Next few games: Ind, at SA, NJ, Dal, SA, Clippers, at DAL, at NOK, CLE Lots of home games, but not easy ones. They win five or six of the above, and then beat the lakers on on April 2, they MIGHT have a chance to play SA in the first round.
If the Roxs won 6 of those 9 games, I'd take that and hope for the best. Five is probably more realistic though.
We will go 7-2 if Mac can play in all of the games. Yao will dominate Spurs and Maverick inside the paint. TD is no match for Yao playing on one leg.
6-3 without Mac Ind, - w [are the still without O'Neal? - doesn't matter] SA, - maybe a loss. . . the roles players HAVE TO step up NJ, - W - but tricky - Kidd can run Yao out of the game Dal, - maybe a loss - while Yao may dominate we cannot let THEIR ROLE players go off SA, - maybe a loss. . . the roles players HAVE TO step up Clippers, Win DAL, - maybe a loss - while Yao may dominate we cannot let THEIR ROLE players go off NOK, - Win CLE - Win I think we split with SA and Dallas the NJ games worries me. . because it is a sandwich game Rocket RIver
I don't worry about NJ game because they don't have inside presence and their outside shooting is not consistent.
6-3 is almost a must. We gotta to steal one from the Mavs or Spurs and win all the others. There are only 21 games left and we need to pass 3 teams. If Tracy doesn't come back soon and play near his best, we are cooked.
I don't think TMac has to be his best . . he just has to be a solid contributer Yao will have to continue his excellent play I think YAO is reaching CONSISTANCY if the rest of the team can do the same it makes the game easier TMAc is inconsistant because of health reasons the others. . .well. . . . Rocket RIver
I would sit TMac out for the game against Indy so that he can be recharged for the SA, NJ, Dal, SA, Clippers, at DAL streach of the schedule.
A win against Pacers counts the same as a win against the Spurs. TMac needs to play tonight for us to have a better chance to come out with a win. We won't play until Sunday so he will have plenty of time to rest after tonight's game. I know that Yao will have a good game, but you cannot count on him playing out of mind on the second night of a back to back on a daily basis.
I'd like to agree with you but we can't afford to lose any more games. If TMac can go, he needs to go. We don't have any margin for error. I'd take 6-3 every day of the week. But I beleive so here I go. I honesly think we can go 8-1 if TMac plays. Put me down for it. Here's why: Yao Ming has emerged Yao has turned into an unstoppable force and the refs are finally giving Yao some wiggle room. His confidence is through the roof now. That means we can rely on Yao in the 4th quarter. ...and the team knows it. Furthermore, the rest of the team now is getting comfortable with Yao's play and is falling into a comfort zone. They regularly re-post Yao now which is killing teams. The guys also know Yao will pass them the ball on the 3 or cutting to the basket. So they are actively looking to get open and expecting the pass. Expect some of the best ball movement ever seen from a Rockets team during this stretch. It'll be necessary. Point Guard x-factor Rick Brunson is going to overacheive in this stretch too. He sees some light for himself on this squad and will play with extra energy. He seems to "get it" as he is a seasoned vet and will play an important role backing up Skip. As such, Skip will get some much needed rest and will be able to perform at a little higher level. SG x-factor Bogans is now comfortable and energized. He knows with TMac's health that he'll get big minutes. This is a perfect fit for him long term and he will play the best basketball of his life. He might even find his outside shot. TMac as the 2nd option TMac now knows he can lean on Yao. TMac will be the guy that brings a lot of intangibles during this stretch. He'll get a lot of assists and so a lot of dirty work. I don't expect his shot to be there but he'll find a way to affect the game in many other ways. Power Forwards eh. Not much to say. Stro will bring us some energy which may help in some momentum changes but their #'s as a whole will be about the same. We know what we are getting with these two guys. GO ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Their center has a very good outside shot, out to 3 point line. He doesn't play muc of a center, but that's where exactly Yao's problem is. They'll pull Yao out and let VC, RJ slash to the hoop. It won't be an easy game.
That's true. But as we saw last night, we can gladly trade production from the center position with an outside shooter vs. Yao's inside game. Yao will win that battle everytime if he keeps playing like this. I'm less intimidated by centers that shoot from the outside now. Yao will kill them.
I think 6-3 is achievable, and it's a must. If we can't win any game against good teams, we don't deserve and can't make playoffs. With Yao playing consistently and confidently, now the team is ready, in trusting each other. I would say, we are ready for top teams. If it was 5 games back, it could be very shaky. But now, hopefully with TMac, then we would be 7-2 or 8-1. However, without TMac, I can see us with a good fight to get that 6-3.
the way i see it, we can only lose 5 or 6 more games if we expect to have a chance at the p/o. with the next 9 games looking like a challenge we HAVE to win 6 of them. i say this because starting next month is a 6 game road trip. we also finish the season against the grizz, nugz, spurs. one of those will be a loss, hopefully not 2. with the 3 losses allowed in out next 9, that is all we can lose. that means we can't lose one game on that road trip. everything has to go right. everyone has to play well. but i believe it can happen. with yao playing like this anything is possible.
I think this will actually be good for us. It's time to seperate the men from the boys and find out if this team is for real or not. If we can't compete with the big boys, we don't deserve to be in the playoffs. On the other hand, if we play well during this stretch, it will let the rest of the league know that we're for real. Not to mention the confidence it will instill in our players. Remember when we went on the road last year and beat Seattle and Phoenix back to back?
you make a good point about confidence. while i don't think we need to send a message to the rest of the league, we do need to gain confidence. whenever the rockets start to click in a game we seem surprised by our dominance. we need to have the attitude that we are going to beat the crap out of every team we play. you see that with dallas, SA, detroit and phnx. they get up on people and just squeeze the life out of them. i think we have the team to get a playoff spot regarless of what other teams do (given that we don't suffer more on the injury front). we are just better than the teams just ahead of us. yao's play has been nothing short of awesome, we need to ride the big man all the way to the playoffs. we ain't winning the title this year but at least we can inflict some pain.
AS i Stated In another thread CONSISTANCY is the word for the rest of the season If Rafer can be consistantly a 40+ 3 pt shooter Wesley as well. . . I think the march to the playoff will be assured but as of now .. we need a different man to step up every nite YAO is becoming consistant TMac. . injuries have made him less so The rest of the team . .not even close Rocket RIver
yes, but there are nights when shots just won't fall. you have to will yourself to victories on some nights. we need the CONSISTENT confidence and will to just get it done.
