Ya know, it dawned on me today - that in a strange reality - the NBA title may be more in reach of the winner of the Utah - Rockets games on Saturday then I had ever thought. Why? 1. Dallas is gone. 2. Golden State is not going to win another series. How can I be so sure - because as athletic and speedy as Golden State is, they haven't faced the physical team defense of a Gundy or Sloan team. End of the line there. 3. Only one "premier" team stands in the way. The Spurs or the Suns. We match up well against the Spurs as unlike the Jazz - they don't have scorers at every position - and JVG is a master at exploiting that on the defensive end. 4. That leaves the Suns. Even though I am likely to think they will pass through San Antonio - there's one thing about them. They haven't made it to the finals....and they are coached by Mike D'Antoni - who may not be the mastermind he's thought as. Who is the better coach - JVG or Mike Antoni? Who can make the adjustments? Rephrased - who has more experience in the playoffs and done more with less. The answer is JVG. 5. T-mac isn't going to face the kind of D he's faced against a Jerry Sloan coached team - he isn't going to have to deal with anyone like AK every again. And Yao won't have to deal with a Mehmet Okur. He won't have to deal with that kind of defense - nor will he have to defend a Carlos Boozer. Folks - our scrubs might be just barely enough to make it all the way. We're facing a very good Utah game at home, in a game 7 - the winner who gets the 8th seed - to get to only have to play one of the top notch teams in San Antonion who is not as powerful as it once was, or a Suns team that no one really knows how good they are in the playoffs right now. Not saying we're a shoe in - but hey, with the way the bracket falls out - we've got a shot. And there isn't a better forum of turning scrubs into solid role-players then the pressure cooker that is winning a 7 game series. Saturday is the biggest game in T-mac's career - everyone knows it. It's the biggest game in 10 years. And hopefully, in a few weeks, we'll be saying that again and again.
This is my thinking too. All of the stars are alining for us, we just have to do our PART. No small feat, but we can do it. No one here wants to give the Jazz the credit they deserve, although they do play a crappy brand of ball, they do it well. They will not roll over for us, well will have to take it. This series is preping our mental tuffness for the rest of the run. I BELIEVE
I think once we get past Utah Tmac and Yao are going to explode. The level of physical play in this series (mostly by Utah) isn't going to be duplicated again during these playoffs. It will be like going from being guarded by a jail house thug to being guarded by a 92lb weakling.
There is no doubt about it, if we get past the Utah j*zz, we definitely have a shot of doing something the rest of the way.
The Championship is up for grabs this season. Detroit aren't what they used to be and if the Spurs knock out the Suns I like the Rockets chances even more. Then again it also depends on whether Bonzi plays or not if facing the Spurs. Rockets won 2 away games against SA when they had previously been winless in that area for several years. Bonzi was also not involved in the two home game losses.
Yeah, the Rockets definitely have a shot. If they win tomorrow, I'd put them at 6:1 or something like that to win it all. They've got an equal shot with Detroit to win it, and San Antonio/Phoenix should be favored over Houston/Detroit. But the Rockets are one of 4 teams left with a shot at the whole thing.
We're a championship contender because of Tracy McGrady. We might have scrubs, but because of T-Mac's unselfishness, they will get open looks. They can actually contribute to the game unlike the scrubs on teams with ball-hog players like the Lakers.
i agree we will play much better if we can just get past the jazzholes. finally all of that pressure to get out of the first round will be off t-macs back and he can really relax and let it flow. yao would be able to get much deeper post position against GS that would lead to easy baskets. but dont think GS would be an easy victory at all. baron davis would kill rafer, and our defense gives up alot of threes to try and lock down the paint and GS has ALOT of shooters. i think it could be a lopsided series either way.
I hope this thread turns out to be true...I'd love to see Yao and Mac be able to play free and easy against the no-D playing Warriors.
If the Rockets make the finals and Detroit does not (and I think Chicago will beat them), they would have homecourt in 3 out of the 4 series! I think this chance is one in a lifetime. Please Rockets! Win tomorrow! How many hours to the game.?.?.?
I know the future, this is what is going to happen. We win tomorrow. Beat Golden State. San Antonio beats Phoenix. We beat San Antonio. And then we will win the finals, due to the fact we can beat any Eastern Conference team. Houston Rockets, World Champions.
also because the stat says that everytime the Rockets faced the Jazz in the playoffs and won the series with the Jazz, they won the Championship!!! lol
Our finals path would've been as easy as the Cavs if we had sealed game 6. All that's left is up to chance. We have the odds on our side, but do we have the heart to take game 7?
inform me how jvg will get the ball to yao. inform me how we would be able to stop their excellent drives to the rim. do you really think a little more physique will scare nellie away? look to the last game vs the warriors. they totally owned us. oh- and lets worry about game 7 first. miracle willing- it looks as if the rockets will come out without fire, again.
Sorry, Golden State will beat us like a drum. They pulled a phenomenal upset of a team that won the most games in the NBA and that had no injuries, they also did it convincingly by winning the series 4-2. Super uber athtletic team that we have match up problems with ala the Suns.
