Well, we've reached the technical "mid-point" of the season (41 games). How have we done so far? I think we've under-achieved a bit, but definitely not horribly. Should Be: 29-12 Verdict: Happy, with a slight pause.
Considering all the injuries we had, I think we should be very appreciative of what this team was able to accomplish. When (and if) Tmac and Artest come back fully recovered, we can be a very very good team.
Happy with the record for the most part, but very disappointed with the injuries and the games that were lost against weak teams. In most cases the Rockets came out unprepared mentally and physically. I hate the loser attitude of what is the least we can do and still win. However, recently, the team is playing more aggressively and cohesively. Von Wafer has been a pleasant surprise. Brooks was really playing well, but has slumped of late. Yao has made a good deal of progress and is playing a bit more aggressively. Scola has been steady and Landry has done well. Overall, I give the first half of the season a B-.
We're still in it and have battled through adversity. If we can come out through this strong and with a strong and ready Tmac this team will be riding a wave of momentum with the 2nd easier part of the schedule and a healthy(hopefully) roster.
I expected a slow start. I wouldn't have guessed Shane would be a scrub, TMac would be a jerk and Ron's wife would be fretting about his next contract. I'm content with the record, but I'm far from happy.
Getting Mutombo back is huge! Wafer playing the way he is playing is unexpected in a great way. Aaron Brooks has improved a lot. You have Brent Barry. You have Scola/Landry combo with Hayes as a dirty man. Battier is a top defender in the league with Yao the best center. Now add all that with getting Ron and Tracy back healthy... you have a championship team.
does this mean that we still have the possibilities of winning 70 games?! Git'r done! Good first half of the regular season...
There's a lot to be optimistic about. We've had arguably the toughest schedule of anyone and have had to deal with injuries. And last year before the AS break we were what, barely a .500 team?
I agree with JVG in that the Rockets have actually over-achieved considering everything. I think based on everything they've endured through (schedule, injuries, etc) and still have the record they have, they have to be the most dangerous team in the second half once they get healthy. I'd say I'm optimistically happy
Well if the last 5 games are any indication, this team has kicked it into gear and is going to steam roll for the rest of the year. I'm happy-ish.
I'm leaning toward more unsatisfied than content. Locker room tensions, disagreements between players and coach, and melodramatic moody star players might not be anything new in the league. Just that who'da predicted in preseason THIS team would be having those issues? For me its more frustrating than the injuries...takes a little luster away from the respectable record they've still managed to accomplish through all that. Fortunately the team seems to be moving forward past that. And who knows, maybe the Rockets needed a little jolt of drama
On pace for 50-32, barring all the distraction and injuries... If Artest and McGrady come back and contribute in a positive manner, we can get to another 55 win season, which is good enough for a 2nd seed in the West this year...I would imagine. Happy-ish is the right word. A lot of horrible, horrible losses, though -Lakers -Spurs -Celtics -Blazers the list goes on.
we've actually overachieved considering the injuries. but factoring in injuries i'm disappointed compared to my pre-season expectations. I still think we have as good a shot as anyone to win a championship though.
B- is little harsh considering we have .610 at loaded western conference and one of the toughest schedule so far.
No, I'm not. I expected much more. At this point, I feel like its 50/50 that we even get out of the first round. The best thing about this season has been Von Wafer.
With the season's expectations, we all expected them to be up there with Cleveland, LA, and Boston right now, but injuries got us once again. But being 25-16 isn't bad considering all the drama this team has been through. We should be happy we have such a talented team to have such a good record with a depleted roster, Im sure half the league would love to have our record if their team had faced as much adversity as the Rockets have so far
I'm satisfied, but that feeling is probably more due to how we've been playing recently than anything else. Prior to the past few weeks, we've been surviving inconsistencies, injuries, lack of chemistry and, allegedly, locker-room tensions. Given all that, we are incredibly lucky to come out with a solid, winning record. But if I had to give a grade, it would still be an "incomplete."
