With Swift and DA the Dallas series would've been over in 5, and honestly it could've been over in 5 or 6 with a few calls here and there.(Finley out of bounds and other plays)
Talk about an overrreaction to one game, a game SEVEN (meaning we beat them 3 times already). We didn't have a legit NBA 4 on the playoff roster, we had Tmac playing the PF for crying out load. We had to play 4 guards largely over 3 positions, two of whom were injured/burned and two of them playing undersized/out of position out. The Mavs wouldn't have lasted past 6 if we even had JH. Now you add Swift (we have two legit PFs) and another legit vet guard in DA who should help all the guards stay fresh, the Mavs would be lucky to make 5, 6 at the most. Assuming reasonable health (we can afford to lose any player except Tmac and Yao), no question it is a two horse race in the West.
that was one game. you're gonna base your opinion entirely on ONE GAME???? and how does a 25 year old Swift and 30 year old DA not make us more athletic and younger??? and we destroyed the Suns the last year! how in the world are we still "far away" from those teams??? lemme guess, you've never actually watched a real basketball game, have you?
did you actually watch the Phoenix games in which we apparently "destroyed" them in last year? We went 2-2 against them..and it woulda been 1-3 if hunter doesn't blow that dunk at the buzzer. Vince Carter is right...we're still nowhere near SA, Phoenix, Miami, Detroit.
2-2 split with the Suns last year. Rockets add: Stromile Swift Derek Anderson Rockets lose: Clarence Weatherspoon Scott Padgett Suns add: Kurt Thomas Raja Bell Brian Grant Borias Diaw Suns lose: Joe Johnson Quinton Richardson Walter McCarty (FA) ---- I'd say we're on their level now, if not better.
I still think Amare + Nash + Marion + their unlimited sources of energy is better than any combination we can throw out on the court.
You certainly can make an argument for that, I suppose. But to say were "nowhere near" is just silly. Go away, Debbie Downer. You're spoiling our love-fest.
So, contracts and ages aside, in regards to the upcoming season, would you actually trade TMac, Yao, and Swift for those three if you wanted to win a championship in 2006??
Does anyone have espn insider? They have Stro's beautiful mug in the front page of the nba section in espn with a story about how the west has made moves to try to beat SA. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/index http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/colu...mns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&id=2140143
Well you're thinking wrong. Yao basically nuetalizes Amare. Amare can't play his over-the-rim or bump-him-off game with Yao. Take a look at Amare's season averages and then compare them to his averages against just Yao. I haven't added it up but I'm pretty certain it is significant. Marion. TMac can play him straight up just fine. Nash. Now we have DA or Mike James that can keep up...that is if Sura and Wesley get too tired. I'm not worred about that suns. They're tough but if Houston controls the pace of the game, the Suns have no answer for the Rox's half-court abilities.
You have to be kidding me. Deke practically shut down the Suns all by himself in a game last year. And you take away the 3s that Q-rich and Johnson buried in our first game against them and we win that one too. Frankly I'm not afraid of anybody. I think we can matchup against any team in the league. It's just a matter of whether we have enough poise and experience to perform in the playoffs.
You didn't see us win twice in Phoenix last year? We beat the stuffing out of them late in the first game and came back from 14 down in the 3rd quarter to win the second game. We have improved and they are worse than last year. If the Suns learn to play consistent team defense, I'll reconsider. I will also reconsider if it snows here in the summertime. Which is more likely? The Suns magic ride is over. I don't consider them a Finals contender. My concerns are the Spurs, Nuggets and Mavs. If we don't win the West, it will be one of these 3 teams.
I agree that the Suns ride is over. I'm not too worried about Dallas or Denver (San Antonio will still be tough). This season will see a lot more strength in the East, though. Miami, Cleveland, New Jersey, Milwaukee, and Indiana all will be a LOT tougher (maybe even Chicago and Atlanta).
The Suns ride...man it lasted one season and the team just gets dismembered..i mean seriously i haven't seen a one hit wonder in the league for a long time.
Derek Anderson: Headed to Houston? RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com Monday, August 22, 2005 Update: Anderson's agent, Tony Dutt, says his client plans to sign a two-year contract with the Rockets, Houston television station KLTV is reporting. Recommendation: The second year of the deal is at Anderson's option Not sure if posted, but here it is!
