a ton of basketball is how you view yourself too. After the rockets start whipping on some of the worse teams and get a run going they'll have more confidence for boston next time.
Just compare this loss with the last loss to Celtics: at least we got less TO and superb FT%. A 4-point loss won't make the Rox complacent - it in fact is a blessing in disguise. I am confident that before the All-Star break Rox will improve much more. I can't help myself to say "Yes, we can!!"
Good thread. I'm pretty pleased with the outcome of this game. We played the defending champs pretty evenly with two huge factors going against us that won't down the stretch: 1. Battier - Ray Allen doesn't explode with Shane out there. Our team defense will also improve with his presence. 2. Rafer - We were playing 4 on 5 for two full quarters - half of the game. Rafer absolutely killed us tonite. He either picks his shooting up (highly unlikely) or he is replaced. But there is no way they keep running him out there if he keeps shooting 20%. No chance. That alone gives me the biggest hope for this team. However, there is one big constant: Yao. Those of you feeling optimistic because you think he underperformed need a dose of reality. Yao Ming, I love him to death, but you can't count on him. He will have big nights like he did in Dallas, but more often than not, against the toughest competition, whether it be the playoffs or tonite, there is a greater chance he won't show up than there is of him giving you 30. That is just the nature of the beast and you have to live with it. You can't count on Yao to deliver.
we looked like **** last year too. unfortunately in an effort to get better every season we've had to retool the roster every season, in addition to welcoming back players from injury(yao ming). this means that it's hard to be a well-oiled machine in october/november. we have one heck of a roster and our two best players aren't at 100%, t-mac isn't close. the anchor of our defense has yet to play a single game, yet we sit at 3-1. nobody is patient anymore. i just don't understand why so many people post like this is it? this is just the beginning folks, this team is gonna be GREAT and it won't be long.
I agree. I was very encouraged by what I saw out there tonite. We had no business being in this game.
i'm not worried about this team at all.. when we play them in the finals it'll be a totally different outcome
Solid thread. The Rox are going to be just fine, especially when they get Battier (Glue guy) back. One thing that I would like to see Adelman do is perhaps play Brooks and Landry a little sooner in the 1st and 3rd quarters. Rick A always sticks with his starters just a few minutes too long in 1 and 3 quarters. The sooner the starters get a break the sooner they can get back in.
I will have to disagree with you on that Thacabbage. I understand Yao can have his off nights, like most players, but he is a 20 and 10 for a reason and you have to count on that. In addition to the superb defense of Boston; fronting Yao has Thibs handwriting all over it, Yao was unusually doofus tonight, expect to see a different and determined Yao next time they play. Overall I am still not happy with where we are, only because I know they can achieve so much more, I believe Adelman said himself they are not even close in terms of the offense. Boston looked so smooth sometimes, while we look like a collection of talented players thrown together. With that said, yes we did only lose by 4 points which shows how much better we can become. The better team is still Boston, but I think come July it'll be us hoisting the trophy.
It's the beginning of the season. That's not the best excuse. They are defending champs and WE ARE A TEAM WITH A MAJOR NEW PIECE AND ONE MAJOR INJURED PIECE and one strong piece not even playing. Forget about Yao's bad night. It happens. Hopefully it won't next time we play them. We still have to gel as a team. Artest shakes this team up in a good way, but it also takes time to get used to playing with Artest. Once this team finds it's groove, then we can judge. Right now let's see what pure talent alone gets us. Pure talent alone almost beat the defending champs. I'll take that. Wait until the middle of the season. It's too early to be comparing us to elite teams that have played with each other for a season or whatever. All I can say is, as long as we don't get blown out by any of the good teams, WE ARE NOT THAT FAR BEHIND, and we have plenty of time to work on it. Go Rockets!
I agree. We will see if this game is the norm or if the Dallas game is the norm as we go forward. Not enough data yet. I do like how if we have an off night, we can still compete and have a shot at winning, or even beat lesser teams. One game does not a season make. Check back in a week when we know more or when we get Battier back.
hey guess wat? we lost to... THE DEFENDIN CHAMPS lol.. we didnt have battier to at least limit some of allen's scoring, yao was god awful vs big baby n perkins.. we shot 39% while they shot 52%.. and we only lost by 4
There's a big difference in being "complacent" and "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!" I think we know which one you are.
