Houston Rockets Press Conference.

[78#]

Hello everyone.

Last season was bittersweet for us. We had our first winning record since 2005, but also missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The season started off well and also ended strong, but we were inconsistent in between. Our defense was very good, but very inconsistent offensively. Unfortunately with an improved Western Conference, we were left out of the playoffs.

The offseason started with the draft. With our pick, we selected Gorgui Dieng who we felt was the best player available on our board. We were hoping he would bring us quality depth for years to come, but unfortunately he had a bad training camp which made him available for a later trade.

In restricted Free Agency, we re-signed Ty Lawson to a four year max contract. He's improved every season and we feel he will be among the elite PGs in the league. In unrestricted free agency we thought we had an agreement with both Danny Granger and Alonzo Gee, but unfortunately those deals fell through. We were left to sign veterans Stephen Jackson and Rip Hamilton as well as re-signing veteran starter SF Ronnie Brewer who's improved every season since we drafted him in the first round in 2006.

Training camp was a mixed back with our older players taking a hit while all of over players under 30 improving with the exception of Dieng. Horford, Biyombo, Stephenson, Beverly and Lawson had really good camps while Brewer had a modest improvement. Beverly had the best camp with improvement in potentials across the board similar to what Biyombo had last season.

Preseason went well going 4-2. Our defense was great as usual though our offense struggled. To improve the offense, we made a deal with the Knicks trading Dieng, Eddie Griffin, and a 2015 first for Brandon Bass and 7 points. We fell Bass can drastically improve our offense with his scoring and can maintain our presence defensively and rebounding.

With that, we go to the depth chart.

Al Horford will be our starting center again. He made his very first All-Star appearance last season and with the improvements he had in TC, we expect many more to come. Biyombo will be the backup.

Brandon Bass will be the starting PF. Biyombo will be his backup as well.

Ronnie Brewer will be our starting SF. He's become one of the best athletic defenders in the league and we're happy to have him back. Stephen Jackson will be his backup for now.

Patrick Beverly will be our starting SG. He had a great camp and we expect strong perimeter scoring and defense. Lance Stephenson will be the backup.

Ty Lawson will be our starting PG. We expect big things from him. Beverly will be the backup. We may look to acquire another backup PG later in the year.

C - Horforf, Biyombo
PF - Bass, Biyombo
SF - Brewer, SJax
SG - Beverly, Stephenson
PG - Lawson, Beverly

Thank you. Questions?

[JNR]

GWR: The team seems to have a great defensive core. However, one has to wonder where the points will come from. Who do you think will take the lion's share of the shots?

[ballsohard]

A lot of fans in Houston are getting frustrated with your lack of moves to give Horford a chance at success. This offseason, there were a ton of rumors swirling around your team regarding the acquisition of several high profile championship level players, but there was a reluctance to give up young talent to succeed now. With the Rockets missing the playoffs again and Al Horford creeping up on 30 can you talk about your teams lack of aggressiveness this offseason and what would you have to say to the fans criticizing your lack of aggressiveness?

[garbageman]

What are your teams goals for this year? Do you think you have championship potential, or are you not at that stage of thinking yet?

[78#]

GWR: The team seems to have a great defensive core. However, one has to wonder where the points will come from. Who do you think will take the lion's share of the shots?

We're hoping that Horford, Bass, and Lawson can average close to 20 ppg each. Outside of that, we don't have much offense.


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[IamQuailman]

Do you think a young wing like Khris Middleton would have possibly helped with your lack of offense?

[NOLa.]

What do you think about the Sacramento Kings?


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[78#]

A lot of fans in Houston are getting frustrated with your lack of moves to give Horford a chance at success. This offseason, there were a ton of rumors swirling around your team regarding the acquisition of several high profile championship level players, but there was a reluctance to give up young talent to succeed now. With the Rockets missing the playoffs again and Al Horford creeping up on 30 can you talk about your teams lack of aggressiveness this offseason and what would you have to say to the fans criticizing your lack of aggressiveness?

Well we did make a move to add Brandon Bass. Free agency hurt us a bit with not landing guys we thought we had landed. Hopefully Lawson can step up and become an All-Star caliber player. Plus we didn't want to eat up our cap space since we don't have a lot of points to spend on a high tax bill.


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[78#]

What are your teams goals for this year? Do you think you have championship potential, or are you not at that stage of thinking yet?

I think we're 1-2 years away. We'll be solid but we're probably a strong wing player away.


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[78#]

Do you think a young wing like Khris Middleton would have possibly helped with your lack of offense?

Yeah we had discussed Middleton with the Knicks but nothing panned out. Hopefully we can acquire someone in the draft or in FA next season. Not landing Granger hurt us quite a bit.


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[78#]

What do you think about the Sacramento Kings?


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Not a big fan.


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[fearthebrow]

Random Dallas Reporter:

Your team is solid, and the future appears to be bright at least for the next few years. How do you think you stack up in the #MidBest? Can you compete for a division championship?

[WigNosy]

What are your plans for Bismack Biyombo? Do you have a timetable for how soon he needs to start reaching his potential?

[78#]

Random Dallas Reporter:

Your team is solid, and the future appears to be bright at least for the next few years. How do you think you stack up in the #MidBest? Can you compete for a division championship?

Really depends on how my core develops. Need a strong wing player long-term.


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[78#]

What are your plans for Bismack Biyombo? Do you have a timetable for how soon he needs to start reaching his potential?

I'm hoping by the time he signs a new contract. Especially offensively


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