As much as people bad-mouth this team, we should now tip our hats to these guys. I'm not an extreme optimist, but being at this game and seeing the heart in these guys, i felt that 94' feeling.
Mission goal at the start of the season: Make it to the playoffs. Mission accomplished. Bonus, we got 7th seed. Bonus, we won 1 playoff game. I have the feeling that we are witnessing the beginning of a very special team. (regardless of trades, free agency, etc...)
I'm proud of this team too. I was in Toyota Center and when the Rockets were making their comeback I just got these feelings of nostalgia like it was 1994. Everyone getting out of there chairs in unison. Yelling there hearts out. These two games at home were fun to watch. I think the Rockets need two things to be a contender next season. 1. A point guard that can run a fastbreak. We were last in the league in FB points this season. (Brake Check got of easy haha.) We have players that are willing to get out and run like Cuttino and Nachbar. 2. A Power Foward that can hit mid range jumpers and rebound. Someone like Rahim, Wallace or even Jamsion. I'm proud of the way this team has fought and not backed down from the Fakers. Lets go Rockets. We still believe.
We also need a stable shooter. JJ is not hot at all in this series. Cat is losing his percentage, too. If we have had a stable perimeter shooter, we were already 3-1!
Evenif we lose this series, I think Rockets are going to come with fire next year. What I love about this team is that they are all passionate! They give 100% for every position (maybe except mo taylor).. -__-.... Just imagine how hungry they will be after this yr's playoff. THey finally tasted the blood.. and they will want it more.
Sorry to sound darn negative BUT we are only playing well against the Fakers. If we did play Spurs, Mavs, Sacro or even Minni we wouldnt even know how to compete with some of the boneheaded players on this team that we've shown throughout the regular season. If yuo think this team is so special in the playoff because we had like 1 1/2 good game against teh disorganized Fakers think again.
This is refreshing. I am proud of our guys too. I am also a bit disapointed, because We could very well be 3-1. Oh well. It was a good season, and damn good post season. I am so happy we finally made it, and not only that we made some noise and scared the Lakers. I am not giving up, I will still watch the next game and such, today's loss hurt, the most out of any loss in a long long time.
It is quite obvious now how much Yao means to this team. If Yao can continue to improve his game, we will be a serious contender soon. A major overhaul is coming this off-season. I just hope that they don't trade the wrong player.
I hope we can have Jamison next season, or some decent rookies. Mavs really have picked 2 great rookies this season, 2 underrated ones. 1 shooter + 1 PF, strengthen the bench, next season, we will have a title contender.
I would love to have SF and Yao as the non-touchables. I know Yao isn't going anywhere, but I do think those two guys are what we should build around. Cato should go to a team needing a big man.
You are 50% right. We are yet not the title contender today. We will be. To think Minni has 7 consecutive 1st round record, we are already doing very good indeed.
Nothing would make me happier then to see this group of guys succeed. They have played their hearts out this series and it just tears me up to see them fall short. Having said that, I still think management needs to keep an open mind this offseason and if there are any moves they can make to improve the team, they need to make it. Even if it that means a core player goes.
I too am proud of this team and I do believe in them STILL. Game one and game four were both the kind of heartbreaking losses I have unfortunately grown used to with this team, but they were very close to beating the team that is favored heavily to win it all. I think these guys have proven that they could win it all with some more experience. I am willing to give them more time to work together and figure it out. If we can make a GREAT trade that will really help, go for it, but I sure would hate to trade away anybody on this team...especially for less than equal value in return. Im not counting them out just yet...
We have been so close this series, I think that this team can show that they can hang with anyone. Many teams envy some of the talent that we have, I can't see any reason to change our core players. We need to give this team more time, most teams don't start making their title runs until their core is older anyway. Even Jordan, didn't get his first title till he was in his late 20s. I knew all along that this team was atleast this good, this experience will do us quite good in the future if we keep it together.
i was thinkin the same thing. We just do really match up well with the lakers and lakers are disorganized. Hopefully the orginization relizes this.
No regrets about Games 1 and 4, the Lakers are a team that are so good with close games, with Kobe and Shaq going to the hole and getting all the calls , I'm just glad that the Rockets gave themselves the chance to win those games. There were a lot of positives in all the games, such as: Shaq being neutralized somewhat (he's averaging like 17 ppg right? that's way below his playoffs average) Yao doing fine against Shaq (you see him actually backing Shaq down sometimes) Steve Francis coming up big, and besides game 1, the Rockets haven't turned the ball over very much. Boki doing very well, dropping the big three in game 3, dunking on Malone's head (while ripping his jersey ), and blocking Karl's shot on the other end. The Rockets have shown that they play hard and won't go down without a fight! (maybe literally...we'll see )
Ditto. I'm proud of the team. There making their move up the food chain. One more good athletic bench player who can shoot. Trade exception anyone?
I am proud of them too. They did their best, unfortunately that includes a boat load of turnovers and lost opportunities. However, this team gave the Lakers a run for their money, and that is something. Next year, I want to see a host of new faces on this team, especially a new PF and a young "sharp-shooting" PG. With some major "tweeking" this team could become a contender.