http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090225 haven't seen it posted anywhere, if it is lock it.
Well I think we have just as good of personel as last year before Yao went down. Landry is better, Scola is better, Yao is a little worse, TMAC was better than Artest is now, our PG play is better, we have Von Wafer, Brent Barry.
Rockets might still be dangerous without T-Mac, but how far we can go in the playoffs realistically, I can't tell. I feel that we don't have that clutch guy to go when you're tied with two minutes left. I don't feel Artest is capable of pulling out that clutch shot, I see him more of a person who would just chuck it up in that situation without thinking about getting the best shot off or finding the open guy. Yao will be doubled or tripled, and will lose the ball...so without that clutch guy, the Rockets are still at best stuck in the second round of playoffs.
Calm down Nostradamus. The team is barely five games into the new set roster and playing time for each player and role will be getting better as the season winds down. I am sure all your concerns will address by the team and it will be one hell of a ride in the playoffs.
For some reason I feel like scola is a really good go to guy at the end.. I wonder if RA would consider going to him late in games.. Dude can get position better then Yao and he is relentless.
That's actually accurate, and it's ironic how something similar is happening this year without McGrady.
no thanks, we had that clutch guy for 4 years, look where that guy us. tracy shoots jumpers in the clutch. haven't we notice by now? the pick n roll will be our weapon in clutch time with yao or scola setting the pick and brooks or lowry with the ball.
Like someone stated before me, we just started to establish an identity to this team (now that mcgrady is out). And i believe that we have enough time from now till the end of the season to fix the problems that were clearly brought out at the end of the game yesterday.
Regular Season - Locker room problems Tmac out for the season - Rockets are done A couple of games later - Rockets are going to be fine Rockets beat Cavs tomorrow - Contenders? I hate ESPN.
So true. ESPN jumps on the team thats doin the best. Well theyre the ones who hated on us so once a hater always a hater.
Why would you expect anything less. Nobody nationally wants to hear about losing teams, generally people only care about how the good teams are playing. With that said, screw ESPN
I like how ESPN jumps on the bandwagon after we start winning. First, on the daily dime last week, they had us out of the playoffs because we're missing McGrady, now that they realize how much we are better without McGrady (on offense and defense), they jump on the bandwagon. I hate ESPN.
The team had won 16 in a row when Yao played before he went out with injury. 4 games, then sat one with the flu, then the first TWELVE of the streak.... DD
I think that would be in the Cavs game thread. One more thing, this team is better right now than they were during the 22 game winning streak last year. If you believe the team was a contender last year with a healthy Yao then you should believe it this year too. I for one, think we are a darkhorse championship contender behind the top dogs, but not that far. DD
I'm going to play devil's advocate here because I do agree with you that the Rockets now are the most talented squad we've seen in a while. But why exactly do you believe they are better t han last years' 22 club?
DD, I've asked this question in a couple of other threads and haven't seen it answered by anyone. Last night Aldridge completely prevented Yao from establishing position to get the ball. I know this whole fronting defense has been an issue for quite some time. But my concern is, do you think Yao/Rockets will do anything about it to adjust come playoff time? Because I can bet teams will employ that tactic more and more in the playoffs.
