Our team on paper

based purely on talent? yeah.
unless they win a title, no, so we'll see at the end of the season.

 

Talent wise about everyone agrees that the Rockets that won the championships were very high. Those teams played teams with a whole lot better players series after series. But those teams had CHEMISTRY and it started with Hakeem. They played like a team and they made the plays when they were supposed to.

Talent wise! The current Rockets make up has so much upside, if the Chemistry develops then Championship talk is justified.

I remember the Golden State Warrior teams with Hardaway, Sprewell, Mullin, Webber, and Seikley and that team never even made the playoffs. That team had talent. Then there are the Clippers, etc.

Talent with Chemistry is a recipe for Championships.

"IT STARTS WITH CHEMISTRY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

Even on paper, Olajuwon himself was pretty much worth both T-Mac and Yao during those two championship years. That was back when there was no zone, and the Rockets could get a good shot every time down the court running that same boring yet effective play. Plus Hakeem himself shut down the paint in ways Yao and Swift can only dream of doing.

But anyway, it's pointless to compare teams across generations. It's much more practical to compare our lineup against other contenders. And IMO, I'd take the Spurs lineup over ours in a heartbeat. I also think Detroit and Miami have slightly superior teams on paper.

 

Well I think you'll be singing a different tune at the end of the year.

 

If only finley signed with us for the LLE our lineup would be flawless. Imagine

PG-Rafer
SG-Finley
SF-TMac
PF-Swift
C-Yao


That would just be sick...but hey, i still think that the squad we have now is gonna def give everyone a run for their money

 

I have to say, I can't agree with you on this one! I've seen the Spurs, Detroit, and Miami play so far in the preseason. And even though we "may not" eventually win it all, I would STILL take our team above all those mentioned. The only reason the Spurs have an edge over us is because they're the champions, and as long as the team doesn't lose anyone crucial, champions will always come into the season being the favored. But I think with what we have, we'll give the Spurs a run for its money, AND SOME.

Like one previous poster mentioned, I don't expect the Rox to go any less than the Conference Finals, (barring any major injuries)

 

i think he means on paper he likes the spurs roster better...but if our chemistry is better we might have a better team

 

Hakeem was the best player on the planet through the mid-90s, including that retired/unretired (inveterate gambler) guy.

My glass is half full with this squad. However, this edition of Rox needs a guy like Anthony Johnson for secure Point depth. This edition needs a Malik Rose or an Eric Williams more than a Juwan as I am afeared he'll disappear again this year as last without starter minutes.

All that said and I say, I tell ya, I like this team -- but it is not yet June worthy.

 

This team definitely has more talent than both championship teams. I won't break those rosters down but they had significant flaws. What we had was an 8-9 player playoff rotation each year that was solid as a rock plus team chemistry that blended well on both ends of the floor.

 

Well, I certainly hope I'm wrong. But I don't see anything to indicate that would be the case. There's no reason to believe that the core of the Spurs is going to be worse. And their role players should be upgraded from last year. They won 58 games last year, and that's with Duncan sitting out for quite a few games. I think the over/under for the Spurs win total this year is at least 60. I'd be ecstatic if the Rockets can reach that number.

 

Hakeem was a better center than Yao, Thorpe was a better powerfoward than Swift, T-Mac obviously wins his match-up with Horry, but Horry gains points for being clutch. Maxwell was a better two than Wesley or DA and Kenny and Rafer is arguably a wash. Neither plays good D, Kenny is a better shooter, Rafer is a better play-maker.

94-95, Hakeem still better, Swift is better than Horry, T-Mac has a very slight edge over Drexler, Ellie and DA/Wesley a wash, Kenny and Rafer a wash.

Both teams had Sam Cassell, in 94 they had Carl Herrera and Bullard off the Bench compared to a rook, John Barry, and Juwan Howrd. I would argue that the 94 team had a better bench than this current team but the 95 team didn't have a strong bench. they were playing chuckie brown big minutes.

 

while i agree pretty much with what you've said, don't knock (the original)CB!!!

 

i would have to say the 94-95 team is better only because i was watching old games a couple days ago and was amazed at how much heart these guys were playing with compared to the players today... they played with passion

 

You were probably too young to appreciate how awesome Hakeem was. There's NOBODY on that CBS "top 30" list I would trade straight up for the '94-'95 Hakeem, and it would take a Duncan+T-Mac combo to make me pause and think about doing a deal.

 

agreed. most of the players now are all about money, not about playing basketball. I think after Charles Barkley / Stockton/ Drexler / retired, it seems like some of the players desire to win became less, and desire to earn money grew.