Even assuming that the Rockets' roster remains a work in progress, unless Van Gundy can con, cajole, and/or force McGrady into becoming an unselfish, perpetually hustling player, there'll be trouble in Houston. Um... Yeah. You lead the league in scoring two years in a row by half-assing your way around the court.
Dick Vitale is Coach K's secret boyfriend. Didn't you guys know that Coach K really turned down the Lakers job because Dickie V threatened to go public if he left for the "big-bad NBA"?
I don't have many posts here and haven't been a member here very long either but first of all, this IS A ROCKETS FANSITE. What do you expect people here to do? If clutchfans.net doesn't want to look at the positives for the Rockets more than the negatives, what site will? Realgm? This is Clutchfans.net and I joined this board because I wanted to see what ROCKET fans thought of the Rockets and to get away from the complete biased against Houston that other sites have. I've read what other writers, columnists, and fans have said about Houston and I can say honestly that most people (after the initial hype of the trade wore off) thinks Houston is not a very good team, placing Utah and Denver above Houston in the stands. Now there is no proof that those teams aren't better but if we don't defend Houston here then who will? This is a Rocket board so don't be surprised if people don't like writers or columnists who post negativity about Houston. There is no proof Houston will be good granted but there are more REASONS Houston will good than reasons they will be subpar. I just assume Clutchcity would embrace the side where Houston will be an excellent team because of what this site is. Do you think other teams' fansites are any different? Clutchfans.net is for the Rockets, why would you expect people to be like "Oh, yeah this guy is spot on. He is saying what every basketball site is saying." I know I hear this EVERYWHERE. You were right about that point. If we can't believe that the best will come out of the Rockets here then where can we?
I don't really agree with this guy's article, but it will be very interesting to see how Yao and Tracy blend together. Tracy has proven that he can't be enough to win games himself, Yao crumbles with the double team... can anyone else step up?
OK, now exactly WHERE in my post did I even hint that folks should not defend and support the Rockets on clutchcity.net? It's not that folks here don't rush to the defense of the Rockets - they do (boy do they ever!). My post was aimed at the hypersensitive nature of the folks here - a condition that you appear to share as well if you actually feel that an anti-Houston bias exists in the media. Just because some in the media are picking Utah or Denver ahead of the Rockets does not mean that they have a dislike or even a bias against the Rockets, it's just that they have a different opinion or interpretation of the facts. The facts are that the moves that the Rockets have made so far both help and hurt this team and that they still need more good players. The facts are that this stuff on McGrady has been bandied around for years and should not come as a revelation to anyone here. Stuff like that doesn't even require a response because it will McGrady himself who will get the opportunity to answer his critics on the court this season. Simply by acknowledging this does not make me any less of a Rockets fan than anyone else on this BBS. There is far too much absolutism being practiced around here. Far too many fans (such as yourself) want to draw lines in the sand and force everyone else to choose sides: you are either one of us (FOR the Rockets UNCONDITIONALLY) or against us and in the end, there exists no hope of reasonable discussion here and elsewhere. I feel that that sort of thinking is dangerous in that it can blind one to the flaws that exist in this team and organization. Just because they signed McGrady does not mean that they are now a championship caliber team - there is still much work to be done and this organization (especially the GM) has to prove that it has the wherewithall to make the right moves that can bring another title to Houston because in the end, that's the only thing that matters most. .
I think this basically sums up the article....the big "IF." But I'm sure Rosen is going to base this article on the first season. Well, lets wait and see. It hasn't started yet. We all know about TM's lousy season last year and his lackluster energy. But, hey, lets see what we have first and then we can start making adjustments. We know that JVG will improve TM's defense. That's mandatory. That alone would catapult TM's reputation into a better player than he was before. When everything is said and done, TM will be playing the best defense he's played his whole career. As far has his offense and playing w/Yao. Well, that's going to take half a season to get the kinks out. It's going to be very interesting how well McGrady and Yao pass to each other. The double-team passing is going to be fun to watch. That's one of the things that opened up the floor for the Hakeem/Drelxer duo. Scoring just seemed to come easier when they were both the floor at the same time. I'm hoping that TM/Yao can play the same way.
Welcome to CF.net JusBleezy If you'll notice one thing about this board, is the fact that there are waaaay more posters than any other NBA board out there in the internet. With that being the case you'll find a lot of different personalities floating around. You get the die-hard optomists, pessimists and in-betweens. So in any thread, you'll find a number of different opinions. And you'll find a fair share of trolls, flamers, and attention whores (I'm not referring to Hillboy, I'm just saying). All that being said, this board is still by far the best sports message board I've ever been to (I hear the Red Sox have a great board too, but I've never been there). This board is the best at breaking news, occasionally sharing insider info, and analysing the Rox from every conceivable angle. And since you're a contributing member, that means you're never locked out. And if you ever get tired of the same old discussions every day during the offseason, step by the Hangout for a change of pace.
I understand this is a Rockets fan site. And I am comfortable with a pro-Rockets bias, I know I am biased. However, we shouldn't put ourselves in a cocoon and not read anything that might be negative. How many people thought we would have a breakout year last year when the REALITY was that we were mediocre? Let's look at all opinions and facts! Also, look at DavidS's post abnove as a good example of refuting Charlie Rosen and being pro-Rockets without being personally insulting and muddying up the thread with useless personal attackes.
You think everyone hasn't heard the opinions and views of columnists and writers everywhere saying Houston is a weak team etc. before? If clutchcity wants to see the good side of it ie: Houston will be a better team than last year and say the writer is wrong then that is considered being a hypersensitive fan right? If believing your team will be better than last year, when we obviously made a trade to better our team, makes that person a homer then I guess I am one. A lot of what the guy said in the article is what he thinks where he didn't back it up with proof. Yao setting moving picks at all that. A lot of the stuff he is saying is hearsay that 10,000 other columnists have already said. I personally just get tired of hearing it over and over where it seems there are more reasons we WILL be better. Secondly, I readily admit what teams are better than Houston. San Antonio, Minnesota, and Sacramento all seem to be better teams than Houston right now so yeah, I blindly follow Houston. What is funny, is I certainly see what you are saying. Some people do blindly follow their teams believing their players can do no wrong. But when you are on a Rockets fan board and then say, "OK, this is what irks me about this BBS. Anytime a writer, a columnist, a sports anchor or ANYONE dares to express an opinion that's less than glowing about the Rockets organization or players, the vitriol sprews forth from this board with the force of a volcano." I again say what would expect from a site dedicated to the Rockets organization. I certainly do see what you are saying but a different board may be better for you if it really bothers you that much? Much respect to you though because I understand where you are coming from.
Charlie Rosen, buddy of Phil Jax, shill of Phil Jax, former assistant to Phil Jax, is, IMO, a writer without integrity and a man without credibility. If he is correct it is coincidental. I choose to prejudge TMc -- positively. I choose to believe building pieces around him and that tall fella will result in W's and play off runs.
Charlie the Hustler's prior piece trashing Jerry West was received well by who and how many? Well, Philip and...?
Thanks for the warm welcome! I guess when I joined I thought the board was 95% Rocket fans but I see there is a lot more diversity here than expected. Nothing wrong with that. I think it even gives the board more life.
One thing I can say while I never really agree with, or like Hillboy's post I love reading them. I thing I can say they are well written in opposition. Never scared to go against the grain. With all of us agreeing all the time the BBS would be dull.
Not at all. But you are missing the point I raised. It's one thing to write "Chris Ford is DEAD wrong about the Rockets finishing with the 8th playoff seed" and quite another thing to write "Chris Ford/Charlie Rosen/Peter Veschy/Richard Justice is a r****ded child molester who wouldn't know s**t about basketball if it swam up and bit him on his punk ass". We seem to be getting more and more of the latter type of response where a personal attack is launched whenever someone posts what others write or say about the Rockets. I agree with Mr. Clutch in that we should not place ourselves into a cocoon where nothing contrary or negative about this team and organization is allowed because to do so would be at our peril (so to speak). It's a good thing to carry a pro-Houston bias but it's not so good when it fosters an intolerance of other people's views and opinions.
Totally understandable. You're saying since many "expert" writers and columnists write that Houston is an 8th playoff seed then we should listen to them because there might be some truth to them. You're also saying posters should, in fact, disagree but not do it so immaturely. I understood you. About this particular article the fact of the matter is, the writer didn't present many facts to back up his beliefs. Yeah, Tmac had a bad season last year and had the worse record in the NBA. But WHY? Could it have possibly been because Orlando had the worse supporting cast last year? Yeah, he may have seemed lacksadaisical (sp ) but could that be attributed to him having to take nearly 60% of his teams shots and when he did pass the ball, his teammates missing the open shots badly? Maybe that has something to do with it too. I'm not even going to get into the whole Yao's moving screens issue. But in reference to the other writer's you named off well, Chad Ford has been called a guy that doesn't know what he is talking about by many people I've personally seen. I don't read many of his articles so I personally don't know. Charlie Rosen: well I haven't read anything of his until now of course, and I can say he is making a lot of assumptions without reason. Peter Vescey: well I've heard of some of the trades he has written the New York Knicks are talking about. They were crazy ideas and if any of the other teams did those trades they would be crazy. Richard Justice: don't know much about him either. I'm guessing he's been accused of child molestation from your post but about his writing ability, I haven't a clue. I wouldn't call the way I view this trade as a pro-Houston bias because it obvious we're going to be better than last year with the strengths the players we traded for bring to the team. I already said there are better teams in the West but what are the reasons people should believe that Utah, Denver, Lakers, etc. will be better than what Houston has right now. That's considering that we will get the players we need to fill the positions we are in need of. But yeah, I would really like hear why people believe the Nuggets, Lakers, Jazz will be better than Houston. Anyone wana give some reasons?
Keep an eye on the Nuggets! They are building a nice core team: Melo, Miller, Nene, Camby, Berry and last but not least: K-MART! Watch out for them!
Well believe it or not but some crazy people actually believe the Lakers will be better than the Rockets this year. I think they are crazy at least but I've heard it more than once. *shrug* The Nuggets will be a good team but I personally am not totally convinced of Kenyon's offensive moves and ability to match up with the other big's already in the West. He didn't exactly dominate in the east. No doubt he is a very good player but does he really push Denver up to another level? Utah is going to be good also but I don't know where exactly they are yet. Okur didn't break 10 during the regular season and averaged 4 pts during the playoffs. We have our problems but we still look better than those teams. Anthing can happen tho!
