Yao Ming will not careen into the Great Rookie Wall, thereby dodging yet another widely held prediction of doom. Amare Stoudemire ain't going anywhere, either, meaning we'll have one heck of a Rookie of the Year derby. Two of these four Western teams won't reach the postseason: Minnesota, Seattle, Houston, Utah. The Sonics are the most likely miss, leaving the other three to battle for the last spot. Well it means that he thinks we will only be able to get the 7th or 8th spot. I hope we will play better and become 6th or better.
These are pretty good predicitions. I'd like to think the Rox will do better than 7/8 but their play is too inconsistent to be much better. In fact, one more 3-4 game losing streak and that might seal their fate.
It is going to be a dog fight for sure. Something to keep in mind...our records against the teams we will be competing for playoff spots for: Seattle 1-1 Utah 0-1 (loss at home) Phoenix 0-1 LA Clippers 0-2 (loss at home) Minnesota 0-1 This is something we have to keep in mind because we might be fighting with these teams for the last play-off spots. I think within the next week we will play Minnesota at home. This is a must win game as we have to at MINIMUM tie the regular season series with these teams to put us in a good situation at the end of the season.
We can beat Seattle as long as Gary Payton doesn't have another career high in assists. UTAH...... we should beat them. Those old dirty..... Pheonix....that's going to be tough. They are going to make the playoffs this year though. They are the THIRD BEST TEAM in the WEST right now. Clippers.....HOW COULD WE LOSE? They don't have a chance...unless Lamar Odom brings them from the VERY BOTTOM to the TOP. Minnesota...WE CAN BEAT THEM at home. We have to make the playoffs. If we don't....I'll be mad.
The team can realistically go 8-3 before the midway point of the season making them 25-16. If they do that, they are on pace to win 50 games, HOWEVER, the second half of the season is MUCH tougher from a scheduling perspective. I predicted between 46 and 50 wins this season earlier this year and I stick by that one. Not making the playoffs would suck, but this is becoming a brutal conference.
if we dont make it ill be sad..but yao will dominate next year then.... but the rox can do it if they can beat minnesota..dont worry about utah or seattle its minnesota we need to watch for
And that is why we must denounce dumb basketball. Enough of the growing pains and excuses. When we lose/win I want to come feeling like we did the best we can AS ONE TEAM. I hope those games we dropped because of our occasional dumb basketball does not come back to bite us in April.
I'm fine with being patient and I maybe I don't see the big picture you and all theys so called professional writers see. Why are the rockets not better than this. One thing I have learn is on this board, the only way to be "realistic" is to humble the statements you use to praise rockets. Others are blind optimist. We have two starters in the all-stars, do you not think this will boost their spirits and get the rockets act together. Isn't this the magical NBA formula for a great team. Two superstars (Shaq/Kobe, Pippen/Jordan, Hakeem/Clyde) and a supporting class. For now Posey is still earning his minutes but will soon be our starter. Griffen compares to Horry and can only get better. Lakers never had a supporting cast this good. Boki will develope into a Bullard (automatic 3-ball) with no liablilty on defense. We don't need to perfect this team to be a contender. Ming is the 2nd best center dominance wise and the best skill wise. Francis is considered a top point guard. The Cat is a scorer that can be our number one or number three. His shooting is no worse than AI and Kobe. Posey was great on Denver, after all-stars he will be set. This team has defense and offense and they get along. Don't try to throw reality in my face, I will throw it right back. Blazers, how can you think this team will not implode, thats something that historically can be proven. Jazz can really keep this up? Sonics can beat us? Why? Why can't you see that this team has it this year? Maybe I don't see your picture. I don't see us as only barely getting into the playoffs. And at the end of the year we might find that it was my simple picture that is reality when the rockets go all the way. This team has it. Believe in them. Don't let the other teams fool you, Houston invented "Believe". Look at the top of the screen, I wonder if many on this board know of clutchcity. Do you know what that means? Do you remember? We will visit this city again shortly.
