Once again , the Rockets are at the crossroads of either being lotto bound or playoff bound. With the LA destined to overtake the Rockets, what are the options availible? The Rockets next 5 games, Utah(2) ,Miami,Phoe,and Lakers are all winnable games if the Rockets play Rocketball. Rocketball , in its best games this yr has been Francis getting everyone involved early, getting Ming his touches early and people playing off him, and the entire team playing with a sense of urgency. All 5 of these games could either close the gap for the Rockets or have Rudy and company talk about how good a record they have and not make the playoffs. No matter how good or poor the Rockets play, they need to up the ante and take responsibilty of their play. Excuses are bound to pop up, but this team is no younger than the Phoe team that has a 26yr old Marbury,23 yr old Marion,20yr old Stoudemire and 22yr old Joe Johnson all in the starting lineup. When they lose to some of the lesser teams, why we don't here about their youth? When Minny played 30 games without their 2nd leading scorer, and now are about to play weeks without their best asst man ,Strickland, how come we don't here about the injuries we so often heard coming from the Rockets. When we see old ass Utah play a journeyman in Harpring and 2nd yr phenom Kirilenko major minutes not mention they lost their 2nd leading scorer from last yr, we don't hear about how their team hasn't been together long? Its time, starting this week for Rudy to demand execution of the offense, the cutting down of turnovers and for this tam to play as a team. Its gut check time. Either win or go home. The Rockets have 2 very clear and very precise choices. Ever how many wins it takes to get there, they need to do it. Whatever trades that need to be made, they need to be made. Rudy has done more in recent yr with less talent. Now is the time for him to show he can take control of a team and get this team back into the playoffs and not make the lotto for a 4th straight yr. This is the 2nd longest playoff drought in Rockets history. Its time to step up and play ball.
Clearly, the Lakers will overtake us. They will have the best 2nd half record in the league, and quite possibhly in history if you ask me. But the Rockets will still make it over another team, most probably Phoenix.
I hope to god that we take Utah's play-off position! Let us all pray that we take no mercy on Karla and "short shorts" in our next 2 games!
HUGE! I mean HUGE week starts tomorrow. We have to beat UTAH not once, but twice. This will be important going down the stretch and can easily make up for those last 2 losses before the break! I will be happy with 3-1 in the next 4. 4-0 would be phenominal and cure about 5 road losses. 2-2 would be typical and no big deal--fringe 8th seed team. 1-3 or worse would be end of the season.
There are 30+ games left to play. This is an important month, but we can make up for it. What we need to know now from the chronicle is how effective the All Star break was for Yao in terms of rest.
The games against Utah, Pheonix, and LA are must wins! The double count, since these are the teams that Rockets compete for the last playoff spot.
