Anyone want to play a game of stating obvious logic that doesn't help at all...hehe I'll start: You will never date Brittney Spears if you don't have a nice car. You will never be President of the United States if you don't finish high school. You will never win a Nobel Prize if you don't learn to read.
Sorry, I can't agree. I don't live in Houston anymore, so season tickets don't do me any good. I won't be happy if the Rockets "just" improve. I don't want the Rockets to get good enough to make the playoffs regularly, but not have that guy that really makes them a contender. Is Steve that guy? Maybe. Are Steve and Cat those guys? Maybe. Would Curry or Griffin or Battier or Brown be the necessary addition? Maybe. Will this draft be the Rockets best chance to add the guy that will eventually put them over the top? Maybe. Will the Rockets be better next year? Probably. ------------------
Since folks like to view a team by its "star power", I'll start out with that first. I think that Francis and Mobley provide enough go-to type ability for this team and are still improving at a quick rate. Both these guys will be premier guards before its all said and done. The main goal should be to complement them with the proper talent up front to help this team improve steadily. My only stipulation that I feel this frontcourt needs is atleast one guy that can score without having something being created for him, and I am fine with Mo Taylor; if we get Webber then great, he's even better at that. After that, I just want solid defender/rebounder types that play aggressive, physical ball. Thus, players like Ken Johnson, Shane Battier, Bo Outlaw, etc are the types I would like on this frontline along with one guy that can score by himself ie a Mo Taylor or if we are lucky Chris Webber. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
...we don't make sound off-season decisions. This coming season is our time now! ------------------ Rarely is the question asked: Guns kill squirrels than REDRUM to fools across the nation?
Low-post schmoe-post. If this team had the defense of Philly, they could beat the Lakers. If Philly had the offense of this team, they could beat the Lakers. ------------------ Protrolls.com! Soon to be ProPorn.com!
You know, the really amusing part is that Shaq's abilities will be in decline before the Rockets are ready to contend. When planning for the future, remember that other teams change too. Shaq plays a power game based on strength, quickness, and raw athleticism. He's almost 30 right now. Think his skills won't have declined in 5 years? Remember Hakeem at 35? He had to rely more on his jump shot htan he did at 30... and Shaq doesn't have a jump shot. I think the Rockets will be a playoff team next year... but not even being optimistic, can I believe they're close to contending for at title. ------------------ Lacking inspiration at the moment...
If it takes five more years before they even contend, then this rebuilding was a complete and utter failure. ------------------ Protrolls.com! Soon to be ProPorn.com!
If it takes five more years before they even contend, then this rebuilding was a complete and utter failure. I certainly don't think it'll take 5 more years to make us contenders-- 1 or 2 more max-- but it took the Lakers approximately 7 years to completely rebuild and contend following their Finals appearance against the Bulls. Is their rebuilding a failure? We are light years ahead of any of the other teams who are rebuilding now or did in the 90's. ------------------ "Basketball players win basketball games. Athletes win track meets."-- Shane Battier Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more!
ZRB: Why? Francis will be what, all of 28 or 29? That seems pretty standard age for a first championship for the star player. Look at what Shaq went through in Orlando and LA? he didn't win until he was an 8 year vet. Hakeem? he didn't win until he was 33. Jordan? Not until '91, after being drafted in '84. See the picture here? There's nothing wrong with a good team not winning a title for a few years. In fact, it's to be expected. Sure, there's a chance of a miracle before hand, but I'll be satisfied with decent playoff runs. ------------------ Lacking inspiration at the moment...
To beat a team you don't always have to match up with their strengths. Remember the Celtics had 3 very good post players in the 80's (McHale, Bird, Chief) and the Pistons eventually got over on them with guard play. They had 3 guys who played D to slow down the Celtics (Laimbeer, Rodman, Salley) and Aguirre who had a good offensive game. My point is play to our strengths, not LAs strengths or weaknesses. That is part of the reason everyone loses to Tiger they are intimidated by him and try to make shots they can't make. Haven is right that Shaq's weight will have an effect on his longevity, but it kind of seems like Wilt. Wilt later in his career became more of a defensive specialist, which Shaq can do. Especially with the zone D he could be effective for a very long time defensively.
I'm not saying to WIN a title, I'm just talking about contending. You know, making it to the WCF a few times... As far as winning a title goes, yes that is at least 5 years off. The Lakers went through two rebuilding cycles before they got a contending team together, yes they were failures. This kind of speed-rebuilding should be standard. ------------------ Protrolls.com! Soon to be ProPorn.com!
I think we can beat the Lakers NOW!!!Its the Spurs,TWolves,Jazz,and Blazers I worry about. Just my opinion!I think we match up better with the Lakers than any other team in the league,although we havent seen are current team in a playoff game yet but I think Steve and Cuttino would be at there best unless they get too pumped up. ------------------ Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy
Steve and Cuttino need some playoff games under their belt, post season games are played at another type of speed and intensity. Steve will need to learn how to control his emotions and Cuttino will have to learn how to be a little more cerebral on the court. They will have to learn that every possession counts. All of this should take them around 2 to 4 seasons to learn and absorb. ------------------
Steve is 24 year and 4 months old. Five years from now he is the same age Shaq was when he got his first championship. I agree with those who believe building a championship team is a process which takes several years. This team is 2 to 3 years from contending in the WCF, and 4-5 from championship finals. That sounds good to me. I look for progress. We win 54 games this next year and perform respectably in the second round and I will consider the season a fantastic success. There are two things that can take the Lakers down sooner than anything else, and both are on the Lakers: big egos and bad knees. How many championships can they win before Kobe decides he has to go to the East to prove he can win without Shaq? Maybe 2 more. How long will it be before Shaq's body betrays him? Maybe 3 more years. We build for the other 78 games per year, and do the best we can to beat the Lakers. I sincerely believe Steve and Cat will be wearing their rings here in Houston within six years. ------------------
The truth is that we can't beat anyone good until we gwt all our pieces right!Lets concentrate on our roster.Who can we realisticly add to the team that will make an impact and not be a role player. It's not going to happen with our current roster. If you think it is, ------------------
The title of this thread has to be the singularly most tiresome logic around. We will never beat the Lakers...ummm...without a low-post presence. ...yeah, that's it... Is anyone else tired of hearing criticism of player personnel maneuvers based on whether it is the answer to beating the Lakers? Hopefully, that day will come, but I just want continued improvement now. All I ask for is season tickets and Rudy continuing to build around Steve and Cuttino in a manner that makes them superstars. ...patience Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragons don't grow up worrying about Godzilla. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited June 14, 2001).]
Heypartner, I totally agree. The only thing this team really needs to do is keep all of last years players together & have Dream stay healthy all year long. If Dream would've been able to stay healthy & played with the right attitude from the beginning of the season, imho the Rockets would've made the playoffs by winning anywhere from 50 to 60 games. Once in the playoffs, anything can happen. It's just a matter of who wants it bad enough & which team executes. A less talented team can beat a more talented team if they execute their offense more consistently & are willing to do the not so glamourous part, by playing tenacious defense. The Rockets will improve this off season. Using the defeatist attitude of the critics, let's say we blow it in the draft(which won't happen) & only pick up one role player that can help us. We've still improved & will make the playoffs. ------------------
drpepper: (*&#@$)(()*#@$ *breathes slowly, calms down, and puts his hands back on the keyboard* You don't want role players? Why not, may I ask? How many stars do you want? The Rockets have two already in Francis and Cuttino. A 3rd would be great. But they already have the same # as the 76ers, who are currently playing in the NBA finals. Stop worrying about getting Sportcenter players, and think about who would make the Rockets winners. Do you really want them to be like the Failblazers? Sometime, just for giggles, try creating the team you'd want on paper. Give them the #'s you'd want them to have, etc. Then add the #'s up. Next, look for a team that has ever averaged those in the history of the NBA. Just next time you have some free time... The Rockets are a little maturity, a decent SF, and a rebounder away from being a perennial playoff team. ------------------ Lacking inspiration at the moment... [This message has been edited by haven (edited June 15, 2001).] [This message has been edited by haven (edited June 15, 2001).]
We will never beat the Lakers if we don't get good role players! You can never have any pudding if you don't eat your meat.
