I've been listening to a lot of sports radio lately, and I've been surprised at how badly people are underestimating the rockets this year. A substantial number of people are calling these shows and predicting that we wont even make the playoffs this year, even with a healthy Yao. Even the hosts don't think we're better than the rest of the west, and find the idea of leapfrogging a few playoff teams to get decent seeding ridiculous. I don't see anything remotely ridiculous about it. This year's team is better than the 2009 team with Artest. We'll be better than the following playoff teams: Suns Jazz Spurs Blazers I think people forget just how much of a difference maker Yao is. Out of sight, out of mind i guess: <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wl0W8enLyBg&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wl0W8enLyBg&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
No one's ever shown the Rockets love (except Kenny Smith), so why start now? Besides I bet you no one in that locker room cares what other people say about them. They know their potential and themselves better than anyone else, so it should be our job as Rockets fans to support them. Just forget about all the haters.
Eh. The team has a lot to prove. Keep in mind, NO ONE KNOWS how much Yao's going to be able to play. I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: Ilgauskas, after having a similar injury, could only play 20 minutes per game and couldn't play in back-to-backs for the first two seasons coming back from injury. If that ends up being the case for Yao, the team's going to have problems. Don't forget, the 8th seed in the West last year won 50 games. It's not going to be easy.
Upon the start of the season, Yao will have not participated in a full-on professional basketball game since the 2008 playoffs. You know what that means? The guy broke his damn foot, he's not gonna come back on Chamberlain mode and pull 20 and 10 games out of his behind. He's gonna slow the team down, limit our fast break opportunities, and hinder the development of the speedy youngsters who showed flashes of brilliance last year. We'd be lucky if Yao gets back in form by the all star break (highly unlikely). There's absolutely no reason to believe that we will jump all those teams you mentioned in the ranking. I hope I'm proven wrong, but it's not looking too good for us right now. Utah upgraded big time, and the Blazers had no significant losses. Steve Nash will somehow manage to put the Suns in the playoffs, and Popovich, is well, Popovich. No explanation needed here. put down the koolaid and take off the Red colored glasses. This year will be one more year of experience for the youngsters, and then hopefully we can make a splash next offseason and jump to contender status. But sparing an insane move/trade Dork Elvis mysteriously pulls out of his butt before the season starts, I don't think the team can reach the playoffs this year, much less contend for a favorable seed.
Fosho man... they don't remember what we did with a healthy Yao. Now, its plus KM, Ariza, Miller and minus Landry, Ron... we're even better than our 2nd round team. But that's just what happens when you go 42-40.. we'll prove em wrong.
We get no love, but that aint gonna stop us! <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6Wc7-R7gN0&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6Wc7-R7gN0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Which is probably why Yao only missed one full season, as opposed to when Ilgauskas missed basically all of 1998-99 and 1999-00. Still, it's an extremely rare procedure (at least among athletes) that was performed on a 7'6", 310 lbs basketball player with a history of leg/foot problems. If it's not something you're worried about, you're more optimistic than me.
Why you bringing all this negativity in the Rocket House? Never underestimate the foot of a champion.
@liljojo's video Man, I forgot how gigantic Yao was. It's gonna be awesome having him back with a Martin who now knows the system (after spending a full camp with the Rockets) and a MIP experienced Brooks.
We all know what happens when the Rockets get even a little publicity. Literally the minute we get some kind of congratulatory praise, the wheels fall off. This is a customary practice before and during the season... This is what the rockets feed on. Trust me we don't want it...
In regards to the video, people forget how good Yao is...or perhaps was. Anyway, we shall see...but he misses a year and now everyone outside Houston is like Yao who? He'll be back. The haters are just motivation....keep knocking 'em off. <a href="http://www.gifbin.com/982773"><img src="http://www.gifbin.com/bin/042009/1239875028_fighting_zombies.gif" alt="funny animated gif"></a>
I don't think that he'll be what he was before this year, but I believe that he can be the following year. If things go well, and by well I mean his health holds up, he's going to be a bigger difference maker for this club than any other single player could be.
thats no surprise, tell me something i do not know. thats fine the rox will make them all eat a nice **** sandwich.
