http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/pgStory?contentId=9695122#sport=NBA&photo=9695094 Houston Rockets Why they'll beat the Lakers: They gave L.A. all it could handle in the Western Conference semifinals, even without Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming (after Game 3). Aaron Brooks, like Tony Parker and all fast PGs, is a tough matchup for the Lakers, while Luis Scola and Carl Landry are scrappy bangers who tend to outhustle Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Shane Battier guards Kobe as well as anyone. If Yao, Ron Artest and T-Mac return healthy, the Rockets will have as much firepower as any team in the league. Why they won't: If Yao, Artest and T-Mac return healthy?! Yeah, right. Even if his knee is OK (a huge if), McGrady seems to have worn out his welcome in Houston, which will try to unload him and his monster contract in the offseason. Artest also is a good bet to leave as a free agent. And given Yao's lack of durability, there's no good reason to think one of the Rockets' stars, much less all three, will still be around come next year's playoffs.
Artest will stay but the question is can He play alongside Tmac or Will Tmac be traded for pieces to win a championship. Artest's best place to stay is Houston both financially and chances in winning the title.
The Rockets showed how they can beat the champions. This without their two best players. They should be considered as # 1 in terms of challenging for the Title when it comes to head to head competition. The Rockets have the tools. It is simply applying its game plan with a complete line up.
Amazing how that they still have us at #6..Lakers pretty much wiped Magic out and they're at #2. Huh..
Just another Celtic-loving writer. I think Boston had their only shot these past two years, and they got one. Their big three are getting old fast, although Pierce is still pretty good. Perkins and Davis are way overrated, so Rondo won't do it alone. Rockets should definitely be in top 3 on that list. We are way better than Cleveland and Orlando.
Agree, But if they do stay healthy, ( relatively healthy, at least 70 games and the whole playoff series ) The Rockets could possibly be the best team to dethrone the Champs.
Exaggerate much? Of course, Tmac will be gone and maybe even Ron but to make it sound as if it is a foregone conclusion that the Rockets will enter the 2010 without any of their superstars is ridiculous. Tracy's contract is going to bring back some very good talent and if somehow Ron leaves that frees up even more money to bring in quality talent. I guess Yao could be injured and Tracy and Ron could be gone making the author technically correct but the author came across like the Rockets will likely enter next year's playoffs without ANY star players and that is very, very, very unlikely. What IS likely is that the Rockets will be in next year's playoffs with more talent than they had this season.
The best teacher is experience. The success last playoffs would only strengthen the young guys. Hoping they do learn from it.
Rockets should at least be top 3. The Blazers before the Rockets? Are you kidding me? So I guess pushing the Lakers to game 7 isn't as big of a deal as making it to WCF.. even though the Rockets are the only team to do it.
The Lakers clearly beat both healthy Denver and Orlando teams We beat a healthy Blazers team The Lakers needed game 7 to beat us without our all-star and backup center who missed the whole series and our other all star who missed tha latter part of the series So we should be the number 1 contender or behind Boston and Cleveland at worst
Realistically, only the Rockets and Celtics can do it. That team is soo bloated with talent, I'm not sure someone from the outside can destroy it anymore. Kobe's attitude will implode the team, book it.
It makes me pretty mad the rockets are not higher than other teams to beat the Lakers, they basically put Denver ahead of us, are you kidding me?
I hate these list, how is Denver and Orlando over us, when they couldn't beat the same team two times with a full roster.
I like how you guys care. The entire Houston team has said that they absolutely EMBRACE the underdog role. Isn't it about time the posters on this site do also?
