We have Bonzi who can take care of them defensively. Francis can shoot some threes so as T-Mac. We have good shooters but I think we have also good defenders that can keep shooters off.
As someeone who has always taken a pragmatic look at the team, I can not help but feel that WE are a real contender this year. I know people think that the team will take a while to gel, but I don't think so, they know each other well, and I believe the new coach and system will get them better looks, especially as the season goes on and roles are defined. For the first time in a LONG time, I think.......WE are contenders. NBA Champions or bust baby !!! It is time. DD PS. Quit whining about people typing WE, nothing wrong with fans feeling connected...bunch of inernet grammar wannabe policias.... S H E E S H
we're not as good as we think we're, but we're better. Thanks to healthy slimmer happier Bonzi, and addition to Scola, as well as James and Francis. Also being Heads third year, as well as Hayes has another year under his belt we will be improved. The West is all about matchups in the first round Utah was actually one of the more beatable teams for us to play in the playoffs we just didn't get it done. Look at Dallas losing to Golden State, so I say depending on who we matchup with is how far we go.
ok i still think we need a jerry stackhouse or even a james posey type player and our roster will be complete.
Skepticism can be healthy. Blind pessimism is as stupid as blind optimism. To start your premise off with Yao and McGrady will both be hurt is blind pessimism. Nobody can predict that. Our defense hasn't been bad when rafer and James are in the game. Basing our pick and roll defense when Francis, Head, and Brooks are eating up the minutes is ridiculous, because none are going to get much playing time. We won 52 games last season with no bench and had nobody to guard Boozer. This year we have Scola, Bonzi, James, and Francis to provide excellent depth. JVG's major issue was stubborness. Adelman has said, and looks to me to be demonstrating, a willingness to adjust his system and rotation to the situation. He has stated a million times he will use Yao in the post a great deal. I think it is great that he has also added that sweet set shot from the key and just off the key into Yao's game. He is utilizing Yao picks out on the wing and the other players are doing a lot more of the picking which should reserve Yao's energy. We still have issues: Will Francis and James share the ball, will Scola, Hayes, and Yao stay out of foul trouble, will T-Mac's back act up? So coronating us with the crown is ridiculous, but the off-season makes it very reasonable to assume the Rockets will improve and threaten to be championship contenders this year.
Right now, the Rockets remind me of the Lakers teams from 97-99 when Shaq first arrived. Everyone thought that the Lakers would instantly win championships when Shaq first got there, but despite their depth, they still lost in either the semis or conference finals because most of the players on those teams had conflicting personalities that didn't mesh well, like Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and Elden Campbell. Obviously the Rockets have more depth now, but I'm not sold that a team with Wells and Francis or James as key contributors can win a championship. There are only so many basketballs. Battier and Scola are true role players that don't need the ball to make a difference. I believe the Rockets will win a playoff series but, in the later rounds, I think they will go through some growing pains in the next 2 years. The Mavs, Suns, and Spurs are still better. The Rockets losing in the semis should not surprise anyone. I hope I am wrong.
you are WRONG. all those guys were YOUNG YOUNG YOUNG and still in the "hype/club" scene. van exel was wild yet exciting. eddie jones didn't play the D he did the few yrs. and kobe was a young cocky arrogant player. u have to look at the teams they lost to in the playoffs. the spurs/jazz, who had veteran guys. but when phil came and taught shaq and kobe some things, they won. coaching makes a difference. we have VETERAN guys that aren't into those kids stuff anymore. sure they haven't won, but we have adelman who has some experience advacing to show them those stuff.
Of course you realize we were one of the better 3-pt shooting teams in the league last season, and we didn't even have Mike James, right? Plus, we were playing in an offense that asked for a very high volume of threes, too. Also... I can't believe some of the names you mentioned for the other teams without including Tracy freaking McGrady on your list of shooters for the Rockets. If you spot him up for a three, he will hit it more often than 90% of the players you listed for those other teams. The only reason his percentage is a little lower (not that low, though) is because of degree of difficulty on a lot of his shots. Oh, and ROFL @ your last sentence. Jerry Jackhouse is not that good... at all. We have at least four guys on our team that are BETTER at doing what you described he can do.
well well if it isnt supermariobros. looks like u went into hiding after francis has proved to be a nonfactor on this team just as i predicted. please amuse me and tell me who you think we have on our roster, who are perimeter players, that are better than jerry stackhouse. wait i already know what you'll say.....Steve Francis
we are better than people think we are because we will be healthy. 60 wins and number 1 seed...hollinger is the smartest expert out there
I beg you to stop bringing Francis into every single thread. I think almost everyone knows you don't like his game. We get it.
Bonzi?? Hmm I think Tracy's currently a better defender. I even think he's better 1on1 defender than Battier. But that's not his task. I really wanna see Brooks against guard like Barbosa. I remember he kiled us with his quickness last year. Steve ain't good shooter right now. Maybe he'll get it goin' but I'd love to see drives, drives and again drives from him. Mike James can shoot.
Quit saying that...Bonzi last year was fat, it was all his fault. I don't see him coming into this training camp like that. Vspan is a living turnover. Our team was good last year, and we should have gotten out of the first round, but whats done is done. JVG failed, Bonzi failed, Vspan failed, they all failed end of story. GO ROCKETS
with barbosa having 3 inch on AB, i guess AB would not be much good on him too. true, Tmac is a better defender than most of the players in the league, due to his length and athleticism, but he never have the passion for defense, so i will take battier as my main defender anytime of the day.
