Rockets Outlook 2012-13

[BwareDWare94]

I thought both Lin and Asik would be matched, but I think both NY and Chicago know neither is going to really impact the team they're going to. Lin's better than what we were left with at PG, but Asik is basically going to need to be a defensive anchor or he'll be useless.

Here's the potential depth chart I foresee

1. Lin/Fortson(God I hope not)/ZDragic
2. Martin/Lamb
3. Parsons/White
4. Patterson/Jones (it won't be long before Jones starts)
5. Asik/Motiejunas

Bottom feeders with some potential for growth. I see the Lin and Lamb combo developing into a deadly pair of scorers, and Jones and White will eventually find their way into the starting lineup because I can already foresee Morey trading Parsons at the deadline for somebody.

Fact is, we still need a decent center and another point guard. I'm not sure how that's going to happen. Motiejunas is going to need the Yao treatment and bulk up. Whoever Houston had working with Yao should be able to do the trick, because Yao was pretty damn ripped (for as tall as he was) by the time his prime came around. I'm just not sure if Motiejunas is a true NBA center.

 

[BwareDWare94]

The only things I'm excited for is the Lin/Jones pick and roll and Royce White leading the break after a rebound. Honest to God, Royce White is who I'm most excited for. He could be a star.

 

[Pugz]

:homer:

 

[Amare]

Motiejūnas will play mostly in PF, rarely he will play in Center position..
And If Asik is their starting Center, I think they will have some problems, he's not starting center.

 

[elcheato]

Outlook: Pain

 

[Pugz]

houston timberwolves

 

[BwareDWare94]

Motiejūnas will play mostly in PF, rarely he will play in Center position..
And If Asik is their starting Center, I think they will have some problems, he's not starting center.

Motiejunas is a seven footer. As long as he shows the ability to rebound, he'll be a center.

 

[Elite]

Motiejunas is a seven footer.

So is Andrea Bargnani, doesn't make him a center

 

[DJT]

Pretty sure Bargs has played A LOT of center for the Raptors. (Ed Davis/AMir Johnson played PF)

But I think Donatas will probably start at C or PF. The Rockets also have Toney Douglas to be a backup PG possibly.

 

[Pugz]

he can play his whole career at center but does that mean thats where hes best suited? no. bargs isnt even a four, hes a three but cant keep up there. donatas im sure will play a lot of each 4/5.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

I hope for the fans of the Rockets Asik follows in the footsteps of Tyson Chandler and learns how to catch a basketball, otherwise he will be completely useless on offense, like Ben Wallace useless.

 

[BwareDWare94]

Pretty sure Bargs has played A LOT of center for the Raptors. (Ed Davis/AMir Johnson played PF)

But I think Donatas will probably start at C or PF. The Rockets also have Toney Douglas to be a backup PG possibly.

What is the likelihood that any of these rookies start, though? I hope it's high, because I do not want to see Patrick Patterson in the starting lineup, but I just don't know how McHale goes about that. He played Patterson huge minutes all last year when Patrick couldn't hit a single shot. Last year, Patrick Patterson was god awful. He should have rode the bench but no, McHale kept throwing his useless ass in the game.

 

[Elite]

Pretty sure Bargs has played A LOT of center for the Raptors. (Ed Davis/AMir Johnson played PF)

But I think Donatas will probably start at C or PF. The Rockets also have Toney Douglas to be a backup PG possibly.

I'm well aware of that, doesn't mean he was any good at it

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Not sure how keen I am on their future because every young team who has built like this has had star power to build around. They seem like they're on the same track as like the 76ers right now.

 

[BwareDWare94]

Not sure how keen I am on their future because every young team who has built like this has had star power to build around. They seem like they're on the same track as like the 76ers right now.

I think we have to hope that Lamb develops into a star or that White can meet his potential. Royce can be a double double with some added assists type of player if he gets the minutes, but will he look to score enough to put up 15 or 20? Now, let me state that this is an entirely hypothetical question. I just believe in Royce White's abilities and know a lot of people who thought he'd be the steal of the draft. I hope they're right.

I expect Jones to make Patrick Patterson tradeable because Terrence will be much more consistent with scoring.

I don't know what to expect from Donatas. I only know that he works his ass off.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

But what is Lamb's ceiling? Could he be an 18-20 ppg scorer? Probably. But even if he was, is he the type of player who can LEAD a team to a championship? No. Look at teams like Indiana/Philly. They have that star guy like Granger/Iguodala who can lead you to a playoff run but to a title? I'd like this core a lot more if Dwight Howard was involved haha.

 

[BwareDWare94]

But what is Lamb's ceiling? Could he be an 18-20 ppg scorer? Probably. But even if he was, is he the type of player who can LEAD a team to a championship? No. Look at teams like Indiana/Philly. They have that star guy like Granger/Iguodala who can lead you to a playoff run but to a title? I'd like this core a lot more if Dwight Howard was involved haha.

I'm not really sure what his ceiling is, but seeing what players like Russell Westbrook have developed into gives me hope that maybe Lamb can learn to drop 20 or 25 because of how easily he gets his shot off. Obviously this a PG and two guard comparison (even if RW is a natural two), but I didn't see Russell Westbrook getting so good so fast, especially with how awful his jump shot once was. If Lamb can get to twenty or twenty five ppg and play something that resembles defense, at least we'll have our big scorer. While I dislike Kevin Martin as a player, I have to think his consistent scoring could have put the Rockets in one of the 6-8 spots last season, especially with the emergence of Dragic. One scorer can mean the difference in seeding, just like you pointed out with Indiana.

I'm not hoping for a championship team out of this core. I think we'll need to either find our superstar or hope that Royce White becomes the player he can because he's got so much ability with tremendous basketball IQ. Royce White is a dark horse super star candidate who probably won't turn out to be one but has every intangible that he'd need to pull it off. If we have a budding star on our roster, it's probably him.

I'm a huge fan of Chandler Parsons. He's a tenacious defender who can spot up from 3 or take it to the hoop and posterize bigs. He's no superstar but he's got the potential to be Shane Battier with hops and more prolific scoring (at times, not consistently).

Houston either needs to acquire a star next summer or hope that White turns into one or that Lamb surpasses this ceiling we're all seeing for him.

I'd love to have Dwight in the mix if he resigned, but we can't trade away all of our assets and expect to field a team good enough to entice him to stay. We need to hang on to these rookies and hopefully Parsons as well. It's going to take draft picks, lots and lots of draft picks, to get him to Houston without noticeably weakening the core we've developed to place around a star player.

I'm dismissing Jeremy Lin as a star player until he proves otherwise.

 

[Pugz]

well lin isnt the star you need, even if he does put up real good numbers. unless you guys package a few of these guys for a star player youre probably going to develop a good young team but not a good young championship potential team.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

The difference between Lamb and Westbrook though is night and day in terms of athleticism. Not that Lamb is unathletic but Westbrook is probably the greatest ATHLETE to play the PG position.

It's funny you mention Martin because I think that's a pretty good comparison for Lamb. A guy who can score 20 a night on a consistent basis but lacks superstar quality.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

well lin isnt the star you need, even if he does put up real good numbers. unless you guys package a few of these guys for a star player youre probably going to develop a good young team but not a good young championship potential team.

That's what I'm saying. They're in the same spot Philly/Indy were in a few years ago.