Right now we are playing pretty well. We have won 12 out of our last 15 games and the 3 games that we loss we could have won but we let them slip away. As of right now I think we are a little more bang up then people think. We all know that Tracy is not at 100% but hes looking better after every game. I think Yao is still a little sick from the flu while playing out there but he won't say anything about it. I know some people might have loss some faith in this team but not me. I still believe in this team. If we are healthy I think we can beat any team come playoff time we just need to get everyone on the same page. To me a healthy Rockets team can become champs this year they just have to want it more than anyone.
i think tmac and yao still lack confidence that they can get out of the first round. that's why i think we need a favorable matchup in the playoffs (regardless if we have homecourt or not say the hornets or utah once again). hornets don't have experience and they just don't have the offensive explosion that we should fear (as with the mavs or jazz). we SHOULD have beaten the jazz last yr if 1-2 role players showed up consistently and we have them this yr. i think if we get a series under our belts, the monkeys are off tmac's back, i don't know, he might take it up 2-3 gears.
Thats why I said they have to want it more. They have to go out there and play every game like its their last.
I dont think this team has enough scorers to compete with the elite teams in the west. We might have shooters but not as many scorers.
We have neither enough scoring or shooting.When Tracy is not shooting,we are left with only Head and on some occasions Battier.
I think Rox can advance in the playoff provided that: (a) both 111 are healthy; (b) the whole team can play in an unselfish, wise, confident and consistent mode; and (c) they can close out games (especially against elite teams in the West) in a convincing manner between now and end of the regular season.
In the playoffs, matchups obviously matter the most. As far as talent goes, I think right now we're in the 2nd tier in the west. First tier: Suns, Mavs, Lakers(very big IF Gasol truly integrate seemlessly into that team). Second tier: Rockets, Spurs, Jazz, Hornets, Warriors, and Nuggets. Blazers, IMO, is a level below these teams. The Rockets have a good shot in at winning any round in the playoffs, except IMO against the Suns or the Mavs. But if I were a betting man, I wouldn't much on the Rockets against any team this year.
As of right now? I can't put them there yet. If they go on their usual tear at the end of the season? Then yes, they belong there. Then again, if the Rockets tear it up to end the season, they'd belong there too. But not right now.
I am encouraged by the development of the youngsters, but our starting lineup (with Hayes) is just so substandard that it is hard to get excited. I have seen so many lackluster performances this season, the team has not given the fans much to be pumped up about. Scratching out tiny wins over terrible opponents does little to inspire confidence.
They're winning games, which is encouraging. But I'm concerned that they haven' been able to blow out some of the bad teams they've faced lately. That's the true mark of an elite team, in my opinion.
An injured Rockets team has been about middle of the road to fair borderline playoff team. Everyone healthy with improving rookies.....easily one of top 5 teams in the league. The Suns are still probably the matchup to avoid as well as S.A. But the "new" Lakers are a team we actually matchup with, last year would be different story. But with emergence of Landry and Scola will have two very capable PFs who can play with Pau. And as good as Bynum has been, he is not on the level as Yao Ming, at least not yet. Bynum had a stretch a few above average games and people are calling him dominate.....he's not exactly dominate....Shaq is dominate. He is good, but I don't think he can shut down Yao for entire series, especially since he doesn't have an outside shot. I am mum on the Mavs, if they are hot....they may run us out of playoffs, but if they faltering, choking like they usually do, and squandering good opportuties I think we beat them. I would not want to meet the Spurs or Suns in the first round.
I just said this in another thread. The Magic Lakers, the Bird Celtics, and the MJ Bulls just destroyed weaker teams and a good many elite teams as well. They got "separation" (we're better, nah nah na na) and kept it. I am not saying I expect the Rockets to be in their league, but that is what elite teams have done in the past and still do. The Rockets empower weaker teams through disinterest and lack of effort. Ho Hum. I really dislike that trait, and I have seen plenty of it over the last few years. It is also a prescription for disaster in the playoffs. It is hard to elevate your game, when you have made a habit of de elevating your game.
