...for this choke. But why bother? It was a team self destruction. Its a shame to see this team regress after showing so much improvement. That's what this was, a complete regression- to last season- when they made choking leads an art. I don't think this loss would hurt as much if the Rockets had been down the whole game, but they weren't. They had the Blazers right where they wanted them, and they just choked. Too many jumpers. Too many turnovers. Too much Cato in the fourth. Terrible defense on Wallace in the fourth. Not enough Shandon in the fourth. Francis had zero impact. Mo was a non-factor. Freethrows? If they made 7 0f the 9 they missed, they win. Lax defense overall. Bricks and more bricks. Timeouts not used wisely (Rudy, do you have to wait until they're down 7? Can't you call time while the Rockets still have a chance?) Cuttino, unbelievable. Take a three now and then, 2s don't help when you're down 7 with a minute left. Crowd-when Pippen is running the clock down, please don't boo. That just encourages him. The Rockets have proven that they are completely incapable of beating any quality team in the west. They will not make the playoffs unless they start to beat good teams on their home floor. They are running out of time. They need to go 3-0 against Chicago, Milwaukie and Dallas, or the playoffs are out of the question, and the season is rendered moot. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
It was a team effort tonight, you can bet on that. But the Rocks have beaten Minnesota, Phoenix, the Lakers, Dallas and teams like that, so I don't buy into that garbage of "They showed they can't beat anybody in the West so they won't make it". Anybody can beat anyone else on any given night and the Rockets are capable of getting to the playoffs. They're only 3 games back, and no one tough loss to a top team in the NBA isn't a good reason to declare Armageddon. ------------------ Dream a deadly Dream. . .
I didn't say the playoffs are out of the question, I just said that its looking a bit bleak. The Rockets have zero wins against Sacramento, San Antonio, Portland, the Cheaters and even the Clips. That is just bad. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
ZRB, You barely got a foot on the bandwagon before you slipped off. Don't worry so much. It was one game that the Rockets probably should have lost anyway. They will be alright. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. We are only 3 games back. ------------------ Rockets Season Ticket Holder
Yes, granted the Blazers are a great team. Still, the Rockets split the series last year, and they were 34-48! Why not this year? Hell, the Blazers aren't as good as they were last year, and the Rockets are supposed to be better. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
How is it looking bleak, we're only 3 games back? And so what we don't hold wins over them, if we get to the playoffs all bets are off. And the Rocks didn't hold a win over the T-Wolves up until a week ago, so the past doesn't alway equal the future. Geez stop panicking after one tough loss! ------------------ Dream a deadly Dream. . . [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited February 26, 2001).]
