I have to concur. If true we are cooked. There is next to none chance we can win 4 series w/o JH. When the Rockets were peaking, and playing among the highest level of any team in the league, Howard was a major part of it. He probably was the 3rd most important Rocket. Sura, James, Wesley and Barry could much better cover losing any one of them than our back-up 4s can cover for JH. What the hey, I say bring on the Spurs in round 1. Taking them out would make such a great story that getting beat in the next round or two wouldn't damper too much.
It is not a view point, it is a fact (Rocks are 6-6 without him) I think ANYONE who objectively looks at our lineup and observes what little depth we have as a team, and how dependent we are on certain players, would have known that the Rockets are not an elite team. Right now, the Rox are not in a good shape, health-wise, and seemingly all other teams in contention are hitting their strides, while the Rockets are fading due to a number of obvious factors. We are just too old, and now, at the absolute wrong time, we are an unhealthy team. Really, few teams in the league at this point are facing the same problems we are facing. The Spurs are not comparable, because although Duncan is out, they have already secured their post-season trip. For us, we were already battling other teams at the bottom of the Conference, and now find ourselves just fighting to stay alive. The untimely injuries we are facing are really unfortunate.
you know what sadly our playoffs hopes will reside with baker. he is the only pf we have that is capable of reproducing what howard brought on the court. baker imo was better than howard in their hey days, but whats troubling is that baker has seen next to no playing time after being here for a month. i think jvg was just holding out till howard came back but with this news, unless baker is totally shot which may not be entirelly true just yet jvg should play baker more. weatherspoon is perpetually out of shape and padgett isnt athletic enough either and is a perimeter player. sigh get well Juwan I for one felt you were a good player and fit on this team. people were always wanting a swift/chandler pf which of course is ideal and were criticizing howard for not being that sort of pf which was unfair because howard did play hard and well for us and now everyone is realizing that
Hey! Stop talking poorly about my country! I am BOLIVIAN! What are you trying to say"?! I agree with most of your stuff in the Debate forum. but Dissing my country like that?!
I'm sorry... maybe I missed it when did Howard's status have anything to do with James' ability to make a layup, or Wesley's ability to hit the 3 I, for one, like the idea of playing Bowen at the 4 - at least he plays with heart !
Since when? Since he picked up 4 fouls in 13 minutes of play tonight? Since his 6 rebounds in 37 mpg will solve our rebounding woes? Since his career average of over 3 turnovers per game will solve that problem? Since he's a career SF? It should tell you something that Philadelphia completely gave up on him this past year. He's a cancer. No thanks.
I'm sorry, it's a loss, but it's not devastating. Howard was a role-player - he shouldn't affect whether Houston gets past the first round. If Houston had any ideas of being a contender WITH howard, then certainly they can get past the 1st ROUND without him. And to me that's the goal for this year.
Why doesn't JVG at least try playing Vin Baker for a few games?? Maybe he will get better with practice???
Yes the Rockets are 6-6 since JH got injured but does his absence cause the Rocket players not to be able to shoot the ball right? Wesley, Sura, James and even Barry have been shooting like crap lately. How will Howards presence make them hit their wide open shots? The point that I am trying to make is that the Rockets are not 6-6 because JH is not there.
Man, are you even following the damn standings?!! The Rockets are still FIGHTING for their playoff lives, they are NOT going to experiment with a guy that shouldn't even be in the NBA when they are trying hard just to make it. Keep up, man
Van Gundy sees that bum in practice every day. Even Vin pretty much concedes that his career is over.
Maybe that was the goal for you, but with a healthy team we were playing as well as anyone, and created match-ups for anyone. We had a chance for a title, not a great one, but certainly among the 5 or so team who could claim a chance. Now this is not the case. Now, a 1st round win or competitve 1st round series versus an elite team (Spurs/Suns) is all we can achieve.
This is funny.. I am watching and hating what I am watching.. What they are trying is not working.. I am worried that they may even fall out of the playoffs they are that bad. I would say gamble and try something b/c whatever they are doing is not working although besides major problems at the 4 the other guys are too old and dead legs and hurt.. it's just pitiful what is happening.
We're done. I wouldn't mind tanking and letting Minnie take the 8 spot at this point. Maybe we get lucky with a ping pong ball.
Damn, that infection is a serious condition and it is pretty dangerous. Get well Juwan. Think about yourself first. Look forward to having you back when you are able.
Well, there are always a number of reasons why a team loses games, but a HUGE part of basketball is mental and has to do with team chemsitry, and just as the team started to gel together and get on a roll, they had to adjust again without a key part of their offense. That tends to throw players off their game a bit, but I am not making excuses for DW or others, they need, nay, MUST drop those wide-open jumpers. Otherwise, the Rockets are not going to win many games the rest of the year. Don't underestimate team chemsity and the mental adjustment the players have had to make without JHo. Needless to say, injuries are not helping our case right now either, injuries to our star players at that.
Well, true to my word, I read the American version, so now I can believe it. SINA = still crap (pending future articles that further legitimizes them) Carry on...
