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Is Rockets a legit contender this year with JVG defense and T-Mac offense?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by lancet, Jan 13, 2005.

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Is Rockets a legit contender this year with JVG defense and T-Mac offense?

  1. Yes

    44 vote(s)
    44.9%

  2. No

    54 vote(s)
    55.1%
  1. lancet

    lancet Contributing Member

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    Is Rockets a legit contender this year with JVG defense and T-Mac offense?

    I am really pleased with Rocket's play after Wesley trade. In the last 9 games played since, the only let down was the first quarter vs Pheonix and the first half vs Lakers. Rockets offense (I call it T-Mac offense) is a beauty to watch. We are scoring easy, smart, and early baskets. Compared to early season, it was like day and light.

    I consider this team a legit contender with JVG defense and T-Mac offense. Here are the elements already in the team.

    1. T-Mac is probably the best perimeter player in the league right now, above Kobe and LeBron. He can score easily anywhere on the floor. His ability to draw fouls outside 3-point line is unmatched. He has a lightning quick first step, can easily get to the basket, and finish with either hand.

    2. The hand-check rule on the perimeter will benefit T-Mac a lot. When we run the Yao/T-Mac pick and roll near or three point line or the elbow, it is near impossible to stop. You either end up with a wide open jumper for T-Mac, a dunk for Yao, or get a wide open shot for teammates if opponents double. T-Mac's jumper is deadly when he gets open after a screen. Yao on the move towards the basket is impossible to stop. Aslo, its hard to double both T-Mac outside and Yao inside after the pick and roll.

    3. Yao is getting more aggressive. His offensive rebounding has really improved. He starts to fight for the ball. We are running more plays for Yao to get basket inside than simply dumping it below. Yao starts to get some respect from the refs. Yao is dunking a lot more. Yao's ability to dominate inside will make T-Mac's perimeter game a lot easier. Opponents simply cannot afford to double Yao inside and double T-Mac outside.

    4. We have descent shooters. When the offense is in a rhythm, it is a lot easier for the role players to hit open shots.

    5. T-Mac is becoming a vocal leader. I loved his yelling at Mutombo and Wesley, plus a dirty look at Yao when he didn't finish a dunk inside.

    6. Chemistry starts to emerge. We are really gelling.

    7. Last but not least, this is still a JVG team. We know how to stop people when we need to. Yao can guard any player inside, including Shaq, Duncan, and Amare (a scary thought). T-Mac can guard any player outside, including Kobe and LeBron.
     
    #1 lancet, Jan 13, 2005
  2. snowmt01

    snowmt01 Member

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    Not this year. You cant expect Tmac shoot 50% each game, and
    Howard plays like an all-star.
     
    #2 snowmt01, Jan 13, 2005
  3. GRENDEL

    GRENDEL Member

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    Sorry not this year, I'm realstic
     
    #3 GRENDEL, Jan 13, 2005
  4. JumpMan

    JumpMan Member

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    No. They will make some noise in the playoffs though, either upset someone or pull off the 5 game upset, too bad the first round is 7 games.
     
    #4 JumpMan, Jan 13, 2005
  5. yipengzhao

    yipengzhao Member

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    TMac's defense is not that good. He can't guard Kobe. But he can guard LeBron because LeBron isn't experienced yet.

    Also... you can't expect us to score 110 ppg and limit the opponents to 80ppg like last year. That's not really realistic. Plus look at our players, we don't have good defense talent. So maybe we'll be a balanced team... which make no mistake about it I LIKE. But certainly we're not going to get the best both worlds.
     
    #5 yipengzhao, Jan 13, 2005
  6. brush

    brush Member

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    No.

    Of course, chance will increase, when:
    1. Yao gives us 24pg, 12rb, <3TO in 35mpg in the rest of the season
    2. Our PFs give 20, 8-10rb
    3. Our 3-pointer percentage is around 35-40% in every game.

    If all 3 goals can be achieved, Rockets is legit contender.
     
    #6 brush, Jan 13, 2005
  7. rhester

    rhester Member

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    If they stay healthy
    If they make the playoffs
    If they hit the playoffs playing well w/ chemistry and momentum
    If they win the first round matchup
    Anything could happen.

    Now you see why they probably won't contend this year.
     
    #7 rhester, Jan 13, 2005
  8. Texas Stoke

    Texas Stoke Member

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    I don't know man I don't see how a team can be contenders with
    Mo Taylor as their first forward off the bench.

    It's not his talent that I question, it's his desire to play here. With each passing game he seems a little more dead and indifferent. They are going to have to solve that problem before the trade deadline, if they can, and they can come out on top in that deal, then I start to like our chances against the Spurs and Kings alot more.

    That PJ Brown deal ain't looking so bad now.
     
    #8 Texas Stoke, Jan 13, 2005
  9. lancet

    lancet Contributing Member

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    Let me clarify my question a bit. I wasn't asking if Rockets is going to be the favorite to win it all this year. I was just asking if they have a legitmate chance to beat other contenders this year in a 7-game series, which I think they can.

    Current legit contenders:

    1. Spurs. This team always play good defense against Spurs. Our problem has been that we also got shutdown by the Spurs. But with the new offense, I feel pretty good about going to San Antonio and beat the Spurs. They need to score lots of points to beat us. Yao can contain Duncan, while Spurs don't have anybody to match up with T-Mac. If we guard Duncan well, Spurs don't have anybody that can step up in clutchtime.

    2. Suns. They are really a run-and-gun team, which I think will slow down dramatically in the playoff. Teams will have time to figure how to stop Nash. They are very soft inside, which will cost them much more in the playoff, when possessions are much more valued. Spurs and Jazz have exposed them well.

    3. Sonics. They start to cool off much more. Their strength is their perimeter shooting, which can be either on or off. I will be interesting to see Rockets/Sonics match. We will play them four more time this season.

    4. Heat. Yao always plays his best against Shaq. Last season Yao has been able to contain Shaq, including in the playoffs. T-Mac is better than Wade. I think we can compete with them. When Yao can play Shaq one-on-one, you can take out some many intangiables he brings to Heat.
     
    #9 lancet, Jan 13, 2005
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2005
  10. lancet

    lancet Contributing Member

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    What do you mean T-Mac cannot guard Kobe? Kobe went 10-19FG for 27 points and T-Mac went for 26 points. They basically canceled each other out. It was our role players terrible shooting that cost us the game. Barry/Wesley went for 2 for 14.

    We don't need to socre 110 ppg and limit opponent to 88ppg. We just need to score 110 and keep opponent to 100, or score 90 and keep opponent to 80. :)
     
    #10 lancet, Jan 13, 2005
  11. emjohn

    emjohn Member

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    If you're suggesting "title" contender, forget it. The only thing they'll contend for is getting better than a llow seed in the playoffs.

    Evan
     
    #11 emjohn, Jan 13, 2005
  12. Williamson

    Williamson DAISHEN NIX ONLY FAN
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    I voted no. I do expect them to make enough noise in the playoffs that free agents line up to fill in the holes in the off season.
     
    #12 Williamson, Jan 13, 2005
  13. michecon

    michecon Member

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    Slow down mister. We have just what? One great game out of 1/3 of a season? And we are talking about contenders already? Is board is sometimes on steriods.
     
    #13 michecon, Jan 13, 2005
  14. cwebbster

    cwebbster Member

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    A month ago, I would have said no, but these past few weeks have been really entertaining. T-Mac is really freakin awesome, and JVG seems to have lightened up a bit.

    One thing I remember from the Championship era, was the team companionship. How they would look together, much like a family. The guys now are starting to show a whole bunch of support for eachother, the chemistry is building. People say Defense and Offense at their peaks is the key to a championship, but the team chemistry must be factored in as well!

    Laters
     
    #14 cwebbster, Jan 13, 2005
  15. franchise23

    franchise23 Member

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    thats what i was thinking. 1 great win and people start talking about contending for the title. Like someone already said T-mac wont shoot over 50% every game, the team wont shoot 60% every game, and most of all Howard might not have another game like that for the rest of the season. Lets just worry about getting to the playoffs before we start talking about contending.
     
    #15 franchise23, Jan 13, 2005
  16. Davidoff

    Davidoff Member

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    I vote yes, WHY NOT?? JVG took a 8 seed to the finals, WHY NOT US?? If we keep playing like we are I think lots of people will change their mind... But thats a big IF..
     
    #16 Davidoff, Jan 13, 2005
  17. MrRolo

    MrRolo Member

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    I think that our team can beat ANY team in the NBA in 7 games. So I vote yes. Our potential to just blow out a team is always there. We have Yao who could go off and T-mac who could go off for 50, our defense can be outstanding at times. I'm not basing my assumption just on this last game, we have T-mac and Yao! We now have the T-fense (T-mac offense) and Gundy Defense. The way we have been playing the past 12 games is how I hoped we'd be playing from the start. I wouldnt say we have no chance to contend.
     
    #17 MrRolo, Jan 13, 2005
  18. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Member

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    As I have said many times, if we develop any chemistry at all, we will be very dangerous. We seem to be building some up and if we continue this process through the all-star break and then down the stretch, nobody will want to see us in the first round, home court or no.

    I voted yes because we still have nearly a third of the season left and we are already starting to show the signs of being a good team. If we are able to make it to the sixth seed and draw the Sonics in the first round, we would be in good shape.

    Do I think we will win a championship this year? Probably not, but we can stand up and play with the best in the league, which means that even though it is not highly likely, we are contenders.
     
    #18 GladiatoRowdy, Jan 13, 2005
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