What if, the rockets end up losing mooch, to end the offseason. What if Glen Rice starts b****ing about cat taking too many shots. What if Eddie gets upset about not get many minutes. In this years new team, i don't see the chemistry that was there last year, or anywhere near the chemistry we should of had coming into this year. Hakeems gone, Bulls gone, Colsons gone, Shandons gone, and possibly mooch and Walt. What if we miss the playoffs again! From reading the message boards on other sites, just about everybody thinks houston is a 9th or 10th seed, except us houston fans. Are we all too stubborn to believe that this years team isn't much better, and could be worse than last year. Is Glen Rice gonna help us? I personally don't think so. I see him as the weak link in the team. His fickle play, pathetic defense, and whining isn't gonna help this team as much as you think. His 3 point shooting isn't even that great anymore. Infact Bulls, walts, and steve 3 is better than his, and thats the main reason we got him was because of his shot. Most people think that LA is actually a better team with Glen gone, because he didn't want to play 3rd fiddle to kobe and shaq, so what makes you all think he will be content in houston with cat and wink in front of him. If Glen Rice doesn't work out in houston, and we become a lottery team again, it may make steve think twice about re-upping with houston, once thought to be his permanent home. And it doesn't help when trade or renounce guys he is tight with.
Thanks for the pick-me-up Rick. Did you know that human over-population is sending our race on a crash course for destruction? That the water's full of arsenic? That crazed madmen gallavant across the globe flashin' nukes like Walt's gold n' ice piece and chain? Oh, and by the way, Western medicine is inherently fallible and you are probably at this moment gradually dying at the hands of a few slow moving carcinogens that your body absorbs through "normal" Western living. Feel free to come back and piss on the team if we are out of the race at the All-Star break. Until then, hole-up and cover your head - the 'Kets are gonna drop bombs!
Jardinero- Great response... I was trying to think of somethink clever to say as well, but you pretty much summed it all up! GO ROCKETS!
You're worried that COLSON is gone??!! Losing him was really a huge blow!! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!! So, is Rudy and CD going to go to Steve Francis' old neighborhood and sign all his childhood buddies so he'll stay with the Rockets??!! Francis knows that you win games with ballplayers and you go fishing with buddies!!
While I share your concern, and I think that moves like bringing in the chronically unhappy Rice, the possible loss of Moochie, the loss of Bullard etc. do certainly raise doubts that we will exhibit the same We Are Family chemistry of last year, I don't think it's a done deal yet, as adding Morris might help a bit, and besides, chemistry is a very fluid thing anyway (no pun intended), and returning last year's group as a whole would not have guarenteed that it would continue...However, I would like to point out to those posters who were seriously opposed to going after Webber on the basis that it would mess up our team chemistry, we seem to have given it away anyway, and at a much lower price...
ricky, the season hasn't even started yet. you should reserve your judgement when you have some type of evidence to make your inferences from. right now, you can't really tell how well (or bad) the chemistry will be. wait it out. talk later.
What IF Griffin won't give up #41 and Rice whines for "coach....c.o..oa...c....h....he won't give me my #41." Then Griffin, unable to tolerate whiners, swings at Rice, but misses and hits Rudy. CD catches the tail end of it and thinks Griffin swung at Rudy. Flashbacks of Kermit Washington well up inside CD and, losing all execute composure not witnessed since he reacted to Barkley body-slamming Shaq, CD bellows, "Mister Mean!!!...g.e.t.......t.h.e........k.i.d." Larry Smith takes out Griffin on command, but not before the Franchise unfortunately steps in the way to try his luck as team leader that he learned from watching the playoffs with Tracy McGrady. *ouch*
All jokes aside, we've got as good a chance as any other 5-7 seed. But with this offense we will be one of the scariest teams to play - total X-factor in the playoffs, IMO. I guess we'll find out if the best defense really IS a good offense...
The best defense is NOT a good offense. Things are not going to be different, well at least not by that much. Defense is still going to be the determining factor in which team wins close games in the last 2min. Anyone who adopts this foolish notion that no team will even give a rats ass about defense come next season is being taken for a very long ride.
Only if the game is close in the last 2 minutes. I can't remember how many times the team of past let go of a 10-20pt lead t5o lose the game (ya know, those ones we used to scream/throw full glasses of beer at the TV about?); that will be less likely now that we have an extra scoring option (and a consistent one, to boot). I don't expect to see as many close games now. There is no question in my mind that the best defense IS a good offense. The offense sets the tone of the whole game - if it isn't working, then you lose. If it is working, though, you have options. Two options in particular come to mind: 1) Keep pouring it on, or 2) forget matchups and just give people minutes, because you're already so far ahead... As a famous general (Rommel, 1942) once said when asked what to do when his back was against the wall: Attack! Attack! Attack!!!
I agree, with this high-powered offense we will probably have more blowouts, which will be great to rest our key players. But in big games, good teams tend to find a way to keep it close at the end. I hope we will not rely on offense alone in these situations. And by the way, especially if you want to run a lot, defense is the best offense!! Steals, blocks, and defensive rebounds are what ignite a fastbreak
Defense doesn't make the other guy answer. It just makes him try again You win by scoring. How simple is that? I realize that there's more to it (I'm no expert but I do understand a little about defense), but any given game really can be won by outscoring the opponent. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's how it's done Last time I checked no one has won a game for getting the most blocks, rebounds, assists, having the highest FG%, etc... I know! Let's start a league where you win by amassing fouls! Cato can start at PG... Score more than the other guy and you win. That is how simple all true sports are (golf is not a sport), and that's why dumbasses like me can understand them. (I apologise for being a smartass)
Great offenses do not win championships by themselves. Recently think of the Sacramento Kings (they were better defensively this past year) but the 2 years prior they were a running team who could run & shoot (Webber, J-W & Company). They were awesome to watch on TV, but until they learned to play good team defense they really weren't a threat, although I will humbly say that I thought they were 2 years ago. Before them think about the Denver teams of the 80's who runned and gunned to 120 points a game, but played no defense and lost alot og games 125-120. Granted that most of the past championship teams had good ofensive teams (or at least a couple great 1 on 1 players). But the other things hese tems had in commone was great team defense and a defensive stopper/eraser. LA had Kobe & Shaq, SA had David, Chicago had (and I hate to say it) Pip, Rodman, MJ, We had Dream, and so on. Offense sells tickets and can add some national fans... but defense wins Championships. You don't have to have the best defensive team but you have to be able to play it.
IMO, sacramento got better when webb continued to step up his "O", peja came into his own, and j-dudd got less minutes in crucial moments (b-jackson). defense helped them, yes. but the improvements on offense helped out MUCH more.
