Steve, Cat...this is where leaders emerge

What a heartbreaking loss. This one hurts a lot. 4 games back of the playoffs assuming the Wolves beat the Nets tomorrow with just 12 games back.

But, for the sake of enjoying the season and this team, it's time to move on. While the loss hurts, esp. cause it was so close to being a win, it is not over. The Rockets have backed themselves in a corner, and the fat lady may be warming up, but she isn't singing yet fellas.

Dream is probably coming back Tuesday, so we have a center. Can't use that excuse anymore. We have had a very successful season and should be proud of our young guys for what they are done. But again, it is not over yet. We will need to probably win 10 of our last 12 to do it, which is a hard task, but not impossible. We just won 16 of 20.

This is where true leaders and clutch players step forward. I will not be disappointed if we fall short, but the opportunity is there. They want national recognition, they want respect, they want the playoffs, they want Webber, etc... this is the place to earn it. The talent is there, the opportunity is there, no better chance to become true leaders and star players than putting the team on their collective backs and carrying it home.

The playoffs are down right now but not out. They can be revived. Our schedule is not exceptionally difficult. This final month should give us a good insight into just how far Steve and Cat have come as leaders and how far the Rockets have come as a team. Their backs are against the wall. But then again, they were back on Feb. 3 when we were 22-25 as well.

Hopefully the Rockets take this one game at a time and don't look at the whole picture. 10-2 sounds pretty daunting, but not if you look at it as just winning one game. Everyone in the league doubts the Rockets now. Just like when everyone in the league doubted the Rockets in 1995 as the 6th seed, Dream stepped up. When people doubted the Lakers last year in game 4 of the Finals, Kobe stepped up. (not a great example but trying to think of something recent) You can go back through the history of the NBA and see that all the great ones took their game and team to another level in times like this. Are Steve and Cat ready for that responsibility? These last 3 weeks should give us a very good insight.

WE CAN DO IT!!! GO ROCKETS!!!

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"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

[This message has been edited by The Cat (edited March 25, 2001).]