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Will the Rockets sneak up on opponents?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Nero, Oct 30, 2002.

  1. Nero

    Nero Member

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    You know, what with all these wildly fluctuating and varied
    prognostications from alleged sports 'experts' (ie columnists) from
    all over the map, placing the Rockets anywhere from 4th to 12th
    in the Western Conference, something occurred to me.

    Very few of these so-called experts actually know what the heck
    they are talking about. If they are talking about a team other than
    their hometown's, then they quite clearly are simply regurgitating
    what they have heard other 'experts' say. That's one of the
    reasons for the wide variety of opinions about the Rockets. Some
    of these guys actually do their homework, but most of them don't.
    And yet it all gets passed around among them, back and forth,
    until you just have so much static and mud that no one *really*
    knows what to expect.

    And since the most powerful and long-lasting impression people
    have about a player is the *first* impression they get, mere reality
    can take a long time to infiltrate some of these peoples' awareness.

    Think about what some of the major impressions likely are about
    many of the Rockets' current players.

    Steve Francis? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the way he
    got himeself out of Vancouver.

    Eddie Griffin? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the well-
    publicized troubles he got into at Seton Hall.

    Mo Taylor? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the way he
    complained his way out of Clipper Hell.

    Yao Ming? Slow, lethargic, unskilled -because of that
    encyclopaedic, all-encompassing bit of video from
    Chicago.

    Cuttino Mobley? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the way he
    would always dribble too much and jack up a last-
    second shot last year.

    Moochie Norris? Funny hair, dribbles way too much, just a gimmick.

    Glen Rice? Old, fat, broken down -because of the way he was
    a virtual non-factor on the Lakers, then the Knicks,
    then out for most of the year for us last season.

    Kenny Thomas? Too small, too fat, but plays hard.

    And this list could go on in this fashion from the top to the bottom
    of the roster, with either totally erroneous or at least outdated
    opinions about most of our players.

    Since we follow our team closely, and love them dearly, we know
    that most of those 'expert opinions' are simply a load of hogwash.
    Anyone who has actually been paying attention to this team is
    aware of how much our players have grown and improved, but
    those people who only have a passing interest in the team (such
    as a Los Angeles semi-sports writer, for example) will know nada
    about the real situation.

    And yet, with all these 'experts' out there being treated as though
    their opinions are worth any more than any other guys' off the
    street, I am starting to get the feeling that the Rockets might
    actually sneak up on the league this year. I think a lot of opposing
    teams and coaches are going to be underestimating this team this
    year, and it will not surprise me to see the Rockets come down to
    the end of the season and actually be fighting for home-court
    in the first round of the playoffs.

    Anyone else starting to feel that kind of vibration, or did I just
    have some bad cheese on my nachos for lunch today?


    Ciao
     

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