From ESPN: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/simmons/021030.html 4. Houston I love the NBA. Have I mentioned that? Here you have the Rockets, who were already one of the most fun teams in the league ... and now they have a 7-foot-5 Chinese guy playing center. It's too good to be true. Stevie Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Eddie Griffin, Glen Rice, Mo Taylor, Rudy T., Moochie Norris, Moochie Norris's hair, Kelvin Cato's Burmese snake, and a gigantic Chinese guy who also happens to be the most intriguing new player in the league. I still think he will be a modified bust -- Rik Smits with 20 times more distractions -- but Bob Ryan swears up and down that Yao Ming will eventually become the most important player in the league. And Ryan has forgotten more hoops than I ever learned. Moochie Norris bobblehead The Sports Guy always shows Moochie some love. Now I'm torn. When I was stating the case against Yao last June, one of the things I worried about was his personality -- every video clip of him in China looked like a hostage video, like the camera could pan back a couple of feet and you would see a gun being pointed to his head. And yet, by all accounts, Yao seems much happier in America. Just yesterday, I was reading a story in which Yao was startled after hearing a teammate say "What's up?" because the sound of the phrase resembled a Mandarin obscenity. So after they cleared up the confusion, Yao started shouting the phrase to everyone, and it's become a running joke in the locker room. Can you imagine Mobley and Francis saying "Wassup, Yao?", Yao breaking into hysterics, and then everyone attempting a nine-step handshake? These are the things that need to be televised. Anyway, I'm digging the Rockets, not just because I might have been wrong about Yao, but because Francis and Taylor are healthy, Griffin is ready to make The Leap, and there isn't a better coach on the planet than Rudy T. If anyone can figure out how to make this work, it's him. Better yet, this is fun. I like having a 7-5 Chinese guy on the Rockets who may or may not be the future of the NBA. (And imagine a five-game playoff series with the Lakers and Rockets in Round One? I just high-fived my Moochie bobblehead doll.)
this reminds me of the awkward scene of Yao high-fiving his parents on draft day. Anyone have the photo?
Im so happy. That made my day. I was already excited that the Rockets begin their season tonight, but now Im going to be giddy until tipoff. GO ROCKS!!!
Anybody know if the 'What's up?' part of the article is true? If so, that's hilarious! That explains why Yao was acting a little goofy, saying 'Wassup!' and laughing hysterically on the local news. It's going to be a great season, friends! Just sit back and enjoy the ride!
Well, well, well. Whoa! Just in case I was beginning to think that I was crazy and this top 4 in the west thing was a figment of my imagination, here comes further validation that my glasses are clean and I am seeing and thinking clearly. Thanks for the post.
bill simmons is always hilarious so it's cool to see that he also thinks highly of the rockets. considering how he semi-ragged on yao when we drafted him, it's nice to see him admit it and say he could be wrong. this is a trend, people seeing yao play and saying whoa he can actually ball.
The only thing that almost makes me as happy as seeing the Rockets predicted number 4. Is that the UTAH JAZZ ARE PICKED 13th only ahead of the Nuggets who many may vie for the worst record ever this year!
CnnSI ranked them 6ths in the division. It's nice to hear an article with a ranking that high. Sportscenter highlights?
lets be serious...lakers at 5 and rocks at 4??...im a die hard rocket fan...but come on...u gotta be serious!!
Exactly! Non-Rockets fans don't have to watch all the bad plays, they just see the highlights, and it just so happens the Rockets provide some of the best.
I only see us high as a sixth seed, with portland being the fifth. How does he have the lakers at number 5? I guess he just assumes that the Lakers don't care, and that just wait til May to do something.
the first time i read the article, i kept wondering where the rockets was. I saw Los Angeles at five, and I was like damn, where could the Rocks be. FOURTH? How much is George Postolos making Les pay this guy?
It was a funny write up but no way are finishing in front of LA or getting home court in the playoffs. Even the biggest homer should have trouble with that prediction.
It could happen, but everything would have to go perfectly. And some things would have to go wrong for other teams. I could see it happeing if you have luck in the season. And the rockets have to get some sooner or later, in regards to injuries and stuff like that.
I see the Rockets barely missing the playoffs, and I think picking them 6th is optimistic and below 10 is unfair, but #4? Ahead of the Lakers? And the Grizz at 6? I think Drew Gooden is the front runner for ROY, but the grizz #6? Bill Simmons is obviously having too much fun. By the way, I do agree with him that the Kings knock off the Lakers this year. You can just sense it that the Kings are ready, just like Detroit replaced Boston, Chicago replaced Detroit, just like Houston replaced the Suns, and the Jazz finally snuck past the Rockets, and how these lakers finally snick past the jazz/spurs. Everyone talks about S.A. being so good this year, but I disagree...this is their last hurrah, and they will never get to the finals, probably never the WC finals. Same with Dallas. By the time the Kings and Lakers are done, teams like Houston and Memphis will be challenging (assuming Yao lives up to the hype).
