Salt City Hoops | Tag Archive | Divisional Previews

Key Matchups

Yao Ming v. Al Jefferson - Yao is a beast. I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the game and one of the top 2 centers in the league. Dwight has shown himself to be more durable, but Yao passes better, has softer hands in the low post, and has a solid midrange jumper (and by “jumper” I mean, “no jumping necessary”). The only problem with Yao is his health, which consistently makes me sad. I hate that a person that is so nice, so good, and as ambassadorial as Yao could potentially have his career cut short by lingering foot problems. Anyway, considering that he will be given 24 minutes per night this season, he’s the guy to watch in this otherwise superstarless team. Yeah, it’s only 24 minutes, but don’t underestimate Yao’s ability to dismantle a team in that amount of time. He’s taller, better, and smoother than centers across the board. If Houston uses him well (and I personally think that he’d be amazing off the bench), then look out.

Kevin Martin v. whoever – This just in: Kevin Martin is good. Really good. He shot 53.6% from 3PT territory in the preseason. He’s a defensive liability, and that’s an area the Rockets will have to look out for, but his offensive abilities alone should make opposing guards nervous. He can shoot, penetrate, and knows how to draw a foul. If he can stay healthy, then stay on notice.

High Notes | Low Notes

Daryl Morey knows what he’s doing. He’s had an unfair helping of bad luck & bad contracts, but year in and out, he’s still managed to put together a team that seems to make everyone nervous. He’s a pioneer in the NBA world for his streamlined approach to statistics and his ability to build a cohesive team. A Morey team always gels, always competes, and always has players that compliment each other. This means that despite not having a team of stars, his teams will always be good. This Rockets team has a solid starting 5, and a strong second unit. It has some leaders, some veterans, some up tempo guys, and some workhorses. It has balance. It’s not a team that will wow anyone, but trust me, when you look back at their record in 3 months, you’ll be surprised. They can win in the regular season without a prototypical superstar. That model may not work come playoff time, but they’re pretty well set to start league play. Saying all of that, it’ll be particularly interesting to see what the Rockets do as the trade deadline approaches.

History

The Rockets finished the 2009-10 season at 42/40, in 9th place (by 8 games), and on the outside looking in to the playoffs. They played the season without Yao (broken foot) and used the injured player exception they were granted on Trevor Ariza. It was a frustrating, purgatorial season for Rockets fans.

The Rockets have played 169 games against the Jazz and are 76/93 all time. They split 4 games in the 2008-2009 season, and lost to the Jazz in the playoffs in both 2006-07 (in 7 games), and 2007-08 (in 6 games).

Player/Coach Notes

I respect Rick Adelman. In his 18 outings as coach, he’s had 16 winning seasons and 15 playoff appearances. He knows how to use the players he’s got, and he never gets rattled. If Jerry Sloan retired today, there are 3 coaches that I would be happy with as replacement, and Adelman is on that list. He’s an old school guy that rewards good players, not good contracts, and he’s the kind of guy that maintains stability in an industry flanked with tumultuous conditions.

Outlook

This season hinges on Yao and his lame foot. If he stays healthy, plays his 24 minutes of power, and the Rockets stay competitive until the trade deadline, I can see Morey and the boys pulling the trigger on a big-time guy to come in and make a push for the playoffs. If the chips ALL fall right, this team could be SCARY come playoff time. Imagine a healthy Yao (who probably wouldn’t have limited minutes in the playoffs) a hyped up Kevin Martin, and a determined Luis Scola. Throw in any ‘ol superstar (Carmelo?) and that team gets frightening. Saying all of that, any number of things could go wrong, the whole thing could implode, and you’d end up with another season that mirrors the 2009-10 mess that Rocket fans already suffered through once. Without Yao, things won’t be horrible, but there won’t be as much to get excited about… and if the Great Yao falls once more, then it could potentially be his last time in an NBA uniform.

In the final days leading up to regular season action, SCH will be posting divisional previews of the top teams in all six NBA divisions. Come back early and often for updates.

Key Matchups

Brandon Roy v. Deron Williams – I’m trying to figure out what position Brandon Roy will play this season. He moves like a shooting guard, but has the skills of a point. With (former Jazzman) Matthews turning heads and making a name for himself, that should open Roy up to run the offense (as he’d like). He’s versatile, strong, a great passer, and has a great shot from the outside. Deron will be able to bully him on the offensive side with his size and speed, but I don’t see Deron being able to rise up on that shot too easily. They’re a mismatch on each other, and as a Jazz fan I want to give Deron the edge, but Roy has proven to be one of the more formidable offensive weapons in the west.

Wesley Matthews v. Raja Bell – After telling Wesley he wasn’t worth the cash and before the sheets went cold, we turned around and nabbed wily vet Bell to replace him. It wasn’t a slap in the face per-se (since Wesley’s pocket book really came out the winner here) but make no mistake, Matthews felt somewhat betrayed. I agree with the decision of the Jazz front office, but that doesn’t mean Matthews did. He’ll play with a chip on his shoulder and with real purpose this season, especially when the Jazz are in the building. I thought Wesley was good last year, but if the preseason rumblings actually mean anything, then he’s actually playing up to his massive contract and could prove to be a handful when we see them in the regular season.

High Notes | Low Notes

The Blazers were ridiculously banged up last year, and down the stretch it got downright comical. If you think about it, it’s amazing what they did with such a rag-tag group of guys. Almost all of their players went down with one injury or another. Well, it’s a new year and everyone is (mostly) healthy. People are excited to see Greg Oden in action, and see what he’s really made of. Because of his injuries, he’s always come across as an unfinished product, but he has the right tools to be a fantastic NBA player. He has good footwork. He’s huge. He’s got good hands around the rim. Those are three qualities that I would kill to have in a Jazz big man. It’s easy to look back at that draft and paint Portland the goat for not taking Durant, but remember… at the time, Durant couldn’t even bench the requested 185 lbs in the combine and the only major worry with Oden was his wrist. It’ll be exciting to see how he fits into the Portland scheme… assuming he can stay on the floor.

History

Last season was the 11th winningest season in Blazer history. The Blazers won 50 games (.600) and finished 3rd in the Northwest division. They played the Jazz (division rivals) four times and came up short in all four contests. Utah was Portland’s kryptonite (and from the looks of the preseason, it’s going to continue). Saying that, when you look at the whole picture there is a clear trend with the Blazers, and it’s not that they lose consistently to good teams. Quite the opposite: Portland takes care of business with crummy teams. Take a look at the list of teams THEY swept: Toronto, Sacramento, New Jersey, Minnesota, Indiana, Detroit, Charlotte, and (even) mighty San Antonio. The Blazers, unlike the Jazz, won the games they were supposed to win. Lesson to be learned: if you beat the teams that you should beat, then you’re doing a HUGE service to your team when playoff seeding comes around.

Player/Coach Notes

Nate McMillan is a good coach. He has a turn-around reputation because of his successful stints in Seattle and (currently) in Portland. When he originally arrived in Portland, the team was a mess. There were major cap problems, and serious off the court player issues. McMillan helped subdue those issues and has been instrumental in coaching up a young, talented team. Can he build on last year’s success and produce a competitive product in the midst of woeful front office conditions? I think so.

Outlook

The Blazers are at an interesting point in their franchise. They have all the talent they need to become a league power, yet injuries (for the most part) have held them from taking the last step from good to great. This is a statement year for the Blazers. Either they take that final step and establish themselves as a team to reckon with, or they risk falling into a cycle of failure. Superstars don’t sit happy on failing teams, and Brandon Roy has already begun voicing his desire to keep the offense running through him. This year represents their chance. The two biggest obstacles? 1) Health. If Roy and/or Oden can’t remain healthy, this team could be circling the toilet come playoff time. 2) The front office. Portland’s front office is a disaster. Paul Allen is a loose cannon and make no mistake; people throughout that organization are terrified of what lasting damage he can and will do. The firing of Kevin Pritchard was a complete and utter misstep, compounded now with Nate McMillan’s reluctance to sign an extension with the team. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and this could be a rager. Still, if that front office can reign itself in, and Roy ingrains himself as the (healthy) leader on offense, they should be a tough team to beat all year and an even tougher out come playoff time.