5 wins away .. from being a .500 team. I know the Rockets can do it. And once we reach that mark, its sort of like a blank slate, and time to make up for lost time (beginning of the season). Our next 5 games arent going to be too easy though .... Wed. at Philly(10-10): missing their best player right now, but they are still playing great D and key guys are stepping up for them. Rockets should be able to take advantage of the post and hopefully minimize the damage of the philly backcourt. Oh yeah, and doesn't Barkley like to play against former teams? Fri. at Boston(8-8): Kenny Anderson Dana Barros Tony Battie Calbert Cheaney Marty Conlon* Pervis Ellison Danny Fortson* Adrian Griffin Walter McCarty Greg Minor* Doug Overton Paul Pierce Vitaly Potapenko Antoine Walker Eric Williams Not too shabby a list of players, but no one guy on the team that is really scary. the Rocks will need a big game from Francis to win this one. Cato should have a block party against these post players. Sat at N.J.(3-15): A team in total confusion right now. They have no post play right now at all, and they have been reduced to a jump-shooting team(Walt's dream?), thanks in no small part to Marbury. If we dont underestimate this team, or let them hang around, this should be a W. Dec 14 Tue N.Y. (10-9): Another team with shoddy post play, but they have 2 excellent guards. This one should be interesting, and Im looking forward to seeing a possible Sprewell vs. Anderson Houston vs. Mobley matchup on the court at the same time. Francis better have a big game against these pgs and our frontcourt should come up big. Dec 15 Wed at S.A. (14-5): obviuosly, this will be our most difficult game to reach .500, and our greatest test of the season. Tough game, but i know that if our players play up to their potential, they can beat the twin towers. I look for the Rocks to take at least 4 of these games, and hopefully they can take all 5. If they start to roll, watch out NBA!!
Like Payne Stewart told me (91-92) when I said that the Houston Oilers would win the Superbowl, "everybody's got a dream". (True story, BTW) ------------------ The truth is out there... but I forget where...
Thank God the Rox are starting to get some wins, but lets be a tad realistic here. You expect at least 4 wins? The Rox have uno wins agaisnt any team thats not in the absolute basement. (Including a lakers team without Shaq, or Kobe) Wins have come against the Clipps, Mavs (minus 4 players), the Grizz x 2 (who haven't won on the Road in 30 games), A good, but underachieving Suns team, a Shaqless, Kobeless Lakers, and the Warriors. Lets not get ahead of ourselves and assume that the Rox are out of their funk. I would be extememly happy with 3 wins against that group. Expecting wins over Philly, and the NJ Maurbury's, and believe that they are capable of beating the Celts, who haven't looked too bad. Considering their 2-10 start, to be 10-14 would be a pleasant surprise.
Hey Mulder, they will win the Super Bowl, but they will be called the Titans (sigh) GOD I HATE BOB LANIER !! DaDakota
Houston beat the Suns and Grizz and Clips w/o Francis. I disagree that Francis has been a liability. I feel that this team is genuinely coming into it's own. Remember when Popeye and Rudy said that it would take twenty games for the Rockets to start showing their potential? Next game is #20. I still don't like Rudy that much... but this time, the optimists may have been right. [This message has been edited by haven (edited December 07, 1999).] [This message has been edited by haven (edited December 07, 1999).]
TDS99, You crack me up, man. You know, it's OK to have some optimism. It's not necessary to discredit every win that we have. I've lost count of how many times you've pointed out how lame our win against the Lakers was. As far as the Suns are concerned, they were the hottest team in the league until they played us. Every team that we have beaten had better records than us, except the last Vancouver game. A win is a win no matter who it is against. They all count. I'm feeling a little too good about winning 3 in a row, 4 of 5, 5 of 7. Maybe you can bring me back down to your level by explaining how all of wins were lame and undeserved. CriscoKidd, I'm with you. I believe that we can win all 5 games. The San Antonio game will be tough because it will be the tail-end of a back-to-back. If they win the previous 4 then they should have plenty of motivation to beat SA. That win will put us at 500. ------------------ SpaceCity of RocketFuel
Space...If wins against those squads is all it takes to get you pumped, then its been a bad year indeed. Lets see, what would get me pumped...A convincing set of wins over the scrum of the league. Or even a few over the middle of the road. Im trying to understand what exactly got under you skin their Anti...The fact that I pointed out facts as to who exactly the rox have beaten, or the belief that those were actually quality wins (minus the suns). How far the mighty have fallen to be excited over those wins. Let me ask you to re read my post. Actually I make note that I expect the Rox to win 3 of those games. I would be greatly pleased if the Rox finished out with a 10-14 record, and that the Rox shouldn't get lulled into a belief that things are alright at the moment. I didn't attack anyones belief of the team. Next time read more carefully. Its now to the point where the optomists are crying over even the optomistic comments.
I also agree that the rox are coming out of their early funk. If you look at the last seven games only two were losses, one to the hottest team in the leage in overtime and one two a team in the middle of a seven gave win streak in double OT, a game that was later revenged I might add. Since Shandon Anderson and Cato have gotten going I think this team is one of the best in the league.
Let's see. we snapped the seven winning streak of the hottest team in the NBA, in which two superstars in Kidd and Hardaway are playing. Not only that, the Suns beat the Spurs, the Sonics and the Knicks this season, that pretty much shows how good they are. Plus the fact we whipped their asses two times in a roll(if it was not for that guy Satan Mathis), I'd say the Rockets turned into a good team.
