With Yao/T-Mac, will the Rockets surpass the Lakers as the flagship team in the NBA?

Time will tell! It's fun 4 us 2 dream what the future will bring 4 the ROXS! I really can't wait 4 the season 2 start!!

 

I don't think the lakers popularity will ever die, i think they will always be the flagship team in the nba.

 

First, LA and NYC get first dibs always because they are such huge media markets. Houston, despite being the fourth most populated city, is only the 11th largets media market.

I think that there is every chance that we can and will be the most marketable team overseas, which is huge. Whether we become a marquee franchise in the states will depnd on our success and longevity. Remember, the Rockets had one of the most celebrated duos in basketball in the early 80's in Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, both fresh out of college. The Rockets went to the finals in 86 and lost to the Celtics and that was it.

We have to be good and sustain that level of play over quite a few years before we become the darlings of the NBA. But, one this is for sure, we are going to be a big draw in every city (including Houston), we'll sell a TON of merchandise and will will likely vault to the top of the heap in terms of popularity outside the US.

 

Untill we win 3 straight championships, we will never get respect. Not that we even deserve any right now. There's always a better team out there in the media's eyes.

T-Mac may be as good as Kobe, But Yao is nowhere near what Shaq was in his prime or even now.

However, i do think we will be a much more popular team now. The Magic were always on TV last year because of T-Mac. Just as the Rockets were on TV more because of Yao. Combine the 2 and we should have alot of games on TNT next year.

 

despite having yao on our team, the most marketable teams in China are....

the lakers and the 76ers. While many Chinese are drawn to basketball because of Yao, the fans like to watch Kobe and Iverson more, which is good, because it shows that they arent just interested for national pride reasons.

However, now that Houston has TMac, there is no doubt that we can become one of the most marketable teams in the country, and now with a combo of yao and tmac, our international appeal covers two major fronts, not unlike kobe and shaq (minus the blimp sized egos). Houston Rox have an excellent future.

 

Jeff, How do they determined which market is larger .

 

Jeff, I understand the "large market" principle. But the Green Bay Packers' popularity was way beyond the location's worth. And the Cowboys are arguably the most popular football team in the US without being in one of the largest market.

That said, football is probably different from basketball. Green Bay and Dallas each had a legendary coach with innovations of his own. Basketball might be more player-centered than coach-centered.

 

I honestly don't know. I think it has something to do with households and ratings, but I couldn't say for sure.

 

Football is more team-centered like college sports where the winning franchises/colleges are king. Duke and North Carolina rule college basketball because they have won a lot. In pro sports, it is all about the players.

And, I'm not talking about just in China in terms of overseas.

 

What I think make a big difference is how the Laker were one big a$$ soap oprea... If Yao and Tmac get alone like they seem they will, it will get boring for everyone (cept) Houston of course. I am wondering if Houston wins a crap load of rings... will they become the most hated team like the Bulls, Lakers, Yanks, and so on.