The Rockets will definitely be stronger, but Texas is a tough state: 1.Spurs 2.Mavs 3.Rockets What do you think? WAB
I don't think SA is any weaker than last year. The addition of Barry gives them a Steve Kerr-like gun from the outside for the playoffs. Dallas and Houston both added by subtracting: losing Antoine Walker and Steve Francis could be positive for both teams. Both teams have point guard question marks. Does the addition of T-Mac move Houston ahead of Dallas? My gut feeling is "no." WAB
I think we're better than the Mavs right now, and we could be better than the Spurs by the playoffs. Look at the Mavs, and you have a lot of good players that don't really fit well togther. They remind me of Portland a few years ago. They've got a new center and point guard in Terry and Dampier. Terry is less of a playmaker and more of a scoring point, which is a complete 180 from Steve Nash. Dampier is a good pickup, but he seems like leftovers when you consider they were hoping for Shaq. I just don't see them being as good this year as they were last year. Contrast them with us. We have a lot of new parts, but they fit together really well. Our team is very balanced, unlike Dallas. I think we're going to gel quicker than Dallas, and I think we have more pure talent than Dallas. San Antonio is a great team, and they play great defense. But I think our team has the components to go toe to toe with SA for the first time in years. At our full potential, I think we can take them.
1. Spurs, allready a strong team but the addition of Berry made them even stronger. 2. ROX, T-Mac & Yao (Nuff Said) 3. Mavs, Still good but who will run the show now that Nash is gone? Jasson Terry? Guess again.
I just want to say the Texas Triangle this year will be even more tough than last year. I don't think any team will enjoy their Texas trip.
Don't forget that Dallas lost Nash as well, that guy was the glue to that team. They did pick up Dampier though, but I still think the Rockets have a better team.
I would be surprised if we are at the same level the Mavs and especially the Spurs are. I think T-Mac is not the problem, but Yao might be. He has to close the gap to Dirk and Duncan, because besides T-Mac and maybe Jim Jackson the Spurs and Mavs have the better players. My ranking: 1. Spurs 2. Mavs 3. Rockets Overall in the west: 1-3. Spurs 2-7. Mavs 3-10. Rockets
What are you talking about man? Is there a big gap between Yao and Dirk or Duncan? BTW, I think you were comparing a center to two PFs.
If you compare directly, the Rockets beat the spurs and mavs at the 2 and the 5. Spurs and Mavs are about tied at the 4 with Duncan and Nowitsky. Spurs win at the 1. Mavs basically have not a lot else. Finley is better than JJ but not hugely. So.. 1) Rockets 2) Spurs 3) Mavs
This year... Rockets Spurs Mavs In the past years Spurs Mavs Rockets I don't care how many concerns we have, lack of depth, lack of height (after yao and deke), etc..... We have the most dominant center in the Western Conference and the 2 Time Scoring Champion on one team.... None of our role player suck, we're a great team...
im excited about how tough the Texas triangle is too.. I think I read somewhere that schedulers wont have teams play all 3 texas teams on 1 trip anymore since they get too beat up. J
Rockets Spurs Mavs We're a lot better than Spurs 'cause we have Yao and T-Mac and pretty good supporting role players.
I wasn't comparing their games, I was comparing their ability as leaders of their teams and their level of play overall. Duncan is probably the best or second best player in the NBA and Dirk is at least a Top-10 guy. Yao has still a lot of work in front of him. I thought that would be obvious to everybody since I thought we barely made the playoffs last year and lost in the first round... And I have to say I really don't look forward to 1-2 months into the season, when the reality sets in and the bashing starts again, because about 90% of the people here have way to high expectations.
There's no doubt that TD is better now. But I have to disagree with you on Dirk. Dirk plays no defense and is a jump shooter. I have to say Yao is already better than Dirk now.
I think all 3 of them cause mismatchs and can create alot of space for their team. I'd say that Duncan and Yao can probably affect the game more without scoring too much, but Dirk being able to knock down the 3 and a far superior FT shooter can be counted on more in the clutch. I'd say individually, i would loosely rate them all as equals. As for the teams, it's clear that SA and Houston have more traditional roll players, while Dallas has high contract players that will be asked to play non-star rolls... 1. SA for chemistry sake 2. Dallas for money sake 3. Houston for chemistry sake...
Yeah, if the Mavs would've found a way to keep Nash and add Dampier, they might've been the best team in Texas. Now I think they will at best be a 6 or 7 seed.
