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Compared to last years Kings: Are the Rockets better equipped to Beat the Spurs?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by thewaterox, Oct 2, 2006.

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  1. thewaterox

    thewaterox Member

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    Last year the Kings had three major players: Wells, Artest, and Bibby. They had a nice supporting cast with Brad Miller at center and Rahim at PF. Even Kevin Martin stepped up his game and gave them good production. As good as the Kings where they still couldn't get past the Spurs.

    I did watch the series and it was closer than it looks on paper because Artest went down with an ankle injury and Bibby wasn't his normal self either.

    Would the Rockets be in a better position to beat the Spurs with the addition of Wells? There are more question marks on the Rockets team, but we do have three strong players surrounded by a nice supporting cast.

    Our team focus is defense opposed to the Kings offensive focus. For this reason I'd give the Rockets a slightly better chance of beating the Spurs. Artest joined the Kings and gave them one of the best defensive players in the league, as Ginoboli found out, but I still feel the Rockets have a better defensive team.

    What do you guys think our we better equipped to beat the likes of the Spurs compared to last years Kings squad?
     
    #1 thewaterox, Oct 2, 2006
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2006
  2. Sherlock

    Sherlock Member

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    Both McGrady and Yao are in a whole other category than any players on the Kings ...
     
    #2 Sherlock, Oct 2, 2006
  3. joeguo

    joeguo Contributing Member

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    What are you talking about? Are you comparing Bibby and Artest with McGrady and Yao?
     
    #3 joeguo, Oct 2, 2006
  4. thewaterox

    thewaterox Member

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    No I'm comparing our three headed monster to the one the kings took to the playoffs and lost with last year. Keep in mind one of our heads is the same head: Bonzi Wells.
     
    #4 thewaterox, Oct 2, 2006
  5. JeopardE

    JeopardE Member

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    In today's edition of "Things that make you go hmmmm", we feature the question:

    Is New York City bigger than Pearland?
     
    #5 JeopardE, Oct 2, 2006
  6. Chuck 4

    Chuck 4 Member

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    Agreed. Artest, Bibby aren't in the same class With (healthy) Tracy and Yao. Just My Opinion.
     
    #6 Chuck 4, Oct 2, 2006
  7. vlaurelio

    vlaurelio Member

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    poll is confusing.. what are you really asking?

    is the question is rox better than last years kings?

    or

    can rox beat spurs in the playoffs this year?

    rox can be better than last years kings but dos not assure that they can beat spurs in the playoffs..

    also rox can be beaten by the spurs in the playoffs but still be better than last year's kings..
     
    #7 vlaurelio, Oct 2, 2006
  8. johnkamla

    johnkamla Member

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    Slam dunk yes. Yao-McGrady are the best inside-outside combo bar none. Artest-Bibby are both perimeter guys. Don't know if that means we can beat the Spurs but it certainly means we're better than the old Kings. Beating the Spurs is a separate issue.
     
    #8 johnkamla, Oct 2, 2006
  9. ubigred

    ubigred Member

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    you need to fix your poll....
     
    #9 ubigred, Oct 2, 2006
  10. supertruck97

    supertruck97 Member

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    Maybe I'm mistaken here, but don't we have a 4 headed monster??

    Yao-Tmac-Wells-Battier

    If you want to go player by player:

    Alston<< Bibby
    Wells=Wells
    TMac=Artest (It's pretty close)
    Battier>SAR
    Yao>>Miller

    So, by my method of Greater thans and Less Thans, it looks like we are better than last year's Kings by 1 Greater Than.....

    What does this all mean? Squat!

    Kings vs Spurs is nto a comparison for how the Rox would do against the Spurs just because there is now 1 player in common.

    Hey, lets compare the Lakers with the Heat back when Shaq and Odom were switched....Or how about the Cavs vs the Rox now that Cleveland has Wesley....

    Seriously, this comparison is way off base...
     
    #10 supertruck97, Oct 2, 2006
  11. thesaint

    thesaint Member

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    First off I think there are 3 teams that seems better than the Spurs this year including Rox. My order of best teams in West is:

    1) Suns
    2) Rox
    3) Mavs
    4) Spurs
    5) LA Clips

    Im not worried about beating Spurs this year as much as beating the Suns and Mavs.

    Spurs really did not make any major changes this season with their roster. Their bench and center position is still weak.
     
    #11 thesaint, Oct 2, 2006
  12. brantonli24

    brantonli24 Member

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    Don't underestimate the Spurs, or for that, any other team. The New Orleans Hornets gave the league a run for their money, and remember, San Antonio won 63 games last year and was seeded first in the playoffs (but they met a strong Dallas team on the way...) They might not have changed their roster, but don't count them out. Duncan and Ginobili should be healthy this year and with a smarter Tony Parker......many people seemed to have forgotten how dangerous that team is.
     
    #12 brantonli24, Oct 2, 2006
  13. thewaterox

    thewaterox Member

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    I agree NO picked up Peja and added Chandler to an already good team. Chris Paul has turned into one of the best young PGs in the game. They may be the surprise team next year.
     
    #13 thewaterox, Oct 2, 2006
  14. Xerobull

    Xerobull ...and I'm all out of bubblegum
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    The Spurs' best years are behind them. That's not to say that they aren't championship calibur, but they aren't the force they were 2-3 years ago.
     
    #14 Xerobull, Oct 2, 2006
  15. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    Ya, exactly!
     
    #15 pirc1, Oct 2, 2006
  16. Rocketeer

    Rocketeer Member

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    Sorry but T-Mac>Artest
     
    #16 Rocketeer, Oct 2, 2006
  17. Omer

    Omer Member

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    Yeah, and

    T-Mac + Yao > Artest + Bibby + Bonzi

    T-Mac + Yao + Bonzi > Sacramento Kings
     
    #17 Omer, Oct 2, 2006
  18. GATER

    GATER Member

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    You can play the "> <" game all day long but facts are facts.

    Micheal Finley is way better the anyone the Rockets bring off of the bench, Jacque Vaughn is probably steadier than JLIII, Udrih is less of a question mark than VSpan, in spite of their ages, Brent Barry, Horry, and Eric Williams add proven depth where the Rockets are depending on rookies, Padgett and Juwan, and Elson and Jackie Butler were quiet but nice pickups. Although they weren't hit as hard as the Rox, Duncan, Parker and Ginobill were slowed by nagging injuries last season.

    I hate the Spurs as much as the next poster, but they are not going to roll over and play dead. Popovic (like VG) employs a system that keeps the game close until crunch time. They'll be tough to beat. Doable...but not easy at all.
     
    #18 GATER, Oct 2, 2006
  19. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Member

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    We have to wait and see with this team because it's new. But if this team is playing like we think they're capable of and they're clicking then not only would they blast last year's Sacramento Kings, they can more then hold their own with the Spurs, and Heats and Suns of the world.
     
    #19 RocksMillenium, Oct 2, 2006
  20. solid

    solid Member

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    BB, before Bonzi, the Rockets needed some young players to grow into near AllStars in the course of the season to become a contender. NOW, AB, after Bonzi, if any of the young players surprise and show significant talent, then the Rockets are running along side the elite teams neck and neck. This combo has to click and it may take months, but I like the talent level much better than BB.
     
    #20 solid, Oct 2, 2006
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