[Sporting News] Without Yao, Rockets have no title shot

not really. It was possible, but now they are saying impossible. Not a compliment.

 

With the stacked Western conference and the likelyhood of facing the Celtics or Pistons in the finals, I think it's pretty safe to say the title, for this year, is out of the question. Of course, I've stated in numerous threads that I seriously think we can still make the playoffs and legitly hope for a 2nd round playoff birth. I've also stated that with a little luck who knows what is possible, but in all reality, unless the Rockets show me something over the next 20 games that I don't expect to see... I think the best outcome for our season that we can seriously hope for, without being unrealistic, is a birth in the WCF (and that's if we play our brains out and get a little lucky). Personally, the Rockets continuing to play hard, making the playoffs, winning their first round matchup, and being competitive in the second round would be enough for me this season... after that we can talk title next year.

But yeah, it's good to see us getting a little mainstream attention that says we were (and more importantly are, with yao) contenders for a title that can seriously contend next year, even if the coverage came in the wake of Yao's loss... and ultimately says we don't have a prayer without Yao. With Yao, we've looked like a serious contender the past couple of months, and I guarantee you, guys like Barkley wouldn't (and indeed, haven't been) be caught dead saying we were serious contenders. No sir, that notion would put a damper on the Lakers/Celtics/Mavs/Suns coronation... and the sports media certainly wouldn't want that.

 

I guess asking us to win the title without Yao is like asking the Spurs to win a title without Tim Duncan. Hmmm However, I do believe that we are much deeper than the Spurs too at the PF,SF, and Center position. Deke will make up for the loss of Yao as he did last year. Unlike last year, we now have much more scoring punch in the low post from Scola and Landry so who knows.

 

Not a fat chance for a title. It's just being realistic. Yao's presence in the post on both ends of the floor can't be underestimated. The best we can hope is to get out of the 1st round so this franchise has a little improvement over the last decade.

 

Defensively we will be fine. Nobody drawing the double teams down low will make life tougher for everyone else.

 

I noticed that last night in the Wiz game. As much as Yao's offense will be missed, the way he opened the floor for the shooters was something we kind of took for granted. Just compare the open looks to the previous game against the Bulls. I'm sure RA will try to compensate for this to some degree, but it was depressing to watch last night, despite the blowout win.

 

This just in.....with oxygen, land mammals die.

 

The author of that article obviously overrates Yao's importance to this team. We can still win it.

 

Win what? The championship?! You are f'n crazy! Give me some of what you're smoking!

 

we nevr got any respect whether with Yao or without Yao, so nothing new to me.