San Antonio Express NEws (Glenn Rogers) places rockets 11 in West

it isn't fair to just blame rogers. the entire san antonio express newspaper is horrid. someone in san antonio please explain to me how they beat out the sa lite? could the lite have been that much worse?

 

The Hearst chain owned The Light and purchased the Express-News. Because the E-P had newer presses and a better building, they decided to close The Light. IMO, bad choice.

 

The San Antonio press is full of ignorant bofoons!! Please dont subject yourself to such garbage as it has been known to cause cancer in lab rats.

 

what he says is true. i have the experimental data to prove it.

 

ahh...thanks.


i moved to san antonio right when the SA Light was being shut down. i was hoping i wasn't responsible for it!

 

Mike McAllister of the Morning News ranked the Rockets 10 (above Phoenix). They have not had anything positive about the Rockets since the draft and Tim Colinshaw has flat out said Houston was going to regret picking Yao Ming. I didn't realize Eddie Sefko is the Mavs beat writer, it would be interesting to hear his take on the Rockets.

But ranking the Rockets 10 or 11 is just nuts. There is no way this is only a .500 team and we'll keep improving as the season goes on. To hell with Dallas and San Antonio

 

Not sure if this has already been posted in another thread. If so, I apologize. I saw this capsule on a sportsticker that I subscribe to. Seems to have a decent outlook for the Rockets:



Houston Rockets 2002-03 Capsule
Copyright 2002 by SportsTicker Enterprises L.P. (via ClariNet) / Sun, 27 Oct 2002 3:30:08 PST


By Chris Bernucca SportsTicker Pro Basketball Editor


COACH: Rudy Tomjanovich (12th season, 460-358 overall)

LAST SEASON: 28-54, fifth in Midwest Division

ARRIVALS: C Yao Ming (first-round pick), F Bostjan Nachbar (first-round pick)


DEPARTURES: C Kevin Willis, G-F Walt Williams

SLAM DUNKS: Even without the arrival of the 7-5 Yao, this group was pretty deep when healthy. In the backcourt, G Steve Francis (21.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.4 apg) apparently has overcome the migraine headaches that plagued him last season and G Cuttino Mobley (21.7) may be the most underrated player in the game. With Fs Maurice Taylor (13.0, 5.5 in 2000-01) and Glen Rice (8.6) returning from injuries, there is very good depth in the frontcourt, as both Kenny Thomas (14.1, 7.2) and Eddie Griffin (8.8, 5.7, 1.8 bpg) benefited from the extra playing time. ... Tomjanovich still has the ear of all of his players despite the troubles of the last two seasons. ... The talent base should allow Yao to progress without being rushed; even with the language barrier and the learning curve, he could be a double-double guy by the end of the season. At some point in his career, he will be the best big man in the NBA. It just won't be this season.


AIRBALLS: When you throw injured G Moochie Norris (8.1) into the mix, the backcourt goes solo a bit too much with penetration dribble motion; the bigs were standing around a lot last season. ... Are Taylor and Rice fully recovered? Taylor weighs 270 pounds but isn't a true power forward; Rice is getting old and may not be as effective from the wing anymore. ... C Kelvin Cato (6.6, 7.0) has hit the ceiling. With all that ability, he never is going to get any better, and has to keep the pivot warm until Yao is ready, which may be a while. He has a lot to learn and may tire after playing all summer with the Chinese national team. ... There are some steals guys and shot-blockers, but no shut-down defenders. The defense must improve if the Rockets want to make the playoffs.


MONEY MATTERS: The Rockets have two frontcourts - an expensive, veteran unit in Rice, Taylor and Cato (combined $24 million) and a cheap, young one in Griffin, Thomas and Yao (combined $8 million). Unfortunately, Rice is on the cap until 2004, Taylor until 2007 and Cato until 2006.


THE COACH SAYS: "What I have seen already is guys have really been working hard on improving our defense. We're also trying to put in more of a five-man offensive set. We will go to a lot of basic things that take advantage of players, but I would like a more movement-type of offense in this year."


OUTLOOK: A lot of people are awarding the Rockets a playoff spot, and with good reason. The addition of Yao and the return from injury of Francis, Taylor and Rice basically gives the team four new players. However, making the jump from 28 wins to about 45 and a postseason berth is a big one. Despite the presence of Yao, the key is Francis. If he is healthy and limits his domination of the ball to the last four minutes, the Rockets can grab one of the lower seeds.