy and surrounded by an array of shooters.

Houston is no guarantee to win a title...but the West is as wide open as it ever is...and if Dwight returns to his Orlando form...Houston is a legit title contender...especially if they get Josh Smith

I mean we have OKC who was a lock for the #1 spot for years to come until they traded Harden away...and now they've lost Kevin Martin.

Clippers...they improved by acquiring Doc Rivers and adding Redick...but can they generate offense to win in the playoffs. Cp3 is still the only consistent source of offense...Blake really needs to step his game up

Spurs...Manu has obviously declined...can Leonard have a break out year to make up for it? Can Duncan still have an all star caliber year?

Warriors...looks so great on paper especially after that playoff run of their's...but they're likely to lose Jack...Bogut would be huge for them if he can stay healthy and average 14-10 but can he stay healthy? How often will steph sprain his ankles?

I think 1 to 5 in the West are all interchangeable. OKC can finish 1 they can finish 3 or 4. Houston can finish 2 they can finish 5 etc

I may be wrong but I think OKC missed their window. Just a feeling I have. They basically gave away Harden and have no low post presence on offense. They are an injury away from being irrelevant if either KD or Westbrook gets hurt. I doubt they last past the second round next year.

 

[shitsho]

Harden looks like a g-damn terrorist.

Timothy Mcveigh didnt look like Harden!!??

 

[LogicMan]

TLance, Morey is a sharp dude, MIT grad, and a out of box thinker. Him and Ainge are close.

I agree, he is one of the better GM's out there now.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

I may be wrong but I think OKC missed their window. Just a feeling I have. They basically gave away Harden and have no low post presence on offense. They are an injury away from being irrelevant if either KD or Westbrook gets hurt. I doubt they last past the second round next year.

The way things are currently going they have missed their window but are still coming out of the west.

They could be setting it up for LBJ to come in '14 though...

 

[Tubbs1518]

The way things are currently going they have missed their window but are still coming out of the west.

They could be setting it up for LBJ to come in '14 though...

If the Heat think they are losing LBJ after this year, do they try to do a sign and trade in the offseason with OKC to get Ibaka or Westbrook back? They could ask for some young guys too. Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

If the Heat think they are losing LBJ after this year, do they try to do a sign and trade in the offseason with OKC to get Ibaka or Westbrook back? They could ask for some young guys too. Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones.

Honestly, why not? You wait until the offseason obviously and they want Ibaka over westbrook I am sure, but LBJ would want Ibaka there I think.

I would love LBJ to head to OKC with Durant. I just don't see that happening. Also it seems hard to find a spot for LBJ on their roster...?

1. LBJ
2. Sefolosha/Lamb
3. Durant
4. Ibaka
5. Perkins/Thabeet

That would definitely be a power house.

I may have looked at this wrong.

1. Westbrook
2. Sefolosha/Lamb
3. Durant
4. LBJ
5. Perkins/Thabeet

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Hoenstly either way works great, I would rather get rid of Westbrook unless he moved to the 2 and OKC sent Sefolosha and Lamb too....


Bottom line plug LBJ in there and keep Durant and Perkins and that team is Rang qualified.



It would also be very interesting to see LBJ actually play PG rather than just sub in here and there and play assassin on the other PG.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Honestly, why not? You wait until the offseason obviously and they want Ibaka over westbrook I am sure, but LBJ would want Ibaka there I think.

I would love LBJ to head to OKC with Durant. I just don't see that happening. Also it seems hard to find a spot for LBJ on their roster...?

1. LBJ
2. Sefolosha/Lamb
3. Durant
4. Ibaka
5. Perkins/Thabeet

That would definitely be a power house.

I may have looked at this wrong.

1. Westbrook
2. Sefolosha/Lamb
3. Durant
4. LBJ
5. Perkins/Thabeet

I would think OKC would send whichever of the 2 they wanted along with Lamb Jones and a few 1sts. I think the 2nd lineup is better though I'm not sure Westbrook would be all that great without the ball in his hands.