We haven't even gelled or start to play our best yet. Listen to this board and it would seem this team is 8 - 15. I can still see good things from this team.
If you cant see the upside of this team, i don't know what you're watching. Like you said, were still short handed by one of our big three, and we're still playing good bball and in the lead of our division. Theres alot to feel good about. Tmac looks healthy, Yao looks healthy. Whats not to like about that?
And I don't wanna jinx it but... (pss) We might just have our first eight rotation guys healthy for the first time this year against Denver. Battier T-Mac and Artest healthy together at the same time still hasn't happened yet so far this year. Knock on wood, but it's on schedule to happen next week.
Ah, the good vibe threads. Haven't seen them in a bit. I liked how Mac played today, obviously still cruising (although I don't think he ever looks like he isn't cruising), but moving a lot better. He changes pace so well that he can get past just about anyone. And while it may be in large part to him being guarded by defensive wunderkind Anthony Morrow, it looks he regained a lot of his fluidity due to his rest. Yao, though held back a bit because of his cold, looked fresh all throughout, and were it not for some nightly BS calls on him, he would have finished with 20+ points and 14 boards. Seriously can't wait till the team finally gets on a roll.
That is what is so damn scary about this team if they can just stay healthy they can compete with the elite teams.
I don't know about the "healthy" part but the fact that they will be on the floor together finally is the first good sign.
I want everyone to read this line from ESPN. "McGrady, who missed the last seven games with soreness in his left knee, had 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Rockets improved to 15-8, their best record after 23 games since the 1996-97 team started 21-2. Luis Scola had 19 points and Carl Landry scored 18." Let it sink in. I kid you not...we're going to be fine.
We usually start slow. Always. We pick it up by the end of the season and we are rolling! This time we've started fast. We have 2 superstars and a pretty talented supporting cast. We're going to be ****ing good by the end of the season. I just want the success to carry over to the playoffs. That is all I ask.
While this may be silver lining you still have to admit we're not that good right now. We have some BAD losses and the injury problems are unending. I still have confidence in this team, it's just right now I don't think we're as good as our 1st place record indicates. Out of the six 1st place teams the Lakers & Celtics are above & beyond better than everybody else. Then there's the Cavs, a team I have a hard time believing is as good as the top two teams based off of the Mo Williams acquisition alone. Then there's us, Denver and Orlando -- teams i'm sure nobody fears. Not trying to be negative, just saying don't get cocky or comfortable. Our division is a battleground every year and we have a ton of fine tuning to do before I feel confident saying "this team is ready for the postseason. BRING IT!".
Out of all of those teams you mentioned, 2 are in the western conference. When healthy the rockets can beat Denver pretty easily. The Lakers? Theyre the better team, but if we got to the western conference finals and finish as the second best team in the west, I would be pretty happy with that. Obviously I'd be happier going all the way, but if youre going to judge every season by winning or not winning the championship, youre going to be a miserable fan.
We're operating under the "win now" mentality. That's what you do whenever you make a move for a guy like Artest who could possibly only be around one year. That's what you do when your slow, athletically challenged franchise center is 28-years-old. That's what you do whenever the bulk of your rotation is in their 30's. That's what you do whenever you're as stacked as we are talent-wise. Sure, being in the championship talk is a far cry from getting out of the first round -- something we haven't done in 11 years. Like it or not, that's what you have to aspire for. You don't assemble this kind of talent and deal for Artest to have some 2nd round or WC Finals appearance "moral victory". Aside from the Lakers standing in our way the West is WIDE OPEN. We will never have a better shot at a championship with this group other than this year. For these reasons I have to judge this season by whether or not we compete for a title -- we're simply running out of excuses not to.
All you can worry about is your own team and how they're playing, but it's going to be a challenge. The Spurs are getting back to being the Spurs, and the Mavericks have shown a lot of life. I think the Suns improved themselves by picking up Richardson. The Hornets stole Antonio Daniels and still have one of the top three players in the league. Portland is out of the gate fast and the Jazz are keeping their heads above water while getting over injuries of their own. It's going to be another meat grinder in the West. Even with the Lakers slowing down a little, they are still the team to beat. If the Rockets ever get healthy and get time to gel they will be right there, though. They can definitely win it all with a little luck.
Nobody is talking about the Spurs who are slowly starting to come back from there injuries. Its way to early to even look at the standings especially in the southwest division with 4 teams all within a half, one game and 2 games from each other.
