Luis Scola: If Only Yao Ming is Still With the Team

till the finals...

 

go go go fellow the wind

 

we're automatic contenders next season.

no doubt.

 

A more direct translation:

The streak has been stopped…

Well, logically, the streak has been stopped, 22 games is a lot and it was beautiful while it lasted…Unfortunately, Boston was too much for us and so was New Orleans, there is nothing to say, they played better and we haven’t had our day, I hope that tomorrow in Golden State that everything will be different.

I hope that tomorrow Carl can play, he is very important to us, more than ever now without Yao…Yao!! How I miss him!!! Everything was much easier with him on the court, I still can’t stop thinking in what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten hurt…but that’s how this business is…Besides, I have much confidence in this team, I believe we’re at a level to go very far, what we need to do is work very hard in the 14 games remaining, not so much as to just win games but to create a solid team, so that no matter who we matchup in the playoffs with, we’ll be ready to compete.

Luis

 

Way too far in the future for a "no doubt".

 

We'd still be on the winning streak if Yao never got hurt.

 

Agreed. This should be a fun summer in the NBA.

 

I miss Yao. He just played, and played.

 

assuming all our main pieces come back - and ignoring injuries - you dont think this team will be considered a real contender from the getgo?

 

thats all ive been saying since he went down

if only yao was still playing...dam this **** fukin sucks

 

If only Yao were healthy...I agree, but he's not and I do believe we can get it done...

 

All Your Yao Are Belong to Us.

 

Just an aside... seeing only 14 games remaining... I mean I love the post-season, but despise the off-season.

 

Disagree completely, this year's team is like the one in '92-93 where the Rockets learned how to win and once Yao gets back they will take off.

I expect a number 1 seed next year, and a team that works hard from day 1.

DD

 

I agree with your statement that this team is getting know how to win like the 92-93 team did and we all know what happened the season following the 92-93.

 

Pruyen is now translating spanish too. . way to go!

I'm sure Yao would make it easier... we will yao more in the Suns game.

 

First and foremost, we're closer to the beginning of this season than next years' playoffs. My guess is either of you would have bet big chunks on 56+ wins this season. How did that turn out? (They'll have to go 10-4 for the rest of this season).

You're views are both largely built upon two things. An assumption of 70 games each from both Yao and McGrady. You don't have history on your side.

The second fallacy in both your logic is that the 22 game streak somehow validated something. I never drank that Kool-Aid. It was a House of Cards waiting to implode. Even Scola's comment referenced it as "luck".

The last piece you both choose to ignore is how much tougher the WC will be next season. 3 decent WC teams...SAC, POR & DEN are going to the Lottery...POR will have Oden, SAC can SnT Artest and the Nuggs have two stars who just have to learn defense. DEN would be a prime place for JVG if they fire Karl.

I won't even get into the myriad of coattails riding FA's who will want to play with Duncan, Shaq/Nash and Kidd. Or that Cuban will be out there taking risks. Or that the Clipps will have both Brand and Livingston back. Or that MEM will have 2 first rounders, Mike Miller to move or keep and $11m of Kwame's expiring.

Way too early to pen in winning the 2009 WC Finals.

 

This is what I hate about this season. No matter how far they go in the playoffs, anything less than winning the championship, we'll have a HUGE 'what if' factor to the results.

They lose in the first round or even lose in the Finals, how much better would they have been with Yao?

Just brutal to think about.