You guys are nuts if you think we are better than the Suns. They have had their two stars miss more games than our big two have and they still have a much better, in fact the best record in the league. Historically regular season record is the best predictor of playoff success. Is it all the matters, no, but you can be sure the Suns will be among the 3-4 favored teams. The Suns will be co-favs with the Spurs (if TD is back and 85% or more) to win the West. They are a very tough team to match-up with and beat us (and most all team they face) in the 3 of the 5 spots. Yao is our only major advantage b/c Marion/Johnson/Q are good players to make Tmac work on both ends. Now if we get healthy (Howard back) and our guards are shooting, we can play with and maybe beat the Suns in a series. This is not a knock on the Suns though, we can give the Spurs and Heat fits too. We got to get healthy and peak though (IF, IF), or as we have seen the last 5 quarters, we can be a crappy team.
I believe we're a better team. Just imagine this: Suns without Nash vs. Rockets without just TMac or Yao Guess who's gonna win? I think Rockets will win.
I'm starting to believe that a rockets team without Yao is a team that won't win any games in the playoffs...
I think we are a better team than the Suns since our strengths -(defense, legit center) are their weaknesses--- (weak defense and weak inside game.) They have a better record than us because very few teams have a legit post threat and they just run the rest of the league to death. Our shots were just not falling tonight, and they probably could have given Yao more touches since he shot almost 60% while the others were shooting in the 20% range...
Exactly my point... The Rockets are just WAYYYY too old to be successful and able to maintain their energy level throughout the grueling season (not to mention the playoffs). The problem is, many people think the Rockets are "set" for the most part, and just need to plug in a few holes. But that is completely untrue! Ponder these questions for a minute: 1) Will Deke be relied on for the next few years as the primary backup for Yao? (because we all know Yao's backup will inevitably get a lot of minutes) 2) Do we SERIOUSLY consider JB and DW and even Sura (unless he recovers completely) as our primary guards in the future that will help this team win it all? 3) Whom can/will we get at the PF spot that will address our problems (I frankly don't see anyone on the market this off-season that will be able to address all of our shortages at the PF spot) My opinion? Our ultimate model must be the Spurs. Who are their primary players? They have Duncan (a relatively young star), Parker (a very young and upcoming star), and Manu freakin' Genobili (a star in his own right who is VERY young as well). That way, the Spurs are able to combine a dominant big man (who is experienced and relatively young) with a dynamic, quick, speedy, and dominant backcourt combo in Parker and Geno. In my opinion, the Rockets will have to somehow match what the Spurs have done. We have Yao as a big man (check), we have T-Mac as a SF (check), but then our backcourt (if you have noticed) are too old/injury-riddled and are just not going to be able to keep up with the Sonics, Spurs, or Suns as far as their backcourts are concerned. That is just MHO.
We were better last game and we were worse this game. Who knows next time. We need Tmac and Yao and scrubs operate at 100% to beat the Suns. They probably just need to operate at 80% to beat us. Yeah we are better with a smaller magin of errors to operate on.
I didnt watch the game, but I am more concerned about Yao's injure than the loss. Can anyone give me an update on that ?
The suns are definitely a good team. As much as I don't like saying it, I think they are a better team than the Rockets. Yao is the only advantage we have over them. Tmac gets crossed out with the combo of Marion/JJ... They have a huge advantage at the point guard position... In a 7 game series, I don't think we can beat them. We just can't at this point, unless we can get a point guard to can control the tempo of the game. We're trying to beat them at their game, and we'll lose almost every single time.
okay thats like saying we are better than the spurs without duncan so you cant compare teams without certain players because those same players are what makes those teams what they are.
That's fine, I guess I have to accept the fact that we're just old (which is the unfortunate truth). I wish we can take that MOLD of the ROCKETS of that magnificent ROAD TRIP and take it into the playoffs, how great will that be. On another note, check this out: All I'm saying is why do you people have to tip your hats off to teams like the MAVS and SUNS?? I have no respect for those teams and I know for a fact they will NEVER win a championship. THose are all teams built for the regular season but come playoff time, teams like the ROCKETS and SPURS and PISTONS will shine. The ROckets despite their inconsistency and blah blah, are still the better team and we have the right pieces. That's why it's more the frustrating for me whenever they lose.
Not sure which one you wanna know. His chin got hit by Hunter's elbow, need some stiches probably. He was also limping after falling for loose ball down the end.
What the heck are you talking about we're trying to beat the SUNS at their game? We held them well below their average. Our defense was pretty good tonight. Shots just didn't drop for us....and like many have said tonight, you can attribute that to age, health, whatever.
Seeing Amare jumping up and down about a foul being called on him, just made me think of how much of a whiner he can be. The replay showed that he obviously pulled Yao to get around him, but he jumps into hysterics at the ref anyway. Someone should make a video.
So bottom line no one truly thinks the Rockets will do well in the playoffs correct? And also, does anyone have faith that we can STILL build young solid talent around yao and tmac?
What the F### you are talking about? Hunter played 24 minutes. So they together played 51 minutes, and Yao played only 33 minutes. What the H*** is your logic? Are you N***?
LOL! I know, I see people are trying to twist it anyway they can to make the Rockets look better. We are not an inferior team IF we are at the top of our game and are 100% healthy. However, with the season winding down and since we are old and they are not, they are a better team. I don't get scared by the Suns, but they do have better all-around talent than the Rockets do, I think if they try to get a defensive big man (Center) to move Amare back to his natural position at PF, they will be that much more dangerous, and then will become even more of a threat to the likes of the Spurs. The Rockets problem at this point is clear: injuries, and age. And we are getting "unhealthy" at the wrong, wrong time. That usually doesn't mean good things for our team come playoff time
