Wasn't like just a few days ago, we were still at #4? Right now we are at #7 in the west, with T-wolves trailing us by 1/2 game, and Sonics by 2 games. I hope the Rockets really get a winning streak started again, with next 5 games at home with New York, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Golden State, and Minnesota, then on the road at Orlando and Aalanda. The west will be pretty jammed near the playoff. Anticipate Lakers will likely to make a run sometime, the playoff could be decided by a game or two. MIDWEST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD DIV STREAK Dallas 23 4 .852 - 13-1 10-3 4-2 Won 1 San Antonio 18 10 .643 5 ½ 13-3 5-7 6-2 Won 4 Houston 15 12 .556 8 10-3 5-9 2-4 Lost 2 Utah 15 12 .556 8 8-4 7-8 6-1 Won 3 Minnesota 15 13 .536 8 ½ 9-4 6-9 5-2 Won 1 Memphis 8 21 .276 16 7-9 1-12 2-9 Lost 1 Denver 6 22 .214 17 ½ 4-10 2-12 2-7 Lost 8 PACIFIC W L PCT GB HOME ROAD DIV STREAK Sacramento 22 8 .733 - 14-1 8-7 8-2 Won 1 Phoenix 17 11 .607 4 12-3 5-8 4-4 Won 3 Portland 15 11 .577 5 8-4 7-7 6-4 Won 5 Seattle 14 15 .483 7 ½ 5-6 9-9 4-3 Lost 4 LA Clippers 12 16 .429 9 7-9 5-7 1-7 Won 1 LA Lakers 11 18 .379 10 ½ 8-5 3-13 3-2 Won 1 Golden State 9 18 .333 11 ½ 7-8 2-10 2-6 Lost 2
We will win games if two of Rockets' best scorers: Francis and Ming, learn not to commit TO too much.
People are little over-optimistic with the loss today. Yes, the Rockets shot 50%+ FG, 100%FT. But the Jass just played the night before. And they beat us at home. The team has a lot of problems to solve. Yes, they're still gelling and young talents need time to develop. But they need to win games to earn a spot in the playoff..
Before the end of the year, we could be in the 3rd spot again or drop to the 9th spot!! That's what happens when you've just barely played a third of the season!!! Let's wait until there's only a third of the season left to see our playoff position. Many things can still happen: Maybe we don't choke anymore against mediocre teams Maybe a major injury happens to a contender (I nominate Karl) Maybe a major trade occurs (I nominate any trade of MoT; give me Bo Outlaw at this point) Still many months left in the season so don't get an ulcer yet worrying about playoff position! Just looking out for your health
Let's NOT wait till another third of the season is over, because by then, we have no choice really. A third of the season. That's not nothing. You can easily assess a team after 27 games. We have to go on a 5 game winning streak right now. We can't waste all these home games, our schedule gets VERY tough later on.
Sane, I was just saying that playoff position may change daily until the all-star break. I'm not saying that we shouldn't do things to improve ourselves. Really, I'm just being sarcastic
It's kinda worrysome huh? There's nothing about this team that says that they "get it" on how to pull off a 5 game winning streak. They're still at the point where they aren't playing against matchups but rather their own mentality. It's sad but true.
Exactly. If you take mentality out of it, few, if any, teams can match up to the Rockets scoring talent, work ethic, athleticism, depth..... We need to be smarter. I just read that Rudy cancelled pre-christmas practice, which means our players will have extra time off. We need to go at the VERY least, 4-1 in the next 5 games. 5-0 is VERY possible. Hopefully, Yao Ming will look at some tape and see those spots where opponents snatch the ball from him over and over. This is the problem we had vs "what if the government don't let him go" a few months ago. It's a good problem to have, but still, a problem. Posey came into the game and he fit into the system so so well. By our next game, he'll have a lot of the plays down by just talking to trainers and Rudy and having played 20 minutes in this game. I just LOVE the way he fits in, great off the ball player, always plays hard, rebounds, and a tremendous finisher at the rim. Very good move by management. Hopefully, this means less minutes for Moochie. If Posey takes 8 minutes backing up Mobley, and 18-20 minutes backing up Rice, there's his 25 minutes. Which would mean Moochie only plays whatever Francis leaves open, which will never be mroe than 10 minutes. Here's what's left for this team: HARD-nosed, tough, defensive minded VETERAN PF to share the PF spot with Griffin. I've said in 3 trillion times, but Tyrone Hill is just a damn good fit, perfect for what this team needs. It would be difficultto land him this season, but I would be ecstatic if we signed him to a small, 2 year deal next year and unloaded MoT. The rest is all development. Griffin gaining another 10lbs this offseason would be PERFECT. Boki showing flashes at the end of the season, and showing he can be Posey's backup next year. Maybe even the starter while Posey still comes off the bench as a spark plug. Either way, we won't need Rice. That's it. Ming/Cato Griffin/TyHill/T-Mo Posey/Boki/T-Mo Mobley/Posey Francis/Mooch Hopefully, we'll realize that Mooch isn't playing much, so he ain't worth the contract for US. Basically, we're unloading the big contract players who are decent role players, for decent contrat players who are great role players. We need to loose Mooch, MoT, and (next year) Rice, while getting in return a VETERAN PF like I said, a veteran PG, obviously we'll have to take back a bad contract, and a future draft pick. I know it's major retooling process getting rid of 3 starters and the #1 backup Guard, but this team just changed it's style and direction. Posey is a perfect fit it seems. Griff is a perfect fit too, not needing the ball to be effective. Mobley always adjusts, has improved over his career more than anyone on the team. So we're looking for experience, people who teach, people who preach, people who yell to come off the bench and be able to throw people around. List of the TYPE of players I'd like: Antonio Davis Brian Grant Tyrone Hill Jamaal Magloire Elden Campbell Avery Johnson Charlie Ward Ollie (forgot his first name, but a brilliant assist:turnover guy) If we HAVE to get rid of Cat, then Micheal Redd Kevin Willis (mo minutes, IL and instructional only) PJ Brown Darrell Armstrong (If he's an FA) Brian Shaw Little things we need. The mentality will come soon enough. Maybe it's here, and last night was a fluke? Terrible loss, but I'll take it if it means motivation to go 5-0 on the rest of this homestand.
Jazz had perfect execution in the fourth quarter. They do not make much mistakes. Malone looks like a body-builder, he is huge, EG has no chance in defending him. Malone's contract is up though. He would be a good veteran PF to sign if it does not cost too much. I hope our young players can have the work ethics of Malone and work out hard. Look, the guy is 40 years old and can still play at a high level. Our PF position is the weak point now. The key is how we can trade away MoT. It is going to be tough.
Just cannot understand your guys' greediness. Can you still remember last season Rox only notched 28 wins? What was your guys' expectation on Rox's standing in the beginning of this season? 4th seed? playoff second round? People always forgot how many apples they asked for in the beginning, after they were offered the first one.
We are losing too many games we should win. That is not the sign of a very good team. Right now, i think we are lucky to still be 7th. The Puppies will soon be ahead of us, and if the Lakers ever start playing this year, i'm afraid we'll be left out of the party. We need a change, something, anything...maybe Hubbie can take over for Rudy...one can always dream...
We are dropping like a lead balloon. As other teams get more comfortable playing together, our team continues to struggle with it's identity. Rudy's job is on the line this year, he needs to grab the team by the neck, and force them to play the motion offense. It will only help in the end. DaDakota
