The argument about "who better" is a strong one. Originally, I had thought that the West would play out in two tiers - LA, Sac, Dal and SA in the 50+ club, and Minnesota, Portland, Utah and Phoenix as the second tier, with Houston and LAC making it if either they caught fire, or one of the lower four faltered. I still like Minnesota better than most, and I believe that Phoenix has enough firepower to overcome the overrating of their guard pairing. But Portland is a scramble, with Wallace being (IMO) the most overrated player in the league, and Davis and Pippen winding down. If Kemp continues to slide as he has in the first few games, I see them imploding around January. Utah... damn. For years, I've dogged that team as too old, too predictable and too ugly. But they always get me in the end. I'll grant that this might be Malone's year to falter, and if that's so, you're right. So... sure. I guess that I can see Houston taking seventh or eighth. I think that LAC was dealt a serious blow when Odom screwed up again, and they're a year or two away anyways. Good point.
Reasons we are a playoff team? Well lets see who will definitely make the playoffs: Lakers Blazers Spurs Mavs Kings Wolves The last two spots are up for grabs between Utah, Phoenix, Seattle and Houston. More then like Utah will get one of those spots, but they are on a downswing for sure. I know we say that ever year, but they have been getting sorrier and sorrier ever year. So Phoenix, Seattle and Houston more then likely will be fighting for the last spot. Seattle has decent talet. They have Gary, Rashard is starting to pick up and Baker is too soft in the west. They lost one of their better players in Patterson to Portland. They didnt make the playoffs last year and they got worse this year. Radman is not going to make them a playofff contener. Not yet anyways. Phoenix is going to have chemistry problems early which might put them back a few game. Their backcourt is awesome in Penny and Marbury. Googs is coming of injuries and you dont know how he is going to be. Marion is a bad ass, but they still dont have a center of anykind. I believe Suns will be our main nemisis as far as fighting for the last playoff spot. Rockets have the best backcourt in the West. Francis can hold his own against Payton and Marbury. And please no disrespect but saying Mobley is almost as good as Nash is the funniest **** I have heard in quiet a while. Francis gets all the respect and Mobley is very underrated. He is almost a better scorer then Francis and has the quickest first step you can imagine. We are not asking Rice to do that much. He just has to hit the open threes, which I still believe he is capable of doing. When he starts hitting those the lanes will be open all day for Cat and Francis. Kenny and Cato will get embarassed by Duncan, Webber, Rasheed, KG, and Shaq. But who doesnt? Cato seems to be a little bit more motivated since the arrival of Willis who has taken Kelvin under his wing. The most important reason I like our chances over Phoenix is our bench. Willis, Griffin, Morris, Oscar, Moochie and Walt is one of the deepest benches in the NBA. Sure Griff, Morris and Oscar are rookies, but the drafted rookies are good defensive players and Griff is not bad offensively.
This is the way I see it. Let's look at the 8 playoff teams from last year. 1. Lakers - still great 2. Sacremento - Still good. 3. San Antonio - slightly worse 4. Utah - a lot worse (new rules hurt them the most.) 5. Dallas - better, and improving 6. Portland - a LOT worse and older too 7. Phoenix - a lot worse 8 . Minnesotta - a lot better So that leaves 3 teams dropping out while while Houston is on the rise. I think that Francis is more mature, and he and Mobley do not have to worry about getting HAKEEM the legend involved, they can just play basketball. Their confidence is sky high, and they are maturing into a great backcourt. Rudy has done a very good job retooling the team, and they are only going to get better as the year goes on. They are a lot like Dallas was last year. Houston is on the upswing, pure and simple, and the Willis pickup WAS HUGE !!! He rolls to the basket, something Hakeem NEVER learned. So, for this team, RIGHT NOW, Willis is better then Olajuwon. Addition by subtraction. DaDakota
I guess I understand that (a) you guys feel more comfortable with Rice than I do... I may still be penalizing him for his pathetic showing in NY last year. And the points about the rest of the West are fair, as I noted. The Griffin thing is interesting to me... I can't figure out where he plays. Is he a Garnett-type freak, that floats to the frontcourt spot that needs him? Is he mature enough to handle being a regular (24mpg) rotation player? Has there been any evidence of "punkiness" as was feared when he was in school? If you guys are right, and Rice rebounds (no pun intended) and Griffin develops over the course of the season, then I agree... the Rockets are definitely a playoff team. IF Rice falls on his face, and Griffin needs a more usual development period, then I still wonder if there's enough frontcourt working to win the 46-49 games needed to qualify.
Concerning Rice: keep in mind that he was sidelined ALL summer. He is not in any condition, much less basketball condition. Wait until he has his legs back before making any snap decisions. I'd give him until the all-star break to raise his stats, if that's what you're basing your judgement on. If you say that he's lost it after the first 5 games of the season, then you're setting yourself up to look foolish later when the Rockets are making the playoffs and winning games largely because of his outside shooting. JMHO
The issue that was raised in an earlier post - Willis vs Hakeem - was a fascinating one to me. Did you guys feel that Hakeem was a distraction last year, on the court or off it? I couldn't really tell that from here... Willis will "father" a player on you... and I remember reading that he was going to take Cato under his wing. That's a good place for Cato to be... IF Willis can get Cato to play well, there's a bunch of reasons to like Houston's chances this year.
Comparing Nash to Francis or Molbley is foolish. Nash is a completely different player than Francis or Mobley. Diffrent types of game and different roles. All 3 are very good players. (If Nash stays healthy ) IMHO Hakeem really was a distration. Although his 20 points and 10 reb were nice every so many nights, the pride just did not mesh. We had to still honor Hakeem and give the ball to him in the post and give him touches. I love Hakeem so don't go flaming me, but last year we were heading in a totally different direction and Hakeem was pulling the other way. Willis is what this team needs. A "Man". A physical presence and a strong leadership. 10 rebounds a game isn't bad either. It's been said that Rice has taken Cato under his wing. It's good to see Cato trying this year. Rice and Willis are definite plusses this year simply for leadership reasons.
Question for GAdornato. Based on your very insightful observations concerning the Rockets ,and your, what I comprehend to be, in-depth understanding of the Mavericks, what do you think the record will be for the season series between these two teams?
"(Rice) I'd give him until the all-star break to raise his stats, if that's what you're basing your judgement on." Nah, I'm basing my belief on watching him closely since his Charlotte days. I simply think that he's had it as a key player on a good team, and that he's as likely to fade this season as he is to improve. Rice is one player that I've focused on for a lot of years, and I don't believe in him. I respect that you do, and I hope that you're right. "Comparing Nash to Francis or Molbley is foolish." Good argument. I think that the point I was trying to make is that all are excellent, though I don't see either Mobley or Nash in Francis' class. I really believe that Francis is potentially a top six player in the league, and neither of the other two has that in them. Nash is arguably a top-six or seven PG in the league this year. Mobley probably is close to that, if not there, as a SG. That was the basis for my comment.
The rocket turnovers are down this year. The rockets are getting two to three extra shots this year which equates to 2 or three extra points. This is HUGE if the rockets can keep up the good work. Hell, if Rudy could convince them to stop throwing up Alleyoops passes this could be even lower. Willis, Cato, and KT are pulling in more rebounds than our frontcourt did last year and scoring almost as well. Defensively, they are holding their own....maybe even a little better than last year. Rice is a major improvement over Shannon Anderson. Francis and Mobley are taking a bigger role in defense this year. They are much stronger due to offeseason work program. I believe Rice will get his shot back. You don't. We'll see, but the rockets have Morris, our future SF, in the wing ready for min and Walt can start anytime if need be. If this doesn't work, the rockets will slide mobley to the three and the NBA will get the 140-138 games they wanted as the rockets jack up the tempo. The rockets won 45 games last year. This is with a ten game spell were all the centers were hurt at the same time, but Hakeem is gone now and replaced with a historically more durable Willis. I'm looking at an 6-10 game improvement in the rockets. Let's review...the rockets are being more careful with the ball (less stupid passes, not completely reduced), they are rebounding better thus getting more second chances and giving the opposition less oppurtunities, and playing slightly better defense due to extra work done by guards and having centers.
Head to head... Basically, it will come down to health. At full speed on each team, I don't see Houston matching up with Dirk very well at all... the guard trio for Houston gets the nod over Dallas' threesome, but Dirk, Howard, Manning and Bradley will be tough to handle. Perfect health, I see the Mavs splitting in Houston, and a possible sweep in Dallas. But if the Mavs have anyone dinged, I could see Houston going 2-2 at least. Francis and Mobley simply hurt the Mavs too much - quickness is a great equalizer against Dallas, and Hardaway can't keep up with either of them.
There is no comp between Nash and Moochie. Nash has the ugliest hair in the league. Norris has style.
To all Thanks for now. I've got to get off and back to work. I think that the comments comparing this Houston team with last year's are valid. I may be underestimating Rice and Griffin... if I am, then there's little doubt that Houston is on track. It'll be a fun year. If Utah and Portland collapse (possible) and Phoenix underacheives (possible as well) there'll be a few teams scrambling around the trade deadline to find a playoff piece or two. Thanks for all the good responses, and I'll be back soon. If anyone has any questions about the Mavs, please give me an email... Regards, Gary Adornato
Good posts GA. Please to ignore NJrocket. You mentioned that you didn't see how Cuttino could get better. The biggest improvement we've seen on the Rockets this year, and Cuttino in particular is improvement in defense. Just two examples are a 0-9 showing by Stackhouse and his three blocked shots last night. He has also picked up his rebounding totals. Kenny is providing a very consistent scoring punch - he's just abusing the slow fours, and he is a very good passer as well - 3-5 assists per game. His shooting percentage is also over 50%. Aside from improved defense, the Rockets have also been taking much better care of the ball so far. Last year, we were one of the worst teams in the league at this, but this year we've been mostly in the low teens for turnovers. Thanks for coming to visit our site - and make sure your Mavericks beat the teams we mentioned (Phx, Minn, LaC, Sea, Utah). It would be a great help.
Sometimes these " homers" fail to see objective criticism of the Rockets. I think the guy that started the post was pretty accurate and some people dug into him which is fair game. Saying the Rockets are better because the west is weaker and our players have gotten older and better kills the argument that alll the other players have stayed the same. Sure we have some advantages over the Mavericks, but this team won 53games last yr an added good players too. Dirk and Finley are top 10 players in the league in their position while Francis is the only one for us. We have a solid back-up in Norris, but they have some guy named Tim Hardaway. Added they have a guy in Howard who can play more consistent basketball than Thomas. I only see LA,Dall,SAC, and SA as the only sure shots with us , Port, Minn , Utah, Phoe, and maybe the Clipps all fighting for 4 seeds. Its not going to be easy, but putting us in the class of the top 4 teams really shows how much some of these people know about basketball.
GA, We Houston Rockets fans who watch day in and day out our team compete with other NBA teams, know what we are talking about. Don't go to a national website to find info. on the team. Come here, where we see the little changes and improvements in the team. We are a better team this year, and doesn't matter if we barely beat the Clippers or ATL, or it took a last second shot to win at Phoenix. All that matters is that we won, and we probably have improved even more by keeping it close. Knowing how to win close games is a lot more important then people think. That is the difference between a great team to a good team. For instance, the Clippers are a good team, but they can't seem to pull out at the end. If you know anything about basketball, you'd know that it doesn't matter how great you play the 1st 3 qtrs in the playoffs, it all comes down to the final quarter. For Houston to endure this test early in the season can only help them. GA, you have to be or at least put yourself in these young kids shoes to understand how their confidence level works. You think just because they barely beat the ATL or LA, that it shows weakness. What you don't understand is last year in those type of games we most likely would have lost. You see, as a fan we notice these types of things and we surely know more about Houston then Mike Monroe of FOX Sports rating us 23 on the preseason poll, then you look at the current poll and he points out his stupid mistake of putting Houston at 23. Good b****ing by the Houston fans!!!
