I think 2-4 is probable. No one has mentioned that we play the first 4 games in 5 days & the 3 road games are in 4 days. That's a killer schedule no matter who you play to start a season.
If I win (rockets) you post an embarrassing school picture of yourself inside the "Stop Betting" thread that you start. Deal?
Rockets vs Pistons are ya'll worried we might lose the first game? I have a feeling T-Mac is going to explode for a 40+ pt game. reason: If I could recall.. the pistons ring ceremony is on opening night? If so Tracy would get that urge and excitement that the ring was meant for the Rockets in this coming year and he can't wait to get into that post-season mentallity.. so why not explode in his opener as a Rocket. Also, pre-season is over, Tracy said he usually does bad on pre-season and he doesn't know why.. and also he said once the season hits he's gonna be ready. I got a good feeling about this game.. Please note: Clutch Crew / Fans (everytime I reply first on the game thread all through last year we have been undefeated, just wanna rub the luck on through this year ) and for those who doesn't think t-mac can play D Blocks : 7 vs. Houston 3/19/00
Im worried about the first 6 games myself.. but I feel like our team has more to prove than anyone else we are playing against. I hope Sac and Minny have chemistry problems since there are players griping over there.. anyways I can see us go 6 - 0 to start off the season and I think it will be a big lift in terms of attitude and chemistry. I read somewhere nothing builds chemistry quicker than winning and everyone coming in with the right attitude. Losing early and often can set a bad tone for this season and I dont know if our players would be able to recover as easily since alot of starters came from that type of environment. J
It sucks being right sometimes. Hopefully Yao's elbow will improve sooner than faster. One last road game before we head back home to a killer stretch at the TC as well.
I expected this team to start slow and finish strong. I'm not worried. They'll start to click and play together better soon.
crash only said: It's a little too soon to claim he was right about that, if that is what he is doing. I'm not even sure what he means. Would 0-6 kill our second round in the playoff goal or what?
That we may go 0-6. That's what "1st six games could be a killer" meant. It was just that statement that we could go 0-6 specifically because the first six are "killer" games (good teams; while we find our team chemistry). Now, this is not set in stone. But we are 0-2. Don't mean that it will happen. I'm just saying. I feel we'll get better each game. So, it may take 6 games for that to happen. Doesn't mean that we "miss the play-offs" either. That's just a bunch of "sky is falling" banter.
All I was saying was that this is going to be one hell of a tuff way to start the season. Particularly after the interrupted pre-season they just experienced to go along the massive turn-over in the roster. That is all. I still expect the Rockets to work out the kinks and be a play-off team. I can't say I understand where the controversy is.
First 6 in the books; 3-3, I'm pretty satisfied as I was predicting 2-4 splitting the Memphis games and beating Toronto as well. A clutch win against Sacramento and thus far sweeping a home and away against a team in Memphis that gave us fits leaves me very optimistic. Losing to the defending champs in the season opener is no shame, Toronto is greatly improved this year, and taking the league favorite to the wire without our best player gives one great hope. I like what I see from this team thus far, particularly the discipline. There's just no way last year's squad could have controlled tempo against Memphis. The next 6 are against very weak opponents which could easily see us boost our record to 9-3 before a rough road trip. Positives thus far: *composure - specifically from the guard spot. *T-Mac at point - JVG is confident in allowing McGrady free reign of the offense and he has excelled. This cannot be overlooked. *Yao has been dominant in spurts, particularly against the Kings and Wolves. Negatives: *The defense didn't look too good. We realistically won't be as good defensively this year with the loss of Cato and Mobley. *While Yao has been dominant in spurts, he's looked downright awful at other times. Quite frankly, I have been overall pretty unhappy with Yao thus far. I was hoping he had made greater strides. There is room for hope though as the arm brace could be bothering him and the Wolves game leaves one optimistic. They need to take advantage of the next 6. T-Mac will impose his will on every single game he plays in. He's top 5 in this league and has been as good as advertised. He's this team's best player. Yao Ming however is this team's most important player.
thecabbage, I wish the defense would bring it for 4 quarters. I am very happy that they at least came alive in the second halves of both the Kings and Wolves games. Like you I have to call 3-3 a success to open the season. Quite frankly I am a little supprised that the Rockets were playing with a chance to win against the Wolves in the closing seconds with T-Mac sitting out the entire game. Yao has given me a lot of hope. He was so dominant in the 4th quarter last night that the Wolves were basically selling out the rest of the team just to try and guard Yao. While this team is not as athletic as last years team I love the fact that I don't sit in front of my TV screaming at people because they are constantly making bad decissions that they have to try and overcome with their athletism. I also like the fact that we don't see a lot of 1 against 5 play with someone dribbling out the clock trying to do everything by himself. Don't take that as a slam against SF3 but I just personally enjoy this style better than last years brand of ball.
Agreed. I'de much rather watch guys fail because they simply were'nt good enough (Ward, Lue) than pull my hair out watching guys fail by dribbling the ball off their foot out of bounds.
