If everything works out, who can match up with the Rockets?

Yes, it is a good team. But alot of things have to work out right. History has assembled alot of great teams only to see someone get injured, the chemistry not happen, or someone demand a trade or not resign. Let's keep our finger's crossed. I think this team has three players who should have been or were number one picks in Ming, Francis, and Griffin.

 

Er Valio, teams that can match-up against us would be everyone in the West that made the playoffs last year + Clips. We were an unhealthy and still-underachieving to be sure, but 1) what are you talking about in terms of Yao "meeting expectations"? His size and skill level are going to help the Rockets immensely this season, but no one in their right ming (sorry mind) can believe he will be able to do anything with Shaq this year. 2) We couldn't play defense at a Div. 1 level last year, and I haven't seen anything to suggest that Boki won't be a huge defensive liability at least initially. 3) Griffin should be a junior in college and he won't even get enough PT to put up Kobe's 3rd year numbers. And 4) Yao's long adjustment period is going to to make Steve and Cat very hesitant to buy into any schemes that Rudy feels are best for the long haul of any NBA season. I am being ridiculously optimistic to think the Rockets might be able to be the 6 seed in the West if everything breaks right. That will probably take 50+ wins. A lot of chemistry goes into 50+ wins. If Yao is half of what we hope he can be this season it's gonna be a hell of an adjustment for everyone. And we are a very "tight" team at our core. Yao can just be here and make waves. And I'm not knocking Steve or Cat, they're now saying all the right things and I love those guys, but this season, the Yao hype and some success is going to play with their heads. I'm glad Rudy is as happy as I am, but he's going to have to be really tough this year, very hard to do now in the NBA. Oh, yeah the Nets, Celtics and Pistons look to have a lot better season than us too.

 

there are some interesting young teams that should provide some good rivalries if they live up to there potential.

Rockets line up:
Ming
Griffin
Boki
Cat
Wink

Bulls line up:
Curry
Chandler (7'2" and still growing? Ralph Sampson anyone?)
Eddie Robinson
Rose
Jay Williams

Clippers
Kandi
Brand
Odom
Meggett?
Miller

Grizzlies
Pau Gasol (7'1" and very aggressive in the paint regardless of his weight)
Drew Gooden
Shane Battier
Micheal Dickerson
Jason Williams

Nuggets
Halario
Camby
Skita
?
?

Suns
Jake Tsakalidas
Amare Stoudemire
Shawn Marion
Joe Johnson
Stephon Marburry

These are the teams that I think have the ingredients to have very good front courts in the with in the next 3 years. I think the Rockets, Grizzlies and Clippers all have a chance to have very good front courts next year. I think these are the teams that are going to help restore respectability to the center position.

LAL has given us a good lesson on what happens when a team with a dominant front court goes up against a team with out a good front court. The only team in the NBA that challenged the Lakers were the Kings which also happens to be the only other team with a dominant front court. When I say dominant front court I am not talking about a team with Kevin Garnett and no one else. I am talking about a team that has a Divac, Webber and Peja. The Kings can rebound, score and play defense all in the paint. Only the Lakers have a one-man front court with Shaq.

Sure some of those teams will not pan out like the Nuggets who might not be able to find a backcourt to go with their front court. On the other hand some players may never live up to their potential.

Players that may not have the potential of the rest:
Tsakalidas
Camby
Kandi

If I am a gm of one of those teams I would be very protective of my front court players and would give them every opportunity to mature.

 

...regarding the Clips, dont forget Richardson and Dooling.

 

Not trying to forget them but I was really concentrating on the front court.

 

Young teams with great outlooks:

Rockets,perhaps best outlook of all with 1,maybe 2 or 3 franchise players and great depth across the board.

Clippers,solid down the line with 2 franchise types,not as much depth(exp) and there's always the question of whether Sterling will pony up or disassemble this nice collection.

Bulls,good talent that still needs a couple of pieces and depth. The big questions are whether the kids up front fulfill their potential and if they do,will Jalen still be around or effective enough?

Of the three,I'll bet on the Rockets(duh!). Seriously. They have enough experience to bring along Griff,Yao,and Boki without those 3 having to dominate night in,night out. That is,until they're ready to do so. Rudy,CD and staff plus the franchise in general give them a big edge because they have a proven track record. The Clips could be right there as well but Sterling is still a huge MINUS to their outlook until he proves otherwise and the Bulls are still farther away than the other two.

 

Franncis, Mobley, Ming, Mo, Kenny, and Rice. Dang that's one heck of a team. All the people on that list are solid players.

 

If all goes according to plan for the Rockets I see a hell of a rivalry with the Mavs and Kings. I'd like to see a playoff series between the Rockets and Mavs. That would be off the hook.

 

No one....
Go Rockets!!

 

For 2002-03, 50 wins, #6 seed in the West would be sweet - I'd go for that. I also think that in 2-3 years, assuming this team stays together, we should be aiming much higher.

 

The key to keeping the team together is 1) winning and 2) egos.

Granted w ehave alot of potential (Stevie, Cato, Yao, Eddie) but I guarantee if we don't win 50 games next year (and make the playoffs) that people will start complaining. Think about the 3 J's in Dallas. THat was slot of potential but they were all young and got frustrated by losing (and stealing women too).

Also alot of good teams breakup just as they are peaking because someone thinks it should be there team. I'm not arguing wheter it will be Mings, Stevies, Eddies or Cats team but even if we are winning the other guys have to know their roles (like Pip did with MJ or what Magic did for Kareem). Magic took a back seat to Kareem and told everyone around it was Kareem's team until Kareem could not lead anymore.
Another example is some of the rifts in the past between Kobe and Shaq. I still wouldn't be surprised for Kobe to ask for a trade at some point, just because of ego.

 

. . . and money. Someone gets greedy . . . not enough cap room . . . luxury tax . . . max contract demand . . .

In a perfect world where players just play for their love of the game and be absolutely loyal to their teammates, this team can play together for a long time and win many rings. But . . .

 

Damn you are a good organized poster Crash. I like your breakdowns.

And I am glad you went ahead and left Richardson and Dooling off the clipps. To use a quote from Shakespear "They doth sucketh."

 

I agree that chemistry is important, but so is attitude. The Rockets are very lucky to have drafted two players with great attitudes. Ming and Boki have excellent attitudes and i am rooting for them to do very well. There attitude just might help the team game too.