Not worried about loss, we'll be big challenge to Lakers when it counts

I was confused by that rotation as well. There's not a good defender in that bunch, at all. There's no one to protect the paint, the only help defender is Luther, and every one of them are going to get beat on an iso. Very odd lineup indeed. The only thing I can think of is that it's a rotation based on ugly shooting by tmac and artest and a tired yao.

 

you cannot deny the fact that we have huge problems in the rebounding category. Everyone knows that chuck is not a center and although Deke came up big when Yao went down, if we resign he is not the back up center that can go up against younger centers like Howard or Oden (although i am skeptical about his age) who will be getting more PT, are stronger and quicker.

We need a REALLY dirty center to come with our second unit.

When Shane comes back, Artest will come off the bench and that bench will pretty much have highest homicide rate in the NBA.

 

I think having Shane being a starter, there will be a lot more chemistry with our starters. Our bench already has it, it's just our starters. I felt Ron was taking too many shots, and there wasn't enough ball movement, or off-the-ball cuts and moves. Hopefully with Shane back, that would be better. We all know him to be that great team defender, and overall team player. He's a great leader, and does exactly what Rick needs him to. He's very unselfish, and on the offense, he'll knock down those open threes that Ron has been knocking down, and he'll offer the same defensive intensity. That gives more freedom for T-Mac to run down the middle, and throw it out to open shooters, (hopefully Rafer can get a rythym going on his 3-pointers). Shane's importance to this team is often overlooked.

 

Agree, I would have liked to have seen an athletic shotblocker patrolling the paint with that early 4th quarter group Adelman had on the floor.

 

I agree with the originators sentiment.

Yao, Tmac and Alston have only to go up offensively. Battier, of course critical to our defense, is also helpful to offense as he is very efficient in his shots/spots. He will add efficiency and stability while also lowering Artest and Tmac's MPG.

In terms of rebounding, we were excellent last year even with Deke playing less than half the games and only 16MPG the game we played. I think this will work itself out with a healthy squad getting used to each other--Deke or no Deke.

 

When was the last time TMac was 100%? And when was the last time
Yao was fully healthy all season?

 

OK you are right but you are missing the entire point of the DPBallers thread. Which is the Lakers had 7 days rest out 8 days which is RIDICULOUS while the Rockets were in the middle part of a brutal road stretch coming off back to back games(one going into overtime) and IT SHOWED. It showed by the fact that the Rockets played well early on and took a big lead then ran out of gas to a team that had all the energy in the world from not playing but one game in the past 8 days.

 

Yep, being the underdog is where I like the Rockets to be too. It is a safe place to be should things don't pan out and it seperates the bandwagons from the real fans.

 

to answer you question about Yao we had big expectations because came out in the first few games like a stud then just hit a wall, so we are all left confused why he's sucking.

I'm not worried but I'd like to be able to enjoy the games more often by winning and blowing out a team for once.

 

why is it everytime we lose someone says something like dont worry 82 game season, or not worried we'll get them next time, or well get them in the playoffs but if we play how we are now there will be no playoffs these games we are losing is what is going to get us into the playoffs stop making excuses for the team and just admit we're getting out asses kicked

 

EDITur*

 

What about being under-playoff bound?

 

^^^ My favorite poster. Most people dog nef's negativity but his witty, sarcastic one-liners crack me up every time.

 

The Rockets are not the underdogs if you go on this board. Any writer, even our own KellyD writes anything realistic about us, then people start whining why he didn't write as the #1 team.

How the hell are we the underdogs when Kenny Smith says we're going to the NBA Finals? When JVG today on ESPN radio says we're in the top 3 teams of the NBA?

we're not underdogs dude. Also this title is very funny. We were a big challenge to the Lakers last year, but somehow Utah ended up playing them in the playoffs.

 

we are underdogs still. it looks like we will never get healthy and that yao is in sharp decline. but that's okay. welcome to houston buddy. this is how it's always been. we are at our best when we're not on the radar.

 

because we always play that way. rockets always give the fans heart attacks even against the most miniscule opponents. we could have a 40 point lead in the 3rd quarter and still go double overtime. it's just the way it is.

 

We are still 4-3. The 3 losses: 2 to last year's Conference champions and one unlucky OT loss to Portland during a very tough beginning schedule. I am not worried about our chance of making the playoff. We have only gone through 7 of the 82 regular games. Be patient, my friend.