The only way i can put a positive spin on this is by saying that we are only 5 games under .500. Plus, it's still early(thank goodness).
This is what's wrong with many fans' mentality and possibly even the front office. Its not about getting to the playoffs. More than half of the teams in the NBA make the playoffs. The ultimate goal is CHAMPIONSHIP or BUST. Teams like the Lakers, Celtics, Magic, and Spurs don't go into their season hoping to just get to playoffs. The ultimate prize are the Rings and the Trophy. I'm a VERY optimistic fan, but i'm also a REALISTIC fan. And this team.. as is.. CANNOT compete with the Lakers and Spurs in a 7-game series - whether our players are at full strength or not. Sorry, but its a 48 minute game, not a 12 or 24 minute game. Games are won or lost in the 4th quarter. I agree with your earlier post about continuity and consistency with the different lineups and health situations, but Yao clearly cannot be counted on. I know this is only a minor ankle sprain, but the 24minute limit and back-to-back restrictions are still there. Even when everyone else is healthy, if Yao is still restricted, the team will still suffer - See the 2008-2009 season with T-Mac in and out of the lineup. As i mentioned earlier.. Yao, at this point, is another ROLE PLAYER. He cannot be counted on as a Star Player. IMO (and im sure many others will agree), a STAR PLAYER is someone that can be counted on NIGHT IN and NIGHT OUT. Yao has proven for the past 5 years that he cannot be counted on for the long haul. Maybe he'll come back strong and maybe he can become reliable again once the restrictions are lifted, but until then, we're going to continue to struggle. And with this injury, i dont anticipate the restrictions being lifted until maybe after December, like it was originally planned.
No offense, but you sound like one of those Cowboys fans at about week 5 or 6. "Don't worry guys, this team has WAY too much talent! Watch!"
LOL. i know the difference between being delusional and being real. And i know that these Delusional Hyped up Cowboy victims, and the Delusional Hyped up Houston Texans victims are VICTIMS of a corportate media that gets pushed into their brains. It happens everywhere. My beliefs come from the elements we have on the team. Folks, the product we are seeing is not the product that will be there when we're in the playoffs. NO ONE IS EVER SATISFIED. Oh it's not just about making the playoffs, it about a championship....c'mon. Guess how many teams and fans fail this mission every year? 99.99967%
Well no one was ever asking much from the Texans any ways...just get into the playoffs...any ways onto the Rockets. I think I am looking at it from a realistic view too. Team can't defend guards. Team can't defend big men with mid range shot Team can't offensive board Team can't defensive board Team can't close games. Team can't defend PnR Also some of these problems will get WORSE when Brooks and Yao return to the lineup. I don't think things will be alright. I don't see how it is hard to believe that the Rockets have regressed. Last year they did not make the playoffs, is it hard to believe that MAYBE just maybe they have been regressing instead of progressing? To us in Houston we don't seem that way but it seems most other fans see it that way. Also I think it's not about winning a ring, but it's about building a contending team and not settling for mediocrity. There is a big difference there. While only one team wins a championship there are several teams this year IMO that have a legit shot at winning. Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, (Jazz, Thunder, Bulls maybe) Magic, Heat, and Celtics. All to me have looked like legit contenders thus far. Rockets are no where in this class of teams and they should be doing everything they can to GET in that class of team. Whether it is a short term plan like trading for Melo or a long term plan we cannot see. Look at the Wizards, they once had a very respectable team. Caron, Jamison, Arenas were literally the Rockets of the East. Running into their rivals like we did (Cleveland instead of Utah) and getting knocked a few times...then dealing with injuries to their players. They were once like the Rockets a top 5 team consistently in the East...they blew that **** up and have a much brighter future for it. Of course the Wiz also surprisingly had a HORRIBLE season and no one expected that. Otherwise they could still be sitting on their 3 key players...staying in mediocre land. Now they have a young stud to build around. I'm not saying lets tank! I'm saying it's about building a contending team, whether it's a long plan or short term plan that's what it's about. Just making it to the playoffs is a accomplishment for the Clippers not the Rockets.
Semi re-build is more like it. We need a bigger pure point guard who can defend. If we get that in the top five in the draft, then that player has potential to be a star. Then theres the small forward position. Battier has to go. Now what do we do for the five spot? Draft is the only way I see of getting one. Who is there to trade for? Hill is coming along, but he needs more muscle and to be more assertive. Thats my take on this situation.
Wow. Tough schedule? Sorry, I thought the "strength of schedule" argument was only for college football. I didn't realize it was for the NBA too. Saying we're 3-8 because of the schedule is like saying the only reason we're 3-8 is because of those 8 games we've lost. Doesn't make sense.
Damn fantastic post man. This could almost be a sticky. I wish we would take more risks for guys that have true talent. I am tired of our overachievers.
So why are we in here debating on if what the Rockets' problems are? Lets keep this team intact, lets make the playoffs (which i'm sure we can with this roster), and flop in the first round again and allow Les to cash in on a "successful season". I understand that only ONE team can win it all. But you cant tell me that this team is a CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER team. Who are we better than with this roster in a 7-game series? The Lakers? Spurs? Mavs? Hornets? Jazz? Thunder? With this roster, we will not beat any of the above teams in a 7-game series. That's 6 out of 8 playoff teams... and we'll have to go through one of them. And if we end up in that 8th spot, which one of those teams do you stand a chance against? This team has been living in mediocrity at best for over 10 years and I'm pretty tired of it. Either make some deals to bring in some help, or blow it all up and start over. If you're satisfied with a PLAYOFF caliber team, and don't care for a CHAMPIONSHIP caliber team, then i guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.
every western team's schedule strength is equal at the end of the year every eastern team's schedule strenghth is equal at the end of the year "strength of schedule" isn't the issue. It's the placement of certain spots in reference to the teams current situation. IT's hard to explain. And just as i said in my original post, the rockets aren't going to play a good game in toronto. It's halftime and we're down 51-43. Can we beat them 6 out of 10 games if the proper Houston product is playing?? Easily. Would the rockets be winning this game if we're in houston right now??? More than likely. Instead, we're in awkward Canada right now...awkward.
Not any schedule is going to save this team. Without are 2 "franchise" players this team is just plain rubbish. I hope i'm right or enough excuses for suckiness.
This is a mishmash of excuses for a mediocre team. In fact, I think you know you're in trouble when you start blaming the schedule. Good teams beat good teams. They win games even when they're playing teams that are hot, or when they play on back-to-back nights. They may not win them all, but they win more than the Rockets have. I agree that the team probably isn't as bad as its record, and even if they did nothing, they'd come around to some extent. But this team isn't one of the best teams in the league. It isn't a contender with this roster. It's disappointing, because I was one of the people who really thought they would be good. I still think the team is close enough that one or two moves could make them significantly better, and I think throwing in the towel is unwarranted. It'll be interesting to see what Morey does.
maybe some of the posters who thought the schedule would get easier thought we were gonna get to play some nbdl teams in January. :grin:
This thread was sadly the first thing I thought of as we were falling apart again last night. There is nothing about this squad or their situation that is "just fine."
