Observing what has transpired over the past month to month and a half, we have seen this team grow by leaps and bounds before our very eyes. I think the beginning of the turning point started with a game in December vs the Nuggies, where the Rox lost in 2OT 112-111 but, ... they actually competed and did so without McGrady. Obviously, the TRUE turning point though was the egregious Philly meltdown at TC, where we blew a 4th quarter l5 point lead! Since that time the Rockets have now gone 15-1! How did this all transpire and so quickly? A combination of things ... 1. It started with the rookie infusion. When Adelman started giving AB, Landry & Scola consistent, and significant minutes, two things happened ... a. They ignited something foreign previously in this team, EXCITEMENT, PASSION & PRIDE! b. They upgraded the talent and galvanized the bench into a legitimate weapon, capable of carrying the team when the starters had an off night. 2. The team started playing, trusting and NOW they're believing in Rick Adelman's system and they are flourishing with flying colors! Early in this streak, the Rockets were grinding out wins despite largely poor play. Now, the last couple of games are showing a team that has REAL chemistry and belief in Rick Adelman's system. 3. Now our big guns, Yao and T-Mac are shaking off early season woes and disappointing numbers and are now starting to hit THEIR stride! So, IMHO I think Adelman is absolutely correct! "There's no one that the Rockets cannot beat!" IMHO, potentially due to the aforementioned reasons, the only team that may be able to beat the Rockets is the ROCKETS! All the sudden, this team is becoming THIS good! So, the $64,000 question is this? After high expectations at the onset of the season then early meltdown, precipitating many pundits to jump off the Rockets bandwagon and now, with just a ridiculous resurgence since largely the start of the new year, and now national media notables once again jumping back on the Rockets bandwagon, ... Can the Rockets handle success and the accolades that come with being talked of as a legitimate elite NBA team? Will they get bored with their success or continue to inspired by it? In my opinion, that's the only thing I see stopping THIS Rockets team! This team could not only be good, but be GREAT! What happens next? Who knows but, I think we may be in for a really FUN ride into May and perhaps, June! Oh man, I'm startin' to get excited!
I think from losing all these years in the playoffs.. they are more hungry than anything.. and winning brings confidence. which means a lot I am gonna hold judgement for a couple more weeks though. I've got false gold a few times with the Rockets. I think it's different this time though
This is a great post and my biggest fear, because both Yao and Tmac have fallen for the complacency bug a few times. What I hope is that players like Scola and Landry continue to inspire them to play hard, and maybe even Bobby Jackson.....tough minded players who hustle make everyone else play harder...and that permeates through the team. DD
T-mac is the type of player who gets up for challenges and kinda of plays down a bit otherwise - NO game shows that. He's motivated now that he sees the opportunity to win a ring is there. I think early in the season when our record fell apart he kind of played with his head down a bit. Talking about Dafar and how he wanted to be in Africa and all that. He's a sensitive guy and well, now that the we're playing so well and he see's that he has a team that can support him, i don't think he'll get complacent - as someone says, he's showing up early now to work on his shot before games and calling himself out. Yao's work ethic is too good. I'm not worries about this team handling success - they deserve it and I think the struggles they went through to get there will keep them focused unlike a team such as New Orleans. That's why the Lakers are so scary. You're talking about a guy like Kobe who has tasted success before but has gone through a lot since then.
Here's the key. Lyrics lifted from the Talking Heads. Stay hungry, stay hungry, stay hungry Move a muscle, move a muscle, move a muscle. Make a motion, make a motion, make a motion. Pull it tighter, pull it tighter, pull it tighter. Double beatin’, double beatin’, double beatin’ Double beatin’, double beatin’, double beatin’ Palpitation, palpitation, palpitation. Stay hungry, stay hungry, stay hungry.
That's what I'm hoping as well. It pays to surround Yao and Tracy with high energy players like Shane, Rafer, Luis, Carl, and Chuck. I still feel, in terms of talent, we're at a deficit compared to some of the other teams in the West. We need to make up for it in competitiveness and focus.
i think that we have seen enough during this streak to know that these rockets are motivated. i was pretty sure that after the all star break they would come all lethargic, unmotivated, and conceited. however, they came back with 2x heart. i am now confident that they will be able to maintain winning without becoming pompous and arrogant
I love the hustle and the heart, but I still find that the White Power Rockets were the most exciting team in the McGrady era. This team is probably better, but I just can't get all those 3 point dance celebrations that Barry and Sura did. Man, those guys were fun.
Yeah, compared to a team like the Lakers, the Rockets' line-up doesn't look that impressive. I'm pretty confident that their D can get it done, and their offense will just continue to get better. I feel that the team, as a unit, can beat just about anyone, regardless of of individual talent.
I'm really excited about this team. Seems like the Rockets were just playing out there with no emotion or motive in the 07 part of the season. Now they have that passion and their motive is to WIN, and WIN BIG.
none of these guys (the core players) have sniffed any success. tmac never won anything at any level. yao has never won anything significant. the other players have rarely been to the playoffs. we're talking about reg. season wins here.
If Tmac learns that its okay to to be human... we will be just fine... if he comes out in the playoffs... shooting us out of a game... then we will be going home early... I will predict... Tmac will have a few good games where he shoots the lights out... and single handed wins us the game... then he will have those games where his shot is off.... its what he does in those games that will decide what happens to us in the playoffs... does he shoot 9 for 27 or does he shoot 4 for 14 with 14 assist...and shut down defense... im thinking after 10 years in the NBA its hard to change your colors
i think it was morey who addressed this before by saying something to the affect of "we are able to build big leads, which not many teams can do, the problem is getting compaicent with these leads." and that adelman would "make some changes to his rest patterns in order to keep yao and mac fresh late in the 4th" so far it's been working. the rockets are actually closing out teams. they are even jumping out to a lead early. in the words of the great hakeem the dream "we must foccas."
I agree 100%. If you're looking for signs of hope though T-Mac has been looking pretty good over the streak in terms of sharing the ball and getting his teammates involved.
I agree, but lets be honest, are they really elite? They are on the 11 W streak and playing great but they're still out of some bigger playoff picture. I know they're 7th but teams prove in the playoffs, by the end of the day, those max 7 games are all that matters.
good question. are they really elite? not by past success. not by current seeding. not until this 20-3 streak. however, being only 3 games out of first place this late into the season is pretty freaking good. and although they may have just put thier hat in the ring for all of this elite talk... just a few more wins from us and a few more losses from them and he have HC in the west, possibly even 1st seed. i don't think we're elite yet. i think we are on the right track, and almost there.
I'll go on by saying this guys, we sweep the rest of this homestand and we have something really special going on here ... We then beat Dallas there and then, sting the bees AGAIN, we would be up to 18 in a row! That would SERIOUSLY mean that IMO we are an absolute DEFINITE playoff contender and at least have to be put into the elite 2 or 3 in the Conference as favorites to go to the Finals! If the Leprechauns come to town and we STILL haven't lost ... oh man, katy bar the door because the sky's the limit with this team! I cannot believe how far this team has come in such a little period of time. Say what you want but, Adelman's a freakin genius! Man, does it feel good to be a rockets fan or what? BTW, went to the game last night and Bobby looked good out there! Crowd gave him a nice ovation when he came in, shot free throws, hit a 3 ball and then, gave him a standing O when he went to the bench. The fans here are starting to believe, it's starting to happen ... IMO a virtual tsunami of support is coming from the space city. People here a re legitimately getting excited.
lol for real! You have to win as a team and for the first time in a while you have teammates getting their own shots and contributing. The 'save us Yao/T-Mac mentality its almost gone.
