Preparing to Start the Toughest Stretch of the Season

The Kings without Webber are not clear favorites, and I think the Spurs are overrated. The only losses should be in SA, in Portland, and against LA. If the Rockets are for real, and I believe they are, they should do very well in that stretch. This 4-1 start will give them what they didn't have against these teams last year: confidence.

 

I have major concerns that ROCKET'S RECORD IS SIMPLY A HOUSE OF CARDS!!

We have managed to squeak by mediocre to poor teams, and most of them on our home court. I know, I know, we're young....but this team has too many long lapses during games when we simply fall asleep, get away from our game plan, and allow the opposition to get back in the game. We are simply too dependent on perimeter shooting. Not many "easy points" like offensive putbacks or fast break points. And zone variants are clearly hurting us.

Our early schedule was very favorable, and maybe a chance to learn how to win close games but I really don't feel like this group can compete against .500+ teams or win consistently on the road.
I'm a worrier, but we simply are not solid yet. Hopefully we can involve the "young guns" sooner rather than later. If RT is waiting for blowouts to play them, well it may not happen. The re-emergence of Glen Rice would really help take the pressure off our guards and add another legitimate scoring threat. Am less concerned about our defense than our offense (that's a change!).

DR

 

In my book, a "house of cards" trumps digging your own grave.

 

For all the people talking about respect, if we go .500 and beat someone other than den,lac, and memphis, then we'll get our respect. Sac is playing good without Webber and SA is not overrated.

 

The key will be to get a good start against Philly.

It is IMPERATIVE for us to win the pancakes in the midst of the stretch-we must beat Denver, LAC, Seattle and Memphis.

Also, I expect us to be ready for San Antonio with that 3 day break, and and only minimal travel.

We may catch a break as far as the back to back.

Sacramento is going to play the Lakers at LA the day before we play them at their place. Unfortunately on the back end, Portland receives significant rest before we go there on the 2nd end of a back to back.

 

If we split that round of games, or even go 1 game up, I'd call that a definate good thing. It will position us as a player not a also ran. Playoffs and second round is looking very doable, but this run will set a tone for weeks to come. Go ROckets !

 

They simply must beat Seattle! They have to!!

 

I agree with D Rocket, I think the record is somewhat misleading. The Rockets are not hitting on all cylinders, but who could expect them to at this stage of the season. In my view, Mobley and Willis are in mid-season form, and despite flashes of brillance, Francis is not in his groove. K.Thomas is playing all out, but is getting torched on occasion. It falls off significantly from there. I would really like to see more of Griffin and Morris. The team is approaching a killer part of the schedule; I predict that they will win five of the next 12 games and be 9 and 8 on Dec 2. Brace yourselves, rocky road ahead. If they are better than 9 and 8 on Dec 2, I will be elated, but don't count on it. I plan to remind the board of this post if I am right, or even if I am wrong, which I hope is the case.

 

Injuries are our biggest threat. Specifically KT and Willis. I believe we can survive if Francis or Mobes goes down for a while but without KT or Willis we're screwed. EG needs to be prepared with ample playing time. Did he even play in Denver?!!! What's up with that?

 

i havent seen the rockets play yet this season. against philly later will be the first. so my following thoughts may be viewed as utter nonsense.

i think the rockets arent giving it all in games. they're just playing to be better than the opposing team. which is why there's no blowout of the average teams (den atl). minnesota is playing well and is one of the best teams so far and we lost through a last seconnd shot.
so just because we went to overtime against atlanta doesnt mean we're definitely going to go down against sa spurs. looking at uh, sportscenter highlights of stevie franchise, just seems he's the type of person to have the mindset of 'okay they just scored a basket, now we definitely have to score. they miss, i'll try a fancy play since even if it fails, they didnt score and we're back to square one.."

yes, this is bull**** talk based on zero experience but i believe it.

 

Actually the games i've seen (all but one) I've been impressed most of the time. We lack the killer intinct to put teams away, however, we do have the balls to come back...ala Phoenix. This team really is a threat from what I've seen. Francis is taking over games at key times and Mobes has matured on pace. Let's face it the Rockets are good. The ONLY reason not to make the playoffs this year would be because of injury. We are at LEAST the 8th best team in the West. Possibly the 6th best. Anything less than playoffs will be a big let down for me.

 

I see them going 6-6 in that stretch. There are 6 home games, and one away against Memphis. You can't expect to win all the home games, but we will win against Memphis and one other team on the road. Then we have to win 4 out of 6 at home.

4-1 + 6-6 = 10-7 which I beleive is good for the playoffs as the 8th seed possibly, AND our schedule gets easier after this, so we'd be playing better than .500.


It looks good, but we have to keep KT, Willis, and Cato interested.

 

last year we got no respect because we beat all the teams we should have....but did not beat, consistantly the teams headed for the playoffs. we must beat the teams we should i.e., Denver, Memphis, Clippers and take advantege of Philly & Portland while they are down. but the respect won't come until we more consistantly and more than once beat the San Antonio's, Sacramento's and at least beat the lakers once just to prove it can be done... and then respect may not come easy......but can't be ignored

we need to go 7 & 5 on this trip...and i believe its possible

 

For those of you unfortunate enough not to have league pass, it is a vast underestimation of SA,SAC, and SEA. All three are playing pretty good right now as well as the Rockets, but to think that we're just suppose to roll over those teams are crazy. I've watched all of them and I'm here to tell you that we can't play like we did against Denver and Clippers and expect to win. Peja is killing , Lewis is playing good and the twinn towers are well the twin towers. I think if we go .500 then its good, but playing Sac twice and Port,Sea,Lac in a short span is going to be crucial. Hell Denver at home is always a tough game. Lets take it 1 games at a time and try to improve all the time.

 

i second that!

 

griffin on peja, griffin on lewis, griffin on twin towers.
easy.

 

we have that two-headed monster called Cato & Griffen...and when they get tired......we'll give'em Willis and Moochie up the WAZOO!!!

 

That's a pretty brutal schedule, no doubt. But I'm hoping the Rox have learned not to coast when they get the lead....that is, maybe the lesson will sink in when they're playing even better teams. That's the one thing that drives me crazy about the team: so often, they take naps at the end of quarters, and let the opponent back into the game.