http://blogs.chron.com/jeromesolomon/2009/06/texans_are_closer_to_a_champio_1.html Rockets fans are a bit sensitive about that. Tito, get each of them a tissue. I'm not amazed, but certainly amused that y'all are so excited that the Rockets pushed the soon-to-be-champion Lakers to seven games in the conference semifinals, the "toughest" series LA had in the postseason. I understand Daryl Morey and Tad Brown selling that as a reason you need to buy season tickets, but believe me, going seven games with the Lakers doesn't mean the Rockets had the second-best team in the NBA this season. And it certainly isn't a direct sign that a trip to the Finals or a championship is around the corner. It means almost nothing. Ignore the fact that the Lakers were in cruise control during the conference semis, knowing (or at least playing as if they knew) that they could turn it on and dispatch the Rockets whenever they wanted to. Which they did. Let's stick to the idea that going seven games with the eventual champion in the conference semis is a great sign for next season. It's simply not true. In the last 20 years, 10 teams pushed an eventual champion to seven games in the conference finals or semifinals, the title-winner's longest series of the playoffs. Only one of the losers returned the next season to make it to the NBA Finals. (The 1990 Bulls lost to Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals, then won three straight championships.) Of the six teams that went down in seven games in the conference semis, the '92 Knicks and '98 Pacers made it to the Finals two years later. Neither won a title. Seven of the "We gave the champ their toughest series" teams have not even made it to the Finals. Next year is a completely different season. Things change. (That's a great movie, by the way.) We don't know which teams will improve. How much better will the Denver Head Cases be? What will the Mavericks do? Will Portland continue its ascent? We don't know if the Lakers will get better - they had young players contributing, who should get better too. We don't know if Phil Jackson and Lamar Odom leave and they get worse. In addition, there are many unknowns with the Rockets. Will Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry continue to get better? Will 29-year-old Luis Scola get a little better or level off? Will Shane Battier, who turns 31 in September, drop off again as he did last season? Or was his drop in skills and confidence mostly injury-related? Will Ron Artest, who turns 30 in November, drop off again too? Or was his drop in skills - certainly not in confidence - mostly injury-related? Heck, will Artest even be here? Will Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming be healthy? Will they pull off a trade for another star? Or will they get their hands on some rookie who has a ways to go to be very good? As of today, there are too many unanswered questions to think the Rockets, who haven't gotten out of the second round of the playoffs in 12 years (that's a joke), are a threat to win anything. A couple months from now, we'll know much more. This may be moved but does anyone here really think the Texans have a better chance at a title than the Rockets? I believe "The King" is off his rocker for this one, I'd think so.
No, they aren't better than the Lakers. I don't even think they are the second best team in the league (LA, Boston). And you know what? I don't really care. And you shouldn't either. The only thing that I really care about, is that we made progress. Getting out of the first round, and almost getting a chance to play Denver in the WCFs is a great feeling. I have no doubt that this Rockets team will be better next year though. But for now, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
It's pains me to agree with him, but I don't think the Rockets are as close as so many here seem to believe. This is a team with needs, and each of these needs will require valuable resources to acquire. First, a legit back up for Yao, then a veteran point guard, and then a dynamic wing player, who'll be expected to replace Tracy. Not to mention re signing Wafer and figuring out what to do with Crazy Pills. That's a lot of chips that need to fall into place, a lot of chips. But it all starts with a quality big man to back up Yao. Nothing is more important than that, nothing.
I used to like Jerome Solomon, but he is so anti-Houston sports fans it's crazy, and I don't even he believes half the stuff he writes, he's just doing his job and getting people to talk.
Ugh, if we didn't we shoot in 30% in Game 7 we coulda won that. Nothing was falling, even open shots.
I think the Rockets are better than what we think they are. I actually think if the team stand pack and re-sign Artest and Wafer they can win the west. Espceally if they sign Gortat for the mid lever exception like they are rumoured to do.
Yes, they are. Hell, its arguable that they're even BETTER than most people think, given all the drama they had to deal with. The only elite team they didn't beat at least once in the regular season was the eventual champions, and even that team they took to 7 games with a depleted roster. And I hate that they keep being compared to the '08 Atlanta (who never defeated Boston on the road in the opening game) or the excuses that LA was coasting (which should've wore itself out after game 1, much less games 4 and 6).
"It is nice to be around people who think differently than you. They challenge your ideas and keep you from being complacent. "---Tucker Carlson
The only thing we need, like every year, is health. ... If we can't get that, then we need a little more: A very serviceable backup center, a good scoring option on the perimeter (unless Brooks really develops into a beast). But be sure: we ARE very close. And it's not just because we took the Fakers to seven games. We have been a great team for a while.
we played our butts off with a bunch of young hard working guys. Its like adelman said, he never has to worry about his guys not giving effort. i think these young guys will keep playing hard and always give us a chance to win.
I'm just going to agree with you instead of having to agree Soloman but wait you already agreed with him. Ahhh!!! As you pointed out, this team definitely has needs and you can't afford to stand pat. Some here are just taking these needs for granted as if they'll all be in our favor. A lot of things could still go wrong and work against us which is what I'm hoping doesn't happen this offseason and shouldn't with DM. I love our team but we still have to get better which might mean we might have to give up someone we've grown to root for to take that next step. Can we beat LA? Without question, especially if we're healthy. We just can't expect the team we finished the season with to win.
If and when the team is healthy then they are as good as the title contenders. Potential and talent is there but sometimes luck is needed to be considered not good but great.
Just for the record, I agree with much of what he says. The reason I say this is, what if that was Utah vs Portland that the rockets played? What if Utah was the team standing in the way, how would people feel about our prospects?
he might be right but sincerely he had the best defensive opponent for the Lakers. I'd say that only Boston has a better defense. Our negative points are well known by everybody, even cats in hoods know em! Thus, GM, coach... know what they want, and they'll do what they can to get it No one pretended that the Rox were the best! even when we had a great team and chemistry in 2005, and 2007 we lost. So, whether it was said or not, Houston's staff will do their best. It's not about winning next year or...it's about doing their best, results can't be predictable such articles are written to make doubts... so I believe: Get Reeeeeeed
If Yao or T-Mac were healthy during the playoffs, the Rockets would have been good enough to make it to the Finals, no question. That much is fact in my opinion. Next season, heaven only knows what will happen between today and the first regular season game. We may get Artest and we may not. We may stick with McGrady and we may not. We may trade one of our top players for a draft pick and we may not. Until half of those things are laid down, time will tell about how good we are. I look at it like this, every season a team no expects to be good enough manages to make the Finals or have a great season, so with the right circumstances, anything is possible.
Its a very fair assessment to make of the team, some agreeable points. What ruined it was his condescending tone as though he's reaaaaally seeing the clear picture all these over-excited Rockets fans arent seeing... Its not fans displaying "contentness" and little league sportsmanship. Its just fans dont have to punch a hole in the wall and abuse their family if their team comes up short of the ring.
