Except that we'll be handing our pick to Memphis next offseason. So, there won't be a lotto-pick to work in.
for all those who dont believe in us making the playoffs this season (including marc stein), i ask you, can you name 8 better teams in the west? 1. kings 2. lakers 3. mavs 4. spurs 5. blazers 6. t'wolves?- with brandon out they have no pg on the roster 7. clipps?-4/5 starters are playing for a big contract since nobody was guaranteed it 8. sonics?- w/o lewis due to injurie 9. jazz?- russell and marshal were replaced by cheany and harpring 10. rockets-this must be where everone else sees us right above the worriors and grizz, maybe even below the suns (though i cant think of anyone that dumb)
If the Rockets don't make the playoffs and are actually fading at the end, then Rudy might have problems. If however, the Rockets just start off weak and finish the year strong as the team meshes (like the 2000 season), then Rudy will be fine. I think the team's improvement will be the key to Rudy staying on as coach. Of course, my assumptions are dependant upon the Rockets staying healthy all year, which is always a question mark with this team.
Jailblazers will have chemistry/headcase problems, The Jazzholes are weaker, The Timberpups have injuries/depth problems, The Paper Clips have contract/injury issues, The Sonics might be OK but Rashard has an injury I believe. If the injury bug stays away, Rockets should be in the playoffs, no problem. But the guy's entitled to be wrong. All the pre-season mags vary widely in which teams will make the playoffs, so, opinions schminions.
Well, obviously Stein is not really upbeat like we are. But onething I'm certain, we are a playoff bound team, if we stay healthy throughout the season. Stein good thought, but if we don't make the playoff, we still deserved to have RT for another year.
If we don't make the playoffs this year, we're screwed! Because we're all hyped-up (with Stevie, Yao, and the gang) to contend for a championship in a 3 to 4 years. If the current team CANNOT win enough games to make the playoffs THIS YEAR, there's no way in hades that we're gonna be near the cusp of a championship in year 3 or 4. In other words, we all feel we've got the right nucleus now. That said, let's see us finish the season this year as the 4 or 5 seed, next year as the 2 or 3 seed, and the following year as the 1 or 2 seed. We're not gonna be a 8 or 9 place team this year, then, ALL OF A SUDDEN be great next year. This team's gotta be the one that can take us there. They're gonna have to do it quick, too. Regarding Rudy, if we don't make the playoffs this year, he's gotta go. Sorry. I love him. But, if we're in the lottery, yet again, he's gotta go. Blame it on his trades, choices, offensive schemes, lack of team hustle, etc., etc., etc. Move him to the front office. I can think of plenty of other coaches that could do pretty well with this team..... Larry Brown, Scott, etc.
Well, I'm a little torn by the comments made by Marc Stein. On one hand, shouldn't he be trying to generate public support and make the fans believe that (at least HE believes!) we're going to the playoffs? But on the other hand, isn't it more 'politically' correct to not get anyone's hopes up and risk putting players, coaches, mgmt, etc in the hot seat? I can see why he'd say he doesn't think we'll make the playoffs from that perspective, and since preseason has only just begun, he won't really get too much slack for it.
Rudy won't lose his job even if we end up among the bottom five. Besides whats the worst that can happen with a bottom 5 finish...what? Drafting Lebron James! I am not afraid of saying I don't want him and i hope the rockets end up with PICK 29!!! Enough Said!
1. Mo Taylor missed the entire year last year. Think there is going to be a very long adjustment mixing him into the flow of the game? 2. What about Kenny T? Moving him over to small foward is not the right idea (at least in my mind). Its like saying if Chuck would of lost 30 lbs could we of moved Barkley over to the small foward spot? (extreme...yes I know) 3. Ming/Nachbar are rookies from whole different worlds of basketball. Short of very few players EVER, it takes a long time for Rookies games to come around...much less Rookies who played in another half of the world last year. 4. Yeah yeah, Rice was out last year...But when he wasnt hurt, he looked absolutely terrible. TERRIBLE. Every game he did play. 5. Steve is coming off a year where he missed a quarter of the season. Has to now run a team that is going to sport. 1. 7' 6" rookie Center. 2. A power foward who hasnt played ball in a year 3. A small foward with diminished skills and no D, who hasnt played in basically a year or played well in a few years. The only steadying factors on this team are Mobley, and maybe Eddie Griffin. There is great potential that the Rox wont win more than 41 games this year. That being said, Rudy better have this team ready to play. Im tired of hearing..."We'll be running a new offense...blah blah blah" Its like there is an every year excuse for not running the leagues most stagnant offense since Barkleys arrival. Im not the biggest Rudy supporter, but if this team puts up over a .500 record (Cat, Steve, and Mo should guarantee this, no excuses nothing less if they stay healthy.) then Ill be happy and hope to see the playoff push the following year.
