(ESPN) Ford Chats (Rox etc)

[xiki]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13271

Jon: Dallas, TX: With the additions of Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells, how many wins to you see the Rockets finishing with and what, if at all, do you see them accomplishing in the playoffs?

Chad Ford: It's simple. If T-Mac and Yao are healthy, I think the Rockets will be right behind San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix in the West. If either goes down for an extended period of time, they could be a lottery team. I like the depth they added this year, but the truth is that the West is so talented, they can't afford to lose either guy this season.

West

1. Suns
2. Mavs
3. Spurs
4. Nuggets
5. Clippers
6. Rockets
7. Jazz
8. Hornets
9. Lakers
10. Kings
11. Warriors
12. Timberwolves
13. Sonics
14. Grizzlies
15. Blazers

[Van Gundier]

Not to jinx these guys, but I think the Rockets can deal with any potential injuries to the stars this year much better than they could last year.

Last season, it wasn't just TMac and Yao getting hurt, it's also losing Barry and Sura for the whole season and losing Rafer, Stro, etc for signficant periods that decimated the team. A healthy supporting cast might have made it possible to survive life without at least one of the stars. This season, there are some younger and lower mileage players who hopefully won't break down like Barry and Sura.

Also having decent post player in Wells and a cast of shooters in Battier, Novak, Snyder and hopefully improved Head and Alston would mean that the Rockets will be able to give either TMac or Yao some space to work with when the other one is sitting.

I honestly don't think the Rockets fall off the face of the Earth again with injury to just one star.

[boby]

Originally Posted by Van Gundier I honestly don't think the Rockets fall off the face of the Earth again with injury to just one star.

Good point here. However, do you honest think we will still be a playoff team even when one of our two stars is out this season?

[Fuse]

Don't forget, the much improved supporting cast also decreases the chances of injury. I know that whatever we say is useless until we prove it, I do think we actually match up very well with any one of the Texas teams, and to a certain extent Phoenix (I will see it when I believe it). This is no longer purely a 2 man team, so to speak.

[boby]

Originally Posted by Fuse Don't forget, the much improved supporting cast also decreases the chances of injury. I know that whatever we say is useless until we prove it, I do think we actually match up very well with any one of the Texas teams, and to a certain extent Phoenix (I will see it when I believe it). This is no longer purely a 2 man team, so to speak.

Historically, Rockets has an edge when facing Phoenix. JVG's system is a natural killer to Sun's system. I don't believe this year will be any worse.

[sammy]

Originally Posted by boby Historically, Rockets has an edge when facing Phoenix. JVG's system is a natural killer to Sun's system. I don't believe this year will be any worse.

The Suns killed us last yr when Yao and Tmac were both playing. I doubt they will roll over us this yr.

[redgoose]

Originally Posted by boby Good point here. However, do you honest think we will still be a playoff team even when one of our two stars is out this season?

Kobe took over when Shaq was out with his big toe injury and the Lakers kept winning at a good percentage. I can see T-Mac doing the same now that we have a real supporting cast. In my eyes better than the one the Lakers had during their dynasty.

[YallMean]

Originally Posted by redgoose Kobe took over when Shaq was out with his big toe injury and the Lakers kept winning at a good percentage. I can see T-Mac doing the same now that we have a real supporting cast. In my eyes better than the one the Lakers had during their dynasty.

I remember Lakers almost missed playoff because of Shaq's abcense. There was one period Laker did well without Shaq, but most of the time they missed Shaq a lot.

[jopatmc]

JVG is making absolutely ZERO effort to win these preseason games. I watched last night all the crazy monkey ... lineups he was putting out there just fooling around. Was it my imagination or did I see JLIII, VSpan, and either Rafer or Luther, all 3 out there at once?

Anyways, he is making absolutely NO effort to win games and in fact is putting us in very negative situations such as Luther defending Redd last night.

And we are still walking away from teams.

At the very least, you have to feel that our bench players are superior to the benches of the teams that we are playing against. Watching that game last night, we started off horrible. Bucks just canning jumper after jumper on us. But we just kept taking it and going down and hitting shots and eventually we literally shot them out the building.

These national guys...they don't see what's happening until after it has happened. Phoenix has an injured Amare that they are trying to get back, that apparently is still having problems with focus and intensity along with his knees. They lost Tim Thomas. Clips pick up Thomas but lost Vlad Rad. That's a net 0. Nuggets??? Where have they gotten better?

Spurs??? They are standing on a slippery slope. Two new big men who are very mediocre at best and a 3 point bomber (Bonner) to go along with Eric Williams. They are not better. And they could be a lot worse.

If we don't wind up with at least the third best record in the West then we will have had a disappointing year.

[Old Man Rock]

Originally Posted by jopatmc JVG is making absolutely ZERO effort to win these preseason games. I watched last night all the crazy monkey ... lineups he was putting out there just fooling around. Was it my imagination or did I see JLIII, VSpan, and either Rafer or Luther, all 3 out there at once? Anyways, he is making absolutely NO effort to win games and in fact is putting us in very negative situations such as Luther defending Redd last night. And we are still walking away from teams. At the very least, you have to feel that our bench players are superior to the benches of the teams that we are playing against. Watching that game last night, we started off horrible. Bucks just canning jumper after jumper on us. But we just kept taking it and going down and hitting shots and eventually we literally shot them out the building. These national guys...they don't see what's happening until after it has happened. Phoenix has an injured Amare that they are trying to get back, that apparently is still having problems with focus and intensity along with his knees. They lost Tim Thomas. Clips pick up Thomas but lost Vlad Rad. That's a net 0. Nuggets??? Where have they gotten better? Spurs??? They are standing on a slippery slope. Two new big men who are very mediocre at best and a 3 point bomber (Bonner) to go along with Eric Williams. They are not better. And they could be a lot worse. If we don't wind up with at least the third best record in the West then we will have had a disappointing year.

Wow you have higher expectations than me. San Antonio won 63 games with an oft injured Duncan last year, Dallas made it to the finals and Phoenix probably would have beaten Dallas had Raja Bell stayed healthy. It is concievable all of those teams don't miss a beat this year in which case the Rocket's would be hard pressed to break the top 3. I think you underestimate the value of cohesion. The Rockets inspite of all their new talent have too many new faces and will go through an adjustment period. These predictions by some posters of 15-1 or even 11-4 to start the season or highly optimistic and slightly unrealistic. I personally see the Rockets one step below the top 3 during this season. SO I would be disappointed in a below top 5 finish. As I could accept the Clips sneaking in ahead of us.

Now the playoffs are a different story. We will have plenty of time to gel and should be primed for a playoff run.

[Desert Scar]

Originally Posted by xiki 'cause Nugs win their (weak) Division?

No, if this were the case they couldn't have the Mavs and Spurs both in the top 3. It is crazy to put the Nuggets in front of us. They have no perimeter shooting whatsoever. I could accept the Clippers starting ahead of us--after all the have a very well rounded starting 5, not that I think that would last long if we are healthy, but I could see an argument for the Clips. But not for the Nugs, their SGs are J.R. Smith/ Demarr Johnson for Pete's Sake and their PG is no J Dre. Their offense will be as constrained as always.

You know, the #2 and #3 teams in our division are going to be screwed as likely the 4th and 5th seeds. We better make sure we are ahead of Dallas and SA, or otherwise we are better off taking a few and being a later playoff qualifier (6th or 7th seed). Memphis and us the last two years have had really stupid finishing streaks into the 5 seed and paid for it versus the Mavs (instead of drawing the Nugs & Sonics).

Finally, I think we make the playoffs as long as one of Tmac or Yao is healthy. Wells and Battier can pick up a lot of slack, and we are deeper everywhere. But if he are all healthy we need to gun for the top of the division. What would be ideal would be the #2 record in the West behind the Suns, then the Suns, Mavs and Spurs all likely are in the same brackett (1,4,5 seeds). That would be awesume. Right now the playoffs are built in to give the #2 seed typically the easiest path to the conference finals.

[RAYRAY]

Originally Posted by xiki http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13271 Jon: Dallas, TX: With the additions of Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells, how many wins to you see the Rockets finishing with and what, if at all, do you see them accomplishing in the playoffs? Chad Ford: It's simple. If T-Mac and Yao are healthy, I think the Rockets will be right behind San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix in the West. If either goes down for an extended period of time, they could be a lottery team. I like the depth they added this year, but the truth is that the West is so talented, they can't afford to lose either guy this season. West 1. Suns 2. Mavs 3. Spurs 4. Nuggets 5. Clippers 6. Rockets 7. Jazz 8. Hornets 9. Lakers 10. Kings 11. Warriors 12. Timberwolves 13. Sonics 14. Grizzlies 15. Blazers

we're behind the nuggets? no respect

[xiki]

Originally Posted by RAYRAY we're behind the nuggets? no respect

'cause Nugs win their (weak) Division?

[YallMean]

Not that I care what these people have to say about us, I am really bothered by their logic. Not many teams in this league can afford 1 or 2 their superstars' abcense due to injury. What he said about Rockets can apply to probably 28 other teams. They are projecting injuries in last season to this season.

[Veruca]

Originally Posted by YallMean Not that I care what these people have to say about us, I am really bothered by their logic. Not many teams in this league can afford 1 or 2 their superstars' abcense due to injury. What he said about Rockets can apply to probably 28 other teams. They are projecting injuries in last season to this season.

But unlike Yao & T-Mac, Dirk, Elton, TD & others seem to miss very few games if they get hurt.

Yes, if TD tears his ACL, then the Spurs are in lotto land as well. But the nagging toe & back injuries seem to knock out superstarts out on a regular basis.

[dream2franchise]

Originally Posted by Veruca But unlike Yao & T-Mac, Dirk, Elton, TD & others seem to miss very few games if they get hurt. Yes, if TD tears his ACL, then the Spurs are in lotto land as well. But the nagging toe & back injuries seem to knock out superstarts out on a regular basis.

Holy crap then they draft Greg Oden! It's Twin Towers all over again!

I think we're good for the ring, i'm not thinking about injury, if we can get Bonzi coming off the bench, posting up and playing to his strengths, we'll be a force. I'm really liking our team this time around.