(Debbie Downer) How Much Do We Really Over-Rate the Rockets?

This thread doesn't make any sense.

The Rockets have a good, deep, talented roster and will almost certainly make the playoffs.

From then on it's largely dictated by match-ups and luck. Most of the time people have no idea what's going to happen in a series until it's actually played. Who called Boston taking the Lakers to 7 games in the NBA finals last year?

If you don't believe, that's your own damn business, but it's really stupid to tell other people not to believe. It's really freaking hard to win a finals and it ALWAYS involves some sort of luck. If the Magic intentionally foul/fisher misses a 3 or if Perkins doesn't get injured, the Lakers might not have gotten a ring either year. It's ridiculous to say that there's no way that Houston can win a championship as currently constructed. It's unlikely, but definitely possible.

 

If we want a ring, we need to get more physical on defense. This needs to happen with a trade...


We need an Andre Iguodala/Gerald Wallace type, imo...

 

Bud, breaking an ankle a while back is not how I pictured an up and coming 3 to be. I hope he can break out this season and avoid pesky injuries caused by lack awareness. If he can hold up the 3 and play like he did last year consistently we have a chance. Battier is not that type of player and never will be that type of 3.

 

I don't think we have a clear shot at contending with the Lakers for the WCF but we definitely have a shot at being a top 3 team over in the West behind the Lakers and possibly the Thunder if we stay healthy and become alot more cohesive on offense.

We definitely added more size and depth this off season with Yao/Patterson/Miller/Lee as significant upgrades defensively in their respective positions. Not to mention the fact that Budinger and Hill are coming back with a year under their belts.

I personally didn't think Yao was a clear winner in comparison to Howard, they both have their strong points (Yao - Great FT shooter at his position, wide range with jumper, passing ability and height; Howard - freak of an athlete, durable, defensive presence and an insane hunger to grab every defensive rebound).

For someone who's a rockets fan, you sure are a pessimist with regards to your home basketball team. I wouldn't expect the Rockets to come out of the gates winning all 82 games but I do think they'll fare well enough to have a respectable record against the rest of the league.

The Jazz lost Okur (inj) and Boozer to the Bulls but were able to steal Jefferson and add Bell. Even with that I doubt they'll get anywhere until Okur gets integrated back into the lineup.

The Trailblazers didn't get any better with the conflict between Fernandez and Oden always getting hurt.

Dallas were able to trade for Chandler but injury prone as he is it remains to be seen how much better he makes that team. Even with Butler added last year they still got their butts handed to them by the aged compadres in San Antonio.

San Antonio resigned Jefferson, convinced Ginobli not to play basketball this summer, and signed Simmons but Parker was injured near the end of last season and mildly injured over the summer, they lose Mason Jr. and Bogans and everyone gets a year older.

Phoenix adds Hedo and Warrick but loses Barbosa and Stoudemare. Plus Nash turns 37 this year and while he's still playing at All-star level he's one injury away from the Suns being a lottery team again.

Denver didn't add anyone significant but they are on the verge of losing their franchise player this season due to his reluctance to sign an extension beyond this year, not to mention the fact that they have to decide whether or not its worth it to resign Nene, Carter and or Martin if Anthony decides he wants to take a chance with Stoudemire and possible Paul in NYC. Don't really seeing them doing too much damage in the post season with so much uncertainty looming in the near future.

New Orleans come back with a healthy Paul and added Ariza in the offseason, and who knows if Okefor and Peja will stay healthy enough to contribute.

Lakers come back as repeating champions but have Bryant and Bynum both coming back from surgery. Even so they still have the size and talent to overtake the Western conference.

The Thunder have a more seasoned and still ever growing Durant. With a core comprised of Westbrook, Green and Durant they should have another promising season if Kristic comes back healthy and contributes.

Don't forget the Rockets like every other team start at 0-0 so they have as good a chance to win as much as every other team out there. If you're tired of reading the these forums explode every single time something positive happens to this team then by all means stop reading. Not everyone thinks Yao Ming is still the second coming Hakeem and that we're a clear favorite to challenge the Lakers. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but try not to drag everyone down with your perspective. Not everyone likes to start a fresh season thinking the highest seed we can get is 7th-8th seed. I know I definitely don't.

 

ONE freaking preseason game............Yao working his way back.....young and new guys being incorporated....barely any practice. What's wrong with just being patient. Part of the fun is to see the team develop chemistry. If they suck by trade deadline, I am sure Morey will do something about it. Again, one freaking preseason game.....

 

This sums it up brilliantly. Excellent post c1utchfan.

 

So lets just assume everything goes right for this team

1.Yao and Martin stay healthy for the season.
2.Yao is back to form come playoff time.
3.AB and Scola continue to improve like they did last year.
4.We swing a trade for a decent scoring threat off the bench like Manu

You don't think the Rockets have a chance of beating a Laker team that they took to 7 games with a lesser team? In no way I'm saying that all of this will happen but it's possible and if it does happen I think it is ridiculous to say that the Rockets can't win it all. Outside of the Lakers and a healthy Heat team that really plays well together there is no team in the league with a for sure better roster than ours if everyone can stay healthy. Our chances are more like 2-5% than 0% without a big trade.

 

I wonder if Lakers fans have a similar reaction. They lost to the Twolves 111-92, with Kobe getting a goose egg in 6 minutes. Yes, the Lakers have a history to depend on, but the point stands that you really can't judge a team by their first preseason game.

That said, I'm concerned about our frontcourt, specifically Yao and Hill, but that doesn't require a big trade to shore up.

 

who the hell is debbie downer is all i gotta say

 

it's really funny how delusional a lot of the fans really are.

i constantly read stuff like "the rockets go as far as yao carries them" or "if we stay healthy we'll be contenders".

1. yao is incredibly overrated as a superstar. if you look at the facts, he hasn't lead anyone to anything. people hate on mcgrady for his inability to win a playoff series for the rockets. those are the same people that say "the rockets go as far as yao carries them". what they fail to realize is that yao was a big part of why mcgrady couldn't win a playoff series for the rockets. because yao was either injured or didn't perform at a superstar level.

the rather sad truth is, you don't win anything with yao as your best player because even when he was at his best he wasn't good enough to really carry a team.


2. chances are this team won't stay healthy. yao can't even be considered healthy to begin with. and if you look at kevin martin's injury history, his body type and his playing style you know it's just a matter of time until he'll miss some games. nobody's talking about a season ending injury, but he'll miss 10 - 20 games easily even with minor injuries. best case scenario is we'll have them both together for about 50 or 60 games.


if the rockets make the playoffs with martin and yao still available and then maybe win a playoff series or two the season should be considered a great success. a true contender on the other hand would say it was a wasted season. and that's the difference.

 

GermanRoxFan, you are probably right about the regular season, but once we are in the playoffs, and should everyone be healthy and at the top of their game then, I think anything is possible. Don't forget we took the Lakers to 7 games, and that was with a team that was arguably not as good as this one.

 

You don't GIVE UP, before the damned season even starts.

This team won 53 games 2 years ago, and is better today than it was then, much deeper.

Yao is not a superstar, but he can become a super role player.

This team is loaded, the only worry I have is in splitting up the minutes, and getting a good balanced 8 to 9 man rotation.

Because as is, with Yao being healthy they are contenders, IMO.

Enjoy the ride folks, it is going to be a fun year.......

DD

 

I don't really over-rate the Rockets at all. They look like a solid 48-50 win team that will hopefully be a 7th or 8th seed. They've got some scrappy players that are fun to watch.

If they can somehow land a legit star before the break it could get interesting as far as advancing in the playoffs.

 

The purpose of this year is to prove to ourselves that we are a contender to win it all next year. See my sig.

 

I don't get some people on this bbs. It's like if you say that you don't think the Rockets are going to win the championship this year, that means you think they're going to go 0-82 or something. As if there's no middle ground whatsoever.

I don't think it's "debbie downer" to not automatically assume we're going to win a championship. Personally, I don't think there's any way Yao is going to be 100% come playoff time. If I had to guess, I'd say he doesn't even finish the season.

Sorry if this makes me any less of a "fan" even though I've been pulling for the Rockets for over 3 decades, which is longer than most people here have been alive.....

I think we win 45-50 games, maybe a playoff series, then we're done. Does that mean I'm not going to watch every game and pull for them to win every one like I have for over 30 years? Of course not.

Objectivity in the GARM is a good thing, not something to be banned...

 

c1utchfan925, dang good post.

 

I really don't know if I over rate the Rockets or not. But if I do, why does it matter? I'm a fan. What's wrong with believing they can do it? If I'm wrong and they suck, nobody is going to die, no major wars will be started, no fortune 500 company will go out of business.

The only thing that happens if I believe the Rockets can do better than they actually do is I'm wrong. I've been wrong enough about other things not to worry too much about believing in the Rockets more than is realistic.

 

What is the purpose of this thread? Are you the same guy that was suggesting last December that the Rockets start tanking games? Morey has done everything he can do at this time to build a contender.

This thread is no different than at least a hundred other threads over the past few months. What are you trying to accomplish with this thread.

 

WOW.. We lose 1 preseason game and everyone is ready to crucify the Rockets. Its just ONE preseason game against a really good Orlando team so just chill.

Granted, we did look rusty, but that is to be expected. Go ahead and be a "debbie downer" but I believe that we are a top 3-4 seed in the west if healthy and definitley a contender.

 

FYI, not everyone "crucifying" the Rockets is doing so based on 1 preseason game.....