One of the main things we've been talking about is how if we beat the Sonics, Jazz, and Suns (we should beat Seattle and Phoenix and emotionally with Hakeem we can beat Utah) and if the Lakers beat the Suns we'd be one game back of the playoffs in less than a week. You can throw a wrench into that now. How lucky can the Suns get? They beat the Sixers tonight in a game that they shouldn't have won-- but Iverson was out. Now they get the Lakers on Monday-- and take a guess-- just announced Kobe is out for that game as well. Very frustrating watching the Suns get all these breaks courtesy of the teams they are playing. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
There is no way Phoenix matches up with Shaq. He will dominate as the Lakers win. It is up to the ROCKETS, to take care of business by beating some quality teams. They only have to hope that Phoenix will lose to LA. They are capable of winning the next three games, and they will. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
ZRB, I hope you're right, and the odds say you may be, but the loss of Kobe does make those odds a little more in the Suns' favor. And as the Clippers have shown us 3 times now, anything is possible in this league. So I'm trying my best not to take anything for granted. You better cheer as loud as you can tomorrow-- its gonna be huge! ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
No, its going to be huge huge huge! I will be the loudest person there. I just hope I don't annoy anyone. The Sonics fans were very gracious when I attended in December. Still, I'm going to be loud. If it bothers anyone, too bad. They should win, they have to. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
What do you mean can The Rockets catch a break? We just got the greatest big man to ever grace the sport back. I don't know about you, but I think that's a huge break. Also the cakers seem to do good without kobe. ------------------
I agree Wakko. I think the Lakers are 100 percent better without Kobe. They should just use Rider like Kobe. They would win a title. Anyway, getting back to the topic: I don't expect the Lakers-Suns game to even be close. Shaq is just a monster, and will take Jake Tsakidliltieksetes to school. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
Yeah, that is a huge break. I'm more less just very frustrated with all the luck the Suns have gotten recently with opposing stars being injured. It never seems like we get breaks such as opposing stars being gone for just us is what I was referring to. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
I hate the T-Wolves and Suns. I hate them with serious passion. They are the types of teams that play just well enough to get the 8th spot, and fall out in the first round. They rarely improve from year to year, but they stay consistent in that pattern of just making it, and losing early. I guarantee that if the Rockets were to get two straight years in the playoffs, the results from the second year would be dramatically different than the first. The Rockets get better, while teams like Phoenix and Minnesota stay annoyingly similar for years. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
That's alright because The Rockets always have the odds against them so if anyone can overcome this it's us. Plus if the suns don't end up making it they won't have many excuses because they are getting breaks. ------------------
The Cat, It'll only make getting to the playoffs that much sweeter if we have to beat teams with their full compliment of stars. I think we should focus on Minnesota instead of Phoenix. It seems to me that we have a better chance of catching them. They've got some pretty tough games left & with the way they've been playing like a rollercoaster, we might catch them, assuming of course, that we take care of our business. Congratulations on keeping the faith in the Rockets, while the vast majority of the posters were bailing out. It's amazing how they all jumped back on the bandwagon. If I were a psychiatrist, I think I'd set up shop on this BBS, because I've never seen such mood swings in my life. I know that frustration sets in, but writing your team off in a tight race like the one we're in isn't cool. I tip my hat to you & the few others that are true fans. ------------------
The Cat, I will concede that every team has its troubles against lesser teams, but they make it up by winning some they should not win. The Rockets have not done that this year, they are like 2-14 against the top teams in the west. The Rockets do not bring the intensity every night, and are paying for it now. They will learn, and this is part of the process. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
It would be nice to catch the Suns, and I still believe it can happen, but adding up my expectancies I see us in 8th just behind Suns. Wolves are going down no matter what. ------------------ We can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away.
DaDakota, You're right, but you also have to take into consideration that a good part of the season had passed before the Rockets figured out that Dream could significantly contribute to the new up tempo offense. After they ironed out the wrinkles, the team became one of, if not THE, toughest teams in the NBA & were charging back into the playoff race. When we lost Dream, well, we were stuck with Cato & he sucks "Big Willy". This team has to have a dominant inside presence in order to be effective. Dream & Cato have both shown what a difference it makes. The only thing we can do now is take care of our business & let the chips fall where they may. We still have a serious chance of making the playoffs, but we'll definitely need some help. If we don't make the playoffs, I can almost guarantee that Dream will come back here next year. With the acquisitions we make this upcoming off season, the NBA had better look out for the Rockets next year, because the rebuilding process will be complete. I just hope that we can dump Walt/Cato. ------------------
If we could take back either of their salaries we would have it made. We could sign C-Webb, assuming he is willing, get Dream back for a reasonable amount of money, and probably get either Mo or Shandon back. But, it's unlikely either one will be traded, unless maybe to move up in the draft. Nevertheless, we've still got an interesting offseason that will no doubt improve the team next season. ------------------
It's true.The Rockets get no breaks, or it just seems that way. Every time the Rockets have a big game coming up, it seems like their opponent rolls over and dies in their previous game which lights a fire in them to come with everything they've got against the Rockets. The only times the Rockets have beaten good teams, is when those teams have been on a roll, with the exception of the big win at Minnesota. ------------------
There's no such thing as deserving the playoffs. You either get in or not. The Rockets will get in the playoffs. ------------------ Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now! The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe. [This message has been edited by Puedlfor (edited March 24, 2001).]
The Rockets would not have HAD to catch anything if they would have taken care of business against the lesser teams this year. Lost 3 to the clippers, and one at home to Golden State. Not to mention have played consistently DOWN to the level of competition, to where they have to claw back in a scrape by....when you play that way, and don't bring intensity EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. You don't deserve to make the playoffs. I hope they make it, but I think they fall just short. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
To be fair, the one we lost to the Warriors was with no Steve or Cat. With no Steve or Cat, we might be one of the worst teams in the league. But I'll do the same thing with that statement that I have with others. I guess the Blazers don't deserve to make it either. After all, in the last month and a half, they've managed to lose 2 games to the Clippers and 1 to the Grizzlies at home. All teams have their struggles against lesser teams, but unfortunately Rocket fans never seem to realize that and always point back to those few games that we lost. Everybody loses games like that. And believe it or not, they are playoff teams. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com