I am as excited as anyone on this board, but all these predictions of a Spurs vs. Rockets WC Finals are DISTRACTIVE! Now we have predictiions of an All-Gundy Finals. That's just crazy at this point. The Rockets have just lost their starting PF, still have a killer schedule, and a lot could happen, both good and bad. Just because the media is "onboard" doesn't mean a thing. The team has to "earn it." I don't like being instantly thrust into the "favorite's" position. I liked the underdog role. Now everybody is going to be gunning for the Rockets. As Ming would say, it is just more pressure. The Rockets must believe, but it is far too early to begin celebrations. Stay humble, stay hungry. The Rockets haven't even won a playoff series in years.
Then, we are not bball fans anymore. You are supposed to be higher when the team wins, fall lower when lose.
I think it's healthy for the team to be setting a championship as its goal this season and we're seeing the results when they approach every game with that mindset. This is not an excitable, immature team. They know what it takes to win, and they're getting it done at the moment. Sure, all the hype is bordering on silly at this point. Even Chad Ford gave us props! But I seriously doubt any of the media talk or the prattling on this bbs will affect the players in any way. NBA players deal with hype every day, and this team in particular is quite well-adjusted to it. If anything, I think this team needs some pride on the line. Pride and desire, if not expectations.
The game tonight will tell us a great deal as to whether or not the team is too into the hype. A loss to the Blazers would be disastrous. I like the swagger, but you have to keep bringing it every game. If you are a champion, you will play like a champion consistently. I believe, but the current euphoria is expanding beyond all boundaries of reason.
To quote Undercover Brother. SOLID! There is a big danger of over expectation here and there are still manythings to watch out for. The biggest concern is the physical condition of our players. We are the oldest team and as we get to the stretch run and the playoffs how long are these older players going to be able to keep going at this level? We already saw what happened when Sura went down. What will happen if Mutumbo and some other player goes down? OTOH I'm less concerned about the mental condition of this team I think the veterans can handle the pressure and expectations well further I think one of JVG's strength is keeping teams focused. Its great right now and I'm lovin it as much as an actor in a McDonald's ad but lets not get carried away. Yet.
I agree. I think there has been too much "championship" talk by the players and not enough "taking it one game at a time" talk. The only thing the players should be worried about is the next game. It's not a good idea to think too far ahead. That's what championship teams like the Spurs and Piston do. They take things one game at a time.
Hey, the TEAM shouldn't get all excited about the recent road success, but there's no reason we FANS can't sing a little praise. Beating the best of the West (minus San Anton') all in a row is a pretty sweet accomplishment. Don't take that away from us! We're still on cloud nine here!
From the pundits, keep in mind that they just want to look good after the season is over. They want to be able to say "I told you they could do it" if the Rox hit the longshot and make the WCF or NBAF. Totally understandable. From the Rox fans, it is even more understandable. We have had two of the best winning streaks in years over the past month and a half, including a four game West coast trip that would have been unfathomable before January of 2005. If some of us are excited about our team, then (in the immortal words of Steve Martin) EXCUUUUUUUSE ME! Who was at best the fourth option as far as scoring. It's not like we just lost Elton Brand or Tim Duncan for 4 weeks. His loss will make things more difficult, to be certain, but I don't think JH's absence will impact the team anywhere near the way Sura's loss did. After this last road trip, the schedule is a lot less "killer." We have a 4 game road trip later this month (against NO, SA, Utah, and Portland) and a five game trip next month (GS, LA, Pho, Sea, Mem). That second road trip will definitely be a bear, but our schedule, particularly for the next two weeks, is not exactly "killer." I don't think you will find anyone who isn't a die-hard Rox fan that will claim that the Rox are the "favorites" to go to, much less win, the Finals. Personally, I WANT everyone gunning for the Rox. That is the only thing that will help us to prepare for the playoffs. Who has begun anything even remotely approaching a "celebration?" The most exciting thing about this team is that they appear to be starting to believe that they can compete with anyone in the league. TMac has never been described as "humble" in his entire career, yet when he talks (even in private to Grant Hill apparently), he talks about "competing for a championship." He isn't guaranteeing victory, he isn't making outrageous predictions, he is just starting to believe. The Rox that are going to the playoffs this year haven't ever been to the playoffs before, save Yao. This is an entirely new team that is beginning to find its way and is starting to understand that if they play the way JVG wants them to, they can beat anyone in the league at home or on the road. Do I think that the Rox are realistically going to the Finals? Honestly, no. I think they will make a heck of a run in the playoffs and I further believe that they can compete with anyone in the West in the playoffs. There is certainly an outside chance that if they play the way they have over the past ten days, they could make it that far, which is more exciting to me than I would be if WE were in San Antonio's sneakers. All that being said... I BELIEVE YET AGAIN, BABY!!!!!
Well, if you guys want a party pooper, I will provide it JVG said earlier today that he didn't at all like the "level of intensity" the players showed during practice today, and he worries about the Rockets getting overconfident after winning that road trip and then having a mental let-down coming back home. He doesn't want them to relax, he wants them to be intense like they were during the road trip, and he sees he clearly did not see that during practice earlier today. So there
I was besides myself about the undefeated road trip, absolutely ecstatic. I actually believe that they could reach the finals, BUT, you have to play every game. I have seen teams get stars in their eyes and fall flat. Talking is easy, you still have to win games and Portland is here tonight. And I repeat; stay humble, stay hungry.
We've been on a 5 game winning streak against the hardest teams in the league, it's going to end sometime. But one loss to the Blazers isn't the end of the world.
If slightly above average and slightly undersized power foward like SAR lights us up for 30 or 40, it is.
was that on 610 or something? i cant say i like hearing that, but as someone said earlier, this win streak is gonna end sometime. will it be to the blazers? i hope not, but you never know. i mean, seriuosly...... the Rockets are kicking ass right now, and we all know it but, let's remained focused on the rest of our games. i hate to throw cliches, but we need to take it one game at a time. and personally, i like being the underdog much more than being the favorite. i'm really curious as to how our 4's produce tonight, and how they're utilized...... maybe we'll even have a Vin Baker sighting.
