Looked as if the energy had been sapped from this team the last several games. Alot is going to depend on when Carl Landry comes back. I think they will struggle alittle, but pick it up at some point. I don't know if the 33-0 Lakers and 20 win Bucks were in such a heated playoff chase as far as the standings go.
I was writing my new thread in Microsoft Documents, then after I wanted to post here, I found I can not post new thread anymore. Did I break any rule of the site? Anyway, here is my post. Admin, please email me, thanks. Title: T-Mac has grown, and I still believe in this team. A big loss for Houston. A sad day for us… However, I think T-Mac has grown and I still believe we get a chance. I remember back to 2005, Rockets lost the series to Mavs in game 7. It was a 40 points blow out, and T-Mac cried in front of the whole nation. I felt bad for the team, but I didn’t feel worse after I saw T-Mac cried. My wife used to say my heart was a “stone-heart”, as I did not drop a tear no matter what I saw. I told my wife, being in a foreign country alone and trying my best to survive, I actually suffered much more than a lot of people around me with my age. I used to cry a lot, but after 27 year (or 28) old, I just couldn’t drop a single tear. Especially in my career, I devoted my heart in my business, but no matter how tough it was, I just tried to deal with it with peaceful mind. So at that time, I was thinking maybe after this, T-Mac would be stronger mentally. Last year, before the playoff, T-Mac said in the public, “It is on ME.” This is not a clever announcement. At least, it is not good to say this as a team leader. In the playoff, in game 4, there were only 4 Rockets score, and the rest made no points. They made history as this was the first time happened in NBA playoff. There was something wrong with the Rockets. After providing 13 dimes in game 7, T-Mac said, “I did my best.” I disagreed. This year, T-Mac learned. “No, it is not on me, it is on us.” There was a pool in the rockets.com, and most people agreed that the long streak was because of the contribution of the whole team. It is a team effort. I believe T-Mac has successfully transferred from a team player to a team leader. On Sunday, Kobe shot 33 times and the Lakers lost. Yesterday, T-Mac only shot 11 times when Houston lost. Yes, the Rockets lost to Celtics, which were considered the best team in the league. However, I still believe in this team. Coach Rick Adelman said, “We might have run into a wall.” I don’t quite understand what that mean. But I think the Rockets might just run into a learning-the-running-and-passing-system wall. (Like the rookie wall) Coach Adelman ever said, “We have to have at least 20 assists to get a win.” But do you realize that during the last three games, the Rockets could not submit 20 assists. I believe the Rockets will get this solved. PS: I wrote all this without checking the old records. So if my memory did not serve me right, don’t argue too much for that. It is just one game losing streak, Go Rockets!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I have not given away my Mirage Wheel yet. Let’s continue to play the “give away a set of 22” Chrome Mirage Wheel” game! I don’t even put this bet on the thread title, so if people who did not pay attention on the Rockets after the loss and did not read my post, they then will not have a chance to play this game. Let us play three games at a time and increase the winning chance!!! So please predict our scores against Hornets, Warriors and Suns, and post here. This time you can predict TWO combinations. For example: Hornets game: 95-85, 86-75 Warriors game: 105-86, 110-90 Suns game: 110-92, 95-86 As long as one of your predictions is right, you will get the wheels. If more than one people have the right predictions, then I will roll a dice. PS: This is for us to have fun only, and it is not for commercial purpose. So please don’t get upset and argue with me when you see someone else gets the wheels. Plus, I don’t even put my wheel website here, so don’t move it to the hang out. Rules: 1. You can only predict that the Rockets win! 2. You can predict as many times you want, but only the last time counts. 3. Please use the format of “RocketsScore-OtherTeamScore”. 4. Each game’s deadline is the tip off for each game. 5. I don’t pay for the shipping if you win. Enjoy and good luck!
one loss is for sure, at least in my mind. phoenix. if KG and leon powe hurt us, what can shaq an amare do? ---------------- tonights game (hornets) i'm 50/50 on. with #1 on the line i think the rockets know they need to fight this one out. with paul/west not at 100% we have a good chance....even with an exhausted team. the warriors game is our best matchup. size doesn't matter, ad we'l get a lot of easy looks at the basket.
we will grab a win either from GS or NO. hopefully both. we will lose the PHX game for the lack of interior forces.
I think we go 2-1 in out next 3. But 3-0 is not out of the question. How much energy we have at tonight's game will tell us alot. Maybe it's better we were blown out rather than lose a hotly contested game. At least the starters got some rest. McGrady looks exhausted, and certainly does not bode well. But as the saying goes, "that is why they play the games." Our 22-win streak is the embodiment of that.
I agree about Landry. If he comes back for the next game or the game after, it will really pick the team up, imo. McGrady loves playing with him, as does Scola. You can tell from the body language on the court. Carl is money around the cup and knows where to go and what to do for the pass inside from Tracy. He compliments Scola so well when they play together because they cover for each other's weaknesses. No Landry? Lucky to get 1 out of 3. I think a letdown after a streak like this is almost impossible to avoid. Landry's return could make the difference.
I would be surprised if there is no letdown after losing to Boston. Most likely... 0-3 50/50... 1-2 20% chance... 2-1 Improbable... 3-0 The game tonight will set the stage. An expected letdown loss will lead to a likely loss to GS. Two losses might make a win in Phoenix possible as the adrenalin of the playoff situation returns, but could just as easily spiral into a third loss, if desperation creates mistakes. A win tonight would be exceptional and would go a long way in avoiding the above outlook. But both the Rockets and their opponents on this road trip have the "magic" perspective of "the streak" stripped away to some extent. The game does have a large mental component. And as has been noted, T-mac was feeding off of Landry's contribution more than we could have predicted. No Landry, expect more struggles.
I completely agree with that sentiement. I'm expecting and really hoping for a 2-1 split, winning at Hornets and Suns. 3-0 would be fantastic, but I'm trying to keep my expectations realistic. That would be the best 3-2 split we could hope for. It would clinch Tie Breaks over Lakers and Hornets and give us a huge leg up on the Suns. I'm not too worried about the Warriors catching us, and the Celtics are Eastern Conference.
I think we will do fine against any team without a major post presence, I hope we sign a big body before the Suns game though. How does a seasoned vet sift through hate in threads, isn't the discussion of one star being better than the other a little useless when the team needs both of them so much?
The Rockets have not played well offensively the last 4 games. If that pattern continues, it will be difficult to win even one of these next 3 games. Two out of three would be a real accomplishment, but I think 1 out of 3 is more realistic.
It happens, consider it as a trade for that great 22 winning streak, after few games the team should be back to normal and start to win some back. What important is the playoff, avoid Spurs/Jazz/Lakers at all cost, other teams without a post player shouldn't be anything the current Rox team can't handle.
I expect us to lose, until Landry comes back. History shows us that there is a recovery period after a long streak, and I see no reason that we'd be any different. In fact, since our streak was based on intensity, focus, hard work and teamwork, instead of incredible Hall of Fame talent, we might be even more exhausted. You can already look at our 3rd/4th quarters for awhile now. In fact, if Adelman could get away with it, he'd be wise to rest his starters against Phoenix, or at least Rafer, Battier and TMac, and probably Deke, or we'll lose to Golden State too, but the league would probably never allow it. If Landry comes back against Golden State, it might give us a boost, open up the paint, so we could win that one. But, without Landry, or some rest, I don't see it. I do have hope, that after this stretch, if the team doesn't get too discouraged, they will go right back to winning, and maybe take their new ability to win far into the playoffs. But, now Adelman has to make sure the team peaks just right for the playoffs. Coach has his job cut out for him.
