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Rocket Science
Rockets ready to see how their new additions will come together
Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- The Rockets had one of the busiest offseasons in the NBA over the past five months.
Now, they finally get to find out how all of their new additions will fit together.
Fresh off one of the most hyped offseasons in the league, the Rockets unveiled their retooled roster during Monday's Media Day with hopes that their frenzy of summer moves will be enough to boost the franchise to an NBA title.
The Rockets haven't won it all in 12 years and haven't won a playoff series since 1997. But with a new coach and influx of new talent, the Rockets are confident that they have a deeper and more talented roster than last season's 52-win club.
The challenge will be blending all of that talent -- new and old -- into Rick Adelman's new system.
"We're all excited," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said of the new roster. "But at the end of the day, every team is happy right now. We have to prove it on the court before getting too excited."
After losing an opening round playoff series to the Utah Jazz in May, the Rockets made several bold moves this offseason in hopes of closing the gap on the Western Conference's top teams.
They started the summer by hiring Adelman as the franchise's new coach and followed that move by acquiring Steve Francis, Mike James and Luis Scola. Along with those moves, the team retained Bonzi Wells, Chuck Hayes and Dikembe Mutombo and added a promising rookie -- Aaron Brooks -- in the NBA Draft.
With those additions, the Rockets have 20 players under contract heading into training camp at the University of Texas at Austin. The backcourt is especially loaded with 10 guards, including four -- Rafer Alston, Francis, James and Brooks -- vying for minutes at point guard. The collection of new talent will be blended into a roster that is already returning All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.
How will it all mesh?
"That's what coaches get paid the big bucks to do," Rockets forward Shane Battier said. "The main goal of a general manager is to bring as much as talent as they can and the coach's job is to make that talent work. There are a lot of great personalities and talents on this team. It's up to the coaches and us to blend that talent together and form the best team."
Adelman certainly welcomes the challenge of it.
While he admits there is a good chance "one or two players" are going to be frustrated with him over minutes this season, the Rockets coach is happy with the number of options that he has heading into camp.
Adelman said that he hasn't defined anyone's role, although he noted that it's safe to assume McGrady and Yao will probably be back in the starting lineup. He does know that some of his stars will have to sacrifice their numbers for it to work.
"The teams I've had that have been very successful have come together and done something to sacrifice what's best for the team," Adelman said. "I have ideas of what I'd like to do with this group, but I also want to be sure that I recognize how successful they've been and not just throw that away. We can do some things to make this team successful, but all the players have to buy into it."
So far, that doesn't sound like a problem.
While some have wondered how the Rockets will find enough shots for all of their stars, the players believe there will be more than enough scoring opportunities for everyone in Adelman's up-tempo system.
The trick, of course, will be getting comfortable with that new offense in camp.
"I don't think it's going to be difficult at all," James said. "People ask, 'Will there be enough balls for everyone?' That's not the decision. Rick Adelman has a style where the ball is up-and-down and constantly moving. All guys have to do is knock down shots. We still want to go through our big man and T-Mac. But the ball is always going to be constantly moving. It's not going to be still and stagnant with one person trying to break down the defense."
The Rockets will certainly need time to get to know each other's game for everything to flow so smoothly.
But given last season's early playoff exit, the Rockets are more than happy to welcome change if it gives them a shot at a deeper postseason run.
"Every offseason you strive to improve," Battier said. "I'd much rather be in a position where we made many dynamic roster changes versus a team that fell short last year and stood pat. That's the exciting part. I'm excited to get on the floor with my new teammates and learn their game."
