[gut feeling]Did you overrate the Rockets coming into this season?

I think Lowry's play is more just his health right now...the guy has his back problem and hadnt played too much in preseason because of the bruised knee.

First game back he goes to the bucket and probably gets drilled into the ground be Melo with no call..a few stitches later he is back out on the court starting to shoot jumpers..


Thats bothered me about Kyle too he has been taking a lot of jumpers, he hit 2 threes last night but that would be foolish to believe that he has developed any sort of jumper though. I think after he gets another 2 week's worth of games into his conditioning and his health he should be back to his old self. He spent the entire off season working out after he got his contract and the organization raved about how much work he put in during the summer so I dont think he is necessarily starting to slack.

If anything his play is hurting himself as right now is probably the best time for him to make a case to be the starter.

If a week or two from now he hasnt shown progress and is settling then I am with you on that line of thinking. I have had a back spasm once it was one of the most painful things ever and I got I just getting out of my car. It was hard to do a lot of day to day things let alone a sport like basketball. I think the back is effecting his jumping ability the most which is what is needed when driving.

Lets hope Kyle gets healthy ASAP it will only help the team.

 

Yeah, I mentioned that earlier and I'm hoping that's the reason behind his play. If he gets back to his form last season, he'll continue being my favorite player.

That said, injury or not, his play has still been disappointing. I understand it could be due to injury, but that doesn't really make it any more pleasurable to watch.

 

That point about the Rockets' opponents being a combined 14-3 so far is a good one. Even if you take out the games against Rockets, that record is still 10-3. A 0.77 winning percentage projects into 63 wins over an 82 game season. Enough to lead the league in many seasons, if they were a real team. It seems that the Rockets have been unlucky to face off against great opponents, or opponents who happen to be playing great right now.

Of course we can't just deflect all blame from this team. And that #30 rank in defensive efficiency is just shameful. But does anyone believe this team will be anywhere near #30 by the end of the season? After a near decade of being one of the best defensive teams in the league?

 

I actually don't think so, we haven't seen the "team" yet. Like I said before, it looks like a pick-up game out there. The Rockets never seem to get "set," they create a new team every season. Until they get some continuity going, they are not going far.

 

we're still contenders, no homer.

 

Did I overrate this team? not at all.

We rely heavily on a backcourt of defensive sieves and our star big man is coming off of a year long absence with a 24 minute cap every game. We lack a late game finisher or a playmaker. We have no superstar to carry us when things are tough and our leadership comes from role players.

I knew we would struggle.

I'm confused as to how anyone here in houston, not sippin the barre, couldn't see how this team would struggle to even be average defensively. Trying hard doesn't cut it. You need defensive talent as well as talent on offense.

 

ITS ONLY 4 DAMNED GAMES, each very winnable. If the Lakers don't rip our hearts out in the first game, we could easily be 4-0. Ask this again after 20 games.