Even though it is only the preseason I am wondering if we have done enough to this roster so we can ride out an injury to T-Mac or Yao. I think the Rockets are a 53-54 win (65% winning pct.) team in their current healthy state. Maybe if we get some really good chemistry going then something special could happen and we win the west, but that's a bit of a stretch. Anyhow, just trying to establish a top line and bottom line of where I think the Rockets should be when healthy. Obviously if both go down we are screwed, but if we lose one how do yall think we can do? I think we can maintain .500 for a 20 game stretch if either goes down. I'll post a poll so you can choose multiple answers for the records if we lose T-Mac or Yao. [knocks on wood]
i think they will do better then last year if Mac or Yao go down, but we need both of them if we're going to make any noise in the West
Both need to stay healthy. But since we got some depth at guard, and none at bigman, id say if yao goes down we are going to be done for. There is not going to be any inside threat for us
Heartily disagree. We have a small-ball lineup that is as potent as any in this league. AND we do have a 2nd low post threat (in case you've forgotten, his name is Bonzi). All we need is someone to crash the boards effectively, and that's where Chuck Hayes and Deke step in. This team can run and gun with the best of them, even without Yao. That's depth.
If we are efficient offensively, I don't see why we can't do very well with Tmac or Yao out. If just one of them are in we have someone who commands a double, plus both are good passers. Find the open man and they hit an open jumper. Last year, our players couldn't hit the open J but this is, atleast the way it has been looking in preseason, our shooters are money. Plus, in terms of depth, we are a totally different team then last year. If we don't have injury problems and we gel, our team is going to win it all this year. Even with injuries, we are a very formidable team. We have role players, better defenders, a more athletic team, a great shooting team, speed. We have it all with this team folks, just hope the injury bug doesn't get us. Last but not least, Tmac has something to prove, and Yao will be better then he was the 2nd half of last season I think.
It's looking more and more like some of the players we had last year that were had significant minutes would have a hard time cracking this roster. Lets look at the roster with out Yao or T-Mac. Alston Wells Battier Hayes JHo reserves: Snyder, Head, Novak, V-span, Padgett, JLIII That team can compete and maybe win some as well. I think that is a pretty decent group of players that can score and play defense. All that team is missing is a true superstar...or two Of course it all has to play out on the court but I think this years team is very deep and very versital. At least on paper it looks like we can hold out if the injury bug should strike. Add either Yao or T-Mac in place of JHo and it looks like a solid playoff team. Add both Yao and T-Mac and I think we have a lot to cheer for this year...at least on paper and from early pre-season results.
the roster this year is far better equiped to ride out an injury to either, but if BOTH go down again than we are a 500 team at best.
i picked both tmac and yao giong down we'll be under .500. but if we had to lose one i'd rather it be tmac (hopefully for not a long period of time) b/c we got bonzi and battier.....if yao got hurt, we got chuck hayes and mutombo...you do the math
but you gotta think about how much attention tmac and yao draws from the defense...thats what makes these guys better...none of them can take anyone on one on one coverage.
I think you have a low ball estimate, particularly if Bonzi and Snyder assimilates well, and it is already looking good for Snyder. If the whole team is together and healthy, on paper this is a 60 win club. I think we are a 50 win team if everyone else is healthy EXCEPT Tmac. Wells/Battier/Snyder/Novak are no replacement of Tmac, but these newcomers are lightyears better as a group in picking up slack. Assuming Yao continues his last years healthy form, the team could be real good even w/o Tmac. We are in much lesser position to sustain a loss to Yao. Deke/Howard/Hayes under the most optimistic scenario can't cover for Yao's loss like we might for Tmac. We could still be a playoff team without Yao, but definetly last tier. Correct, after I wrote my post I saw what you wrote more succinctly. 100% agree.
I agree with you 100%, I don't want to be overly excited about this team prematurely but I think a lot of people are really understating the potency and talent of this team. We will win 55 or more games easily this season, book it. This team is poised for a great year, we have all the pieces in place.
We will still be above 50 as long as YAO is OK regardless of TMAC's health condition as long as BONZI and Battier are healthy playing.
