If this has been posted before, I don't care. There is so much BS in this forum that I've grown apathetic to it. My question is do you feel this is a championship contender? When Artest came here, I thought we truly were. That said, I think TMac being gone gives us problems. Now for the TMac haters, I am still completely puzzled. If there was EVER a season to get said monkeys off back, this was it. Anyone who questions his injury, especially after the way he played in last years playoffs, is a moron. And, sorry DD, that is directed at you, also. We knew going into this season that we were insanely deep as a team. I think most of us knew that one of the two would go down for a stretch, but come playoff time, we would be ready to slay any and all dragons. Personally? I say this team comes out of the first round this year. But I have slim, if any, hopes that this team beats L.A., Boston, Cleveland, et. al. We just don't look as talented as them. Thoughts?
Going by the mainstream media and the fans on this board...definitely not. Going by their actual production. . . maybe. Going by their playoff status . . . Yes, any team that makes the playoffs (in any sport) is a championship contender by default. See: 2008 Arizona Cardinals, Phildelphia Eagles, 2006-07 Golden State Warriors, 93-94 Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rockies from 2 years ago, or even last year's Atlanta Hawks (who were close to knocking a 66 win team out of the playoffs). All of these were beating or beat teams they probably had no business beating in the first place, while most fans/media analyst didn't give any of these teams much of a chance at winning. Anything can happen in the playoffs, especially since some of the strong teams have shown vulnerabilites. Regular Season achievements doesn't give teams a free card to championship. HFA means alot in sport, but that doesn't mean the opposing team who has inferior or losing record can put a smackdown on you. It happens all the time, not as much in the NBA. But it does happen.
Definately! I don't doubt T-Mac's injury but I do doubt his ability to make a team better His playoffs last year just say . . . he got *his* numbers but the Team Lost I don't think that will be the case this year Rocket River
Im assuming you mean this team, without tmac? Then no. I do think they'll get out of the first as long as they dont end up with the 8th spot. I dont think they can win the rin with this team, but with a healthy tmac or a similar replacement, then i believe they are.
Well if you answer yes, then you believe the Rockets could beat the Lakers and/or Spurs and/or Jazz in a 7 game series. That's why I vote no.
We are not a championship contender without a healthy McGrady. If the Rockets' brass thinks TMac won't play another minute as a Rocket, they need to sign a scoring swingman this summer.
Maybe to the wfc, but a title is very unlikely. We're lacking a player (superstar) that can carry us when needed, who can take over.
I think it completely depends on matchups. If by some miracle we make it to the Finals, I think we're slight favorite over almost any Eastern team except maybe Boston. However, if we get a nightmare matchup before that (Lakers or Utah, as much as I hate to say it), we don't have a chance.
HELL NO We haven't blown out a team, we can't win close games, we have a predictable offense. But We'll go past 1st round .
Entering the playoffs is irrelevant. the NBA is the only sport where entering the playoffs does not mean you're a championship contender. This is obvious, as there are 8 teams from each conference. Baseball and football have much fewer teams in the playoffs, which means making the playoffs in those sports have much meaning.
Before this game, everyone had the Lakers and Spurs at the top of the West, then comes the Jazz, and then Denver slightly behind. I think we're better than Denver but a little worse than Utah.
lol not even close. i will divide the people who voted YES into two groups. 1. Blind homerism. Thinks we could win the championship with 5 ryan bowens on our team 2. Wishful thinkers. Thinks we have insignificant chance of winning but will vote yes anyway because hey, it's the rockets. i dont like the 1's and can empathize with the 2's.
Why people see Utah as a threat still amazes me. They have a blatant court advantage, that is true. But we are still the team that beats and berates them more than most on their home floor. What? Me Worry?
Nope. The Rockets get sloppy towards the end of games and run out of gas. Championship contenders start the game with energy and end games with energy. THIS Rockets team definitely isnt a contender.
