Judging by the some of the mood of the posters on this website, one would think the Rockets are one of the biggest disasters in the NBA and would get a very low seed in the playoffs. Yet, many fail to mention or not realize this: + The Rockets are currently tied for 2nd in West and are only 3 games out from the Lakers. + From now til the end of January, the Rockets really only have 6 games that one could consider to be very tough or almost given lost: Utah and NO near the end of the year...In January, we play Detroit, Boston, LA, and Utah...thing is they are all on separate weeks and 2 to 3 games apart. + The Rockets have yet to play with their full final rosters or have set cast, like last season. + 4 players are recovering from injuries (one was very serious and might've returned to early, because of the Olympics)... + Battier and Mutombo(who possibly will be added) have both yet to suit up this season. + At this point last year, the Rockets enjoyed a 6 game losing streak and 7-7 record, while the injury bug start to hit us in December. + The Rockets only play the Lakers and Trailblazers 3 more times this season. The Suns only 2 more times. + The Spurs and Mavs are ailing, while the Warriors have lost a step with Baron Davis. + Denver is a wild-card team, yet again. + Every single back to back either includes no playoff teams, a lowly seeded Conference team, or one playoff seeded team. No back to back includes any powerhouses, like the Lakers, Celtics, Suns, or Pistons. This year and next year will be our best shot at the title, at least in the T-Mac and Yao years of Rockets. If we get past the 1st Round, the only team I see giving us any fits are the Suns and Lakers. Two teams, we still should be able to beat in an ideal condition (no injuries or referee shennigans).
I'm not surprised ... I expected some gelling time, like last year. TMac is worrying me a bit with his injury and fragile feelings, and I wish Battier didn't end up taking so long to get us in our groove, but other than that, I figure this is pretty par for the course. I think Battier's injury has been more impactful than anyone's. He really functions as a quarterback. On the positive side, Artest's attitude has been awesome, and I like the team's tougher attitude that has caught, and Brooks and Landry have been real bright spots. Now if only SF3, Barry and Dorsey could catch fire, it could be a doozy of a season.
Don't forget that we've had a pretty difficult opening schedule (LAL, Boston, Phoenix, NOH, Orlando), plus some solid teams (Dallas x2, Portland). Three of our losses SHOULD have been definitely win-able: -Roy's miracle/questionable 3 for Portland -Blowing huge 4th qtr lead vs. Spurs -Dallas round 2.. even though the final score shows it wasn't that close, it should still have been winable if we had a full roster. Even against Boston we were right there until the very end (4point game if you don't remember). Heck, even in our "blowout loss" against LAL, we were up by double figures in the first half and collapsed the second so we still technically had a shot at that one.
If the championship is our goal, we should focus only on beating two teams: Celtics and Lakers. The mood is right, we are far away from those two teams. otherwise, your endless positive outlooks.
Thank you for that... really, I think a lot of us are jumping on the Rockets for not being the Celtics of last season this year. They really have done well considering that there top defender and 6th man, or starter which ever end of the spectrum you view him as, has not played at all. We have a gimpy McGrady running up and down the floor. And Yao just came from an Olympic tournament coming off surgery, way earlier then expected. Plus we don't even have a true backup C to come in and take minutes from Yao. All that being said, I really think getting back all our pieces and giving us time to play together, will make us the best team in the NBA like a lot of us predicted.
I wanted a 7-3 out of the first 10 games and we got a 6-4. We are fine. We could have easily went 9-1. We could also have gone 4-6. We played horible in some and still managed to win. Had luck been on our side, we could have stolen a few games, too. Blazers, Celtics, and even that meltdown in LA. This Rockets team...I still have faith in.
The championship is not given for any team, even the Celtics last year, who faced to 7 game series against a very lowly Hawks team and a much weaker Cavs squad. They could've easily lost both of those games, especially against Cleveland. But, they picked up in the tougher rounds. I'll even say right now, the #1 seed for us is still not that impossible to reach. Anything can happen, especially if we pull off another big winning streak or a few, here and tehre.
Wow, we're in 2nd now? You wouldn't know that based on the apocolyptic threads that have been popping up. Here's another couple of positive outlooks: -Barry is shooting far below his career 3 point percentages. He's old, but he's not that old. -Artest is below his averages in many statistics, yet plays 39 minutes a game. And despite these two things we still have a respectable record.
Good post. We are looking good. December is such an easy month, which is perfect for getting our offense right, giving McGrady some rest and easing Battier in. Towards the end of December, we should be firing on all cylinders. I just hope that we stay in positiong to snatch 1st seed from the Lakers. They will be tough and we NEED the homecourt advantage.
Suns are overrated, we should be able to take them in 6 if necessary (and all players healthy). I am very positive about the Rockets. There are many thing we need to work on in the coming months, but we have no where to go but up. Celtics and Lakers have already had a year to play together, cant wait to see how we are when we play as a team, rather than 5 individuals. Battier will help alot in that aspect. Also got to remember, Yao's shot and game are still off from months of not playing after surgery. Right now, looks like Tracy is afraid to drive the ball and get contact, where he is most effective. Hopefully we will keep working on his jump shot and be more of a threat from the outside as well when playoff time comes. Ron ron still needs to work on our team's chemistry. Brooks will get more exp, and of course, Battier will be back to shut down Kobe.
The Lakers will probably win it all this year. The stars are aligned. I'd be happy if we can drag them to game 7 in the west conf finals.
Wait till someone gets injured... Speaking of which, I def. don't want to meet the Lakers in the playoffs... Guess we will have to in the Finals
