1. It's exciting, but it could also be very frustrating. It's not good for your heart health. Be prepared. 2. That tall Chinese guy is good, but he isn't that mobile. You need to use him smartly. Prolong his stay on the court, while Ron Artest trying to post up Kidd in futile won't help; trying to go to him in desperation while the rest of the team forgetting how to play won't work either - he will be fronted. 3. When your PG and 2 guard can't create much off the dribble, life will be hard in the NBA. As such, life will suck if you are a center. 4. You will hate the referees. But more often, you hate more than they deserve. In a lot of ways, translation is that, you actually hate yourself - or your team. 5. When someone tells you a short, light lightening quick guy is very good, be aware, unless his name is AI - even so, he might not be what you need, such as trying to build your offense through a big man. 6. Rick Alderman is old. In fact, he can be slow. So be prepared. He may adjust to something, but it's often later than you wished or should be. Plus, don't expect too much strategizing, in fact, if you listening in like that ESPN reporter, all you can hear might be: Calm down, we will be fine. Some call that veteran calmness. Others call that senile. But he is old, there's no denying that. 7. Ron Artest is a mystery. He was, is and always will be. He would in general brings more stuff and positive surprises, but be prepared for drought out frustrations. But I digress. Mostly, he is a mystery, you are kind of suckered in just to fill your curiosity of what he brings this time: the good Ron or the Bad Ron. 8... (I'll fill it out, kind of busy right now.)
9. Rockets is resilient - both ways. When you might think they are done - like loosing a star player or two, they surprise you with solid wins, they might even win you 22 games consecutive. When you place great hope on them, like in big games, they almost always come up short. On balance, what I learn is that, they are an overachieving team - wins more than expected because they work hard, but come up short because there are serious structure shortages.
10. It's hard to give up watching the team you love, even it heart-breaks you so many times. It's like with that girl you love, who put you down whenever you think you are in the ninth cloud with her. Yet, you root for her. Let there be playoffs. Let's go Rockets.
Pressure exposes all your weaknesses, the playoffs are about pressure, the Rockets have a great many weaknesses, therefore, well, you know. The real question is how resilient are the Rockets, can they bounce back and play really well against the Blazers OR is this the beginning of the end, another first round exit to a team that wasn't even in the playoffs last year. Don't ask me for the answer tonight.
