But, your first argument will be, remember the end of last season. That I do. But even everyone goes on winning streaks. Everyone. Streaks don't make contenders, consistency does. Streaks make champions after they were already consistent contenders. Streaks do NOTHING for bottom dwelling teams. The Rocks have only added Collier (of which I hear is pittifull) and Dan Langi (whom I heard was a pleasant surprise, but in some sorry summer league). If the Rockets do nothing else it looks like last year repeated. And once a year like that is repeated too often, sequels aren't produced. Get it!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------------
Remember the end of last season. That was a team finally finding roles for each other. Let's see here. Streaks mean nothing, but then you are predicting our losing streak will continue. I say our losing streaks mean nothing, and changing nothing means nothing. What never changes is simple minds like yours, Vince. ...water flowing through the brain ...same as it ever was ...same as it ever was Oh...and Langhi will be HUGE!!! Who's got my back on this one?
Repeat of last season? Hardly. With or without Mo, I see this as a playoff team, but that's just my opinion. This team does not need a free agent necessarily to improve. Consider the fact that Francis, Cat, Shandon, and Cato are all young and each are improving with every game. Consider that Hakeem is coming back completely healthy. The end of the season IMO was more than just a streak. It was the first time all year that everyone was clicking. Walt was hot, Cuttino was hot, and the same can be said for Steve and Shandon. It took them up until the last month of the season to get everyone on the same page and start gelling, and when they did they were a great team. If the team stays the way it is, it won't be a learning process for several months like last year. If the Rockets do not drastically change the team, I see no reason why that team chemistry from the end of last season can't carry over into this one. As for Collier, all you've basically heard are your prototypical Rockets fans. So many people think they know he will be a bust after seeing him in two games. Newsflash: a summer league camp does not make or break a player. He wasn't even near 100% for that camp because of a back injury! I will admit he was unimpressive, but I have seen him in college and I do honestly believe that over the years he will be a very solid player for the Rockets. He fits in perfect with his outside touch, inside game with a solid lefty hook, and his rebounding. Too many people rush to judgment. Don't believe all the hype. And like HP said, Langhi will be good. It was just a summer league, as I said in my analysis of Collier, but he was on top of his game and showed he had some real skills that would translate very well into the NBA game. ------------------ Looking for next year's Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net Sign Mo Taylor. Bench Kenny Thomas. [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited August 19, 2000).]
"The Rocks have only added Collier (of which I hear is pittifull) and Dan Langi (whom I heard was a pleasant surprise, but in some sorry summer league)." This is a lot like the writer guys at espn.com, who say Shandon was a dissapointment, and obviously didn't see him play. If you didn't see any part of the games, it'd probably be a better idea not to comment on the issue of Langhi, or attempt to avoid it. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
vince: So you are judging the entire season's of Collier and Langhi (and the Rockets as well) on what you heard? Thats as bad as saying "Well so and so looks like the best team on paper." Wait till the Rockets have played 20 or so games before making such judgements. ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know.
Settle down!!!!! All I can judge the Rockets on is Consistency. And consistency said that the Rocks are more on the mediocre team than a contending team. Past performances is the only thing we can assess towards future performances. The Rockets need some other ingredient to the puzzle. With Francis I concur and know what we have. Mobley is on the Same boat as is francis. But after that it is up in the air. And that is what I'm referring to. Anderson is a solid player, but gives you no consistency past defense. One night he score 20 pts. the next night he scores a goose egg. Cato is a huge question mark; one night he is all over the floor doing everything, the next night he get outplayed by Pig miller. Kenny thomas dosen't know his role shooting all those 3-pt shots. Walt is as big a question mark as they come in. Hakeem is the NBA interpretation of Mexican boxing legend "Julio Cesar Chavez" The mind is willing but the body isn't. Okay I think Carlos Rogers will also be a good player. But Francis, Mobley, and Rogers will not take any team on their own to the playoffs. But pardon my french, what friggen roster are you guys looking at. Hakeem, Francis, Mobley, Anderson, Norris, Walt, Bullard, Langi, Collier, Rogers, Thomas, Cato, pig miller, and Drew. UHmmmmm!!! That just dosen't look like this team will cut it!!!!! Point guards need go to guys to be effective. Hope Francis can prove me wrong. ------------------
So, let me sum up your beliefs. "You are what you were until things change." You know, that's how I feel about you and droning drab gab. You are what you were until things change. Feel glad that I feel frisky today and The Cat and Nike will talk about anything and Bob Finn is on a campaign for 2000, otherwise, you'd have another 0 post thread to your name. ...same as it EVER was.
As Cat said, Almost all of last year was a LEARNING PROCESS, up until the last stretch of the season. I dont think it was a streak... I think it was just a team that finally got it together and played like they should have been playing. ------------------ president of the dan langhi fan club.
Can you answer this question for me Vince.........why do you always make threads saying the Rockets are not Playoff material and the Rockets look dim for the playoffs? And also......are you a Rocket fan? ------------------ Miggidy Markell says: 1. Eastcoast is da sh*t 2. Rockets rule 3. Hip/Hop is dope 4. Buy the new Ruff Ryders album! Miggidy Markell is watching Stay STRAPPED & WATCH ya back or be Assimilated.
Vince: Personel changes, contrary to popular belief, are *not* the only way to improve a team. I mean, honestly, players to exist who can single-handedly will their team to the playoffs. Hakeem, Garnett, Jordan, Shaq, etc. Francis looks like he may be one of those players. I do think the Rockets must make Roster improvements to become a contender... but I thinkt he most important changes will be internal: chemistry and maturity. BTW, I'd hardly call all the games after teh all-star break a simple streak. ------------------ The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
Vince, Why do you think that heypartner feels that you stop making sense on this BBS? Mango ------------------ 1. Put new topics in the proper forum 2. Use clear wording for new threads 3. No duplicate threads 4. Conduct yourself as an adult The Serious Police are watching Donate Blood or be assimilated!
Four things. <NL> [*]The Rockets were basically a very young team last year. Veterans don't improve much from year to year. Young players do. [*]The Rockets had a lot of new players added to the team last year. This will be their 2nd training camp and 2nd year under Rudy's system. [*]Moochie will be the backup PG for the entire season which, I think, is an improvement over Drew seeeing any time. [*]Hakeem is an X factor. Vince says we only added the draft picks, but let's not forget Dream. If he comes back close to where he was at the start of last season, that his a HUGE addition. </NL> What killed the Rockets last year were turnovers, not rebounds. The turnovers were partially a result of youth, inexperience, and a new system. I think we make a significant improvement in this area. That's all I got. ------------------ Bad spellers of the world: UNTIE!
However they will be exciting to watch!!! And isn't that the reason a Rocket fan watches a game? Isn't it??????? ------------------
Wow Vince! I guess everyone's knowledge here doesn't mean a thing, and that these players won't improve. Man, you've certainly convinced me. We've provided you all this evidence of why the Rockets will improve and have a good chance at the playoffs, and you come back with the statement "No moves= No playoffs"! I personally think that with or without moves we are in the playoffs, and I also say you can take that to the bank. How is your opinion more valid than anyone else's? ------------------ Looking for next year's Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net Sign Mo Taylor. Bench Kenny Thomas.
The Cat: Vince is gifted with a remarkable degree of intuition. Mere mortals such as you and I should bow to his obvious prescience. ------------------ The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
Honestly, vince, how well do you expect a team with a rookie point guard (albeit an exceptional rookie point guard) and a group of players who, for the most part, hadn't played together before, to do? Are they supposed to simply play a few preseason games and then magically develop a chemistry good enough to compete in "The Wild, Wild West"? Come on, man. You think it's a coincidence that they played better later in the season than early? You think it's odd that certain players are performing inconsistantly when they haven't had the proper time to figure out their role on the team and in their offensive and defensive scheme? I don't. It takes time. I don't know, man. There seem to be a lot of people on this BBS that are pretty annoyed with you right now. Maybe you should stop and think of why. Or maybe you should just think. ------------------ "Have we not here the best cards in the game to win this easy match played for a crown?....." Bill Shakespeare [This message has been edited by Gascon (edited August 20, 2000).]
oooooh, dis. basically, vince, just dont be so negative. just because nothing big happens in the offseason does not mean that the Rockets wont make the playoffs. youve just been spoiled because the past few years the Rockets have made huge blockbuster deals.(francis, barkley, pippen, drexler) the simple truth is that its not always gonna be like that. ------------------ Starting at shortstop, for the Houston Astros, Nomar Garciaparra.
Alright, Hold UP everyone! Why is it so preposterous to predict that the Rockets won't make the playoffs this year? I don't think that prediction is too far off. Everyone assumes that this young team can only get better, which is a dangerous assumption all together. Sacramento looked like they were going to make some serious progress after the 1999 season. They were a young and exciting that actually made it to the playoffs in their first season together. But hell they actually played worse during the 1999-2000 season. The young Denver Nuggets looked like they were going to be some real gangbusters after the 1993-1994 season. They upset the number 1 seeded, Supersonics, in the first round before they bowed out to the Jazz in the 2nd round. They failed to make the playoffs the following year. The Washington Wizards had a nice collection of young talent in the 1996-1997 season. It was the first full season in which Webber, Strickland, and Howard played together. They made the playoffs and gave the Bulls a tussle in the 1st round. They absolutely fell a part afterwards. The New Jersey Nets looked like the real deal in the 1997-1998 season. Van Horn was playing like the 2nd coming, leading their nice, young group of talent to the playoffs to battle the Bulls. The Clippers made the playoffs in the 1996-1997 season with a very young team, and we all know what happened to them. All of these teams fell apart the following two season. And all of these young teams had more talent than the current Rockets, yet they failed to improve the following years. Call me crazy, but most of those teams stood pat trying to let their teams build better chemistry. It didn't work. (The Nuggets did add Jalen Rose that summer, but he didn't play an integral part the following season) These were young teams that played well the entire season and still they didn't improve the following season. The Rockets only played well for a month, but a lot of fans think this team is going to be substantially better in the standings. Assuming that Francis, Mobley, Anderson, Cato, and whomever are all going to improve because of more experience in the league and more experience playing together is dangerous. Cuz in all likelihood, it's not going to happen and it's all relative. Other teams are going to get better. And other fans from other teams can use the same argument as we do, saying that they had some new players last year, and another season of playing together will only improve their chemistry. You hear Grizzlies fans all the time yapping about how they played close against a lot of teams this year and their entire starting 5 is young. The figure they can only get better. Our we as Rocket fans any different. Are we potentially falling into the same dangerous pitfalls that all the other bottom dwelling fans are suspectible too. Maybe the glimmer of hope the the Rockets showed late last season was just a mirage. I refuse to pass judgement now on the possibilities for next season. I might not even choose to make a prediction for this season. I might choose as a fan to take it one game at a time. But I do know one thing, I'm going to have a hell of time watching my Rockets this season. A Hell of a Time. ------------------
Oh how this reminds me of all those...Rockets are going all the way, or going to be a high seed - The Rox might be a 6th seed or maybe out of the playoff threads last year. So who hear is ready to kiss Vinces ass if hes correct and the Rox dont make the playoffs. Cause I know I was one of the ones who said the Rox would be at best maybe a 6 or 7 seed, probably out of the playoffs...and got ripped much like Vince is right now. I dont forsee a thread "Man was I wrong, sorry Vince" My personal opinion is that the Rox will not be a playoff team. Not a .500 team, or a cinderalla team. Id be content with a 37-40 win season. Considering "the lack of moves" made. Put Mo on this team then I might change my mind. .500 could be possible, and a playoff birth too. ------------------ "I have amazing, powers of observation"...Pink
