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

OH like your posts are so damn special. Well there not. Having as many posts as you do only spells one thing, =loser !!! Btw, you wouldnt be able to read my message to you since you have me your ignore list !!! LOL

 

The Ignore List doesn't work when someone is quoting an ignored person. However, I don't believe such a device is constructive (perhaps because I sometimes feel ignored ).

 

btw drummer, I was joking ,so dont take it personal.

 

sweetie lighten up a lil Y u allways gota be so harsh on the Rox?

 

Time to change my "prediction".I think if heathly we can win 52 games.

1.lakers
2.mavs
3.spurs
4.rockets
5.wolves
6.portland
7.suns

 

FIANLY looking at the positive side rather than the negative thank you

 

Geez...thanks, sweetie. Predicting an injury to Yao or Francis, the teams' two best players, will get injured -- great optimism!

You're a great fan. man.

 

So was I, so don't worry about it.

 

this year - 7th seed.

I don't think this team will ever be a serious contender unless Yao becomes flat out dominant as he has the potential to be, or the light bulb goes off in SF's head and he just "gets it" ala some of the late bloomers like Nash and Billups. Neither are out of the realm of possibility.

 

That's more like it!

 

Rockets #1 or #2. There's no weakness on this team anymore. Cato and jackson have plugged almost every apparent hole.

 

I could see 70-75 wins. Give or take.

 

Generally the team has played well so far, very tenacious on the D; but the lack of basketball smarts will bite the team in the a$$ as it goes against the Western Conference teams. Hell, are there really any weak teams in the West? Only the Clippers aren't within spitting distance of .500.

JVG's side comment about Portland exposing our lack of size and the possibility of future roster moves really got my attention (probably because I suspect this team cannot stand pat and compete in the West).

No roster moves? We'll finish around 47 wins, 7th seed or so.

Moves to shore up the forward spots ('bye, Cat), which might mean also getting a backup center if Cato is moved (re: Battie)? 52 wins, 5th seed or so.

 

As will their collective inability to play smart under pressure. The returning players you listed are spare parts nothing more. This is a team that has to slow the game down in order to have a reasonable chance at winning but that is not a strategy that I see working on a consistent basis. I expect them to hover around the .500 mark as the season progresses. I still see them in a dogfight for the last playoff spot in the West.

 

A few things I see as a positive that should propel us into that 5th or 6th seed:

1 - Team Defense - Even though there are still to many players from the opposing team making it to the free throw line. The Rox have no dought began to play a defense that will keep them in a lot more games this year and should give them more opprotunity baskets.

2 - Ball Movement - There is still work that needs to be done here, but you can already see a more consistant effort to move the ball around WITHOUT DRIBBLING FOR 22 SECONDS (ugh).

3 - Pure Shooting (taking what the defense gives you) - I love the fact that JVG shows confidence in his perimeter hooters and wants them to take the open shots, no matter who it is. And with the addition of Pike and Boki (seemingly coming around), things should definitly open up on the inside. (Now we just need to get the ball to Yao WHEN HE RAISES HIS HAND, NOT WHEN CAT AND STEVE ARE READY TO PASS IT)

4 - Deeper Bench - With the emergence of Cato playing quality minutes and some very smart off season aquisitions, we have definity put ourselves to run deep into our bench and give to many options for many teams to handle. But we are still short in the 1 and 5 spots, real short in the 1.


Now a few things that could cause us to slip to 7, 8 or even out of the playoffs:

1 - Poor Descision Making - Even with Steve's undeniable talent, I think his descision making is still to wishy washy to help us get to next level. He and Cat need to learn to pass the ball down low when the big man raises his hand, not when they feel they are ready. This is evident in the comparison to how Jim Jackson passes the bal down low. He will pass to the big man's strong side, as soon as he raises his hand, not 2 or 3 seconds later. Anyone who has played, knows that big men battle for low post positions and when a big man calls for the ball, you really only have a couple of seconds to get him the ball hte way he wants it.

2 - Turn Overs - Yes I know this can be corrected, but my issue with that thought is, without Steve and Mooch not changing old habits of dribbling into bad situations and not being able handle full court pressure, we will have this issue haunting us throughout the season.

3 - Personal Player Issues/Trades - Rox have seemed commited to moving pass any issues that has come up so far, but I can't help but feel that there is a serious trade waiting in the wings. And directly or indirectly, eventually it will take a toll on player morale.

In any regard, there is progress and that is a breathe of fresh air. I think if we can get to the 5 or 6 spot, we have a good chance at getting past the first round. If we get into the 7 or 8 spot, we can give a top seeded team some headaches, before bowing out, with a slim hope of pulling an upset. I don;t even want to think about not making the playoffs.....

 

Oh, one other positive, we are beating the teams we should beat. This is a sign of maturity, however, with the learning curve of trying to play smart basketball, some of our biggest flaws are being revealed, such as not being able to handle full court presses. Good teams will exploit this even further, because it is already becoming a norm for meaning teams scouting us.

 

That's one reason why I love this game. We have some of the best "perimeters hooters" in the league!

 

Great post, knwldg. Right on from start to finish. You should post more often. Well, except for this part:

I don't think JVG is too concerned with his hooters. He doesn't even play Amechi.

Seriously, I agree with all your points except for the player morale point. I've seen every game this year except for one and I have yet to see any sign of a mutiny or morale problems as many have predicted. Of course, it's a long season and anything can happen, but I for one think the players are buying into the system a lot sooner than I expected them to.

Again, great post.

 

I mean multi-dimentional "perimeter hooters."