Rockets could easily slip from No. 6 spot Question: I just have a few questions about the Rockets. Houston's next few games are on the road ... and the team is having again to deal with the chemistry issue that we saw at the beginning of the year. But now is the worst time for that. Memphis is playing better, having beaten San Antonio so I am sure their confidence is up. My questions: • Is Memphis' Paul Gasol out for the season? • Where do you think the Rockets are going to finish? I was hoping that they would finish at the five spot, but that is looking really hard with Sacramento playing well (which is really weird). • What is up with Jeff Van Gundy? He looked like he was about to fall asleep at the news conference after the Jazz game ... • Is Vin Baker is ever going to get off the bench? (The Rockets) could really use his rebounding skills, if he still has them. Alan in Houston Answer: Given their schedule the rest of the way, I would not be at all surprised to see the Rockets slip to seventh. They could be headed to eighth or worse, but the teams fighting to make the playoffs don't seem ready to make that kind of move. Paul Gasol has plantar fasciits which can be a painful injury, but it should not put him out for the season. The Griz could pass the Rockets, but it's close enough that it would not be a surprise for the Rockets to hold on to sixth. Fifth seems unlikely, and is not much of a prize anyway. The Rockets would probably be better off playing Seattle in the first round than Dallas. As for Van Gundy's expression after the game, I don't think he looked sleepy; he looked angry and disappointed. For now, Vin Baker is not in the rotation and I don't think that will change. The Rockets are second in the NBA in defensive rebounding by percentage, so they have not been weak on the defensive boards through the season, just lately. Scott Padgett has struggled recently, but I believe he will find his touch again. Padgett is not an offensive rebounder, but he has always been an energetic defensive rebounder. Also, expect Tracy McGrady and the guards to offer more help on the boards after Sunday's disaster. The Rockets might check out Vin Baker to see what they've got. But I don't think they will rush him into the rotation to solve anything. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analysis of Yao deserves careful deliberation Question: Many people have been mouthing off about Yao Ming over the years, saying being the best center in the West isn't enough and that he has to be as good or better than Shaquille O'Neal. What do you think of all these "journalists?" Diego in Houston Answer: You are obviously spoiled by the quality of journalism you receive in Houston. But more specifically, the notion that Yao be as good or better than Shaq is ridiculous. But it is easy to write about Yao. He is consistently interesting because of his unique skill set and agility for a player so tall. The easy way to write or report -- a course that as you point out many have chosen -- is to reach a conclusion with no context or nuance. In the screaming head world of journalism, it grabs more attention to shout unadulterated opinion. The current style is not to describe what a player such as Yao does well or needs to do better. Actual analysis is almost considered a sign of weakness. Better to reach a bold conclusion ignoring whatever information might get in the way. Yao gets this treatment because he is such a marketing giant, a new celebrity athlete. Because of his fame, he will be to many great or a bust, but cannot be somewhere in between. Then again, some of this is not new. I can remember when Michael Jordan was labeled a player that could never win a championship because "he doesn't make his teammates better." My favorite is before my time, when a college coach was said to be a great teacher, who "just can't win the big one." That coach -- John Wooden. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young version of Cliff Robinson would be good for Rockets Question: Why wouldn't Carroll Dawson have tried to make a move for Cliff Robinson? New Jersey got him for basically nothing ... It's hard to believe Houston couldn't match an offer better than two second round picks. And are the Rockets basically stuck with Maurice Taylor, or is there a possibility a team might be interested? FN in Toronto Answer: The Rockets have longed for Clifford Robinson since the Rudy days and he would have been a nice addition now. He would have brought the range shooting Jeff Van Gundy likes at the position and the defense he demands. But the Rockets have reached the stage that they don't want to add a fifth power forward that is not the long-term partner for Yao Ming. They have enough guys that have been around so long they remember when Michael Jordan was a crazy kid that people said would never win a championship. Also, Juwan Howard is responding well to the minutes and has been a better rebounder better than Robinson. I would agree, by the way. This is not tug-of-war. You don't win by adding bodies. The Rockets have gotten closer to building a team. Now if Robinson was 10 years younger, he might be a guy you'd want next to Yao for a decade. But with all the power forwards the Rockets have, they don't need another one unless he is the one. http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/sports/feigen/qa/index.html didnt see this posted anywhere J
Is it just me or is Feigen has became more intelligent? I remember back then I couldn't stand his writing, especially when it comes to his own opinion, but this year I actually started to like his stuffs.
Rockets, 7th?! is he joking? either that or he's stoned. I mean, come on, how much more slippage can occure!
I don't understand your outrage; the 7th spot is only one spot below where we are at, separated by one game. It's not that unreasonable.
it's insulting, its like going to a resturant and they give you chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla, ice cream is ice cream but I wouldn't settle for chocolate, I want vanilla, even though it's only one flavor over!
what? it's merely a forcast, not a choice. The analysis that the rockets may fall to the 7th seed is "insulting." Yeah, Feigen is "stoned" because he wrote that there is a possibility that the Rockets may get the 7th seed. So insulting, like getting chocalate.
I think it is interesting how, on one hand, hall-of-famers such as Bill Russell & Bill Walton, etc are already penciling Yao in as the next great center (even comparing him to Kareem) but, on the other hand, the media has started to label him a dissapointment or a player who will just be good but not great.
"Yao won't be any of those. His game is very similar to that of Damon Stoudamire. I predict that Yao, if used properly, can be the best PG ever in the game. However, JVG doesnt know it, and Yao will be the biggest disappointing cashcow as a center." --- I predict in a year or so, some journalist will write something like this.
I believe that the Mike James trade pushed us up to the next level. We are now a top-quality team. I don't think we're gonna drop to 7th. I think we're gonna move up to 3rd. Yes, 3rd. -- droxford
So your saying we will pass the Spurs and win the division. Not likely (infact almost impossible). Our goal should be to hold on to the 6th seed and get a first round matchup with the Sonics.
The Rockets are going to try to win everygame they can. You don't start setting goals to face a certain team. Thats weak. They're going to try to win everygame they have left this season, playoff matchups be damned.
If we could pass the Spurs, we would probably be first or second. It's almost impossible for us to end up third, unless BOTH the Spurs and the Mavs had a big meltdown.
