Perhaps he could have been of greater value in a reduced role. In all fairness, he was asked to do this due to the absences of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, and he wasn't ready for it. We saw him force the action, force shots, force passes. But too often we saw him try to do too much.
He could rack up a few important steals per game and knock down a three if he was open. Those types of players, amidst the highlight reel dunks and occasionally big plays, can be quite a headache for coaches and fans alike.Īriza could play great team defense. He, by all means, is an underachiever who relies on his athleticism far more than he relies on fundamental basketball talent. He needs someone to hold his hand and tell him what to do. I like players who are smart, who study, who make plays that aren't necessarily practiced or coached. I like guys who can control the ball and play in a manner that doesn't require too much help from the other four players on the court. I'm all about fundamental basketball players. The move netted the Rockets cash savings and a $6.3 million trade exception, but the money wasn't really the cause for my excitement.
#2011 HOUSTON ROCKETS ROSTER FREE#
All three signings made perfect sense and added to the growing depth of the roster.īut perhaps the most important move of the offseason was the decision to acquire guard Courtney Lee from the Nets and trade away a once-coveted free agent signing in Trevor Ariza. Later, they signed free agent center Brad Miller to bolster the team's frontcourt depth. Fortunately, they nailed their number one item of the offseason to-do list by re-signing restricted free agents Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry.
They poked fun at the Chris Bosh sweepstakes and tried to convince us that they had a chance, but alas, they failed to reel in the big fish. Now, can Patterson play solid defense against either taller or smaller, quicker opponents? We'll have to see.įollowing the draft, it was a busy July for the Rockets. He can capitalize on available opportunities, but he doesn't need a lot of touches to do so. And that's exactly what makes him perfect for the Rockets' versatile, flexible offense. His only weakness? He doesn't stand out in any way, shape or form (other than his gargantuan shoulders). They are intelligent, dedicated basketball players who have managed to turn heads throughout their tenures in the NBA. He's exactly the kind of player that Daryl Morey has drafted in the past: an overachiever with a good head on his shoulders who can do a little bit of everything. I'm telling everyone, right now, that Patrick Patterson is going to be the overlooked gem in the 2010 NBA Draft class. What significant moves were made during the off-season? The first four questions and answers? They'll inform you on what matters most: this roster.
But since it's such a prevalent topic, I did my best to save him for the end. Odds are, the Rockets won't be acquiring him. I didn't want to mention Carmelo Anthony's name in this preview, though now I've obviously begun the preview by doing such.
Key Additions: Yao Ming, Courtney Lee, Brad Miller, Patrick Patterson, Ishmael Smith Key Losses: Trevor Ariza, David Andersen, Brian Cook Note: Thanks, as always, to Celtics Blog's Jeff Clark for organizing these previews.
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