A championship? NOPE, I can't even fanthom this concept just yet!! Conference Finals? Uhmmm, if they get here I will be pleasantly surprised!! Conference Semi Finals? isn't out of the question!!! Playoffs? Definatley! But after 41 games the Rockets will likely be in the 25-16 record. For the whole season the Rockets end 52-29! BUT ALL IS CONTIGNET UPON DEFENSE AND PRESSURE BLENDING WITH SPEED!!! IF PRESEASON IS ANY INDICATION WHICH IT TYPICALLY ISN'T, THE ROCKETS LOOK POISED FOR A SEASON THAT IS SOLID!!!!! ------------------ The guns are cocked and the soldiers are in place, it's time to march and let the battles decide the war.
52 wins? In the Western Conference? I think that "expectation" is either totally unrealistic or at the least overly optimistic. I think we are still a young team that hasn't played together enough to click the way you need to win 50 games. Also, I think that because this is Hakeem's last year, he will draw a lot of attention to the team, which may become a distraction somewhere down the line. Especially, because we are such a young team. We still don't play the type of defense needed to be a strong playoff team. We are still weak at small forward. We're teetering on the edge of distruction at center, if Dream can't play much and Cato can't handle playing a lot, then this is another lost cause of a season. Three things that I think will ensure us a playoff spot. 1.) We are rock solid at PG, for like um the first time ever 2.) We are just about as good at SG. (Almost as good as Clyde and Elie?) 3.) We are talented and deep at PF. I think Taylor will play well, if for no other reason than for a contract. And, I think KT is a quality PF coming off the bench. So, I think an 8th seed is easily attainable, and I think if just a few things fall into place a 6th seed is not out of the question. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem. DREAMer's Rocket Page
I think our playoff hopes are all contigent upon injuries...as in... "Malone, backing it in on Collier, swings the elbows .... ooooh....Collier is down, oooouch,,,he fell on Stockton. Oh my, Malone's elbow is bleeding profusely,...I think I see a tooth in it Calvin. I don't think Stockton is getting up, and Malone is running off the court to the locker room." Who says Collier can't help us make the playoffs. How's that for optimism.
IMHO they will definitely make the playoffs. As for predicting records how about 49-32? I think that the league is going to be much tighter this year and that 49-32 will be a pretty decent record. I also believe they have a 70% shot at making it to the semi-finals and 30% chance of making it to the finals. I think the Rocks are going to be like the old Seattle Sonics, with their "illegal" defense, in that they will present a lot of problems to other teams during the regular season due to their strong backcourt. However, like the old Sonics, once the playoffs start the other teams will be better prepared and the Rocks will have to play much better to advance. ------------------
Just an opinion,but,Ithink we'll finish in about the 5th or 6 th spot in the west........next year...LOOK OUT! Of course this year hinges on Dream's willingness to be a role player.We temporarily filled a gaping hole with a stud...Mo...If they play the way they did at the end of last year then I think we will be pleasantly surprised.......46-36 or so....I believe Cato should get ALOT of minutes and as far as next year we have so many options and a good talent base,i feel very optimistic ------------------
If we stay reasonably healthy---don't ask me to define reasonable---then we could make, say, the 6th seed. Our big guys need to improve their rebounding a bit, but it's possible. I hope Joe Smith goes elsewhere, but there's a possibility he could stay in Minnesota, and if he does, obviously it hurts our chances at making the playoffs or getting a higher seed. ------------------
LOL, HP. I forgot to mention that type of scenario in my "Collier: Most likely to be a bust?" theard. Anyway, Vince, I think you're being a tad too optimistic there. I think many people can put a solid argument against your prediction by simply mentioning the fact that the Rockets play out in the Western Conference. I recognize your disclaimer about the preseason, but it never means anything at all. Look at the Magic last year. They won simply because they wanted to and they hustled while the other team didn't. A lot of the guys were trying to make the team and were playing their hearts out. I like the fact that we're winning, but that could be a bad thing. Do you see Laker fans celebrating when they win in the preseason? Don't think so. We definitely will win with our offense, not with our defense (not just yet, at least). So, in my opinion, a lot of it depends on how we implement both Olajuwon and the other guys into one effective offensive squad. Injuries will also play a big role, as we aren't exactly deep. IF we hear the following words at the Compaq Center, we're screwed: "At center, 7 feet from Georgia Tech, Jason Collier!" ------------------ Nederland 2002 Qualifying Campaign (Damn those penalties!!!) Houston Rockets Space Center- Not just another ClutchCity.NET clone. We're that and more!
Why do we, as fans, have to be realistic all the time. Lets leave realism to the journalists. As fans, we should always expect a championship! That's what I think will happen. Number 5 seed with playoff victories over Pheonix, San Antonio, and Portland. The Orlando Magic should not be much of a problem when we play them in the finals. ------------------ 2000-2001 Rockets Game Formulas: End of 1st quarter: "They're playing so well!" 2nd: "What a great game!" 3rd: "Theres no way they can lose now!" 4th: "What the ******* **** happened?!!" Vote Gore to keep our planet green!
