1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

After 13 games, what is your vision of the possiblities for the rockets, this year?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by DearRock, Nov 26, 2003.

Tags:
Page 1 of 4
  1. DearRock

    DearRock Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2001
    Messages:
    2,139
    Likes Received:
    0
    What are they capable of? Where is the team going? Not what their record is going to be but what will our proficiencies be, if any? Master Pontificator, JVG, said, now, about the team that he was unhappy with the Rockets' progress, despite a 9-4 record and their place near the top of the Midwest Division standings. He said the Rockets' continued problems with turnovers, defensive rebounding and needless fouls have begun to catch up to them and will become insurmountable as the Rockets' schedule toughens.

    "I'm cautiously optimistic we're going to pay better," Van Gundy said. "I think I've been there close to six months now. We should be further along than we are now. There are so many ways. I could go through a litany of things we need to get done. We need to get better quickly. The West is no place to play well and then not play well for a couple games. It can turn quickly."

    On the other hand all five -- Yao, Francis, Taylor, Mobley and Jim Jackson -- average at least 10.5 points per game this season and Cat said: "That's what this team should do. It's still early in the season. When it gets later in the season, this team will really be hard to guard."


    Are we being unfair to this team when we point to the so called easy schedule to explain the great start? We cannot find any other reasons for this great start?

    Having documented before the season started my Top 4 expectation for this team and having encouraged many to take the team's performance in the final 4 preseason games seriously( including 2 games vs Kings and 1 vs Spurs), it is easy to see that I am not surprised about the great start. In fact looking back on our 13 games it is easy to see that we could have won a couple more. I am saying all this to say that this team is legit.

    Over the next 13 games, a fairly tough stretch, I expect the team to consolidate and build on the great start. How? Well I do not expect our defense to drop significantly. In fact it is only because it has been so good that I am not calling for it to get better. It will remain a top defense. The improvement will come on the offensive end as we increasingly take advantage of the offensive opportunities presented by the defense. The return of Pike, MoT and Ad, will make Cat, Wink and JJ even more effective. While their minutes will drop they will increase their per minute output, bringing it on both ends of the floor. Yao is also in for a consistent stretch of dominant play.

    While there is a bit of an impression that we are a team that cannot shut the door on team, I believe that that came more from the Rudy T days and you will see us close teams out better and, in fact, have more blowouts. Our use of the 3pt will help in this area. More and more we will use it to blow a game open. Unlike a Dallas who sometime may use it to get themselves back in a game I do not see us, based on our defense and post game, being down big in many games. In addition our defense of the 3pt shot hurts an opponent from coming back on us.

    The next 13 games after that I hope EG would be back. If he is, then our defense will get even better and our margin for error would widen even more. So 13 games into it, would I move away from my top 4 expectation? I really cannot see any reason to move away. We are right their with the best of them and while the traditional powers will play better, I expect the same from us.
     
    #1 DearRock, Nov 26, 2003
  2. shawn786

    shawn786 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2003
    Messages:
    5,015
    Likes Received:
    6
    I see the D leveling out a little as well as the offense which will get up into the playoffs 6th spot im thinking BUT we might be able to slid into the 5th
     
    #2 shawn786, Nov 26, 2003
  3. A-Train

    A-Train Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2000
    Messages:
    15,997
    Likes Received:
    39
    The turnovers WILL come back to bite the Rockets in the ass, that's pretty much a guarantee...
     
    #3 A-Train, Nov 26, 2003
  4. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2002
    Messages:
    51,803
    Likes Received:
    20,461
    Do I think they will win the midwest division? Realistically, I would say no. I think rebounding is a big problem, and so are the TO's. Honestly I think those things will be corrected or at least improved as the season goes on. Those are things you look at and practice until they become second nature. I think team has worked hard and the willingness to work hard can lead to those problems being overcome.

    It's great watching Steve Francis play defense this year, and not dribble the ball so much. That shows improvement and a willingness to change for the better. I have no doubt Yao is willing to strengthen his hands, work on rebounding and help nip that problem in the bud. Cato is more active and doing his share this year, so I feel we are headed in the right direction. We may not be there yet, but we're on our way.
     
    #4 FranchiseBlade, Nov 26, 2003
  5. Htownhero

    Htownhero Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2000
    Messages:
    2,570
    Likes Received:
    32
    I look for a 6-8th seed in the playoffs. I don't see us getting to the second round however.
     
    #5 Htownhero, Nov 26, 2003
  6. thumbs

    thumbs Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2002
    Messages:
    10,225
    Likes Received:
    237
    I have a severe case of "rosy glow" about the Rockets. They have the talent, and they seem to working on their focus. The "killer instinct" software still needs to be installed, but I have faith that will come. Unlike many, I do not see any unsolvable problems within the roster as it now stands.

    IMO fifth or sixth seed is not an unrealistic vision and certainly not an unattainable goal.
     
    #6 thumbs, Nov 26, 2003
  7. solid

    solid Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2001
    Messages:
    21,211
    Likes Received:
    9,040
    They are yet to be where they need to be, but they are finally on the way there. BUT, regression is always a possibility. If they stay healthy, continue to buy into JVG's system, reduce the silly TO's and fouls, improve their shooting %, then, playoffs. Otherwise, lotto. If they do all of the above, and really jell, second round and will scare their opponents to death. It could happen.
     
    #7 solid, Nov 26, 2003
  8. thumbs

    thumbs Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2002
    Messages:
    10,225
    Likes Received:
    237
    The great feature of the second season is that everyone starts at ground zero again, with the exception of home court advantages. The 1994 Rockets should never have gotten past the first round, but they won it all. I think, once the Rockets are in the playoffs, we will be hell on wheels. Yes, I can think we can -- and will -- win it all.
     
    #8 thumbs, Nov 26, 2003
  9. pippendagimp

    pippendagimp Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2000
    Messages:
    27,768
    Likes Received:
    22,755
    Sneak into the eigth spot; 4 game sweep and it's gone fishing.
     
    #9 pippendagimp, Nov 26, 2003
  10. Rockets2K

    Rockets2K Clutch Crew

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2000
    Messages:
    18,050
    Likes Received:
    1,271
    two thumbs up....:D

    turnovers and rebounding are the main problems I see, and I believe that by mid-season, we could be watching one of the most dangerous teams on the court.
     
    #10 Rockets2K, Nov 26, 2003
  11. shawn786

    shawn786 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2003
    Messages:
    5,015
    Likes Received:
    6
    you dont think we can beat out the suns, griz, jazz, or blazers?
     
    #11 shawn786, Nov 26, 2003
  12. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2003
    Messages:
    61,823
    Likes Received:
    41,295
    slightly over/under 50 wins, 6th seed.
     
    #12 SamFisher, Nov 26, 2003
  13. Yetti

    Yetti Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,589
    Likes Received:
    529
    I hope to see continued progress through the whole season. More Team mentality, less turnovers, more Assists, 50 Rebounds/game, improved Defence, Great 3 point shooting and Block Shotting. Rox make the playoffs.No Trades till the offseason.[EG could be the exception]
     
    #13 Yetti, Nov 26, 2003
  14. ChenZhen

    ChenZhen Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2000
    Messages:
    1,779
    Likes Received:
    43
    If we play hard as a team and play together, we have enough talent to be top 5 or 6th easily. There are reasons to be optomistic because we've shown glimpses of our potential this year. If things fall in place, other teams need to watch out come playoff time...

    We also have the potential to fall apart pretty easily through our rough schedule coming up. If we string a few losses together, our guys might start to not believe in the JVG anymore and revert back to their old habit. If this happens, we are going to make some big trades by the end of the year. It all depends on whether our guys listen to JVG.
     
    #14 ChenZhen, Nov 26, 2003
  15. RocketsPimp

    RocketsPimp Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 1999
    Messages:
    13,812
    Likes Received:
    194
    A long standing Rockets way of life:

    Live and die by the three.

    It won't go away.
     
    #15 RocketsPimp, Nov 26, 2003
  16. ucansee2020

    ucansee2020 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2002
    Messages:
    761
    Likes Received:
    3
    If we can get into the playoffs this year, then we'll be a dangerous team. Playoff is all about defense and half-court games and I think we have these elements in place already. We should go deep into the playoffs this year. The only thing we don't have is experience.
     
    #16 ucansee2020, Nov 26, 2003
  17. thumbs

    thumbs Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2002
    Messages:
    10,225
    Likes Received:
    237
    All teams have the potential for self-destruction. I will not fear this until there is reason to fear it. All teams have the potential for injury. I will not fear that until a serious injury occurs.

    My point is that our current direction is positive. There are pitfalls along the way, but, if there were none, what would be the interest level in following the team?
     
    #17 thumbs, Nov 26, 2003
  18. tycoonchip

    tycoonchip Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 1999
    Messages:
    7,187
    Likes Received:
    5,719
    we can beat the suns, grizz and jazz.... the blazers on the other hand just handed us an embarassing loss.
     
    #18 tycoonchip, Nov 26, 2003
  19. Asspirin

    Asspirin Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2003
    Messages:
    280
    Likes Received:
    0
    We havn't won against the jazz yet.
     
    #19 Asspirin, Nov 26, 2003
  20. farhan007

    farhan007 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2003
    Messages:
    1,363
    Likes Received:
    0
    well it was in the rose garden, and it was when steve had his worst game of hs carrer.
     
    #20 farhan007, Nov 26, 2003
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 4

Share This Page