[Yao Mania]

I wish Novak can develop into a rotation player, we can really use his scoring touch for 15-20mins a game if he isn't that big of a defensive liability.

Honestly, if everyone can just stay healthy, I'm happy with this team. The last time this team was at 100%, we won 10 in a row. Rafer's finally proving to be a reliable starting PG, and I'm willing to give Yao/T-Mac one more year under Adelman. Scola will know his role better, and Battier will continue giving us reliable minutes at the 3.

So the question mark is the bench. We need a reliable guard. BJax is trash (he lost game 6 for us IMO), Brooks is far from being ready for heavy minutes, and Head hasn't developed into what I hope he would. Maybe there's still hope in Francis... but I wouldn't take that risk.

Landry definitely needs to come back. We need a defensive rebounding big, which we can explore picking up with our 1st round pick. Deke, please come back....

but that's about it really. Hire some better trainers to keep our guys in tip top shape, and lets get ourselves ready for next season.

[houst-mac]

We need to come up with a plan where Yao and Tracy both plays about 60 games per regular season. They would play together against all the best teams but would rest against the scrubs (One of them would play always).
I know this will never happen but i hope they can figure out something to make sure that all of our guys would be ready when playoff-time comes.

[Legend-Like]

Originally Posted by Ruff Draft

What legitimate 2nd/3rd option scorer could Houston get though? Someone of the Mike Miller/Artest level would be ideal, but how? Battier would make sense for Artest. Trading him for Miller drops the defense down a lot though.

Not really if we trade Luther Head. Then again I don't think Memphis would want Luther Head.

[OneBadLT123]

Originally Posted by Hakeem

Also, they need to do everything short of sacrificing Aaron Brooks to the gods to try and get Yao to stay healthy all season. Does anyone know anything about stress fractures? Would reducing his minutes help?

I have come to the point where Yao should get limited minutes in the first half of the season, then get him ready for the run of the 2nd half, and in the playoffs.

It sounds crazy, but it only seems as if Yao can play half a season now.

[thaKEAF]

Originally Posted by Legend-Like

Not really if we trade Luther Head. Then again I don't think Memphis would want Luther Head.

No we would not.

[Cornholio]

BJax, Head and Francis, good bye!

[Ruff Draft]

Francis is worth another healthy one-year contract. If he is relatively healthy he could be a scoring option for Houston, and a spark off the bench. BJax and Head are as good as gone.

[Krimzon]

Yao and McGrady minutes should be limited. Scola, Landry, and Alston can control the game for a while. When we start to lose the lead, bring out Yao, McGrady, or both. The idea of limiting Yao and McGrady games might not be a great idea. Yao might be OK with it but McGrady will probably complain. Maybe one game Yao plays more than McGrady and vice versa. When we go against a team like the Spurs, both of them will play however minutes we need them.

[Hakeem]

Originally Posted by Yao Mania

The last time this team was at 100%, we won 10 in a row.

We're actually still on a 16-game winning streak with Yao in the lineup -- the 12 that were part of the 22, plus a 4-game run earlier that was ended by a loss to Utah that Yao missed due to the flu.

[Hakeem]

Originally Posted by OneBadLT123

I have come to the point where Yao should get limited minutes in the first half of the season, then get him ready for the run of the 2nd half, and in the playoffs.

It sounds crazy, but it only seems as if Yao can play half a season now.

Maybe we should do what Isiah planned to if he landed a rookie KG -- just play him in home games.

[lingi1206]

Originally Posted by Hakeem

Maybe we should do what Isiah planned to if he landed a rookie KG -- just play him in home games.

haha wow that is a really good idea haha nice man nice

[Pimped Out]

Split the MLE between Artest and Landry, re-sign Deke, then try to sign a veteran with the LLE

[hroz]

We need a pure PG not Jackson probably not Francis.

Someone who can direct the team around not someone who is a SG. That should be priority number one. Rafer has developed so well. I am happy where we are at that starting PG right now. (obviously another upgrade would be awesome *Calderon are you listenning*).
But we desperately need someone who can direct the team around and hit open shots to backup Rafer.

Novak I am confident can be that back SG-SF. But Another upgrade there would be awesome. There is few better shooters in the league than Novak but there are definately better defenders.
(PS I think if we get Artest we lose Battier) Why? Artest & McGrady will play 40mins each minimum in the playoffs. So Battier who was third in DPOY will be coming off the bench for maximum 16mins. I am not sure the coaches/owner would see that as a good allocation of resources.

Starting C Yao With Mutombo Hayes Landry Scola Harris backing him up.
PF position Carluis Scolandry (sign Landry now)
SF Battier with Novak or another shooter who can play D backing him up
SG Mcgrady with Novak or another shooter who can play D backing him up
PG Alston. Need someone who can run the team at PG. With Brooks the next backup.

I would like to see Green get a contract aswell.