[ESPN: The Magazine] The Mag's Western Conference Preview (Rockets)

burnshroom · Oct 22, 2009

As always lock if posted elsewhere...

This story appears in the Nov. 2 issue of ESPN The Magazine.

This NBA season hinges on the kind of bonds the contenders concoct in the lab -- or at least on the court. But if chemistry were the only subject that mattered, the Spurs would be working on one for the thumb -- the second thumb. So we're taking a look at how each of the 30 NBA clubs fares in a variety of subjects: Chemistry, yes, but also Biology, because trainers countrywide will be working overtime to ready hobbled or aging stars; Economics, because salary caps and team finances are as formidable an opponent as Dwight Howard in the paint; History, because what has happened before has happened for a reason; and Math, because, the numbers -- well, ESPN Insider John Hollinger's anyway -- never lie. Our report cards are tough but fair. And before you tell us that the overall mark doesn't add up -- c'mon, haven't you heard of grading on a curve?

6. Houston Rockets

Getty Images
Tracy McGrady

BIOLOGY — C-minus
Down a couple of go-to scorers -- Artest and Yao -- the Rockets have plans to push the tempo to get their points. But how is Tracy McGrady going to do that? He wasn't fit enough to be a fast-break threat before his knee woes. If he's actually faster and fitter after microfracture surgery -- and missing camp -- it'll be a miracle.

CHEMISTRY — A-minus
Doubts about their ability to win without T-Mac or Yao have galvanized this team in the past. No reason to think it won't again.

ECONOMICS — B
The Rockets are hopelessly over the salary cap this season. But they can dream of next summer, when nearly $40 million could fall off the books.

HISTORY — A
In 18 seasons of work, coach Rick Adelman has failed to make the playoffs only twice -- his two years with the Warriors.

MATH — A
GM Daryl Morey always aces this subject. Latest example: Minus Yao, sixth-man-bargain Carl Landry averaged 17.4 points per 40 minutes on 57.4 percent shooting.

OVERALL GRADE: B-minus
Click to expand...

hasan08 · Oct 22, 2009

pOst link plse

burnshroom · Oct 22, 2009

hasan08 said:

pOst link plse
Click to expand...

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?id=4583380

Here is link but have to be a subscriber to ESPN Insider to view.

jdh008 · Oct 22, 2009

For the most part, I agree with the assessment. We are going to be missing a couple of key pieces, but this team has a real chance to be better than the sum of its parts.

dragonwill · Oct 23, 2009

ESPN always a doubter even we won back to back champion back in the day.

daywalker02 · Oct 23, 2009

Biology pulled it down

dragonz · Oct 23, 2009

they analysis the bio without one part of human body --- heart

spaceage808 · Oct 23, 2009

you guys are way too hard to please. this is not that bad of an assessment.

DILLIGAF · Oct 23, 2009

S.I. has us finishing 12th in the West!

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[ESPN: The Magazine] The Mag's Western Conference Preview (Rockets)

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