Houston Rockets 2013 Season: Jeremy Lin, Rookies, Predictions

Houston Rockets (34-32) Missed 8th seed by 2 games                                             

2013 Lineup                       2013 Bench
PG-Jeremy Lin                    Shaun Livingston     Terrence Jones
SG-Kevin Martin                 Toney Douglas         Royce White
SF-Chandler Parsons        Carlos Delfino          Jeremy Lamb
PF-Donatas Motiejunas     Patrick Patterson
C– Omer Asik                      Marcus Morris

Three Fan Concerns 
a) Will Jeremy Lin replicate his stellar 2012 play?
answer:Yes Lin is still hungry to prove himself, his game is legit.
b) Can Omer Asik become a reliable starter?
answer:No He is a rebounding machine but will disappoint otherwise.
c) Can the Rockets top 3 draft choices contribute immediately?
answer:Yes Every one except Royce White-mental obstacles will consume his talent.

Concrete Facts
a) If the Rockets struggle early-soon to be free agent Kevin Martin will be shipped out. This will also come to fruition if Jeremy Lamb plays above expectation.
b) The Rockets will be a bottom 5 rebounding team in 2013-lost their top 3 rebounders from 2012 (Marcus Camby, Samuel Dalembert, Luis Scola)
c) With no imposing forces in the front court-the Rockets will get chewed inside nightly. Defense will be the main problem for this team.

Trade (proposed scenario)
Cleveland Cavaliers receives Kevin Martin
Houston Rockets receives Tristan Thompson + Omir Casspi
a) With only one 2013 contract over $ 5 million, the Rockets are evidently rebuilding and will most likely trade Kevin Martin and his $12.9 million.
b) This deal would benefit both parties and would depend on the progress of three rookies-Cleveland’s Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters along with Houston’s Jeremy Lamb.
c) Houston would be dumping salary-while bolstering their weak front court with an unproven but hungry Tristan Thompson.
d) Cleveland would be reluctant to part with their 2011 lottery pick but swapping him for a proven scorer like Kevin Martin would be money-especially if Zeller excels, Waiters struggles and the offense is anemic.

Draft  #12
Jeremy Lamb SG (UCONN)
a) Lamb is a scorer with incredible potential-shoots the ball well from mid-range-on the move or in triple threat.
b) His length will make him an above average defender-but he needs to improve on his defensive footwork-the superior NBA guards can easily beat him off the dribble at this point.
c) At 179 Lamb needs to add about 10 pounds to improve his interior game-at his weight he will be pushed around inside.
d) Lamb will receive a great amount of playing time-his game will be a measuring stick for determining Kevin Martin’s departure. So if he has all star potential, the world will know soon.
Current NBA Comparison- Throwback Tracy Mcgrady

Offseason Mistake
Failing to acquire a proven frontcourt defender and rebounder
a) Omer Asik and Donatas Motiejunas will not match last year’s front-court toughness.
b) Look for the above duo to get hammered on the boards against formidable opponents.
c) And sorry Rockets fans Patrick Patterson will never live up to expectations-on either ends of the floor.
d) The salaries of Camby, Dalembert and Scola were agreeably too large to bear but a free agent banger like Kenyon Martin can still help the Rockets on D and the boards.

2013 Prediction: 36-46   Will Miss Playoffs

By: Kareem Arnold