If Ariza's the deal, then do we have a Celts/Rockets continuum?

[TitleMaster]

Let's face it, the Rockets aren't healthy but they now have a burgeoning star.

In time, however, they will be healthy and then, a real threat to the WCF hegemony of the Lakers. If/when that occurs, could we be seeing a Houston/Boston continuum over the finals where either Boston or Houston split titles, on a year by year, basis?

I would personally be very satisfied with the above scenario

[Roy Hobbs]

Trevor Ariza is not a superstar, and even if he was, the Rockets still are miles away from contention.

[jackson_34]

Unless Houston trades Tmac and Yao, I really don't see them ever competing for a title.

[nickagneta]

In time they will be healthy? When? McGrady is an unrestricted free agent and Yao can opt out after this year, which he should do. Yao is due to be out perhaps all year and McGrady's return has been an unknown for some time. Most doubt he will ever even be allowed to play for the Rockets again.

[indeedproceed]

Unless Yao stays healthy and they trade TMac I don't think they'll ever compete.

Titlemaster: How long do you think this Boston team can be a contending team before it has to reload? Then ask yourself how far away Houston is from contending. They don't match up.

[xmuscularghandix]

Unless Houston trades Tmac and Yao, I really don't see them ever competing for a title.

They could just let TMAC walk and try to sign some other good players with the cap space cleared from his $999,000,000,000.00 contract.

[Bahku]

Really don't see it happening anytime soon. They need to start rebuilding for the long-term, because their immediate future is not bright ... that's just the reality of it.

[Chris]

I know everyone is concentrating on the Houston side, but I think its also important to point out that by the time Houston were able to rebuild, the C's will likely be into the rebuilding phase themselves.

[ToppersBsktball10]

Ariza's developing into a star, but not a superstar, he's not at an all star level yet.

[NextCeltic34]

Get rid of Yao and McGrady.

[Bahku]

I know everyone is concentrating on the Houston side, but I think its also important to point out that by the time Houston were able to rebuild, the C's will likely be into the rebuilding phase themselves.

Very true, Chris ... but I think the C's have a pretty good head start!

[KungPoweChicken]

The question is not when will McGrady be healthy, but, rather, when has McGrady ever been healthy? And like Roy Hobbs said, Ariza is not a star. Quite frankly, I've only been mildly impressed with his game as a role player.

[jackson_34]

Unless Houston trades Tmac and Yao, I really don't see them ever competing for a title.

They could just let TMAC walk and try to sign some other good players with the cap space cleared from his $999,000,000,000.00 contract.

Good point. I guess it's possible Rockets could also go after Bosh this offseason for that hometown hero effect (well, home state at least).

[xmuscularghandix]

Plus this is kind of silly becuase Roy is in Portland, and Melo is in Denver. BOTH of those teams and players are better than Houston/Ariza.

[fairweatherfan]

TP for using "hegemony" in a sentence correctly    Ariza does look like he's at least worth the mid-level so far; I agree he's not a superstar and almost certainly never will be, but he's starting to look like a regular star, which is still pretty good.

The Rockets have a very good nucleus of role players and borderline stars, but are missing those elite players to put it all together.  If they can somehow trade T-Mac for some good pieces, and keep a healthy Yao, they could start to look like those Pistons teams of a few years back.  But those are some huge ifs.  Ariza's a good addition for them, but they have a long way to go to start talking title.