If you look at the Mavericks during the 99/00 season, you will see a team with Nash, Nowitzki, and Finley that did not make the playoffs. Nelson and Cuban knew who their nucleus was, and they searched for players who could compliment their big three. In some ways, the Rockets of today resemble the 99 Mavs, except that we have more potential (a meaningless word, I know). We have Francis, who like the 99 Finley, is an established star who is just entering his prime. Yao Ming is like the 99 Nowitzki, in that he is a new kind of player that is destined for stardom. Finally, we have Griffin, who at 20 years of age will be a solid star that contributes in many different ways like Nash. Rocket fans are being incredibly impatient in my opinion. Two out of the three members of our nucleus are college age. We need to let these guys grow together, and support them through the hard times. I only hope that Rudy T and staff will make winning a priority, and make the tough trades that will bring the right complimentary cast to support our star, and future stars. The Mavericks have the best record in the league now because they place winning above personal relationships (ex. Steve and Cat's friendship), and the Rockets can be there in 2 or 3 years if they emulate the Mavs formula. To expect this team of youngsters to compete for the championship now though is completely unrealistic. Enjoy the process of watching them grow together, and the destination will be even sweeter.
Don Nelson wins in the buffet line by a mile. Does 2002 Don Nelson = 1995 Rudy T? Rudy will be fine when his talent base can execute his playbook.
Very good post. This team is young and Houston fan's are incredibly impatient.. mainly because we've a very proud franchise.. unlike Dallas was..
Not sure how the 1999 Mav played, but the killer to many Rox fans are that this team is capable of playing like an elite team but they choose not to for whatever the reason.
1999-2000 Mavs were 40-42. In addition to Nash, Finley, Nowitski and Bradley the team included: Ced Ceballos, Hubert Davis, Damon Jones, Robert Pack, Roderick Rhodes, and Bruno Sundov with a brief appearance by Dennis Rodman.
It's hard to stay patient when you unexpectedly obtain an all-star center, since most fans projected Yao to be only a role player this year. If Yao's struggling like Dirk did his first year, people would complain a lot less about our current record.
Every year we draft new players, every year we bring in new agents, every year we hear the same ole excuse of this team is too young or they need time to gel, and every year we underachieve. The roster changes every year, the cards are reshuffled each season and the only thing that doesn't change is the head coach, the only thing that doesn't change is the ****ty play that defies all basketball principles and senses. In the end the result is the same, the Rockets freaking underachieve each and every year.
Bah. The two are similar only in terms of roster. It's easy to go back in history, find a talented young team on the cusp of being a contender... and proclaim "See, that team didn't make the playoffs either! We're just like them!" Nope, sorry. The individual problems on the teams have to be addressed. Yao Ming is nothing like Dirk. Griffin is certainly nothing like Nash. And Francis bares no resemblance to Finley. Sorry, "how" the players play is far more important than simply having a decent looking player of about the same age (though Griffin and Nash, in particular, don't even resemble each other in that regard).
Yao's quick development is basically cancelled out by EG's lack of development and Steve's slow growth into a leader. Be patient.
The Rox management team can always make some exchange to keep Rox the second youngest team every year (They keep doing this for last four or five years). So they always have same excuse to lose to bad but OLDER team.
I agree, except I didn't say that. Read the post please. You are a being too anal in this discussion. Yao and Dirk have many similarities. They are both unique players who suffer from unrealistic expectations early in their careers. They are both thrown into the role of secondary offensive option before they are ready. They are both foreign players learning to negotiate both a new country and a new, far more intense basketball league. Griffin and Nash are both you complimentary players who are key to the development of the team. etc.... Francis and Finley have many similarites that I already addressed in the first post. I am not talking about style of play or positional play. Open your mind- the similarities are obvious. My clear point that you missed because you didn't consider the content of my post is that the Rockets are a highly talented team that is too young and inexperienced to contend for a title. The fans here are completely unrealistic. My second point is that the necessary foundation for a championship team is in place, but the Rocket management will need to be aggressive like Cuban to get the necessary complimentary players for our big three- Steve, EG, and Yao Ming. Mobley, Rice, and Norris should be the first to go, in my opinion.
Yao Ming did not get elected to the all star game based on his talent, and expecting him to lead the Rockets to a successful playoffs as a rookie is unrealistic. Yao Ming is no Lew Alcindor.
One key difference: The '99-'00 Mavs were a team that started poorly (9-23 at one point, IIRC) and finished strong as their nucleus gained chemistry. This year's Warriors would be a much better comparison to that Mavs team.
Why do you have to point this out, Swopa? You know whenever Rockets lost to a mediocre team and looked more and more likely they would miss the playoff, the only comfort to me is the 99-00 Mavs not making the playoff. Now you tell me that they started poorly!!!!!! Shrimpie
Not a bad post. Granted I think the Rockets big 3 will be better than the Mavs big 3. Even though Dirk is a bad ass.
He shouldn't have started, but certainly deserved a spot. He doesn't have to lead the Rockets either for them to make the playoffs. This was a team that has playoff talent even w/o Yao playing at this level.
