even the titanic didn't sink right away. leo and kate stayed dry for a good while after the iceberg hit ripped that mudhole in the hull. the violin quintet even continued to play their beautiful music, but in the end, they all became shark food. hate to say it, but the beginning of our end starts March 16.
LOL. Wasn't this the other way around just a month ago? Fans were saying the team was better off without T-Mac and even wanted to trade him. Now, the team is better off without Yao? HAHAHAHAHAHAH
We are NOT a better team without Yao. The only thing I would say is that, we are not AS bad as people think or expected us to be without Yao. Heck we were not as bad when TMac was hurt compared to last year. But the fact of the matter is, Yao does make us a better team.
oh come on, didn't we go 20-10 last year without Yao when he was dominating??? This year we got a much better supporting cast, I don't see why we can't at least match that record.
That's my point also. The team isn't better, but they have shown they can win over a pretty good stretch as long as tracy is healthy. 22-12 in 34 games is proof in the pudding with chuck hayes and howard. I think this team has more talent, so I don't hink they will fall off.
Why even respond to posts like these? Just give it one star and move on. Anyone who thinks our team is better without Yao or Tracy is delusional. That's all that needs to be said.
we are not better without yao. that's ridiculous. we can play without him, but u don't get better by losing 22 pts and 10 boards. the bulls got to the ECF without michael jordan when he retired. they didn't win it all with him, but they can still compete at a high level without him. i think this rockets team are the same way. we don't entirely depend on yao (nor tmac) b/c we have a great group of guys who want to win. we will REALLY miss yao when we play certain teams like the spurs or lakers (though i doubt we have to double gasol too much). but we match up v. other teams better now without yao like utah. i truly believe we can beat utah without yao b/c now we match up better w/ their big men defensively. again, just take this as a sign of a growing team that is showing they can win. when yao comes back next yr (just like tmac from injury this yr), he'll see he can play and do less and we still can win.
the only problem we had with yao in the game was when those boneheads tried to force the ball to yao at the end of close games. with everyone scoring, the team looks awesome with or without yao. it would be foolish to say conclusively that the team is better without yao. the team is simply better when they are not making foolish errors.
Honestly, I wish the guys here would stop bashing our stars and be glad we have some. This team could easily be the old Atlanta Hawks, or the Clippers.
I was thinking about this exact scenario last night on my drive after the game from Houston to Austin. It is a good comparison, although Yao is more agile than Shaq these days. As for us being a better team without Yao? No way. We may play better at certain times, but overall, missing Yao is not a good thing.
Yao clogged up the lane offensively? What I have seen is totally different. I saw Yao keep clearing the path when his teammate drove to the basket for a layup or dunk. He did not clog up! Instead, he kept opponent's big man away from blocking such a shot. I guess one or more of the following reasons made you such a GREAT analyst: 1. You do not play basket ball but only watch; 2. You have a vision problem so you could not clearly see what happens on the court; 3. You only have a radio.
the 07-08 rockets are good w/o yao and scary good with him. the thread maker cites that they dynamics of the team are better, but that is exactly where yao contributes the most. the dynamic with yao has been fantastic as of late. its still going good, but the team is just an easier puzzle for the nba elite to solve at nitty gritty time....
go to espn.com and pull up the rosters and records of the other teams in the western conference. that's why
I don't think Deke can play extended minutes without his body breaking down. Back to backs will absolutely kill him so no, I'd rather have Yao. Plus Yao scores at a much higher rate.
U HAVE GOTTEN MURDERED FOR THIS POST!! I posted "What if we win without Yao" and the posters went nuts!!! Yao is awesome with what he gives us. Benefits w/o Yao * Balanced scoring, this also happens when MacLady was out * Lanes open up * Better low post defense, including Deke's ability to block shots. Too many small guards blow right past Yao for easy layups. * TURNOVER from the center position decrease dramatically. Y, we will never force feed Deke in the post * We are push for more fastbreak opportunities * We are not concerned with getting Yao the ball, we only concerned with getting an open shot. Yao takes way too many fade away shots and layups that should be dunks. Risks w/o Yao * 22 jordans and 10 rodmans * Heart, desire, and joy to play for Rockets * * Low post presence that blocks out the sun on defense.
