Championship

If Yao ever becomes good enough to take the reins from TMac, he'd be one scary mutha. We wouldn't be talking about a championship, we'd be talking about a dynasty.

 

CHAAAAAMMMPIIOOONNNN SHIIPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



WEEEEE ARRRREEEE THE CHAAAAAMPIOONNNNSSS, MY FRIEEEENDDDDD....

 

the only reason i question tmac is because when asked what his dream was, he said it was to lead his team past the first round of playoffs. a real leader would say to bring home a trophy is my dream. im sorry but thats the heart it will take, tmac has heart but is it enough?

flame on, i know its coming, those are tmacs words not mind

 

do we even need to respond?
the last time T-mac thought beyond the first round he was up 3-1 and still lost, so let him concentrate on getting past the first round, and then we will see what will happen.

ps why do you think you know what it takes to be a real leader, and how would you know if T-mac is one or not. Some leaders lead by example not by words(i understand you want them to lead by words not actions)

 

it takes one to know one...there all sorts of leaders out there but they all have something in common. that thing is that they want the top prize out there and will everything it takes to get it, hands down. whether they lead by words or actions, leading is leading. sometimes you just listen to the words that people choose and you start to question their heart. tmac has heart, but does he have enough?

 

Don't worry man, you have enough skepticism to make up for a whole team lacking in heart. Really, he's said he wants to win enough times and some guys sig on this forum even shows how disappointed tmac was after the first round loss. I mean, Hakeem had a "heart of a champion," but I don't remember him saying too many awe inspiring "full of heart" quotes. Come on man, stop romanticizing media bs. And um, if you're gonna worry about anything, worry about yao's stamina. And while we're on yao, where are his words bursting in "heart?"

 

Yao consistently playing 35 minutes a night and not in foul trouble would be amazing.

 

there is only one way to find out.

 

Don't take it literally boy.

 

If Yao can play more minutes AND if the team can get the entry passes into Yao consistently... Those are the only two things holding Yao back from domination. If he could then "assert" himself on the court, he could do even better than domination.

But IMO TMac has the ability to take this team on his back even if Yao has peaked. If he didn't have to play PF against Dallas, we would have gotten past them.

 

If memory serves me correctly, Tmac said this shortly after the devastating game 7 loss to Dallas. At the time, he was disappointed, angry, frustrated and really all he was thinking about was that loss. I totally see why he would say what he said. I seriously doubt that he meant that once he got to the second round he would be happy. In fact I think it would be the opposite. If we get ousted in the second round this year, and you asked him shortly after the loss, he would probably say something similar. I would never question his heart or his will to win.

Tmac has shown that he wants to win.

 

He did have some monster games against Dallas. Two thrity point nights if I'm not mistaken. Something else is missing, but we'll find it. Hopefully it was Stro.

 

Yao should be more prepared, physically, and from all accounts, that's getting him a chance to work on his game.

I want to see the hellacious-passing version of Yao that disappeared after his first season.

 

Well coincidently they changed the defensive rules after Yao's first season to allow double teams so unless we have quality players around Yao and T-Mac to keep teams for doublin' down its not to likely. But from the looks of Yao in the other thread he is working very hard and I have a good feeling coming into this year. Something about humility being very humbling...seeing T-Mac crying on the bench was all I needed to see....he is gonna come out this year with a vengance. And I like the fact that we kept the team in tact AND added quality depth in Stro and DA.

 

In my mind, T-Mac showed all the leadership he needed to in those first two games at Dallas. Dude simply played out of his mind. I can still see that gesture he made after hitting the game winner in game two. You're telling me he's just gonna shut that down after we get to the second round? I'll take T-Mac over any other swingman in the game thank you very much. I don't think anyone else is gonna elevate our team to the level T-Mac has: not Kobe, not Chuancey, not Pierce, not Lebron, not anyone. There is no other player in the game that could make us better at the 2/3 than T-Mac and he will bring us championships here in Houston.

 

T-Mac had a great series against Dallas, but how much more can he do? To me it looks like someone else will have to step up on a consistent basis for the Rockets to go deep into the playoffs. That player has to be Yao and until he steps up the Rockets will not advance very far. Granted Yao had some big games also, but in others he disappeared due to foul trouble. Some of the fouls they call on Yao are ridiculous, but he has to recognize when to just concede the basket to the opposition instead of challenging every shot even when he's late. Hopefully Stromile will help the team by giving the Rockets a shot blocker who can rotate quickly and keep Yao out of foul trouble.

 

Special players find a way. It isn't about TMac putting up more #s, its about making the #'s he put up COUNT.

John Elway was the king of the 2 minute drill. I'm not sure if anybody will top him. That's what I'm talking about. Kobe put up how many 40pt games in losing efforts?

I think TMac learned some good lessons this past season and I really beleive he's poised to have a big year.

 

I dont' deny that, I'm just responding to those who question T-Mac's focus on a championship or his ability to lead us deep into the playoffs. Of course he'll need some other players to step up and get the job. Even Jordn needed a white boy to hit an open shot every now and then. My only point is that people questioning whether or not T-Mac is championship material is ridiculous.

 

Funny thing is one game Yao can explode into 30+ some pts, double digit rebouds. Then the next one he shrinks. This is beyond team strategy. His inconsistency is consistent, and that leads to distrust of his teammates, becuase they dont know which Yao is going to show up. Dream used to have crappy games too, but he always able to have his presence felt in the game, and for those crappy games, Houston might still win narrowly. Most NBA players tend to over-estimate themselves, but in Yao's case he under-estimates himself. The culture difference factor is the key? Afterall, he is the first Asian player playing on the big stage of NBA.