just watched the lakers basically put the finsihing touches on yet another nba title with their big win over the spurs in game 2. im wondering about the rockets offseason now. if we do end up getting webber, are the rockets capable of taking the lakers? probably not next season, but give or take a another season, could they realistically be legit contenders? looking at the current roster, we'll have the star power, but we'll need to add some extra reserves to contend with the lakers. ------------------ The Wanster "The life of this world is nothing but the comfort of illusion." -- The Majestic Qur'an [3:185]
Realistically and unfortunately, the Rockets are currently only about as good as the Kings at the other 4 positions. Steve, Cat and Moochie have the advantage over Williams, Jackson, and Christie but Peja has an edge over Shandon and Vlade's head is in the game way more often than Cato's (Dream is a FA). With or without Webber, the Rocks go to the playoffs in '01. But it will take a healthy and committed Dream, excellent draft pics, and off-season dedication by everyone to get out of the 1st round. Webber is probably watching this carefully considering the Kings exit. ------------------ Raef to Rocks in '01-'02! [This message has been edited by GATER (edited May 22, 2001).]
With or without Webber we are not a threat to the Lakers. If we do sign webber we loose Dream, Mo and Shandon and very tight for cap space. Without webber we have an old Dream (may play another year or two), Mo (outside shoyt may help vs the new zone but poor defensively and rebounding). Either way we can't slow down either Kobe or Shaq. Christie from the Kings is one of the best 1 on 1 defenders and he couldn't slow Kobe down. Shaq has played against the two polar centers (the outside shooting Vlade, and David who physically and agility wise is still one of the better centers). Neither one could stop him, although David & Duncan have been able to slow him down. Botom line is barring injuries and/or egos noone is is the same class as the Lakers for another year or two at least.
Good post Gater. The Rockets are a long ways from competing with the Lakers and even the Spurs. We can catch the Spurs only when Robinson declines further. The Laker role players like Horry, Fisher and Grant , are are at least as good as ours, although Cuttino is a minor star. Kobe is perhaps the best player in the NBA, better than Steve. Shaq is of course barely containable by two of the top 10 big men in basketball and we don't have even one , except for Hakeem occasionally for the next year or perhaps two. Shaq and Kobe unfortunately will be in their primes for at least 5 more years. Realistically barring injuries to Kobe and Shaq no one beats the Lakers till something monumental happens like Duncan moves to the Rockets or Orlando two years from now and only role payers are lost. The Rockets have to hang in there with lower playoff status till some luck comes their way: Paul Gasol becomes better than Nowitski, Cato puts all his potential together with a new attitude, Haywood becomes the big man surprise of the last twenty years we get Diop and he becomes the next Shaq. Duncan or Garnett come to the Rockets etc. plus another great draft pick like Cuttino. ------------------
this is what im seeing right now. you need a duncan, which the spurs have to contend with the lakers...BUT you also need someone like mcgrady, vince, ray allen, stevie, etc to stay with kobe (somewhat). you need a combination of a dominant forward/center (like alonzo) and someone like mcgrady, vince, etc. to be able to contend seriously with the lakers. with the rockets we have one part of that puzzle with stevie, but i really question webber's presence down low. so thats whats im seeing as a rocket fan, realistically. we dont have a shot at the crown anytime in the next 7 years unless we get a dominant big man to go along with stevie. as far as im concerned...webber is not that solution. we would need someone like garnett, duncan, alonzo to get us into serious contention. i live in miami, and seeing the heat, theyre not too far from really giving the lakers a run for their money. alonzo can match up with shaq, and is the only player in the league who can come close to staying with him. they have jones, brian grant, and if riley can add some depth to that pathetic bench, get a new pg and sf, theyre right in it with the lakers. im not offering up any stupid trades, but realistically the rockets dont have a shot at anything but 2nd place in the west unless they can add a big-time, prominant, dominating big man to go along with stevie and cut. this organization isn't stupid, rudy knows what he needs to win a title. thats why im never worried as a rocket fan ------------------ The Wanster "The life of this world is nothing but the comfort of illusion." -- The Majestic Qur'an [3:185]
I don't know about 7 years. The Lakers win games because they have the best role players in the game. How many times did Derick Fisher or Robert Horry kill the Spurs yesterday? When the Lakers lose production from the role players, they will be ONLY Shaq and Kobe, and they'll do no better than in 99. Shaq and Kobe are great, but they wouldn't be where they are without their role players, who aren't getting any younger. ------------------ The Protrolls.com message boards! Protrolls.com! Don't visit my site.
I'm not making any predictions, but I have some doubts about O'Neill's longevity. He plays a *very* physical, close to the basket game, and I'm not sure time will be kind to him. His back takes a beating, and he's a very, very large man. I think we're seeing his prime right now, and that in 3 years he'll have begun to decline. Oh, he'll be a very good center for a long time, probably... but right now he's unstoppable. When he has to rely a little bit more on his non-existant jump shot rather than simply overpowering his opponent, he might be in trouble. ------------------ A few years back on the Senate floor... Phil Gramm: "If Democrats could, they'd tax the air we breathe." Ted Kennedy (jumping up): "By God, why didn't I think of that sooner!" Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
good point, Haven. Unfortunately, three more years is already too many years of possible Lakers championships for me. <Gag> I disagree that a Webber, Steve combo couldn't get us a championship. Now, it's important that we have a good frontcourt partner in there with Webber; a good supporting cast is still key. If we could count on having a healthy Dream that doesn't age any further for the next five years, I'd say we're title contenders after a year or two. Maybe Webber's not the one-man force we'd like him to be, but he's still good enough to get his own one-on-one in the low post against almost anybody. We don't need any more than that. Combined with the fact that he's an excellent passer and is still effective away from the basket (so as not to crowd the lane), I think we've come to underestimate how much Webber would contribute to this team after the Kings/Lakers series and general pessimism on this board. ------------------
True, but their role players wouldn't be as good without defenses having to figure out how to control Shaq and Kobe (and fail attempting to do so). It's the same thing the Rockets experienced during their championship run. They had Hakeem and his threat of scoring and defense that made the players around him better. Those players being better made him more unstoppable. Symbiotic relationship. ------------------ "I encourage you to take a look. His rhythmic meter and usage of alliteration is sublime, as is his boldly dark but refreshing subject matter, which rivals that of Byron or Shelley"-- this statement was actually made by a guy who won our fantasy basketball league (fadeaway). We're not worthy.
Dr. of Dunk, that is true. Still, it takes the right kind of role players to get that symbiotic relationship to work. What happens when Horace Grant retires, Horry comes back to Houston, and Rick Fox sticks to acting? Who will replace them? If they don't get the perfect mix of players, they will return to earth (as in, Spur quality). Anyway, I think that this Laker team is beatable. Teams are simply using the wrong approach. Once teams realize that stopping Kobe is the key, the journalists will be forced to get off of that "15-0 playoffs" kick. ------------------ The Protrolls.com message boards! Protrolls.com! Don't visit my site.
