JVG believes the Rockets have the best shot at beating the Lakers in the West!

Did anyone see the "expert" predictions for the West on ESPN? (Sorry if this has already been discussed and dissected ad nauseum.)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview2010/news/story?page=Predictions1011-Rockets

We're ranked anywhere from a #2 seed (Sheridan) to #11 (Wallace)!

Interestingly, or perhaps just coincidentally, 6 out of the 7 white guy "experts" have us in the playoffs, while all 3 black "experts" have us missing the playoffs (Wallace puts us as 11th-best in the West, Broussard #10, and Lakers homer Adande #9).

What is this? Are we the team of humans or the team of only-white-guy-sports-analysts-believe-in-us?

Full disclosure: I'm mixed race (more black than white).

Long as we're throwing predictions around, here's mine: 54 wins, #4 seed, win the West, lose to Miami in the Finals. There, I said it: the Heat win it all with no real bigs and a shaky defense. "Wonder Twin powers, activate! Form of: league MVP LBJ, better-than-Pippen-sidekick Wade, and scrap metal pick-up artist Bosh."

No, I'm not drunk as I write this, I swear.

 

He probably also believes t-mac will come back to be one of the better perimeter players in the league again.....just sayin'

 

I like this idea. Jeffries could also do the trick. With all the time Chuck has played at the 5, I forgot he's actually got great footwork to stay in front of 3s too. Chuck is probably the type of guy that causes problems for Odom with his strength and footwork. Certainly we'd have a rebounding edge with that line-up.

Unless Chuck really developed an offensive game like has been hyped, playing Chuck to stop Odom would create a bit of an offensive liability for us. Replacing Shane w/ Chuck shrinks the amount of court their defense would have to cover since Chuck's range is about 5 feet at best. Yao at the low post, Chuck on the weak side high post and Scola at the strong side high post, I'd guess would be the configuration. When they sag off of Chuck to double Yao, the lane will get real crowded so hopefully Martin and AB would be able to wreak havoc on the perimeter.

 

After Hayes and Jefferies, I would like to add Jordan Hill. Hill maybe green, but he is very athletic and mobile, and give Odom some fits.


Responding to the title subject, honestly . . . personally . . . realistically, the Rockets at full squad is about the only team in the West, outside maybe Denver and Dallas who could beat the Lakers in a series and end it in 6 games.

Their size was never a problem for us with Yao, Mutombo (now Brad Miller), Scola, Carl Landry (now Jeffries and Hill) and the giant killing Chuck Hayes. Only, when injuries occur. They have a much more trouble stopping Yao Ming, than we do Gasol or Bynum, individually. Size advantage and *cough* weak competition is what has carried them to the Finals.

Phoenix, Oklahoma, Utah, and some of the others teams do not really have imminent threat in the low post on both ends of the floor, and sometimes not even one end.

I cannot really see them bullying us around too much, like these other teams who are small helpless and inferior defensively in the post.

There's a big difference, when someone like Yao or Mutombo is patrolling the paint versus the more undersized teams in the West.


The Lakers biggest advantage is again Kobe. He pretty much carries them, when the size options are negated. It's weird, though we do not have alot of trouble with them, as we do with other teams.

 

We are the anti-Lebron's.

I wonder what teams Hispanics and Asians root for

 

Hispanics probably vote for the Suns, Lakers, Rockets and Spurs.

Asians probably the Warriors, Rockets, Wizards (because of Yi), and the Nets.

I'm curious about Indians/South Asians?

 

When has JVG not said this?

 

True, van Gundy has predicted the Rox to be contending for a title pretty much every year since becoming a commentator. Gotta love him for that.

But I can't share his opinion. This team doesn't match up all that well with the Lakers when both starting lineups are healthy. Bynum/Gasol gives Scola/Yao trouble, and Martin would have to defend Bryant since he can't switch over to Artest. The only advantage the Rockets have is at the PG position with Brooks.