Rockets End-of-Season Report Card

Final exams are over for the Rockets. We've all had a week to reflect on the season and contemplate the assets and liabilities of the team. So before we get completely into the summer break, it's time for a report card. Here it is, in alphabetical order:

Ron Artest (B-) Ron kept his nose squeaky clean and exhibited nothing but an outstanding positive attitude all year. He brought everything he had every night and left it all on the court. But as has been his wont throughout his career, Artest did not always play smart. At times he tried to take over the point guard position, dribbling around on the perimeter, making ill-advised passes into traffic and forcing his way into the lane rather than dishing it off to the open man.

Brent Barry (D) Being a good influence on the court and in the locker room for the rest of the team saved him from a failing grade, but basically, Brent added little to the team on the floor this year.

Shane Battier (B+) One of my favorite players, Shane plays intelligently, efficiently and puts out 100% on both ends of the court. His scoring was down this year, but his assists were up and turnovers down. Missing 22 games due to off-season surgery prevented a higher grade.

Aaron Brooks (B) Brooks made huge strides this season toward becoming a competent NBA point guard, taking over for Rafer Alston when Alston was traded in mid-season. Keeping in mind that Brooks has only been a starter for 35 games, many of his errors can be overlooked. He dribbles too much and makes bad decisions too often. Due to his 6' height, he is something of a defensive liability against taller guards that like to post up. So why did he get an above-average grade? Because he is aggressive, fearless, coachable, plays hard and he's fast - VERY fast. Most of all, he's just fun to watch.

Bryan Cook (D) I am not privy to practices, so coach Addleman will have to explain Cook's lack of playing time, but for whatever reason, he played very little. Since he was on the team and available for 35 games, an (Incomplete) would be inappropriate.

Joey Dorsey (I) Plantar fasciitis ruined Dorsey's first season in pro ball. He spent much of the year with the Rio Grande Vipers, Houston's NBDL affiliate, but was never able to play effectively. His potential will probably buy him another chance next season.

Chuck Hayes (C) Who doesn't like Chuck Hayes? He is listed (generously) at 6'6" and plays center. Chuck uses his body and strength very well, but his lack of height and offensive skills prevent him from being anything more than a luxury on an already deep team.

Carl Landry (B) Having been given an excused absence for the month he spent recovering from a gunshot wound, Carl more than proved me right when I recommended that the Rockets match Charlotte's offer sheet last off-season and keep him. Landry was a force off the bench at power forward and his athleticism and demeanor inspired his teammates. I still contend that he would be a starter on almost every team in the league that doesn't already have Luis Scola.

Kyle Lowry (A-) As with Aaron Brooks, Kyle's grade is relative and somewhat qualified. For having been thrown into the mix after being acquired from Memphis in mid-season, Lowry did a good job, sharing point guard minutes with Brooks and providing a critical spark plug off the bench. So good in fact that I recommended not long ago that Lowry be promoted to starter. He does not have Brooks' offensive skills, but he plays more under control and gets the rest of the team more involved than does Brooks. My recommendation still stands.

Tracy McGrady (C-) The commonly expressed opinion as to Tracy's performance this year was, "Even when he was there, he wasn't there." That pretty much covers his contribution to the team this season on the court, and he did not handle the injury behind the scenes or his eventual decision to have season-ending surgery very well either. In later posts, I will opine on Tracy's attitude and future, but for this purpose, suffice to say that T-Mac didn't show up this year. He was just Tracy.

Dikembe Mutombo (A) The general attitude in the Rockets' locker room improved along with their on-court performance just about the time Dikembe signed on this year. Coincidence? Hardly. This grade is more of a legacy than an accurate indicator of his performance this year. It was an honor for the Rockets to have Deke end his career here.

Luis Scola (A) Luis was a rock in the lineup this season. He has come into his own as an NBA power forward and will pay dividends for many more years. All year he was whatever Rick Addleman asked him to be. He gave his all on every play and played smart, solid, fundamental basketball.

Von Wafer (B) No Rocket has ever been more fun to watch. Von is fearless and has the talent and athleticism to back it up. He provided instant offense off the bench all season. Wafer occassionally tries to do the impossible and has nowhere to go with the ball, but that will change with experience. He also has defensive lapses and to paraphrase Will Rogers, he never met a shot he didn't like. If he learns to pass more, he could easily increase his assists markedly and benefit the team.

James White (I) Acquired late in the season from the NBDL, this human highlight film is little more than raw talent. I look forward to seeing him next year in the off-season rookie league and training camp to see if he has a real future in the NBA.

Yao Ming (A) His foot injury in the playoffs prevented him getting a A+ for his solid, determined performance in the regular season. Yao is the reason the Rockets made it to the playoffs and got out of the first round for the first time in forever. Weaknesses? Yes, he has a few. He doesn't run fast. For his height, he doesn't block that many shots or rebound all that well. Everything else he does very well and he is generally considered the hardest worker on the team. Yao Ming is one of the top two centers in the league.

School's out. Disagree with anything I've said? Tell me about it. Next: What the future will bring.