[CHRONIC] T-Mac, Artest keep it interesting for Rockets

The TEAM will be better in the playoffs with RON
and
they will make it to the 2nd round

Rocket River

 

Well it's one of the qualities that most leaders have. They are usually the ones taking most of the shots. They demand the ball when the team needs a basket.
Artest can change of the flow of the opponents at times and so can Yao but they don't really do it consistently. Yao's defense isn't as strong as fans make it out to be. He doesn't secure rebounds well and he's turnover prone at times.

 

yes if they play denver.

 

during dream's prime years and we were winning, he averaged 21-22 shots during the reg. season. in the 2 playoff years where we won championships, he averaged 24 and 26 shots. so no, dream WANTED it.

in dunca's prime years, he averaged 17-18 shots consistently.

you're right. leading doesn't mean leading with words and being vocal. that's not a must. what is a must is when your team needs a bucket, your best player gets the ball and makes the plays 99% of the time (well, unless you're shaq and it's 2 minutes to go and they resort to the hack-a-shaq). it's so damn hard for yao to get the ball and he really can't tell the guards to give him the damn ball.

 

haha. a typical tmac diehard fan response.

 

besides denver, and possibly portland, are you saying we can beat other teams in a 7 game series? im realistic.

and have some substance in your post please

 

There's always a chance man! Remember what the Warriors did to the Mavericks? Denver would be ideal team for the Rockets to play but they could beat others as well.

 

warriors WANTED the mavericks. big difference.

 

So are you saying that even if the Rockets get homecourt advantage against a team besides playing against Denver they will have no chance of winning?
I don't think the Hornets, Mavs, and Trailblazers are that tough. Utah probably because they got Yao's number.

 

I agree, other than LAL and SAS i'm not afraid of none of those teams besides Utah because of recent history.

Hornets, Mavs, Blazers, Nugs, bring em on.

 

You can say the same thing about Yao and he's been here longer....

Not dissing Yao, I just think Tracy worked here 4 years by himself waiting until Yao developed and now that Yao is unstoppable, McGrady's body finally gave up on him.

I enjoyed T-mac when he was at his best here, even with the TEAM'S playoff hump.

I really think this team can contend if all 3 of them are healthy, plus one year of experience under Brooks belt...

This could be good next year. Don't think anyone will trade Tmac is he is playing at a high level, even if his trade value rises. I don't know about you but there are few players better than Tmac if he plays at the level he did in that win streak....He was MVP talk this time of year last season..

 

i said we can beat denver with or without homecourt. (i totally forgot about dallas--well they suck--so yes, add them here)
i said we can beat portland with homecourt.

new orleans is a toughie for me b/c chris paul can elevate his game to another level in the playoffs.

like i said, our best chance is to play denver. after that, it's v. portland and dalls with homecourt. that's all i'm saying (for a GUARANTEE to go to the 2nd round)

 

That's last post is if the surgery/rehab goes well as planed and he reaches somewhat elite status again.

Which I find very possible.

 

I'd rather play Paul than Nowitzki and the rocket killer.

 

All I have to say is that artest is a bigger ballhogger than Tmac. Tmac when he hogs the ball can find his teammates for good shots as well as shoot himself while artest when he is hogging will only look to get his shot up.

There is no effing way artest is better than last years Mcgrady.

 

Well he is a lot better on defense but he is a lot worse on offense....so....

DD

 

not to mention the difference in competitiveness and effort.. one's here and there.. and the other's a constant..

 

Specific players aside, lazy defense annoys me much less than some of the poor offensive possessions we've begun to see.

 

McGradys defense was TERRIFIC last year in the playoffs. I believe he was averaging 2 steals and 2 blocks a game. I remember all those blocks he had on Boozer and Okur. You have to admit, McGrady tried his ass off last years playoffs.

 

It's not the same team without Mutombo.