David Aldridge: (1:24 PM ET ) I think Yao will have a solid season that gets better as the year goes on. I think he's going to struggle at first because he's bone tired. But once he gets his second wind he'll be coming on while others are flagging. If Houston makes the playoffs it'll be because Franchise has an MVP-caliber season, not because of Yao. But don't give up on the Big Fella if he struggles some this year. He's going to be very good. If I remember correctly, DA hasn't seemed that impressed with Yao in the past. Its nice to see him giving some props now!
I think the first "bad" game Ming has, all the doubters are going to have a field day. We have to be patient with the guy, after all he's just a kid. He's probably not going to average 25 and 10 his rookie year and to the uneducated fan, that means the pick was wrong. Show me a team that wouldn't have made the same pick if they had a chance. "The Franchise" is still the franchise for the moment and as Steve goes, so go the Rockets so I would agree with Aldridge. "Why don't you just make 10 louder?........Ours go to eleven!"
DA thinks the Rox can make the playoffs ONLY if Franchise has a MVP like season? I don't think so. We have a good enough team not to be carried by Francis all the time.
I don't know, I think without Francis this team goes NO WHERE. I think what DA really meant was that Francis just needs to go out there and play to the best of his abilities for the team. And would it really be a "huge" stretch of the imagination to say that Francis could be contending for MVP honors near the end of the year? 1.) He could easily avg. 22/6/9 (better than Kidd's numbers) 2.) If he really does get our team to the promised land, and at a high spot, how can people not compare him to what Kidd did last year? 3.) If MVP means that he is the most important player on the team, then he already has already shown that to us from last year. In other words, if it really takes an MVP to make it to the playoffs, then I guess that means this year Steve will be the MVP, because there is no doubt that we will be in it.
I agree with you on this bro. It took Shaq how many years to get where he's at now?...many years right (remember "the dream" used to kick his ass...)
I agree 100% with what Aldridge said in regards to the rookie wall. Ming is probably going to hit it in November. But how many times in the past have you seen a rookie (i.e., Sam Cassell) hit the wall in February, only to catch his second wind in time for the playoffs? Well if Ming's tired body starts to slow him down pretty soon here, then when February rolls around he should already be back in it just in time to help guide us over the hump that is the 9th seed.
David Aldridge: If Houston makes the playoffs it'll be because Franchise has an MVP-caliber season, not because of Yao. ----------------- Contrary is True. If not, why Rockets is looking forward to yao like he's a savor to Rockets?
Yao is not the savior, he will just be adding alot to an playoff bound team. He will be addressing our biggest weakness. Please don't be mistaken, this is still Franchise's team.
HotRocket, I'm not saying that we can go anywhere WITHOUT Francis. And I am not bashing Francis. I'm just saying that we don't need him to be the league MVP to get into the playoffs. A lot of playoff teams don't have an MVP candidate. I think our players surrounding Francis are not any worse than those teams.
I agree that the Rockets will only go as far as Francis takes them, but I also agree with those of you that don't think Steve needs to be an MVP candidate for us to make the playoffs... Man, I wish it was October 3oth! I'm more excited about this upcoming season than I have been for several years!! Go Rocks!
I think there's one analysis by columinist that Rockets won't be an Championship team until it developes into an Center-Oriential team. If it's still Franchise's team in the end of season, Rockets can go playoff, but no Championship.
Yao will be a perfect for the rockets. With Yao's ability to pass out of the paint is perfect for shooters such as Rice, Mobley, Boki and Francis. Also, Yao has soft hands which can very useful when Francis or Mobley needs some one to dish out to when they're driving and they're covered. I think if Yao just gained more muscle and becomes more explosive, I don't know how you would guard such a fellah with a shot liket that.
I disagree with you Griffinfan. I think they would still taken Yao. Yao would have brought in slower at the C. And he might have seen some time at 4 as well. In 3- 4 years when Shaq would retire, the Kobe becomes the real BIG DOG and Yao would have been his right hand.
I completely disagree with you timm. The Lakers would've liked nothing better than to take Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy, or possibly Amare Stoudamire. Any of those 3 guys on the Lakers would put them comfortably beyond the Kings' reach, if they already weren't. I do think that Phil would rather trade the pick though. he doesn't like rookies very much. Basically, he'd trade the pick for the best PG or PF available.
