THE PALLILOG
How the Rockets are counting on a lot of ifs this season
Dec 4, 2020, 9:25 am
The new-look Rockets have a lot to prove. Photo by Pool/Getty Images
How the Rockets are counting on a lot of ifs this season
Russell Westbrook out. John Wall in. The Rockets' Westbrook Era sure was brief. It was an entertaining failure. The team got worse, and the Rockets' return from the Washington Wizards for trading Westbrook to them is vastly less than what the Rockets gave to Oklahoma City to get him. On top of that, while Westbrook was brilliant for a couple of months early in 2020, Chris Paul was a better player in his one season with the Thunder than Westbrook was here.
In desiring the deal to D.C., Westbrook has admitted (without admitting it) that winning is not his highest priority. He wants to dominate the ball, The End. However, it's not as if he's foregoing a realistic championship run with the Rockets to go be the lead Wizard. Westbrook and James Harden may have been besties off the court, but their games/egos obviously didn't mesh well on the hardwood for each of their tastes. Paul lasted two seasons before Harden wanted him gone, Westbrook one. How long before Harden decides that Wall cramps his style? This given the non-secret that Harden already would love to become an ex-Rocket if he could get to Brooklyn or Philadelphia.
Westbrook's contract was pretty much untradeable except in exchange for another ridiculous contract or contracts. Wall's is essentially a carbon copy, three years left at about 133 million dollars. The Rockets are crossing their fingers that somehow Harden takes to Wall and has rejuvenated good feelings about staying, and that sign and trade acquisition Christian Wood lives up to high hopes pinned on him.
Wall last played in an NBA game December 26, 2018. Since then he's had one season ending heel surgery, and then a season costing Achilles tendon tear. At 30 Wall is two years younger than Westbrook, but that is worthless if he doesn't have back most of his speed and quickness. Pre-injuries Wall was as fast as Westbrook, but less forceful. Some might say less ball-hoggy. He's a better three point shooter than Westbrook, but who isn't? In his nine NBA seasons (the last two partial seasons) Wall has shot league average from three, once. He was not a good defender the last season or two before his major injuries.
If Harden doesn't have one foot and half his head out the door, and if Wall is healthy and 85 percent of what he was, and if DeMarcus Cousins is healthy, and if Wood is worthy of three years 41 mil, the Rockets should be pretty good. That's a lot of ifs. Regardless, the Lakers won't be shaking in their sneakers over this incarnation of Rocketball.
This is all another reminder that ex-General Manager Daryl Morey failed the smell test when he set forth wanting to step back and desire for family time as his reasons for leaving the Rockets. I don't blame him for wanting out to take the 76ers job, but am not a fan of BS.
The Colts come to NRG this Sunday
The 4-7 Texans are home Sunday versus the 7-4 Indianapolis Colts. Stifle that yawn! The Colts come to town off Derrick Henry and the Titans trampling them last Sunday. That in itself shouldn't spike local optimism because the Texans basically have no running game. The Colts also played without stud d-lineman DeForest Buckner who was out after a positive COVID test. Buckner's status for Sunday is undetermined.
The Texans are only three and a half point underdogs as they play without their best wide receiver (Will Fuller) and their best cornerback (Bradley Roby) after each flunked a PED test. Classic. That's one way for Fuller to finally get through an NFL season without a major injury.
College hoops
Sadly, college basketball isn't much of a thing around here. Doesn't change the facts that Baylor looks tremendous and is ranked number two in the nation. The Bears play number one Gonzaga Saturday at noon our time in Indianapolis. The Houston Cougars cracked the top 10 this week. The Texas Longhorns may crack the top 10 next week. SARCASM ALERT. It's a good thing UT is a hoops first fanbase or Longhorn fans might be really disgruntled with Tom Herman.
MLB free agency
Major League Baseball's winter meetings open (virtually) on Monday. Next week could be the week George Springer picks a new team. Ditto Michael Brantley. It's ridiculous that with free agency underway MLB still hasn't settled on whether the designated hitter sticks in the National League. That would almost certainly expand Brantley's market, and possibly Springer's as well.
Buzzer Beaters:
1. I wonder what Westbrook would have said if the Rockets asked him are you in if we trade Harden for Bradley Beal? Then, as a Rockets fan would you rather have Wall/Harden or Westbrook/Beal?
2. Did you know James Harden has a restaurant named "13" opening in town New Year's Day?
3. Harden restaurant questions: Bronze-Does the dessert menu offers a variety of turnovers? Silver-Think Harden has any idea who James Beard was? Gold-Suppose delivery range includes Brooklyn and Philadelphia?
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With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.