NBA 2006-2007 Preview: Houston Rockets, We Have Liftoff

Houston Rockets
Coach: Jeff Van Gundy, 4th Season (130-116)
General Manager: Carroll Dawson
’05-’06 Record: 34-48, Last Southwest Division


Projected Starting Lineup (’05-’06 Stats)

PG – Rafer Alston (12.1 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 6.7 apg.)
SG – Bonzi Wells (w/SAC: 13.6 ppg., 7.7 rpg., 2.8 apg.)
SF – Tracy McGrady (24.4 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 4.8 apg.)
PF – Shane Battier (w/MEM: 10.1 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.7 apg.)
C – Yao Ming (22.3 ppg., 10.2 rpg., 1.5 apg.)


Key Additions: SF Shane Battier (trade – MEM); SF Kirk Snyder (trade – NO)

Key Subtractions: PF Stromile Swift (trade – MEM); SF Keith Bogans (UFA – ORL); SG David Wesley (UFA – CLE)


2006 NBA Draft
Round 1 – N/A
Round 2 – SF Steve Novak (32nd overall), Marquette University; SF Lior Eliahu (44th overall), International - Israel


Positional Breakdowns

Guards
What the Rockets need out of the point guard position is someone who can give them some stability and be consistent, something that incumbent starter Rafer Alston couldn’t give them last season. He had more ups and downs than the stock exchange. Alston does give the Rockets a lot when he’s on his game, a reliable ball-handler who can keep the team’s pace up and allow them to get quick scoring chances. They really want to see Alston give them something more consistent when it comes to perimeter scoring. Alston has seen his 3-point totals drop significantly each of his past two seasons, having only 102 last season after having 139 the season before and 161 the year before that. They want him to be able to stretch out the floor and keep defenses honest offensively, because without that Yao Ming will probably see more double-teams come from the top. Alston will also have to play better defense. This isn‘t street ball, he isn’t going to be able to stick around by just being good offensively. He’s going to have to be the complete package to stick around for them long-term.