Q&A Rocket Propellant

Every NBA season I select five or so NBA teams — in addition to my hometown Toronto Raptors of course — that I make a conscious effort to follow closely throughout the year.

There’s usually little to no reason for my selections — it may be that they have a favorite player (i.e. the Suns), it may be that their line-up interests me (i.e. the Magic) — but nonetheless, it’s something I like to do. Keeps me grounded, you know. (I have no idea what that means.)

Anyway, one of the team’s I plan on following this year is the Houston Rockets. Couple of reasons why, I guess: (1) I’m still waiting for Yao to unleash his Olajuwon-like beat down on the L. I know he has it in him. (2) I’m hoping T-Mac can open his droopy eyes and bounce “back” from all those injuries, and (3) I like the additions of Battier, V-Span, Davis Love Lucas the III, and Kirk Snyder a lot.

So I was happy to come across ClutchFans’ writer Jeff Balke’s spin on 20 questions to ponder this Rockets season. The entire thing’s worth a read — print it off; take a dump — but here are a few choice Q&A’s to wet your appetite:

1. Can Rafer Alston shoot a better percentage, particularly on 3s?
Can he? Yes. Will he? Probably. Alston has never shot 40 percent from behind the arc for a season. But for four straight years from 2001 through 2005, he averaged nearly 38 percent from behind the three-point line including two years he played in 80 and 82 games each. Given that history and the fact that he was, at times, one of the only legitimate scoring options on the floor last season, last year would seem to be an anomaly rather than the norm. With the return of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming plus the addition of shooters like Shane Battier, I have to believe Alston will improve on his poor shooting season in 2005-06.

4. Is Shane Battier a four? He’s not going to shut down the studs. They don’t shut down each other. But can he make it tough enough to get the ball inside to make up for a lack of size once teams get it there?
Personally, I think he is and I think he can handle fours on the block. Setting aside Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Elton Brand, very few guys at the position are legit fours in the west. Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, for example, are likely better guarded by a big, strong three like Battier than by a four like Juwan Howard. Plus, forcing big men like Duncan and Brand to play on the perimeter when Battier is out there provides much needed spacing and Jeff Van Gundy has said that he wants Yao to be surrounded with three-point shooters at every position when he is on the floor.

6. Who is the backup point? Unless Bob Sura comes back, which is a question in itself, I’m guessing Vassilis Spanoulis, but it’s awfully tempting to put John Lucas’ outstanding shot on the court.
I think Sura is done. I wish he weren’t, but I don’t see him coming back. As a result, I think Spanoulis is the guy. He has that toughness and skill with the ball Van Gundy likes. He’s big for a one giving him size on opposing guards and can hit the three. Lucas will be an intriguing player to watch, particularly with the accuracy of his shot. My guess is that Van Gundy will lean towards him early given his experience in the NBA, however limited it may be. But V-Span has the look of a guy ready to contribute at the point in the NBA.

Answering the Chronicle’s 20 Questions [ClutchFans]

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By J.E. Skeets at 4:27 pm on 09.25.2006 — Tags: Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Rockets

Comments

4 Responses to “Q&A Rocket Propellant”

  1. Jack at 11:13 pm on 09.25.2006

    Battier is a great addition to ANY team, regardless if he plays the 2,3, or even 4. He’s a hustler, and will make up in effort what he lacks in size/speed.

  2. Slim at 11:50 am on 09.26.2006

    Skeets, you just like became one of my top 5 favorite people in the world. Ever. Thats pretty high. I actually just got done reading Clutch’s article from the Chronicle. I like what he wrote.

    There is a creepy part of this for me. I think its rather cool you randomly pick a team to follow. I grew up near Philly, now live near Milwaukee so I follow the Bucks and Sixers. I also keep tabs on the Knicks to tourment my older brother. But then get this: my girlfriend decides that she wants to pick an NBA team to follow so that she can talk hoops with me (pretty awsome girlfriend if you ask me). Lets just say, her Chris Bosh jersey is in the mail.

    This means that your a psudeo-Rockets fan, while I’m a psudeo-Raps fan. I felt like we just bonded (yes, that was as akward for me to type as it was for you to read).

  3. The Basketball Jones » Quickies: Yao, Vanna White Style at 9:37 am on 09.28.2006

    […] Update: Wow, I just pledged my (2nd) allegiance to the Rockets and look what happens! Bonzi agrees to a two-year, $5M deal with Houston. [ESPN] By J.E. Skeets at 8:26 am on 28/09/2006 — Filed under: Media, Rockets, Quickies, Yao Ming […]

  4. aloneconformist at 5:51 pm on 10.06.2006

    been awhile since i been around… we got the rockets winning the chip this season… yes, i know how ridiculous that sounds… but we’re not alone.

    tj ford’s a raptor now so i guess we’ll have to watch y’all… bargnani and bosh could be interesting… wouldn’t be surprised if bj tucker is the starting two by the halfway mark… then you’d have tj and bj from texas running the backcourt, like some old cowboy detectives… oh, i’m thinkin’ of simon & simon.

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