Ahhh, the Rockets are circling the drain like only they can. The Spurs have killed any shred of confidence this team has. They played one of the worst games of the season right before the most important stretch of the season.. The good news is that the Rockets are 11-7 against the teams they play in the final ten games, and none of those teams include the Lakers, Kings, Mavs, or Spurs. The bad news, of course, is that they're still the Houston Rockets! 6 of those 7 losses have come at the hands of Portland, Utah, and Seattle, so that three game stretch will be most critical, but it really doesn't matter right now. You can tell by the San Antonio game that this team has given up. I honestly don't see the Rockets winning more than 3 of these final 10 games. At least they can use Rudy's illness as an excuse when they limp towards another long summer of what ifs and unfulfilled dreams. To any Suns fans that may be lurking: Please take the final playoff spot. This little group called the Rockets that we cheer for clearly doesn't want or deserve it.
Oh how your comments freshin up my day. I love A-Train. I love his optimism. I love his love for the Rockets.
Boys should still get in with Ws at Denver, et al. SA was a loss on paper before the tip. However, more to the point : Fat chance getting anything of value out of this playoffs. I still think those that argued Rox HAD to make playoffs (for a quick ass-kicking exit) were really just using any excuse to save Cat's ridiculous surfeit of minutes and touches, when he clearly has zero place in a Ming future. Short-term over long term, it was an excuse to keep the bad habits and bad ball.
Its better not to make the playoffs so there can be some deep re-evaluations of the makeup and future of this team over the off-season. If the Rockets make the playoffs, it will be a nightmare watching Dirk drive to the basket or constantly hitting three after three or Steve Nash just walking into the paint for a layup.
Don't get me wrong, I WANT the Rockets to make the playoffs, but I just don't see it in them. This team gains nothing from missing the playoffs again, as they don't have a lottery pick this year. Any player in the NBA will tell you that they would rather get dismantled in the first round of the playoffs rather than watching it on TV.
I'm not optimistic. IMO, how the Rockets respond to the Nuggets (who in spite of their record, bring their "A" game nearly every night) will tell us a lot. After the DEN game, it will be become more clear how the Rox are holding up mentally with the Rudy situation, the poor road trip and the recent losses to LAL & SAS. If they struggle with the Nuggs at home.....
What the team gains is for some serious evaluation over the off-season which might force them to make some deep changes. If we make the playoffs, the Rockets get embarrassed by the Mavs, the team might feel good about itself and not make any major offseason changes, and we all have the same conversations next year as we battle the Jazz for the eighth playoff spot in the West. At best we will be like the Timberwolves who can't get out of the first round for the next 5 years.
We should win the game against Denver Saturday but the real test will be in how we play the Nets Monday night. If we win both those games, we are on track. Phoenix has some tough times ahead against Detroit and Indiana. IMO, the Rockets will stagger into the playoffs.
excerpt from..."Rules for Being a True Sports Fan" # 18. Loyalties There's nothing worse than a Bandwagon Jumper. If sports were a prison and sports fans made up all the prisoners, the Bandwagon Jumpers would be like the child molesters -- everyone else would pick on them, take turns beating them up and force them to toss more salads than Emeril Lagasse.
Can we get REAL Rox fans in here? You're the same guys who say "we shouldn't go to war". You're the same guys who, after seeing us win, you cheer. You're the same guys who go to the game and whine and scream at your own players instead of cheering them on. You're the same guys who say "we won" and "they lost". You don't want to be associated with a loser, but you praise a winner. You're the same guys who are sitting at home watching only the first half of the game because you "know it's lost...". You're the same guys who believe that a sixth seed can't win the championship. You're the same guys who will go to the parade and cheer. A wise woman once told me: "just like you eat the sweet grapes, there can be some sour grapes. You have to eat them both with the same enthusiasm." Anything can happen. Things aren't what they seem. Get it through your minds. I know you guys are respectful and go straight to the point and above all, smart... but don't call yourselves true Rockets' fans. The reason why I don't post as much as I do, is because of negative stuff like this. You should support your troops no matter if we're against Russia or Iraq. No wonder they don't win.confused:
ALLRIGHTy, then!! It's the HOMERS against the BANDWAGONERS. Woop-dee-doo. 6300+ posts against my 20- ? Been here for 2 years and haven't posted enough and now I am paying for it. I am Yao and you're Shaq... you push me around and then post it here... that's not bad... Good one, Pimp. I just got RocketsPimpslapped. I am not whining, though, I will stick with this thread: I say the ROX go 10-0 on these last 10... what does everyone else say?
Rockets should get to the playoffs. I think they will pull it out and Phoenix will be either tied or a half game back in the end. That may give them the confidence to make some noise in the first round.
I don't give a rats ass about post counts. You could have 100 meeeeeelion posts and that post would still be horrible. While I would love to see 10-0, I think 6-4 or even 5-5 is more realistic. Still, I think we will get the 8th seed. Phoenix has a tough road ahead with two tough road games in Detroit and Indiana. They "should" win the Denver games, although Denver might match up well against another young running team like the Suns. They have a back-to-back sandwiched between the Denver games against Minnesota and the Lakers that won't be easy, followed by a game against Dallas after the second Denver game. Toss in San Antonio and Portland as two of their last three opponents and I think we will see the Rockets in the playoffs.
Jeez Louise, you guys are going to make it in EZ. Suns end is killer. Although both of you will be happy to finish your last games above .500 You both have killer road swings and lots of playoff teams. However, the Rockets SHOULD make the playoffs with ease: No more Spurs, Kings, Mavs, T'Wolves, or Lakers; Denver twice, Seattle, Memphis and three Eastern conference donut teams(Bucks, Magic, 76ers). I Ming can catch his 3rd wind, you guys should be ok. I think the Rockets go 6-4, Suns go 4-7, and the Warriors go 4-6.
Just look at the schedule people. We can, or should go 6-4. That includes losses to the Jazz, Phili, and Portland(at home). And all 3 of these are actually winnable. The only hard game they <b>have </b> to win would be Orlando at home. The Suns have to play harder teams no doubt. But, still, if they go 6-5, but more likely 5-6, it would still be a tie. We get in. That crucial tie breaker.
