Thanks Clutch. I like how the end of the season doesn't feature as much competition as the beginning. (They're setting us up for another 22 game winning streak) We play the Fakers four times though!
FEARLESS PREDICTION: looking at that 5 game opening stretch, i'm putting down money that "RACE FOR THE BALLS 2010" gets underway at an unprecedentedly early date of November 5. side bet: the ratio of hits from china : threads with the key term 'john wall' in the title will decidedly have shifted by this point.
12/5: a Saturday, my birthday, and the Rockets play in Portland. For once, Mrs. rimrocker will know what to get me...
Good work Clutch. I like schedules with the brutal stretch front-loaded. If we come out of that and are still within striking distance, we can actually make a push for the playoffs. Of course, if we get clobbered, tanking the easy part of the schedule will be harder to do, unless morale has completely cratered.
thanks for posting this clutch. and thanks for deleting the other thread with the random trade speculation. i was about to start internet raging
It's logical. But it's not out of the realm of possibility we climb to .500 after that before another descent. I agree that it's a superstar league, but the depleted team we have now is just not garden-variety of role players. That 22 game win streak two seasons ago really informed me, and the Laker's series (with Artest playing terribly) confirmed my belief that the core of our team is different. Adelman said as much, and we here are just too depressed to appreciate what we do have. I'll wait a long while before I count these guys out. Apolgies to The Cabbage.
Exactly. This is a team unlike many in the league. I'm not expecting great things; but I'm expecting us to be competitive.
How do you know bro... With the roster we have know it would be difficult to make the playoffs, maybe DM have something up his sleeve when the season starts
Thanks for posting, Clutch. Damn....6/9 on the road to close out the season. If we're able to stick around and compete for a playoff spot, that certainly doesn't help.
Exactly, and here's why: Scenario A: The Rockets' Front office don't make anymore moves, and go into the season with a starting lineup of Brooks, Battier, Ariza, Scola, Anderson, that's a lineup that'll give up points only seen on video games....Resulting in a 20, more likely 30 win season, which in turn will not attract a Dwayne Wade, or a Chris Bosh, if they cannot win at least 35 or 40 games... Scenario B: Rockets try again to unload McGrady, or unload Battier, which is the more likely choice because Battier simply cannot stop this team from being a lottery pick....Ideal scenario would be to trade Battier for Rudy/Outlaw, or anything that will help the team get younger, and more athletic. Then, try and unload McGrady at the deadline, but ONLY for expirings and/or young players that can immediately contribute. Then, once free agency hits, a core of Brooks, Landry, Ariza, Lowry, Scola, possibly Wafer, Budinger, Anderson, healthy Yao, and possibly Fernandez and Outlaw
