http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/index.html there we are at #19..but saying we have no chance for the playoffs is a little harsh. we lose to sac in the last 30 secs, we beat new york. we have had a tough schedule, i mean given all those factors it seems to me to say that is a reach. we are weak inside, but to say we definately wont make the playoffs is BS. i hate espn, and yet i will continue to go there for some reason ------------------ "Man, it's cool. I'm going to be president. That's Wicked." -George W. Bush, SNL
Everybody please reply to them at the bottom of the page. I did, but I think I might have been a little too hostile. Seriously though, we have dealt with injury after injury, and distraction after distraction. We've gone through the toughest part of our schedule already. We are getting healthier at the same time the schedule is getting weaker. And we are I believe 3 games out of that 8th spot right now. You can't tell me with a healthy team, easier schedule, and player growth that over the last 42 games we can't make up 3 on teams like Denver, Phoenix, San Antonio, etc. who have yet to face the adversity in their season like we have. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
What's new? The Rockets never get any kind of respect or understanding from the media. Why should that be any different now? The more I look at the schedule, the more I think about postseason. F*ck espn, sportsline, and the sporting news. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
wow...for once I agree with ZRB. I want to say the very same thing when I see the endless anti-Mobley threads like these anti-Rocket thread. Only a couple of word differences: "What's new? Mobley never gets any kind of respect or understanding from ZRB. Why should that be any different now? The more I look at the games, the more I think about postseason. Screw Mr. Clutch, ZRB, and the the squating Mobley hatas." [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 23, 2001).]
I alternate hating and liking Mobley by the hour. I have been hard on him, but only because I think he is capable of so much more... ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
I know what yer sayin' ZRB, it's family, you don't want anybody else knockin' 'em though. ------------------ C-son _ __________ _ !Viva La' Dream!
I'm sorry y'all will probably get pissed for me at saying this but i'm going to say the way the Rockets are playing and they way their team looks currently with all these injuries, ESPN has the right to say that we won't make playoffs. Unless I see a major trade that'll get us some really superior frontcourt presence or some nice wins right now i don't see a run for the playoffs. i'm sorry but if i were just some shmuck saw the current rockets lineup of players on the injured list and saw our record for this month i wouldn't think this team would make the play offs. BUT I AM A DIE HARD ROCKETS FAN AND I STILL HAVE HOPE FOR THIS TEAM. SO I'm STILL HOPING FOR THAT RUN ------------------ "Wahooo"-homer I'm not only a fan but I'm also the bartender at clutchcity chat For the last time I'm not Tybrave!!!!!
Well, the Rocket players are confident they can make the playoffs. Some of the forum members are confident that we can make the playoffs. I have confidence but, realistically speaking, I have to take two steps back and look at our progress. Let's face the facts, folks. Every game is a struggle. Sure, we are in most games up until the end...where we either blow it or get a miracle. It's great for moral . Some teams just flat out have our number this year...San Antonio, Sacramento, Utah, Minnesota, Denver, LA Lakers, etc.. What are we? Like 0 wins and tons of losses against these teams? We can't win home games we should win. How can we go to the playoffs when our road record is better than our home record? We also have a tendency to win one game and lose one game. If we win a few, we turn around and lose a few. Sometimes, we may win a greater than 2 games in a row but hardly ever. We never blow out teams. I can think of only one or two games where we could actually sit back and be comfortable that we were going to win this game while holding a comfortable lead. Sure, the players all believe we can go to the playoffs. That's great and I hope we do. But, they say one thing and go out on the court to play and it is a different story. When and how exactly are we going to make this run to propel us out of the basement and into the 8th seed? We can't seem to beat the teams higher than us except for maybe Dallas because we match up well with them. We come close but close is no cigar. I don't want to sound negative and I want to go to the playoffs as much as the next guy but I am a realist and I just don't see it. Now, maybe we will start rolling but when? We really need a winning streak of 5 or more games to get back in this thing while not turning around and losing 5 games to offset it. It is not unheard of but with the way we are playing at home, it might as well be. Home is supposedly where the advantage is. We all know that is not true. Denver knows its true. They win their home games. The teams going to the playoffs win most of their home games. Will somebody, taking into consideration the facts and putting your optimism aside, explain how in the hell the Rockets will make the playoffs? Even if they do, what does a first round exit buy us ? I have watched the Rockets religiously since around '80. I know when to get excited and not so excited. I take the good with the bad. I hold out hope. But, words are just that...even if they come from the Rockets. We are not playing at that next highest level the Rockets elude to in their statements. Are we waiting for the All Star Break before we kick in to overdrive? I know...it's still early...but this one win, one loss scenario better go out the window fast because that is the scoop of a .500 team....which is all we are for now. And that is not good enough to make the playoffs. At the end of the season if we don't make the playoffs, I can look back at our season and say we were in just about every game we played. That's great and makes for exciting games. But, those types of games go down to the wire and go either way as we have seen. And, unfortunately, by going either way....it makes us a .500 team and one not likely to make the playoffs. So, I ask...where is this explosion of betterness going to come from? Dream? Cato? Are we not already busting our butts out there to try to win games? How much more comfortable can we get before we make a real impact? I have lots of questions but I don't seem to have the answers....LOL. Surf ------------------
Double Post....forum didn't show my first post for several minutes so i re-posted only to find two posts later. ARGHHHH!!!!!!!!! ------------------ [This message has been edited by Surfguy (edited January 24, 2001).]
The thoughts of the players needs to be taken in stride though. Remember, last year around mid-season? They (publically) claimed they thought they had a shot at the playoffs, when they were realistically just about out of it. This time, they really do have a shot...but there is pretty much no margin for error. I also think there's good which can come out of either outcome (first round loss, or into the lottery). It's a shame they can't do things backwards, and have the eighth-seeded Rockets automatically go to the finals. They'd tear up any team from the east ------------------
The Rockets, starting tonight, will win 10 in a row. Dallas and Phoenix will falter. You heard it from me first. ------------------
It seems that the emotional events (ex. Nugs) turn things around for losing teams. Remember when Francis said he reads the "internet stuff?" Well I hope he read that piece from espn, printed it out, gathered everyone for a secret practice, and showed it to everybody. They all get mad and swear to each other that they will never lose another game. And this is what starts the 10+ game winning streak. Just like ROCKETBOOSTER said. ------------------ The best is yet to come. Go Rockets! [This message has been edited by finalsbound (edited January 24, 2001).]
Is that not the definition of a fair weather fan? ------------------ Cuttino Mobley Online [This message has been edited by FrancisFan (edited January 24, 2001).]
Just with Mobley. The Rockets still own the east, hopefully that will propel them to the playoffs. Philly is a big test. With a win tonight, the Rockets very well could get a 5 game streak going. Philly Vancouver at Charlotte Miami Clippers Followed by a loss to San Antonio then: at Philadelphia at Detroit Washington at Orlando Cleveland Boston I could see the Rockets going 10-2 with these games. 30-23 is solid position. Still, more than likely, the Rockets will go 6-6. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
I like the new, humble, optomistic ZRB a lot better... But how can we be sure that this isn't an admin just PRETENDING to be ZRB? Smells like LHUTZ..... ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Actually, ZRB is usually very optimistic and humble from my recollection. Only problem is after any Rockets loss, he goes ballistic and off the deep end until he goes to sleep that night! Then he seems fine for days until we lose a game, and then... ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
