Don't know whether the guys will do so well as tonight, but I hope they can still have the confidience--LA is not so strong as it looks!
I know. I picked that Lakers in 5. I'm hoping to eat a huge dish of crow by the time this is over. I still doubt I'll be eating it, but I hope I will be. And this is what 1986 was like? I've watched videos and read stories, but I was a year and a half old in the 1986 finals.
Van Gundy said you have to surround Yao and Tmac with a bunch of pit bulls enter Battier, Artest, Scola, Lowry.
except i think we lost game one and then won four in a row to close them out. but it was shocking winning in the forum. took everyone by surprise, including most hard-core rockets fans.
Yes, because that year there were two NBA teams (Boston and LA) who were playing at a level above everyone else. That Celtics team was one of the best ever, but practically nobody thought they'd have to go through Houston to win the NBA title. The 85-86 Rockets team shocked the world with that beatdown in LA. I kept my BEAT LA sign in my manbox for years. I wish I still had it.
This is a team of heart and toughness now. Man, I really have to say we've transformed over the season. Before, we were being criticized for being soft and whatnot but all of a sudden we're one of the toughest teams in the league and the one team in the west that could give the Lakers a lot of trouble. Freakin' awesome .
and the best part of it, no dirty plays, cheapshots, retaliation, or unsportsmanlike behavior.. heart and toughness with class!
After being beaten up by them the last two years, it was a bit surreal hearing Collins/Harlan constantly contrasting our size and defense to the Jazz' lack thereof in both categories.
That is really amazing to how the Jazz are almost considered wusses on defense now and we are considered the beasts of the west on defense...and not by just those two.
Don't get confused, we are all that but we are Yao's team. We have always been a "tough" team, dedicated to defense, team ball, hard work and it all comes straight from Yao. Battier, Artest, Scola all personifies their leader. This my friend is a team of Yaos.
No matter, if they were tougher and more physical (flopping), the Jazz never had our caliber defense. Okur (who is injured for the first 3 and 1/2 games of the last series) and Milsap can't patrol the post, like Yao or Mutombo. They bot can't play defense, like Hayes. Nor can Boozer, who may not even be as good defensively as Carl Landry. Again, LA is probably still the favorite to win this series, even with us being 3-0 with 20 point lead in the 4th quarter. We are going to be the underdog in every single game. But, to be truthful, people think we are soft (or were), but LA is pretty soft, too. They let our team bully them around could you imagine what Boston, Orlando, and Denver would do to them. Also, I happen to think we play very aggressive on offense and attack the basket with Brooks, Landry, Artest, Wafer, and Scola (with Yao in the paint). That's where i think we are underrated, as people think we are mostly a 3 point shooting team...but this team can get to paint when they have to.
This is a team of passionate players with various intelligence levels. Smart group: Yao, Battier, Hayes, Lowry, Scola, Mutombo Not as smart group: Artest, Brooks, Wafer, Landry Passionate group: Everyone but TMac
