http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/4826798 rockets ranked 8th reads: We like the Derek Anderson signing, if only for the competition it will create in camp. And, as always, the question headed into camp: Has Yao Ming improved his strength and conditioning in the off-season?
I disagree with a lot of his team rankings. Suns don't deserve #2 in league, much less #2 in the Western Conference. They're still undersized in the frontcourt, and they lost two of their biggest offensive producers in the offseason. And the offensive producers they're expecting to have this year are aging, and are rolling past their prime minus Amare. I don't even think they'll be #2 in their division. Cleveland got hyped up a lot last year and it led them nowhere but to a lottery pick. They did sign some tremendous talent in off season. Hughes really started to come into his own with the Wiz in scoring and in steals. I just won't buy into the Lebron hype until the Cavs make it into the playoffs. He had the talent to do so last year, but just fizzled out with the rest of the team. I don't still don't see why the Mavs are ranked higher than the Rockets. They didn't do anything significant in the off season except lose Finley. They got worse. The Rockets got younger, more athletic, and filled up serious holes on our team. We may not have a true PG, but we have more than enough guards on our team to come in and fill that role well enough. Frankly I think we're a bit overstocked on guards at the moment. So one of them is bound to pan out and be deserving of that starter role. The Pacers I haven't really kept track of in the off season but I felt we were better than them last year, and all we've done is improve this offseason so that further seals my argument against them. Really the only teams I think we fall behind from are the Spurs, Heat, and Pistons (depending on how well Flip handles them).
The lower they ranked us, the better. First of all, it would make our players even more hungry. Second, as long as we are not hyped, we can continue to do our work and improve game by game. The whole team need to get familiar with each other, and the new guys need to get used to JVG's game plans. If you are hyped high, everything you do is scrutinized by the media and those "experts", which is very unhealthy for the team. After 2-0 in last year's playoff, everybody jumped on our bandwagon, every player gave interviews and some of those guys talked about championships, I was very very uncomfortable. The fans can always get excited about the rings this year, our team can't afford to. I would rather us to be under the radar screen and work towards our goal, which is going as far as possible. No love from the media, so be it. After you win, they will kiss your behind, even if they don't, who cares.
I guess they don't know about Swift. It's ok, I understand, it's Fox Sports. You can't really blame them.
Yes, Fox, the network that spawned Temptation Island and Man vs. Beast. The network that gave Rita Cosby her own talk show. The network that will show live coverage of a burning house in Connecticut at the height of the Iraq invasion. Relying on Fox for credible coverage in any facet of life is a lot like asking your Magic 8 Ball for stock tips.
WTF??? Suns at #2 though they lost Johnson and Richardson. The Pacers don't deserve to be ahead of the Pistons or Heat. The Cavs at #7? Who's smoking crack? The Grizz ahead of the Kings??? Are you frigging kidding me??? Who the hell did this, a high school kid? Look, the Rockets probably aren't #2 in the league and you could argue that they are #3 at best behind San Antonio and either Phoenix or Dallas (you could ARGUE even if I don't agree), but putting them behind Cleveland and Indiana is just stupid beyond belief. Number six at WORST at this point. Stupid.
I say yes. If Yao hasn't improved his conditioning this season its his genes and not because of lack of effort. It's important that he gets 35mpg this season.
Awful ranking! The only team right is the Spurs. How can you put Cavs and Mavs above the Rockets, I think in the west the Spurs and maybe the suns are better than us. At worst we have to be in 5 or 6 position.
its probably a good thing to be ranked low. Better to be underrated, than overrated. We'll just let the reporters eat crow in april
Stupiest ranking list I've ever seen/read. Are these guys for real? I can't believe that ****, and it really does sound like some kid from jr. high or some**** did that list.
i would rather the rockets over achieve, than under achieve. The Mavs are ranked above them, and I would bet that the Rox will end up higher in the standings than them. It's just a matter of time till they show the world what they are all about!!
Wow talk about horrible rankings. Suns ahead of rockets? Amare is going to get better every year and nash is just awesome but with the players they have they aren't set to run and gun. Kurt thomas is definitely at his age not the guy u want to run and gun with. If they do slow the offence down will nash be as effective? hmmm The kings look deeper than the suns this year and i think will give the suns a run for the division title. Rockets below mavs? The mavs have a wonderful and great coach in Avery johnson but seriously. Dampier vs yao... nowitzki vs swift mcgrady vs stack house.. josh howard vs mcgrady derek anderson vs a beat up over the hill christie and sura vs terry. terry is probably houston's only killer on that team. anyone else hmmmm.... that is just horrible ranking. pacers are definitely a strong team and i would not count them out from being contenders. they have a good coach jermaine oneal is a great player, and they got a decently deep bench. their center position is the only one that really sucks. i agree with espn saying they are a strong team. and ranking them up there. good bench and good players. ron artest is back sjackson is still there tinsley .... good team. but rockets below mavs that really hurts...... suns o rkings will definitely get division title but ehhhhhhhhhh no D
I just dont see how these media types keep throwing the Mavs and the Suns ahead of the Rockets when they lost Finley and Johnson/Q respectively whereas the Rockets ADDED Swift and Anderson and lost noone! Not to mention the fact the Rockets almost beat Dallas WITH Finley and we didnt even how Howard at that point! Just doesnt make sense to me! Heck, I can even at least try to buy the Chad Ford argument that the Kings could be ranked higher if for no other reason than they have a good offensive team that will rack up "regular" season wins. If I was to rank the NBA teams right now it would be. 1) Spurs - no quesiton here 2) Heat - they almost beat the Pistons with a hurt Shaq and Wade. Now they have more weapons and the Pistons dont have Larry Brown. I know chemistry will be an issue. But I give the Heat the edge here. 3) Pistons - they dont have Brown, but the team is still very good. I think the Pistons missed an opportunity to add a bench scorer this offseason which is something I believe they REALLY need. Their offense is what betrays them in the playoffs. They havent addressed that. 4) Pacers - I like the Pacers roster. And for the sake of argument here I am "assuming" Artest wont be a problem. They have enough offense/defense and enough swagger to kick around Detroit depending on the night. Artest is the key without question! 5) Rockets - Very close to the Pacers here. Could be a coin flip. The addition of Swift and Anderson brings in more speed and quickness which is something we needed. I am going to assume Yao/Tmac mesh even better this year. That spells trouble for the league. And we will have more depth and improved role players to win more games. That's my NBA top five. I think in the "East" the next grouping is some group of the Cavs/Nets/Bulls/Wizards and then some group of teams fighing for the 8th seed. In the West, after the Spurs and Rockets, I think the next grouping is the Mavs/Suns/Nuggets/Kings. And that would leave another grouping of the Warriors/Lakers/Wolves/Sonics fighting for seeds 7 and 8. Hey, I wouldnt consider myself a "homer", but I really believe the Rockets are the 2nd best team in the West. And I dont see anything from what the other West teams have done that would put any of them above the Rockets (not counting the Spurs of course). The ONLY significant move in the West of the teams the Rockets are competing with is the Kings signing of SAR. But while that will help them rack up "regular" season wins, I am still skeptical that they will be able to do any damage in the playoffs with their lack of defense. And that's where the Rockets have a big edge! When the Media ranks teams, they get seduced by scoring and very rarely take into account role players, defense and chemistry which are huge components to good teams.
They're on crack if they think Phoenix is the second best team in the league a threat to the Spurs while the Heat is the 3rd best team in the East and 5th overall. Cleveland 7th? They made some solid moves but come on! That ranking was a waste of everybody's time.
mavs ahead of us??? seriously, i can't think of a team who had a WORSE off-season than the mavericks. memphis was bad but the mavericks are pretty close to becoming a finals caliber team and they do nothing in the offseason except let one of the franchise's best players walk out the door. also, i'm not buying the heat being better than us next year. you can't have your 3rd and 4th options on your team believing they're the first (walker and williams). i do buy the pacers and the pistons as better team than the heat though. i think pretty much eveybody has said how bad the pick of the suns being #2 despite losing 2 perimeter starters in an offense that needs shooting to be effective.
i know we all hate the mavs..... but you know cuban allways has a trick up his sleave before the season starts. or until the trade deadline...............
Rankings aren't important at all. The Rockets went on a nice run to end the season, the first of Yao/McGrady Era. The Rockets showed weaknesses in terms of speed and athleticism against the Mavs. Now the Rockets address the speed and athleticism by signing Swift and Anderson. Two premier free agents at their respective positions. Yao and Mcgrady are the best players and they are still in their mid 20's. They aging veterans are still good at their specialties. Mutumbo rebounds, Barry makes 3's, Wesley plays defense, Sura is a hustle machine. The Rockets are better than they were last year. Unless the NBA got a lot better than what it was last year, the Rockets will likely be in the range of 50 to 65 wins
