Utah,San Antonio,Minnesota,L.A Lakers,Portland,Phoenix,Seattle,Sacramento These were the teams that had a playoff berth last season. This upcoming season Dallas will for sure be a lot better, they played great by the end of last season. I can't see any team replacing any of these teams from a playoff berth, except for Dallas(They will take Utah's place). Houston has got a good rookie in Langhi, but do you really think Langhi would take the Rockets to the playoffs. No, i don't think so, well atleast not this year. Most of you guys would argue that the Rockets will be a lot better than last season because of all the young players who can only get better. Though i don't think one summer changes a 34-48 team record. Don't expect Hakeem to do anything this season, he'll get injured somehow and miss most of this season. Therefore, the Rockets will have exactly the same players as they had last year, who for sure will be better, but not good enough to win consistantly. To make the PLAYOFFS: The Rockets need a different coach, i luv Rudy T, but the guy is no great coach. He's much better as a GM or scout, it's amazing how he is able to see talent in a player where most other people will be blind to it........ The D of the Rockets is just sad. The Rockets badly need defensive players who can rebound as well. Until that happens the Rockets are going to be staying with Vancouver in the standings. You can guess where that is. To answer my own question: The Rockets are not going anywhere this upcoming season. I'm sure if most of you don't look at this prospective biasly you would agree with me. Though i would like to see someone prove me wrong. 2000-2001 Early Prediction: 3. San Antonio (Towers can't be stopped) 4. Dallas 7. Minnesota 10. Denver 11. Houston (Record of 41-41) 12. Vancouver 13. Utah(The Old Batman&Robin duo will TARNISH) Pacific Division: 1. L.A Lakers (Nobody can stop Shaq, YET) 2. Portland (Loaded talent except for PIP) 5. Phoenix 6. Sacramento 8. Seattle 9. Golden State 15. L.A Clips (Will always be last) ------------------ $$ out $$
"To make the PLAYOFFS: The Rockets need a different coach" So the Mavericks with Don Nelson coaching them are going to take Utah's playoff spot away from them? I agree with every other team you had ranked but the Rockets are going to make the playoffs- not Seattle or Dallas. ------------------ WE WILL WATCH THEM FALL... Next year [This message has been edited by AntiSonic (edited July 28, 2000).]
i think the rockets and mavericks have a shot if eithier seattle or sacramento somehow fallout.hopefully it could be a exciting race to the end for those last spots,like in the east last year. and like it or NOT utah will have another 50 win season. ------------------
They are playoff bound if these things happen. 1. Cuttino signs 2. Hakeem contributes 3. Langhi gets significant PT 4. We acquire a good player with our Exception. These things happen and the Rocks are in...IMNSHO. DaDakota ------------------
What the h*** are you talking about? How can people STILL bash Rudy T? The guy's one of the best, if not the best coach in the league - a lot better than your hero's coach Lenny Wilkens, that's for sure. You've got a right to your opinion no doubt, but IMO, it's way, way, way, way off. The Rockets will have a better record than a lot of those teams (Denver, etc.) mainly because of their coach! Golden State finishing with a better record than the Rockets? OK, sure [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited July 29, 2000).]
There is too much uncertainty to guarantee what's going to happen in any given year. Before last year, many would say the Rockets would have at least contended for a playoff spot, but we were never close. The additional problem comes from the fact that the playoff teams in the West are so much stronger than those in the East, and there is a greater gap to close to get to the playoffs. But several teams have problems. Utah is aging, and an injury to either Stockton or Malone signals the end to their season. Seattle is an enigma, last year, they looked like they were going to tear themselves apart at the seams, but then they went and took Utah to the limit, and now things don't look so bad. But then again you never know. Sacramento is in trouble with problems at the point and their star player wishing he was elsewhere. I'll stick to my prediction that the Rockets will get the 6th seed and play Portland in the first round next year. ------------------ Who would've thought Don Nelson would pass up Olumide Oyedeji not once, not twice, but thrice? [This message has been edited by Puedlfor (edited July 29, 2000).]
I AM SO TIRED OF THIS CRAP!!!! I hate to be rude...but....all of you who keep bashing rudy, and are calling for a new coach have NO idea about basketball. Rudy T is THE BEST coach in the league at putting the players he has in the best position to succeed, therefore putting the TEAM in the best position. Why aren't we winning then? LACK OF TALENT!! I know that we have talented players, some of them, like francis, who are truly gifted but, 1-12 we are not even close to having the talent many other teams have. Rudy understands "role players" he understands "team chemistry" he is an excelent "teacher of the game", and there is no doubt he understands the x's and o's of the game. That alone makes him one of the top 5 coaches in the league. Throw in the fact that he is one of the most liked and respected PEOPLE in the NBA. (one of the main reasons people like Barkley, Anderson, and so many others want to play here) I mean how many draft picks did we here this year, before the actuall draft, say "I think the coach I've liked the most during my workouts is Rudy T." When you add all this up you will realize that we have one of the top 3 coaches in the league (IMO the #1). ------------------
Amen, StevieF... I can't sit by and watch someone badmouth, or even shortchange, Rudy T. The man is...no, I won't even start. He can't be touched. He is the single most important reason why we have ANY SUCCESS WHATSOEVER. Those that disagree, while you are certainly entitled to your opinion, I must ask to reconsider. See the light, my friends. As for the playoffs, I have my doubts as well. There are those that believe if you don't think your team is going to at least make the playoffs, then there is no point in even being a fan. I think that is complete horses**t. I love the Rockets, and would do so if they were rivaling the Clips for most embarrassing team in the league. I think they have an outside shot at the playoffs, but no better. They are simply in the wrong conference to be in "rebuilding phase". Were they in the East, they would definitely be in...and I think would have a good shot at having homecourt in the first round. However, they aren't. They are a middle-weight fighter in a gallery full of heavy-weights. They are a fighter that shows flashes of brilliance from time to time, but still lacks the experience to compete with those that have been "at it longer". I like to think that they have a good shot at the 6, 7, or 8. Any higher than that and there will be noone more suprised, and happy, than I. ------------------ "I'll take a Dream Shake for two, please."
Rudy rules!!!! And I wouldn't say that Seattle and San Antonio are locks for play-off spots. I like Minnesota but they could be a posibility but actually you look at Dallas then look at Houston........if the Rockets can get Bo Outlaw somehow we should take Utah's spot off Dallas! ------------------ I'm tha hip hop attracta, rapper slash acta, right back at cha!
dallas shmallas...every stop talking about dallas. they will not make the playoffs. we will have a better record than dallas. they cant play defense. ------------------ "Win the game, baby!" -Rudy T in the fourth quarter of game 4 of the 1995 NBA Finals
Don't get too worked up, guys and gals. Vince started this thread just to provoke reaction. We should thank him for it. Us basketball nerds need something to talk about in this looooooooong off-season. Dallas is definitely a team to watch. Thank God they've got Nelson for a coach---Captain D**s***---or we would really have to worry. I think we would have finished the season in similar fashion, winning most or all of our games as Dallas did (didn't we almost?), but we kinda threw the last one away (hey, Chuck, help us lose this last one, so we can move up in the lottery and draft a future superstar like......er, uh.....ahem...Jason Collier). Dallas ain't moving up so far. They might sneak in, sure. But if Utah is ripe for a fall, so is Suckramento: hype hype hype and no D, I don't care how much NBC kisses Kings ass, their grip on the playoffs is precarious. All we gotta do is make'em sweat a little. And they'll let go. ------------------
If Vince wants to give us something to talk about, then at least let it be a claim that has some sort of reason behind it. To blame Rudy T on any of the team's ills last year is really very short-sighted. First and foremost, we should be crediting Rudy for readjusting the team's entire style of play once Hakeem and Charles went down to injury/ailments. Rudy could have just sat back and said, "We play it the way I've always done it.", and probably won half as many games. Of course, I'm sure that would have satisfied some of you Tank pundits out there. Also, when you look at our lineup, we really did not have a lot of great defensive players. In fact, this is one area where I feel we will have to improve via trade/free agency mostly. Francis will begin to develop more of a defensive game (I hope!), and hopefully we can get a 3 that will actually play defense (maybe Langhi? maybe not.) But perhaps the biggest key to a defensive turn around is the work that Cato has allegedly been putting in this offseason. Sure, some improved and consistant offensive output from Cato would be nice, but I think his defense really is the key. We obviously have the offensive tools to be a great team. It really is a matter of low post defense and the improvement of our young perimeter players. I've seen time and time again how Rudy T is able to get the best out of the talent he's given, but you can't expect miracles from the man. I'll tell you what Vince. You put Jesus on the sidelines for the Rockets, and you might be able to get the output you're asking for. Give Rudy a break. I think we're finding that any doubts in his ability that have popped up in the past are quickly snuffed as soon as we see the product he puts out on the court. Don't we owe him at least that much anyway? ------------------
I love Rudy T as a coach. He finds players with skills AND character, and that is the recipe for success. He is a player's coach, and his personality draws great players to Houston. When Jordan retired for the first time, Rudy took a team with only 1 superstar, and won a championship. Now that Barkley is gone, and Dream is not the first option, Rudy is changing his offense to fit his players. Many lesser coaches with big egos would stick with the same gameplan because they would not have the confidence in themselves. Rudy continues to grow as a coach, and I have confidence that he will find a way to bring us another championship. ------------------
I know you guys Luv Rudy T, because he is a player-coach who understands his players. But, i don't think he is one of the all time greats. But, don't get me wrong he is a good coach, though i think he will make a MUCH better GM or scout. You guys have to agree that he knows when there is talent in a player(Dan Langhi, etc..........Collier) ------------------ $$ out $$
I think a coach really has to have the skills of a great GM and scout to succeed in this league. You assume that these three responsibilities are mutually exclusive. But what has the greater impact on the franchise? Obviously, the coach ultimately has the greatest direct impact. We already have an awesome GM in CD. If for some reason he were to retire, step down or be moved into a different position, I would only find it acceptable to give Rudy T the GM position along with his head coaching responsibilities, NOT in place of his current position. Vince, you said, and I quote, "The Rockets need a different coach, i luv Rudy T, but the guy is no great coach." How is he not a great coach? I personally cannot think of another coach that I would rather have in Houston. Like I said in my previous post, unless you can provide some sort of reasoning behind your contentions, then they are empty and meaningless. The only thing you've claimed so far is that he would make a better GM or scout. Well, the real question is, would Rudy T being moved from the head coaching spot to the GM or (God forbid) a lowly scouting position be better for the organization? My response is a conservative one: HELL NO. ------------------
Look at where this guy ranks other teams, that proves he's an idiot. He says that Golden State & Denver will finish ahead of us, and that Utah will be 13th in the Western Conference. We might not make the playoffs, but UTAH COMING IN 13th!? ------------------ Who's ya daddy?
This post is exactly like 20 other recent ones. The author should have tacked a response on to another thread. As for the substance: 1. It's far too early for predictions. 2. Utah will be good as long as Malone and Stockton play... and they sure as heck aren't going to finish last. 3. Minnesota is a one man team. If Garnett is injured, their season is over. 4. Players often EXPLODE during their sophomore season. If Francis manages to score more, get more assists, and turn the ball over less, the Rockets will win. 5. If we get any sort of low post threat, we'll win quite a bit more. 6. It's not impossible that Hakeem will be a decent center. 7. I agree with the above reply: Golden State WILL NOT BE BETTER than Houston. They have some young talent, but it's selfish and unproductive. 8. Denver will not be good. They've had the same line-up for a couple of years, and haven't done anything with it. Their record will be worse than ours. 9. Houston played WELL at the end of last season. If they play like that this year, they should have a chance for the 8 seed. Now, none of these reasons alone refutes your logic. But what I'm trying to demonstrate is that there are TOO MANY X-FACTORS for rational, coherent posts at this point. And, oh... yeah... pessimists suck. ------------------
Has anyone heard of injuries...I'm sure we Rocket fan know about them. Some of those 'locked for playoff' teams with just 1 injurie to a key player could be screwed easily(SA a lock for competing for Championship until Duncan went out). And yes just 1 year later they could and will improve (barring mobley?)...when your star player is a point guard that just had his rookie year(great one at that) there's no where to go but up, Francis is a star and more importantly a leader(always helping the team and other players before helping his stats).............. ------------------
CALM down people.......this post is just my opinion.......i just wanted to see if anyone thinks that .........Rudy T is an okay coach but a better GM.......i guess not. Actually I disagree with my own post about Rudy T i just wanted to see how many people like Rudy T, and i guess i was right that nobody would agree with me. And the reason i put Utah at 13 was because i hate them, and i guess the number 13 was fitting. SirCharles......man it's only my own opinion, it's not like it's going to happen that way, so you can chill and give your own predictions!!! I'd like to see where you place everybody............................ ------------------ $$ out $$ [This message has been edited by VinceCarter (edited July 29, 2000).]
Rudy is a decent coach, not a great coach. He does have good relationships with his players, evaluates talent pretty well, and does a good job with substitutions (most of the time. However, Rudy is not a good X's and O's guy. His entire offense is basically isolations. He really doesn't have any good plays. When was the last time you saw Rudy diagram a good play in the last seconds of a game when they needed a basket to win. I can't ever remember seeing that. The only time the Rockets have ever scored in the last seconds of a game is on isolations. Rudy is not a good X's and O's coach!!! ------------------
