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[San Antonio Express-News] There is still time for Rockets to make playoffs

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Yaowaming, Jan 29, 2006.

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  1. Yaowaming

    Yaowaming Contributing Member

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    http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA012906.8C.BKNstarting.five.2d04d4c.html

    NBA starting five: Stretch runners

    Web Posted: 01/29/2006 12:00 AM CST

    San Antonio Express-News

    Five teams way behind after 41 games but ready to make runs at playoff berths in final 41:


    1. Houston Rockets: Sure, they're 12 games under .500 and five games out of eighth in the West, but Yao Ming is due back Wednesday and T-Mac is already back. They're 15-10 when T-Mac plays. If both can stay healthy, they're among the top six teams in West. There is still time to prove it, but they'd better go to the whip right now.


    2. Chicago Bulls: Losing Eddy Curry was a bigger challenge than they suspected, but they also have lost more than their share of close games. Tyson Chandler now starts at center and seems happy about it. They go into the second half of season with a nice little three-game win streak. They could be over .500 by the All-Star break.


    3. Orlando Magic: One moderate win streak can get any team into the playoff picture in the weak East. Keyon Dooling is finally healthy, and as long as Steve Francis stays within the team concept — always a challenge — they're right there with the Wizards, Bulls and Celtics in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot.


    4. Boston Celtics: They make this list because they made out like bandits in the trade with Timberwolves. Now Paul Pierce can play more at big guard, with Wally Sczerbiak at small forward. And losing Mark Blount, who treats rebounds like poisonous snakes, is addition by subtraction, even when you get Michael Olowokandi in return.


    5. Golden State Warriors: Friday's loss in L.A. was their fourth straight, and put them four below .500. A feud between Baron Davis and Mike Montgomery over control of the offense is evident to all. If GM Chris Mullin dumps Montgomery and gives Mario Elie a shot as coach, nobody will wonder who is in charge.

    - Mike Monroe
     
    #1 Yaowaming, Jan 29, 2006
  2. TECH

    TECH Member

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    A crazy winning run the rest of the season will get the Rox some respect. The city will be excited. When our players get back to normal, I expect it.

    Believe! :D
     
    #2 TECH, Jan 29, 2006
  3. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    I'd feel a lot more confident if we could just play the rest of our games on the road...
     
    #3 ima_drummer2k, Jan 29, 2006
  4. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Member

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    I'm not giving up, but it's hard not to see too little too late.

    Any unbiased betting person would be more willing to put money on the Rockets being 14 under after tomorrow than 10.
     
    #4 JayZ750, Jan 29, 2006
  5. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    With Yao and McGrady, making the playoffs still shouldn't be too hard. The #8 team is currently under .500. They're only 5-6 games out. It's not like '00-'01 when the Rockets were 45-37 and still didn't make the playoffs. They didn't have a player as good as Yao or McGrady then either.
     
    #5 TheFreak, Jan 29, 2006
  6. thacabbage

    thacabbage Contributing Member

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    You are absolutely correct. The masterful coaching of Rudy T. was the biggest factor in that team's success in being heralded as "the greatest lottery team in NBA history."
     
    #6 thacabbage, Jan 29, 2006
  7. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    We will make a small run when Yao comes back and if him and McGrady are half-healthy the rest of the season.

    Still, it will be too little too late by then, I am afraid. In short, we won't sneak into the playoffs on our own, we will need help from one or two of those teams currently in the playoff hunt to have a meltdown and fade away, while we play a high level of basketball on a consistent basis, which we haven't shown nor had the chance to do this season, obviously due to injuries and whatnot.
     
    #7 tigermission1, Jan 29, 2006
  8. count_dough-ku

    count_dough-ku Member

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    It's too late. The Rockets would have to go 26-13 the rest of the way just to finish with a .500 record, and there's no guarantee that 41 wins will be enough. It's not gonna happen. The real question is at what point does the team admit the playoffs are an impossibility and decides to improve their draft position by resting its stars.
     
    #8 count_dough-ku, Jan 29, 2006
  9. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    Poor cabby. Still has to take shots at a Rocket legend to prop up his guy. Sorry man. :(
     
    #9 TheFreak, Jan 29, 2006
  10. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    it'd be nice if we win some games :)
     
    #10 TMac640, Jan 29, 2006
  11. DribbleHooper

    DribbleHooper Member

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    "Nice" is an understatement.
     
    #11 DribbleHooper, Jan 29, 2006
  12. thacabbage

    thacabbage Contributing Member

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    That doesn't mean much coming from someone who has admitted in the past that he would not support any successor of Rudy T. unless it be Mike Dunleavy simply based on some nostalgic obsession.
     
    #12 thacabbage, Jan 29, 2006
  13. Stunna

    Stunna Member

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    ......and its not nice that its more likely we will be 15-29 after tonight's game at Memphis........... :(
     
    #13 Stunna, Jan 30, 2006
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