One thing that just about everyone agrees about the Rockets is that they're too up and down. Which basically translates into: The Rockets are talented. They just don't always play up to their skill level. Which brings us back to the first round matchup with the Lakers. Everyone has talked about how the Lakers are going to "turn on the switch" in the playoffs. I'm thinking, what about the Rockets "turning on the switch" in the playoffs? This is a team that basically began to slump right after we beat some of the best teams in the west, and had seemingly secured a playoff spot. Then we went into a tailspin until our playoff spot was in jeopardy, and the team went back to actually playing well. I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, this team could actually surprise a lot of people against the Lakers. After all, being inconsistent means that you play better than what your record indicates for stretches of games. Since we've just gone through our bad stretch, could we be in for a good one?
I definately have more hope. I really like the intensity we show when we are out there against the Lakers.
Yeah Yao seems like he has something to prove when he plays against Shaq and plays his heart out. We might not make it out of the series but well give em a hell of a fight.
That truly is the X-Factor. Yao has oddly been at his best this season against Tim Duncan, Shaq, and Garnett. The question is whether he will continue to raise his level of play against these foes under the pressure of the playoffs. And that is really a question for almost every single Rockets player in the rotation. The regular season is insignificant when judging the greatness of players. You make your name in the playoffs and no one has any ideas how this current group of Rockets will react to their first taste of the post season, specifically in close 4th quarters where it is more about confidence and rising to the challenge.
