T-Mac's back to carry Rockets Marc Stein: Houston spruced up the cast around T-Mac and Yao with Battier, Bonzi and a few legit shooters. But everyone thought Stro Swift was a landscape-changing addition, too, so the Rockets know they're not back in the elite until they prove it. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 6 Chris Sheridan: If Jeff Van Gundy stumbles out of the gate, he'll be calling playoff games on TNT rather than coaching them in Houston. If Yao Ming starts taking shots at him publicly, it'll be a telling sign. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 7 Jim O'Brien: The Rockets will make this division a donnybrook. The addition of Bonzi Wells and Shane Battier along with some better shooters will put them in the class of the Spurs and the Mavs. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 6 Tim Legler: How can a team with McGrady and Yao finish last? Because they can't stay on the court together. If they can stay healthy, the additions of Battier and Wells should be enough to get the Rockets into the postseason. DIVISION RANK: 5 | CONFERENCE RANK: 12 Scoop Jackson: It's the Bonzi Effect. If T-Mac plays 60 games at 90 percent and Shane plays close to how he did this summer, the Rockets could shake up the basketball world this season. But everything has to go Yao perfect. DIVISION RANK: 1 | CONFERENCE RANK: 1 John Hollinger: Rockets look like one of the four best teams in the West but will come in third in their own division. T-Mac's back is key, but great offseason (Bonzi Wells, Shane Battier, Kirk Snyder, Vassilis Spanoulis) will be a big help. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 5 Chad Ford: The formula is simple. If McGrady and Yao stay healthy, Battier and Bonzi could make Houston a serious contender. If T-Mac or Yao goes down, the Rockets might be bouncing lottery balls in May. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 6 Ric Bucher: Can Yao be as dominant without getting the ball as much? Can Van Gundy blend Alston's up-tempo talent with the T-Mac/Yao two-man game? Do they have enough shooters? Answers: Probably not, probably so and not really. Getting beyond the first round would be an achievement. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 6 Chris Broussard: If healthy, Rockets will be the team nobody wants to face in the postseason. Still, this unfamiliar group needs one year at full health together before being a real threat to get to June. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 5 Greg Anthony: A healthy T-Mac and Yao is a guarantee for the playoffs. And Shane was a huge pickup. Now if they can get Bonzi healthy and focused and get better point guard play, expect some success come playoff time. DIVISION RANK: 3 | CONFERENCE RANK: 7 Average ranks DIVISION: 3.0 | Standings CONFERENCE: 6.1 | Standings
Legler always used to give props to the Rockets since we lost to Dallas two years ago and I think he's just tired of getting burned.
What really makes Legler an idiot is that just a couple of days ago during the Rockets, Heat game he said the Rockets were one of a very short list of teams that had a legitimate shot at winning it all this year. Make your mind up Tim.
First off, Scoop Jackson is brilliant and the rest of these writers have poor decision making skills. If Yao and Tmac stay healthy= garbage writing Of course the Rockets will suffer if Yao or Tmac go down. Nobody is doubting that. If Tim Duncan, who is also injury prone, and Manu Ginobli go down, the Spurs will suffer. So what. That is not good writing. These writers need to grow a pair. Make a prediction, not a series of if-then statements. These writers sound like amatuers. Here is how it's done: Don Grahamleone: Can Yao be dominant? Yes. Can Tmac be the best player on the court at any given time? Yes. Will they? Yes. And they'll stay healthy too. Jeff Van Gundy just needs to keep doing what he has been doing all along, only now, he has the team built for a championship. Look out NBA, we have a new king, his name is Houston Rocket 111. (111 is a mythical two-headed dragon who eats former champs) Word to CF bbs. Peace out. DIVISION RANK: 1 | CONFERENCE RANK: 1 | NBA RANK: 1 | WORLD RANK: 1 | ALL-TIME RANK: TIED FOR FIRST WITH (93-94) AND (94-95) CHAMPS | NFL RANK: 1 | HUMANITARIAN RANK: 1 | POPULARITY WITH THE MEDIA RANK: 30TH
As much as I hate to say it, there are many questions left to be answered. Let's sit tight and watch what the team can do before making unrealistic expectations. I think that is the general consensus of the sports writers. I don't it is unfair for us to be judged as such. As they say, the rankings changes week by week depending on how things work out. So be patient.
I hate that you are right, but we are fans. Fan is a derivative of fanatic and fanatic is close to being crazy. So, the dillusions are normal, right?
