You guys miss the 2004 team with Sura, Wesley, Barry, James, Dikembe, Moochie and Ryan Bowen? I loved watching those guys because there was such good chemistry. It really sucks that we had to see the end of that nucleus. Although they were young, I feel like it would have only taken like maybe a star power forward and we could have won a championship. Maybe that is being a bit optomistic, but I really feel like we *had* something special. I feel like this team next year is gonna be good, but I definitely don't think we have championship aspirations because our bench is incredibly shallow. Our starting five is pretty good on paper, but we have a really long ways to go until we have the right combination of players to carry us deep into the playoffs. Btw, how is Sura's rehabilitation going right now?
"young" i don't know about that, but i did yove them... Each one added ferocity to the team, something we are lacking. They were close, unfortunately we have been plagued by injuries since. If only we were healthy...
Nah, I remeber good Rocket's teams that also had chemistry. I hardly pine for the days of the white boy super squad.
I think he meant that the nucleus was "young" because those guys hadn't played together for more than a season. They just had extemely good chemistry. It's almost as if they had played together for years. Now we have literally young players. It will be interesting to see how cohesive they can become as far as chemistry. I think Shane will play a big role in that with his "glue guy" label. I can't wait fo rthe season to start.
We didn't have championship aspirations that season until we traded for Barry midseason and took around January. The same thing could be true this year. However, I am banking on this year's team being a lot better coming out the gate......provided Yao, McGrady, and Shane are all healthy. Barring injury, I don't see how anybody can look at this team and not see at least 50 wins coming. We are much deeper than last year and we would have hit 50 last year if not for injuries.
I agree he's not a star player, but overrated? I thought he, along with James and Barry, were the ones that made the difference for us in many games the Rockets won that year. They brought toughness, heart, and energy everytime they stepped on the court- things we often lacked last year. It's a shame the injuries caught up with them and ended their careers so soon.
Overrated??? The Rockets were a different team with him on the floor. He may not have had eye popping stats, but he brought a lot of the little things that make a team a winner. One of the things I hope Battier does this year is fill the gap left by an injured Sura. Mike James? Now that's overrated...
I miss the team that had Francis, Mobley, Moochie, Walt Williams, and Olajuwon that went on that ridiculous streak at the end of the season. The chemistry was really on. But it didn't last.
hey where is the hawqins guy? forgot his name but he was starting in the 02 season for the rockets, he was pretty good
It all a dream! Hawkins was a nice guy but was only good enough for the development league. Where is he now?
By Joaquin Hawkins did you guys really mean Oscar Torres? He was quit an interesting player. He went off a few times and looked really promising, but all of a sudden he dropped off the face of the planet. Kinda weird...
I thought someone had a good thread about how it would be better for the rockets to not let him retire, but get some sort of injury exception.
