Are the Rockets having a good or bad year? One game under 500 suggests a bad year, but upon further review I think that they are actually having a good year. First of all last year we finished with a record of 34 wins and 48 losses. At our current pace we are on course to finish right at 500. That would be a significant improvement from last year. Second. We are only in the second year of a major rebuilding of the team. We start a PG (the toughest position to play) with only 1-year experience a SG with only 4 and a PF with only 3. Our first guy of the bench that also happens to be our second leading scorer has only 2 years experience and the second and third guys off the bench (Mooch and KT) only have 3 and 1 years experience. To top it off none of them (except Cat and Dream) have played together more than a year. Mo, has not even had a half of a season with the team yet. Look at their ages Wink and KT are 23 Mo is 24 Cat is 26 Mooch and Shandon are 27. That does not even include Collier and Langhi that are 23 each. Can anyone say 'youth and growing pains'? As you can see this is a very young team in both age and experience. Our six game skid included injuries to both Cat and Wink that saw both of them miss games and playing time during a stretch that included two games with the Spurs, one with the Lakers (Kobe later claimed that was his best game as a pro), a hot Nuggets and Sonics teams (won 5 or their last 7 and 6 of their last 8 respectively). The game against the Warriors we were missing both Cat and Wink our two top scorers. How good do you think the Lakers would be with out Kobe and Shak? Also we were winning the game against Den when Steve twisted his ankle and we were in position to beat L.A. when he had to get his ankle re-taped after aggravating his injury. With the exception of Dream it looks like we are starting to get healthy again. Fourth. Most of our games with the Kings, Trailblazers, Spurs and Lakers are behind us. I think we only have a combined 7 games left with those teams. Furthermore, we still have the majority of our eastern conference schedule to play (24 games I think). I can only see our record improving. I don't think 45 wins this year is unrealistic. In any event I can't see us finishing below 500 if we stay reasonably healthy. In the second year of a complete rebuilding of the team would anyone complain too loudly about a 45 win season? In the 17 years of Hakeems time in Houston we only have 5 50+ win seasons. The majorities of those were done with Rudy T as coach and remember he had almost the same team that the Duck had when he coached the Rox. We all have our opinions where the Rox should be now and where they should be at the end of the season. But look at other teams that have had to rebuild. The Mavs and the Nuggets have been rebuilding for over a decade. Dallas is one of the more dangerous teams in the NBA right now and Denver is no better than we are. How long have we been rebuilding again? One year! Look at the Bulls. Do they even look remotely close to us? No. And they have been rebuilding a year longer than we have. So are the Rockets having a good season or a bad season? I would say they are having a great season! ------------------
Tru that ------------------ da ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence - alaskanSnowman
I really think people use youth as an excuse too much. Besides Francis, most of the Rockets have had plenty of experience. Sure Mobley is only in his 3rd year, but he did attend 4 years of College, and has Playoff experience. Shandon has been in two NBA finals. Walt and Bullard are veterans of 9+ years. Hakeem is obviously a legend. Mo has played for 3 previous seasons, which is the same as players like Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant. Cato has played on winning Clubs for 4 previous seasons. Yes some of the players are young, but actual age doesn't mean much, just look at Kobe. Not to mention that the Rockets have a coach with 30 years of experience and two rings. There is no way a talented team like this should be under .500 at this point. Injuries are the only valid excuses. Besides Mo, everyone on this team has spent a lot of time together. They should at least be where Dallas is, because they are far more talented. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
crash5179 -- One of the best posts I've seen in a while. Filled with common sense. Major kudos to you. Don't let the ones with no perspective bring you down. ------------------ "Why can't dip be a meal?" -David Puddy The Hunger Site
I totally agree with you. I think the Rockets are having a really good season. Without the injuries to Steve and Cuttino, we would be over .500 right now. ------------------
I disagree ZRB. I feel that age is a very important factor in how we play. Using Kobe is a bad example because he is an exceptionally talented player who has a knack for the game equaled by only a select few in the league. But if you look at players like Allen Iverson, it takes several years in order to get your head on straight, and get enough experience to start making the right decisions on a consistent basis. I am not saying that age is an excuse. Certainly our players could improve on what they are doing. But I feel it is unfair to expect them to play like seasoned veterans when they are relatively new to the league. ------------------ "Of course, everything looks bad if you remember it!" Homer Simpson
I would be fine with 40 wins this year... Francis needs more experience than he already has, especially considering he's a PG. He won't be what we expect him to be till his fourth season..In the season 2002-2003, Francis will be the best PG in the league, Mobley will reach his prime, Mo will fit in perfectly and will be worth $7mill, Shandon will be perfectly comfortable in the offense, Cato will have Developed into a quality commodity and will have his best season while averaging close to 3.5 blocks, Collier&KT&Langhi&Moochie will have developed into quality backups, and we will have picked up the defesive-minded leader we need at SF in this upcoming draft... In short: -Keep the team together and happy -Use any of our draft picks,or Walt, or Los, or Bull to get a high enough draft pick to pickup the defeensive-minded leader we need at SF next year.. The Houston Rockets will be crowned in the year 2003-2004, and will remain champions for 4 out of the next 6 seasons... oh oh, crystal ball is clearing up ------------------
