We have become acustomed to how great our Houston Rockets chemistry has been in the last few years. Shane Battier and his veteran (good guy) composure, Yao Ming and his great respect as a consitant great, Luis Scola and his unstopable hustle. At the end of the game, if you are an actual sports athlete, the locker room setting can either be unsettling, or electrifying. Without mention, the long bus ride or plane ride from city to city. Now, with all of that said, how do you think our locker room or post game chemistry is? If I were to answer this question, it would be, with out a doubt, great! There is never a game where you don't see the passion and itensity from each and every player. Unfortunately, they just can't make open shots! I know it is still early, but we all know it is easy to get down on yourselves, especially when the Rockets for the first time in a while recieve recognition as a threat. Now analysts can't help but write off the Rockets. This has to bring them down somewhat. But they have prevailed with alot of heart every night. Heart \=\ accuracy. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I'm thankfull to at least watch a determined loss rather than the opposite. I still have faith, does not mean they are tough to watch, but they still show a lot of fight. Go Rockets...
In a lot of interviews its been said that Battier has been the one to keep the team together. Making sure they don't turn on eachother, pointing fingers and to keep playing. Shane is a great team captain in that regard.
I agree, we need someone who is tough and slightly off edge, yet loyal. Ron was perfect, one of Moreys worst let goes. Let go, meaning Ron stated he DID want to stay. I mean the fricken guy has a jersey of Luis Scola in his house.
If Artest wanted to stay then he'd be wearing Rockets' red. Unfortunately he chose to go to LA. He was a rental and that's in the past.
Everyone seems to get along and I'm sure for the most part with guys like Shane, Scola, Yao, Chuck and even miller they get along great. On the floor chemistry has only been shown in flashes and has yet to be seen fully. There could be some tension between Brooks, Lowry, Martin and Lee over roles and play time. But for the most part we got rid of our headache lastyear when we sent him to NY.
Rockets offered him a 1 year contract, pretty much a slap in the face compared to what LA offered him. Doing so was pretty much an indicator that were letting him walk. Get your facts
Rockets were letting Artest walk AND Ron Artest wanted to play for the Lakers. Rockets and Artest were keeping their options open. All those Artest antics and charades in the postseason against the Lakers was Artest showcasing to the LA crowd in "Pick me!" style. I think Artest woulda taken more money to stay in Houston and be a "Yao Ming soldier" jacking up shots to his heart's content. All money being equal he woulda went to the Lakers. Last year right after McGrady was traded, Another Brother made a thread saying that McGrady's gone with all the attention he brought, and its just focus and attention solely on the team now. No more scapegoats or anything, they're judged solely on their OWN production. Saying perhaps McGrady and all his drama still RELIEVED pressure off of them, and McGrady's negativity and villian status served as MOTIVATION for the team to rally against. They wanted to send a big middle finger to all the doubters calling them scrubs saying they can't do without star power. There might be something to that. Its not ALL about McGrady, but there doesn't seem to be as much Us vs Them scrappiness this year.
