well before I share my thoughts on it, I must say that I can agree for the most part. Naming 5 good defensive players on one team is always a plus. The 5 Rockets named here consist of 3 starters and 2 bench players. In comparison to the other playoff teams however...could we pick out 5 defensive players from that team as well? Also better yet, how is the defensive chemistry for them? The reason I think this is such an important issue is because, I too believe we can make some TRUE genuine noise this year for a championship. It starts with their defense...man I swear...sometimes I see those moments in the game when you can notice that Houstons defense can create great offense and long scoring runs. When the ball starts going there way and there swiping at the passing lanes...it's a great thing to watch. You can feel a domination coming on, you know? So can anyone who has observed a good amount of the NBA let us know if any other of the western teams have a defense talented enough to compete with the rockets? Could 5 defensive specialists be named like we have over here for our Rockets? The reason I wanna know this is because I really wanna get a feel about how our chances are this year. So much has changed since the beginning of the season.
yawn.......so we're not a title contender. So what? What's the joy of being a fan? Having hope that your team can win and win big. Teams win big all the time that weren't expected to win. Arizona Cardinals. NY Giants. Miami Heat. Rockets circa '82 (or '81?). I have hope. That's why we play the games, folks?
I don't think it is possible to predict how an untested playoff team like the rockets will do. We are wildcards... So sit back and enjoy it.
For a moment I thought this guy was some BSPN writer. He just make some useless point everyone already know and expect ppl to be shocked. Fail.
Solomon's comments aside... I think the two teams (that are to wind up in the Finals) are going to be the two teams that are playing consistent and at the highest level in the last 2-3 weeks of the season. And, of course, matchups DO matter. I haven't watched enough of the other teams or even kept up with them for that matter to make an informed comment on which two. But I have watched the Rockets pretty much all season and consistency has not been there -- too many mental mistakes, inability to maintain a high level of enthusiasm and overall lack of focus. Heck, they just had a week to work on some things and then after they lose to Phoenix they're still saying "we need to not do this", "we need to do this". Now if they were playing with the passion and consistency of the team that won 22 games last year, I'd give them a much better chance to advance deep in the playoffs. The other two factors working against the Rockets to go very deep in the playoffs are the inexperience at the PG position and the lack of a true "go-to" player in close games. So, sorry. As much as I would LOVE for them to be the Cinderella team that defies all the ups and downs of this season and get to the Finals, I don't see it happening. Won't keep me from watching, hoping, and cheering them on though.
It takes more than good defense. The Rockets are more than good enough defensively compared to other contenders. The problem is, has been and will be on the offensive end until we get a stud wing scorer (Artest is a great two-way player but he's not the perimeter scorer we need to compete with the best). Even if we were the best defensive team in the league (which we aren't) you generally need to be a better than average offensive team to win it all (which we aren't). In other words, it takes good offense AND good defense. You don't necessarily have to the best in either area but you need that balance. The Rockets have the worst raw FG% of any of the 16 likely playoff teams. That just isn't good enough. On the bright side, we have slowly but steadily improved since Alston and McGrady have been out of the lineup. PG is obviously an issue as well. I'm just not convinced it's as much of an issue as not having that go-to/closer wing player. There have been several championship teams with unproven/average-at-best PGs but I can't think of a single championship team ever that didn't have at least one efficient and elite perimeter scorer - a guy that could make things happen in crunch time when there were no other options. If a team didn't have that elite wing scorer, they had several very capable scorers to compensate for it (Pistons 03-04). McGrady was supposed to be that player for us and he was for several years. As bad as Brooks has looked at times, we have a more well-rounded player in Lowry that is better than both Brooks and Alston to pick up the slack. Wafer has his moments and will be dangerous in stretches but he hasn't done nearly enough yet to expect him to do the things McGrady did for us as well as the things McGrady never could do. Barry is just a spot minute shooter. Artest is too inconsistent offensively to play that role even though he's doing a fine job considering defense is and always will be his strength.
I agree with you all the way with what you said about our Offense. Can't wait until the playoffs, though. If our D is good enough to give us a great playoff run with an okay offense this year...then it won't matter much how important the offense is. (As you did state the with the acception of the Pistons)
