[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Why is everybody saying that the trade they made for TWill is bad? They traded a 1st round pick, lottery protected for a guy that can easily average 7-4-3 off the bench. Not only that, this offseason, we resign Yao and with the money we have left over, we can sign Dalembert and Reggie Evans.

Now take a look at the roster we’ll have.

Brooks / Lowry / Smith
Martin / Lee / TWill
Battier / Budinger / TWill
Scola / Evans / Patterson / Hill
Yao / Dalembert / Hayes

And now that you see this line-up, what’s so different from this lineup than the Orlando Magic line up? A very good center who can score and rebound seemingly at will, a backup defensive center. Shooters that spread the floor in Battier, Budinger, Martin, Lee, Brooks. A deep bench. (Lowry, Lee, Budinger, Evans, Dalembert would be starters for many teams) A defensive small forward with Battier. Defensive guys off the bench in Lowry, Lee, TWill, Evans, Dalembert, Hayes.

How is this team so different than the Orlando Magic? Not the mention a GREAT coach that can really make a decent team look better than it really is. (2009 NBA playoffs where we took the Lakers to 7 games with Ron Artest as our primary scorer)

If anything, this team is better than the Magic.

Brooks and Lowry > Nelson and Duhon
Martin, Lee, TWill > Carter, Redick, Pietrus
Battier, Budinger, TWill > Richardson Pietrus
Scola, Evans, Patterson, Hill > Lewis, Bass, Anderson, Allen
Yao, Dalembert, Hayes = Howard, Gortat, Orton

[ChrischiParticipant]

Sorry but I have to totally disagree. Before the season started I thought they had a chance to reach the playoffs but right now it’s not looking good. Yao injured again and the record is bad. I think they’re very deep and got even deeper adding T-Will who is a good talented player. Adelman is a great coach and they already suprised me getting 40 wins last season. But I don’t think that’s enough to make the playoffs.

And your comparison with the Magic is horrible.

PG – They’re equal.

SG – Magic: Carter is having a good season, Pietrus is a good defender and shooter

SF – Equal

PF – Equal

C – Magic by far. The Magic starters aren’t good defenders individually but they are still one of the best defensive teams. Why? Even if it sounds weird but Howard is making his teammates better. Him standing in the paint altering shots and forcing the other team to shoot jumpers is huge and that helps his teammates defensivly. Yao has a similiar ability but that’s worthless if he isn’t playing.

[ChrischiParticipant]

Sorry but I have to totally disagree. Before the season started I thought they had a chance to reach the playoffs but right now it’s not looking good. Yao injured again and the record is bad. I think they’re very deep and got even deeper adding T-Will who is a good talented player. Adelman is a great coach and they already suprised me getting 40 wins last season. But I don’t think that’s enough to make the playoffs.

And your comparison with the Magic is horrible.

PG – They’re equal.

SG – Magic: Carter is having a good season, Pietrus is a good defender and shooter

SF – Equal

PF – Equal

C – Magic by far. The Magic starters aren’t good defenders individually but they are still one of the best defensive teams. Why? Even if it sounds weird but Howard is making his teammates better. Him standing in the paint altering shots and forcing the other team to shoot jumpers is huge and that helps his teammates defensivly. Yao has a similiar ability but that’s worthless if he isn’t playing.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

You really think Richardson and Pietrus are as good as Battier, Budinger, and TWill?

Battier is a better defender than both.  Budinger is probably a better shooter than Richardson.  And neither of them are as good passers and rebounders and as athletic as TWill.

 

At the PG spot, Lowry would be a starter anywhere as well as Brooks.  Brooks is a way better shooter than Nelson and Lowry is a better defender than Duhon and brings more energy than either of the Magic PGs.

There is NO WAY in hell that Lewis is as good as Scola.  Scola is a 20-10 guy that can take over games in the low post and has a nice mid range jump shot.  All Lewis can do is cast away from 3, he can’t even rebound or play defense.

Carter is having a decent season but it doesn’t compare to Kevin Martin’s 22ppg and 42% from downtown.  Throw in Courtney Lee who is a good defender and is averaging 7ppg, 50% from the 3pt line.    There is no way Carter and Redick are better than Kevin Martin and Lee at this point of Carter’s career.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

You really think Richardson and Pietrus are as good as Battier, Budinger, and TWill?

Battier is a better defender than both.  Budinger is probably a better shooter than Richardson.  And neither of them are as good passers and rebounders and as athletic as TWill.

 

At the PG spot, Lowry would be a starter anywhere as well as Brooks.  Brooks is a way better shooter than Nelson and Lowry is a better defender than Duhon and brings more energy than either of the Magic PGs.

There is NO WAY in hell that Lewis is as good as Scola.  Scola is a 20-10 guy that can take over games in the low post and has a nice mid range jump shot.  All Lewis can do is cast away from 3, he can’t even rebound or play defense.

Carter is having a decent season but it doesn’t compare to Kevin Martin’s 22ppg and 42% from downtown.  Throw in Courtney Lee who is a good defender and is averaging 7ppg, 50% from the 3pt line.    There is no way Carter and Redick are better than Kevin Martin and Lee at this point of Carter’s career.

[Scottoant93Participant]

I am a nets fan but i really hope t-will gets his head straight realizes his full potential and becomes a allstar. I just hope we don’t trade Favors to the nuggets for melo(think he will a great player in a few years)

[Scottoant93Participant]

I am a nets fan but i really hope t-will gets his head straight realizes his full potential and becomes a allstar. I just hope we don’t trade Favors to the nuggets for melo(think he will a great player in a few years)

[ChrischiParticipant]

Obviously your opinion is a little biased because if all those playing would be what your saying how can they be a below 50% team while the Magic are contenders?

First of all: Houston is playing with a 5th fastest pace right now while Orlando is playing with the 27th fastest pace. That means that the numbers from the Houston are inflated and would be worse on a Magic-like pace.

Nelson is having a better season than Brooks so far.

Nelson: 14,4-7,3-3 shooting 45 FG%, 39% 3PT

Brooks: 16,4-5,4-2,2 shooting 43 FG%, 39 3PT

Not only would be Brooks numbers lower on a slower pace, but also have he and Martin played horrible on-ball defense, especially early this season. Nelson also hit a few game winners so far this season and his chemistry with Howard is pretty good.

Lowry wouldn’t be a starter anywhere else but he is still probably one of the better back-up PGs in the league.

Martin is shooting only 43% from the field with 3 rpg add poor defense. Carter scored less but slower pace although both were equally efficient with Carter being better from the floor and Martin being better from 3pt and from FT. But Carter is a better defender and rebounder with fewer minutes and has better back-ups imo with Pietrus who is better than Lee and Reddick who is instant offense.

Budinger is not a better shooter than Q.Rich. Budinger has made 0.9 of 3.6 threes so far this season, that’s 25%. Q.Rich has made 1.3 of 3.9, which is 33%. Q.Rich is also a proven shooter, shooting 35% in his career and is a better defender.

Lewis has played a lot of SF so far this season with Bass as the PF. Bass played great, proving good energy and efficient scoring of the bench.

Thinking about it again I actually think that Orlando is stronger on the Wings.

I agree that Scola is a good player. But again, faster pace and he is not a good defender also. Probably equally bad as Lewis but probably worse than Bass, although he has a way better offensive game. Probably one of the best low post scorers in the game.

But all this discussion is kinda worthless because even if Houston and Magic are kind of equal on most positions maybe one team is a little bit better on PG while the other on PF.

The Magic are so much better on the Center postion that they’re the better team because Howard makes all of them good defenders, kind of…

 

[ChrischiParticipant]

Obviously your opinion is a little biased because if all those playing would be what your saying how can they be a below 50% team while the Magic are contenders?

First of all: Houston is playing with a 5th fastest pace right now while Orlando is playing with the 27th fastest pace. That means that the numbers from the Houston are inflated and would be worse on a Magic-like pace.

Nelson is having a better season than Brooks so far.

Nelson: 14,4-7,3-3 shooting 45 FG%, 39% 3PT

Brooks: 16,4-5,4-2,2 shooting 43 FG%, 39 3PT

Not only would be Brooks numbers lower on a slower pace, but also have he and Martin played horrible on-ball defense, especially early this season. Nelson also hit a few game winners so far this season and his chemistry with Howard is pretty good.

Lowry wouldn’t be a starter anywhere else but he is still probably one of the better back-up PGs in the league.

Martin is shooting only 43% from the field with 3 rpg add poor defense. Carter scored less but slower pace although both were equally efficient with Carter being better from the floor and Martin being better from 3pt and from FT. But Carter is a better defender and rebounder with fewer minutes and has better back-ups imo with Pietrus who is better than Lee and Reddick who is instant offense.

Budinger is not a better shooter than Q.Rich. Budinger has made 0.9 of 3.6 threes so far this season, that’s 25%. Q.Rich has made 1.3 of 3.9, which is 33%. Q.Rich is also a proven shooter, shooting 35% in his career and is a better defender.

Lewis has played a lot of SF so far this season with Bass as the PF. Bass played great, proving good energy and efficient scoring of the bench.

Thinking about it again I actually think that Orlando is stronger on the Wings.

I agree that Scola is a good player. But again, faster pace and he is not a good defender also. Probably equally bad as Lewis but probably worse than Bass, although he has a way better offensive game. Probably one of the best low post scorers in the game.

But all this discussion is kinda worthless because even if Houston and Magic are kind of equal on most positions maybe one team is a little bit better on PG while the other on PF.

The Magic are so much better on the Center postion that they’re the better team because Howard makes all of them good defenders, kind of…

 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

The Rockets are playing a faster pace for the simple reason that they are undersized and they HAVE to play that style.

The Rockets are under 500 but if you read what I said, I was talking about NEXT year, with a healthy Yao and hopefully signing Dalembert and Reggie Evans to add toughness, defense, and size.

 

Scola is not a bad defender, he’s actually our anchor on defense.  And just like you said Dwight makes the magic better defenders, Yao Ming does that as well.

 

The reason Carter and Nelson are shooting better is because they are getting open looks with their inside out offense.  We have no inside presence besides Scola, and Scola is NO Yao.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

The Rockets are playing a faster pace for the simple reason that they are undersized and they HAVE to play that style.

The Rockets are under 500 but if you read what I said, I was talking about NEXT year, with a healthy Yao and hopefully signing Dalembert and Reggie Evans to add toughness, defense, and size.

 

Scola is not a bad defender, he’s actually our anchor on defense.  And just like you said Dwight makes the magic better defenders, Yao Ming does that as well.

 

The reason Carter and Nelson are shooting better is because they are getting open looks with their inside out offense.  We have no inside presence besides Scola, and Scola is NO Yao.

[ChrischiParticipant]

It’s okay that they’re playing faster pace with a smaller line-up. I was just explaining that their numbers are not as good as they look.

Btw I don’t think signing Reggie Evans would be a good move. He is simply a bad player a non factor on offense and too short to be a real factor on defense. Of course he is a beast on the boards, but that’s not enough…

Sorry but Scola is not a good defender. He is neither really strong to defend the post or really quick to step out to defend the J. He is a very poor shot blocker also. I haven’t watched enough Rockets game to say if he fights and puts effort into playing  D but I don’t think he has the tools to be a good defender. He is a very good offensive player though and he doesn’t really have be their defensive anchor when Yao returns healthy, although I have my doubts if that will happen.

[ChrischiParticipant]

It’s okay that they’re playing faster pace with a smaller line-up. I was just explaining that their numbers are not as good as they look.

Btw I don’t think signing Reggie Evans would be a good move. He is simply a bad player a non factor on offense and too short to be a real factor on defense. Of course he is a beast on the boards, but that’s not enough…

Sorry but Scola is not a good defender. He is neither really strong to defend the post or really quick to step out to defend the J. He is a very poor shot blocker also. I haven’t watched enough Rockets game to say if he fights and puts effort into playing  D but I don’t think he has the tools to be a good defender. He is a very good offensive player though and he doesn’t really have be their defensive anchor when Yao returns healthy, although I have my doubts if that will happen.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I know what you mean about Yao.  The think is adding Reggie Evans gives us a rebounder off the bench that we have never had.  Usually when Yao and Scola come off the floor, we have no rebounding.  Scola plays with so much heart on offense and defense.  He isn’t the best defensive pf in the league, but he sure isn’t a bad defender.  And that’s why adding Dalembert would be a good idea, you have Reggie Evans to rebound and Sam Dalembert to defend the low post.

 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I know what you mean about Yao.  The think is adding Reggie Evans gives us a rebounder off the bench that we have never had.  Usually when Yao and Scola come off the floor, we have no rebounding.  Scola plays with so much heart on offense and defense.  He isn’t the best defensive pf in the league, but he sure isn’t a bad defender.  And that’s why adding Dalembert would be a good idea, you have Reggie Evans to rebound and Sam Dalembert to defend the low post.

 

[ChrischiParticipant]

If you have Dalembert and Reggie Evans on the floor your offense is extremely limited. Dalembert is very incosistend and Evans has no offense at all. I would rather go for maybe Dalembert with Miller. Miller could feed guys like Lowry and Lee with cuts. But I think it will be tough to get a guy like Dalembert. I think there are a bunch of teams that could use him as a starter. Patterson and Miller should be a solid duo.

[ChrischiParticipant]

If you have Dalembert and Reggie Evans on the floor your offense is extremely limited. Dalembert is very incosistend and Evans has no offense at all. I would rather go for maybe Dalembert with Miller. Miller could feed guys like Lowry and Lee with cuts. But I think it will be tough to get a guy like Dalembert. I think there are a bunch of teams that could use him as a starter. Patterson and Miller should be a solid duo.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I don’t think Patterson is ready to be a solid contributer as a back up yet.  Hopefully by next year he becomes a decent backup and Miller isn’t too old by then.  I actually want us to not sign Yao and maybe try to get Melo and Kendrick Perkins.  Our lineup would look a lot better with Brooks, Martin, Melo, Scola, Perkins

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I don’t think Patterson is ready to be a solid contributer as a back up yet.  Hopefully by next year he becomes a decent backup and Miller isn’t too old by then.  I actually want us to not sign Yao and maybe try to get Melo and Kendrick Perkins.  Our lineup would look a lot better with Brooks, Martin, Melo, Scola, Perkins

[goneParticipant]

Yao is not the same center and I doubt he will ever be that being said scola is terrible on D so is Kevin martin and brooks is so-so and with no rim protector like Dwight you have a whole in the middle

[goneParticipant]

Yao is not the same center and I doubt he will ever be that being said scola is terrible on D so is Kevin martin and brooks is so-so and with no rim protector like Dwight you have a whole in the middle

[HitsterParticipant]

Houston have the rest of this season to see how ready Hill and Patterson will be to contribute. They have Scola as a good starting scoring PF and with Miller and Hayes to play around Yao bringing in Dalambert for MLE or similar would create a huge logjam at 5.

The key will be how Yao’s foot recovers, whether he can play more than 24mpg because if his minutes are limited then his contract would have to reflect this. Also Yao has said he may well retire and the longer his foot is an issue then the more likely this could be.

Houston have their PG,SG and PF in place with nice young pieces in Budinger, Hill, Patterson and now Williams. They have a draft pick coming from NY next year so giving up their own pick isn’t such a big move.

Another key could be Shane Battier who will be an FA next summer and is likely to get good offers from contending teams and as he will be around 33 years old then, it could be his last decent contract and also one of his last chances to get on a real contender so unless Houston can get back into contention then he may well move on which creates a huge vacuum at SF for them.

[HitsterParticipant]

Houston have the rest of this season to see how ready Hill and Patterson will be to contribute. They have Scola as a good starting scoring PF and with Miller and Hayes to play around Yao bringing in Dalambert for MLE or similar would create a huge logjam at 5.

The key will be how Yao’s foot recovers, whether he can play more than 24mpg because if his minutes are limited then his contract would have to reflect this. Also Yao has said he may well retire and the longer his foot is an issue then the more likely this could be.

Houston have their PG,SG and PF in place with nice young pieces in Budinger, Hill, Patterson and now Williams. They have a draft pick coming from NY next year so giving up their own pick isn’t such a big move.

Another key could be Shane Battier who will be an FA next summer and is likely to get good offers from contending teams and as he will be around 33 years old then, it could be his last decent contract and also one of his last chances to get on a real contender so unless Houston can get back into contention then he may well move on which creates a huge vacuum at SF for them.

[joecheck88Participant]

its almost rebuild time in houston, imo. i would resign yao but to a low contract(not low but not max maybe 12mil per with restrictions). u can keep brooks but i would trade martin and scola for young players and picks. let some of these young guys play. houston has a ton of young talent and getting rid of scola, martin and battier would be ideal to get guys like budinger, t will, courtney lee, jordan hill and patrick patterson more minutes. we have about 7 guys under 26 with very good potential. plus a good draft pick this year(possibly top 10 pick). like i said keep yao, if for nothing else but pr. and he will still be solid. but i would let guys like miller, battier, hayes, martin and scola go. they need more youth and athleticism especially on the front line.

[joecheck88Participant]

its almost rebuild time in houston, imo. i would resign yao but to a low contract(not low but not max maybe 12mil per with restrictions). u can keep brooks but i would trade martin and scola for young players and picks. let some of these young guys play. houston has a ton of young talent and getting rid of scola, martin and battier would be ideal to get guys like budinger, t will, courtney lee, jordan hill and patrick patterson more minutes. we have about 7 guys under 26 with very good potential. plus a good draft pick this year(possibly top 10 pick). like i said keep yao, if for nothing else but pr. and he will still be solid. but i would let guys like miller, battier, hayes, martin and scola go. they need more youth and athleticism especially on the front line.

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

Well…Yao’s out for the season.

I said before, there gonna win 35 games.

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

Well…Yao’s out for the season.

I said before, there gonna win 35 games.

[Author]

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