Just how good could this team be

this is the best time of the year to get wins from the NBA juggernauts. Once February rolls is when we'll know the answer to this question.

 

Teams will scout the Rockets better and these type of wins may not frequently happen. The Dallas game was a good example of why the Rockets can't run the fast break 10-15 times a game, it will simply tire them out down the stretch during games and during the season.

I imagine that once T-Mac comes back the Rockets will slow the tempo down and finally have a 4th quarter star. Other than that it is very early.

 

It was only 10 games and frankly if L.A. had Pau back we would of lost. I love the hustle and grit this team has but it remains to be seen if they have the will for 72 GAMES! Let alone the playoffs. T-crap when/if comes back is not going to make this team better PERIOD.... Remember how many shots T-crap needs to take in order to get a rhythm. He needs his ball in his hands to be effective.

So when/if T-crap comes back that means everyone on the team will take less shots, AB will not be the facilitator, more importantly the whole damn team will be standing watching T-crap go ISO on everybody. Throw in Chase will get less minutes

 

while i agree whole heartedly with you about T-Whack.. I do have to say that there is no way you can say they would Have won had they had Pau in the starting line-up.

i shudder at the thought of seeing T-Mac "working his way" back into our line-up.

 

I expected this team to make the Playoffs, and I expected them to scrap and play their asses off in a "the total is greater than the sum of the parts" manner. But I didn't expect them to be 6-4 after 10 games with their opening schedule and playing this well so early. Chase has been a revelation, and I expect to see Andersen score at a better clip as the season goes along. I love the Brooks\Lowry point guard platoon. I think even HayesFan has been surprised by Chucky's performance. With the exception of our 1995 championship squad, this team the past few years has been my favorite group of players. These guys can do some damage.

Of course there's the huge question of McGrady. Morey almost has to move him now, and I'm very curious what the Mad Mathematician will land for the former superstar.

Yes, teams will probably prepare better, but non-traditional team typically win in the regular season when there's less preparation time. The playoffs are when the cracks in the armor really start to get exposed. I think a lot people underestimate Morey and his Balla Numba Crunchas. These guys do superb scouting and feed this to the players and coaches, who are all too happy to implement these wrinkles night in and night out. This edge will net us a few extra victories this year. It's a hard stat to quantify, but could that be the diference in 3-4 games or even 7-8 games.

I thought maybe the Rockets could make the second round if they got the right first round matchup, but I think they could have a higher ceiling now. The Spurs look like they finally got old, and the Jazz and Hornets are in freefall. I'm mighty interested to see how we fare against the Nuggets, Suns, and Mavs over the course of this season. These are clearly the top tier teams (at least for now), and we'd have to go through at least one of them to go deep in the playoffs. Of course the Lakers are the juggernaut, but this team seems to play LA awfully well. I would not at all be shocked if we beat them in a 7 game series even though I would have to pick the Lakers over the Rockets if my life depended on it.

I'm not really sure yet how far this team will go and what teams will be in the dance, but I am enjoying the first few weeks immensely and am really looking forward to the ride.

I Believe!

 

this is why Rick doesn't want him back.

 

Speaking of T-Crap or T-Whack...I think T-Slack will just need to play along as a regular player rather than taking a majority of the shots.

 

How do you know Rick Adelman doesn't want Tracy McGrady back? He never
said he doesn't actually want him back, he just said he doesn't know how he will
put him back into the line-up, but he didn't say he didn't wanna put him in the
line-up. I know McGrady can do wonders for our team if he's healthy, and if he stays that way.

 

It wasn't a matter of talent but a matter of Will. I think 99% of this board believes Stacy McLady has the talent but it's his supposed will he puts out on the court.. I'm not talking about his will on the cellar dweller teams but actual elite teams. He loses focus on team spirit and when he finds himself in a rut he insist he has to keep jacking it up so that he can get out of it.

 

it would be the biggest wonder if we make it to the playoffs. unlikely.

 

I wonder if adding a superstar to our team takes something away from our chemistry.

 

We traded T-Mac away for a star? Sweet!

 

Nice post RocketMania1991, I agree with you. I am happy with the overall Rockets organization. So far they done an EXCELLENT job. I just hope we continue to get better.

 

i am just so glad we don't have to watch a 7-6 stiff labering up and down the court trying to keep up
quickness and speed is what we have and is what the nba is about today
go rockets!

 

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. It is still early in the season.

Superstars win NBA championship. As much as I love my Rockets, I really don't expect them to go deep into the postseason.

Of course miracle does happen.

 

Best-case, w/o trade, and no McGrady boost, 5th seed. If Tracy returns to form, and they can use him well, they could sneak into the 3rd round. Best case.

I wouldn't say that if they hadn't won those 22 straight 2 yrs ago.

 

I think releasing Pops and sending Dorsey to D-League is going to make T-Mac play harder. It seems the Rockets are sending a message to T-Mac to play your best or be traded. I find it hard to believe that they dropped Pops for nothing and trying to get a D-League or Vipper player to fill in.