As most of you know we landed Swift this offseason but on top of it we also landed DA. This gives us a starting line up of Yao/Swift/T-Mac/DA/Sura w/ a damn good bench to back them up. I gotta give it up to CD & the Rox staff for taking that next step BUT does this really make us the 2nd best in the west?
In a nutshell "NO". You can't just have this title or label without anything to show for it except for potential. The Rockets will have to prove it to me and that can only occur during the course of the season.
We could be. The offseason isn't over yet but right now, I like us better than the Suns and probably the Mavs. I still say watch out for the Nuggets. With a training camp and a full season under George Karl, they could pass everyone if Camby stays healthy.
Hey, shawn786, I suggest you add the following to your sig: Darko Milicic's first 3 years in the NBA 03-04: 1.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.40 bpg, & 4.7 mpg 04-05: 1.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.2 asp, 0.50 bpg, & 6.9 mpg You know, just for some added perspective on Yao.
On Paper we look like we can be a top 4 team or so. But until these guys play and start to gel and players know their roles we are not going to know. Last year we looked good on paper but i mean seriousl had problems at the begining becuas everyone didn't know their roles on the team. Towards the end of the season everyone started to gel and do well. I think we are going to see the same of that this year. our team is going to look lost for a while but when they start clicking together the rest of the league is going to start worrying.
the way i'd put it is this: 1. Spurs (a lock) 2-5. is just a big toss-up between us, the mavs, kings, and suns. i will say that i believe we are the better team out of those 4, and even feel quite comfortable saying we have a solid chance at knocking off the spers*, but we're gonna have to wait til we actually get on the court before we make any serious claims. but damn i'm getting excited!
Either second or the best, people are underestimating the combination of T-Mac, Yao, JVG, defense, and good role players, and are still thinking that the West is the super conference it used to be.
I'd be inclined to say yes, but we won't be 2nd record-wise because of that BRUTAL schedule we have. Hope these guys play like the road warriors they were last season.
At the beginning of the season, every team has the same number of home and road games and everyone in the conference plays mostly the same number of games against each team. Who cares how long road trips are, that just means that you get a bunch of road games out of the way and have more homestands the rest of the time.
I think our improvement will have as much to with Yao as the new guys. We've been waiting for a "break-thru" type of season. He's been damn good - but not superstar great yet. This summer he's gotten good rest and good surgery and we now have a pf that can hopefully complement him better. We all know that TMac will give us an MVP type of season. If Yao can do that too (that's a sizeable if) - then I see no reason why we shouldn't contend for a championship.
Hold up there homie...no need to be a Deke Head with old buddy above. He's just tryin to show some love for his team. Give him a lil slack play boy, ite?
Wow. I think you said "Friend.. don't be a jerk with leehoang as he is only getting carried away with his excitement for this years team. Let him be happy, ok?"
I wasnt aware that we that you believed it necessary to tranlslate what I wrote. Thanks, because no one understood what it meant... I'll be carefull with my writing if you would drop your pointless attempts at comic sarcasm and comment on something worth reading. 'Preciate that PLAYA!
I agreed with you. It seems that no many people realize that the current Rockets are only going to go as far as Yao can take them. With new respect from the refs and a new frontcourt mate in Swift, Yao can stay on the court and play more minutes (hopefully 37+), he can easily average 20+,10+ if he played more minutes. TMac is just tremendous most of the time. So if anyone don't seriously think that the Rockets are now a contender I don't think they understand bball.
