Now What?

Once again, the Rockets find themselves in the position of waiting on question marks. Team doctor Tom Clanton now says that Yao Ming's stress-fractured left foot has not yet healed properly and no timeline has been established for his return to playing basketball. Also, according to Daryl Morey, Tracy McGrady may be out for a good portion of next season. After such risky surgery, it's even possible that he will never make it back to his former self. Those two players represent roughly 68% of last year's salary cap. As the cap increases next year, so will their salary, so it will probably be a similar percentage then too. So what should the Rockets do now?

First, let me commend Les Alexander for springing for $6 million dollars to acquire 3 second-round draft choices in last week's draft. He could have stood pat, but knowing that it is a buyer's market among NBA teams right now, he instructed Morey to lay out the bucks to try and shore up the team's depth and as insurance in case McGrady doesn't make it back anytime soon or in case either Ron Artest or Von Wafer bolt in free agency. First class, Les.

But that was last week. What does the future hold? OK, here it is. Stay the course. Is that the perfect solution? Of course not. Nobody wants to go into a season missing two superstars. The big question is, what are the alternatives?

If you trade Tracy, it will be to a team that wants to unload a huge long-term contract with a player that is not pulling his weight. Locking in long-term money to get mediocrity in return is not the way the team wants to go. Tracy's contract is over at the end of next season, so they would be better off keeping Tracy now and getting rid of the obligation then. Plus, the team has an insurance policy in place that will cover his salary for most of next season. And let's not forget that McGrady is a legitimate star that could very well come back to pay huge dividends by the end of the season and playoffs. If so, the Rockets would still be in the best position to resign him. If not, they will be clearing a maximum contract from the salary cap at a time when Lebron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwayne Wade and Amare Stoudamire will be free agents. McGrady is only 30.

There is little chance that Houston will trade Yao Ming - now or in the future. Not only is he an elite center, but Yao brings in huge dollars in the asian market. Imagine the world-wide interest in a player like Yao. Oddly enough, Yao's jersey sales rank 10th in China behind Kobe and eight other players, but if Yao was not playing in the league, overall sales would be a fraction of what they are. Regardless, Daryl Morey has specifically stated that Yao Ming is not available. He is the "cornerstone of the team" around which the Rockets will build.

Ron Artest and Von Wafer are both unrestricted free agents. Resign them. We'll all have our chance to check out draftees Jermaine Taylor and Chase Budinger as the Summer League unfolds, but for now, they are unknown commodities. More on them in my next post.

Every other Rocket is under contract for next season. Dikembe is a free agent, but is obviously history due to both his age and his injury. I suggest parting company with Brent Barry and Brian Cook to make room for the rookies.

One other suggestion: Explore acquiring Zydrunas Ilgauskas from Cleveland. His contract allows for an early termination option right now. The Cavs aquired Shaq last week, so Ilgauskas will probably have to come off the bench next season anyway. At 34 years old, perhaps he would rather come off the bench in Houston. The Rockets need to limit Yao's playing time because of recurring injuries and Ilgauskas would be an outstanding choice to step in.

That's the big picture. Details as they arise.

Building Through the Draft

The Rockets are so tight on salary cap space that signing a star free agent is highly unlikely for next year. The only player they have worth trading will have little value on the open market because of his salary and injuries (Tracy McGrady). Therefore, the only solution to improve the team in the immediate future is to build through the draft. So here is my recommendation as to who the Rockets should take in the upcoming draft:

Nobody. The Rockets have no picks in the 2009 draft and are not likely to trade for one.

Fortunately, one of last year's second round choices, Joey Dorsey, is on the mend after sitting out virtually all of his rookie season with foot problems and is working out furiously with the coaches. If he can get through a season without plantar fasciitis problems, he could be a real plus for the Rockets. They desperately need another big man to back up Yao Ming and Luis Scola in the post now that Dikembe Mutombo is no longer an option. That would also allow Carl Landry to play more small forward.

The Rockets are a team loaded with swingmen. Luis Scola, Joey Dorsey, Carl Landry, Chuck Hayes, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Ron Artest and James White are all capable of playing more than one position. In fact, of the Rockets regular rotation, only Yao, Brooks, Lowry and Wafer are one-position players. That gives coach Rick Adelman a tremendous variety of options to match up with other teams' personnel. That flexibilty is a necessity in today's NBA as so many teams are eschewing the traditional big center in favor of a quicker lineup.

T-Mac Surgured

In order to alleviate some pain he had been experiencing since before last season, Tracy "had a left shoulder arthroscopic distal clavicle excision for long standing symptoms emanating from (his) acromioclavicular joint."

He had his shoulder scoped. The timing was so that he could rehab both the shoulder and his knee at the same time. The surgery was performed by Dr. Brian Cole at Rush University Medical Center.

He is not yet running, but McGrady claims that his knee is coming along fine and he's been working on it in the pool for several weeks. He is aiming for a training camp return to basketball.

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.

Playoff Predictions

I usally have pretty strong vibes as to which teams are playing well and which players match up well against each other, but this year is different. It's not that I don't get hunches or that I don't know the players. It's because the final four teams are so evenly matched that you could flip a coin and predict the winners just as accurately as the "experts".

The Lakers are a very good team with what should have been the co-MVP of the league this year, Kobe Bryant. Pau Gasol adds an inside/outside threat that will be hard for any team to overcome and coach Phil Jackson has been there so many times that his players just naturally feel confident. At the same time, Denver has a superstar of its own and is playing inspired team-oriented basketball at just the right time. Again, coach George Karl has seen it all and knows how to create a game plan that will get the ball in the right hands on offense and neutralize the Lakers' assets on defense.

After last night's dramatic buzzer-beater by LeBron, I changed my opinion of who is the best player on the planet. It used to be Kobe, but it's now a tie. I've been looking for a reason to make that change because frankly, I just don't like Kobe. He whines too much. LeBron can dominate a game from both ends of the court. Žydrūnas Ilgauskas is not only underrated, he is in fact one of the top centers in the league. What makes this series hard to predict is that Orlando's center, Dwight Howard, is the best center in the league. Forwards Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu make the Magic's front court possibly the best in the NBA. If point guard Jameer Nelson had not torn the labrum in his right shoulder in February, I would be all over the Orlando bandwagon, but unfortunately, they are stuck with former Rockets Rafer Alston and Tyron Lue and much-traveled journeyman Anthony Johnson to man the point guard position. The Rockets got rid of Alston and Lue for a reason.

So here is the formal prediction: Cleveland will beat Los Angeles for the NBA Championship. How can I be so sure? Because my coin (a pristine 2008 Alaska commemorative quarter) came up heads, heads and tails, in that order.

Time for Reflection

The season is over for the Rockets. For a good friend of mine, basketball season is over, period. "I'm not a basketball fan," he says. "I'm a Rockets' fan!" He has season tickets and roots rabidly for the home team, but his disappointment in game 7 was absolute. He won't be watching any more games this year.

But that's not me. I love the game. I love the Rockets most, but basketball is a wonderful sport that brings out the best in all who play it. Aside from being the best exercise ever, it requires effort, dedication, focus, and most importantly - teamwork. Other sports do as well, but of the big three most popular sports in this country, basketball demands the most communication and cooperation. No human can excel without ego. Pride is the natural result of accomplishment and should be exalted, not condemned. But in basketball, one's pride must come from one's ability to operate within a team framework, Many see this a sacrificing one's ego to the team, but that is far from true. A sacrifice is made when one gets nothing in return. This is a trade; the success of the individual being based on his contribution to his team - and all accomplished on a voluntary basis. It should be a shining example of how people can work together to better themselves, and coincidentally, their fellow man.

But enough philosophy. How about just a big thank you for all the hard work and dedication the Rockets exhibited this season? It was a fantastic run, guys, and you deserve every accolade. I won't even mention the individuals who were injured. For now, I just want to laud the ones that were there for the duration. Way to go.

There will be some housekeeping here in the next few days and weeks. I will make some predictions, both about the ongoing playoffs and the future of the Rockets and NBA. I will offer an end-of-season report card for the individual Rockets and make my online pitch to Daryl Morey and Les Alexander as to what moves to make in the off-season. So stick around ladies and gentlemen. The game will go on.

Adios Big Red

The Rockets' season will end today.

Who'da Thunk It?

This group of glorious overachievers continue to amaze everyone who sees them. I went to the game last night (thanks to the generosity of a good friend) and have not had so much fun in a long time. My voice is gone and I think I broke some blood vessels in the palms of my hands. With the exception of the first half of the third quarter, there was plenty to clap for all night.

The Rockets had a magnificent 17-1 run to open the game and the Lakers had a similar run to start the second half. Those stretches aside, Houston beat L.A. by 15 points and seemed in control for the whole game. To a man, they played smart basketball. Yes, Ron Artest and Aaron Brooks had their brain farts, but on the whole, both contributed handily to the victory. Artest was a defensive monster, which I'm sure made Rick Addleman extremely happy. He didn't overdribble (very often) or force (many) passes into a crowded lane. He let the point guards be point guards and mostly took shots only when he should have. No player can have great shooting nights every night, but if they take their shots in the flow of the game and according to the offensive strategy, the coach will not complain.

Shane Battier did a yeoman's job on Kobe Bryant. Kobe scored 32 points, but it took him 27 shots to do it and Bryant never got his teammates involved to pick up the slack. Great job, Shane. Luis Scola was extremely effective early, getting the Rockets off to a great start. Aaron Brooks scored early and often, leading the Rockets with 26 points and keeping the Lakers on their heels all night. Carl Landry was very active on both ends of the court, hitting all six of his shots and grabbing nine rebounds in 27 minutes. Also credit Rick Addleman for having Brooks help defensively on Pau Gasol when Gasol moved into the paint. It virtually shut down Gasol's offense and the rest of the Lakers could not hit their open shots.

In short (if that's still possible), it was a great night for Rockets basketball. They had $40 million dollars' worth of players on the bench in street clothes and $18 million on the court, and they wiped the floor with the defending Western Conference chamions.