This season hasn't been fun for Rockets fans. There have been over 100 games missed to injury already and the team has only played 34 games. Only a 10 game winning streak would put us back into contention and it doesn't look like that is going to happen anytime soon, but it can. Soon Yao will be back on the court. Tracy should be back even sooner. Mutumbo can go back to being a defensive spark off the bench. The court will start spacing out and more dimes will be collect by Skip. Soon Wesley won't have to shoulder the team. Howard can go back to hitting uncontested jumpers. Barry will perform works of art with the ball. Ryan Bowen will go back to changing the pace rather than being a high minute starter. Swift can still fly with the best of them. Sura might be a starter this year. Anderson will finally show us his all around offensive game and Moochie can grow back his fro. Without a shadow of a doubt, this team will be healthy at some point this season and they will be fun to watch whenever that time comes. The Astros were down, but not out. The Rockets are down and they'll be back. Keep your Head up and enjoy the team on the court. The lessons they learn now will help us in the future! Go Rockets. Cheer loud and cheer until the end. Whether we make the playoffs or not, we're going to be one of the best teams in the league by game 82.
I feel in my gut were going to make a big run at some point but I always look at the bright side and A high lottery pick is not a bad conslation prize so I will continue to cheer and watch either way we may get closer to a title
That's what great about the NBA. Every playoff team has a shot at going to the NBA Finals (think #6 Rockets in 1995 and #8 Knicks in 1999) and every non-playoff team has a chance to get the #1-3 pick (think Orlando in 199_ and the Rockets securing Yao Ming). So it's basically a win-win, unlike baseball where the draft picks don't return potentially immediate results and the playoffs are for the few, or football where only the worst 3 records ensure the top 3 picks. So, the NBA gives you a reason to root for each team throughout the entire season because there is always the chance of either one of the above. I love this game.
Ok, Stay Positive...stay positive.... Right ! I am positive that we are not going to make the playoffs.
This is from Tony Mejia's column at CBS Sportsline, Jan 12, 2006 : http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/9161573/2 "Dear Tracy McGrady, do yourself a favor and hang up the sneaks for the rest of the season. Dedicate yourself to getting the back problems under control, conserve a half-season of needless wear and tear to extend your career, and pick yourself up a higher quality of a teammate next season. Worked for David Robinson down the road in San Antonio, no? No one is saying that Tim Duncan is available in the upcoming draft, but considering your team is going to make an unexpected stop in the lottery, why not maximize the chance of finding a gem. Take the rest of the year off, allow Yao Ming to become the focal point once he returns, and see what develops during the offseason. Perhaps a talented wing like UConn's Rudy Gay can aid the cause. Perhaps Gonzaga's Adam Morrison can do his Larry Bird replication by your side. What do you think of Texas' LaMarcus Aldridge, a Chris Bosh-type who would look really good next to Yao? It's all possible, that and renewed health, if you just suppress the desire to return this season and worry about healing the body."
I am really surprised at the talk of giving up. Guys seriously, why do so many of you think we are out of the play off picture? The only difference is we had too many injuries- and at about the Stro trade- these same people were talking about Western Conference Finals! None of the injuries are long term issues- atleast what we know publicly. In less than 2 weeks we should have most of the guys back- or atleast the two who matter most. The rest of the team has shown great heart in the last 3 games- if anything adversity serves as a gut check. We will come out of it as stronger team- not a weak lottery bound "pretender to the throne" I am sure a lot of the same people questioned whether we could win our First NBA title!
I like this. This is not giving up. This is looking to the mid and long term for the Rockets. Bill Walton and Grant Hill are just two NBA stars I can think of who had their careers devastated by coming back too early from injuries.
I concur except JVG and CD should make the decision about shutting down T-Mac weighing the odds of making the playoffs playing .350 ball. I think the odds are slim that we make the playoffs at this point so why not try to get a high lottery pick.
