Hi - new poster on this forum. I've been watching the Rockets since this season started, and I'm going to risk a flame or two and ask a question: Why are the Rockets a top-eight team in the West this season? First of all, nice start. Beating the teams that you need to beat is how the Mavs got 53 last year... and not doing that seems like part of the reason Houston didn't get in. I'm all on board with Francis being a great player, and in general think that the guard rotation is very solid. But I don't understand how the frontcourt will hold up over 82 games. Willis was a neat pickup. Kenny Thomas strikes me as a decent sub. Rice is on the slope to Nick Anderson-ville. Kelvin Cato isn't the answer to any question that I want to ask. And Walt Williams seems like a nice enough guy that should be an 11th man on a good team. Griffin seems confused at times, but there's talent there aplenty... but at what position, I'm not sure. Teach me, oh faithful... I hear people all over the net calling Houston a playoff team, and I figure that there's just something that I don't see. This seemed the place to go to find out. (BTW - serious post. I'm not hiding anywhere, and I welcome any emails as well).
These aren't your father's Rockets... People think of the Rockets, and they still think that we're the same team that we were even a year ago. Our offense has completely changed to a guard oriented offense. In the past, we'd dump it in and swing it out. Now, our offense is based on guard penetration and players moving without the ball...Steve's eight assists last night were no fluke... Our frontcourt doesn't need to be dominant, just consistent. Willis and Cato are combining to average 18 and 16 per game and Kenny Thomas is starting to find his touch. Rice is starting to hit shots, and Walt is in the last year of his contract, so we're not too worried about him... The question you should be asking is "Can our GUARDS hold up over 82 games" Steve and Cat are playing a lot of minutes, plus get a lot of rebounds from the backcourt The days of a dominant center in Houston are long gone...
How 'bout dem cowboys? Seriously, your post was very polite, but it was still some polite smack talking. Don't you think it's a little too soon for you to start talking smack? The mavericks have only been out of the gutter for one season. I realize that if you're from Dallas, chances are in the upper ninety percentile range that you're a bandwagon hopping worthless piece of no-knowledge crap. But even if you fall into that miniscule percentage that are true blue mavs fans, you still should show a little respect to the fans of fairly recent world champions. then again, maybe not.
I understand the evolution... it actually seemed to start last season. And good point about the guard's minutes. I figured that with Norris as a third, Francis and Mobley could be held in the upper 30's... I'll watch that. But watching Rice, I simply don't see his offense - or his shot - coming along, and his defense hasn't been there for years. If he fails, what's the backup plan? And if Thomas - admittedly mediocre at his best - is injured, how does this team compete? Do you like anyone on your IR to step up? Is Torres or Morris more than fodder?
Because we have two players as good as Finley. (Francis and Mobley), a deep bench, and a top 5 coach.
Hmmm... the "smack-talk" argument. Guess that I should have expected that. Fair enough. But as for the bandwagoning part, I call BS. First and foremost, I've been a Rudy T fan since the '70s (yeah, I'm an oldster). I've been following the Mavs since '89, and the Rockets from afar since the glory days. I've been writing some articles on the net for the last year and a half, and I've been trying to get more perspective on the teams in the West. Call this a research project... but I really am interested. I don't see how discussing the Rocket's prospects is disrespectful, but you're welcome to 'splain it to me... And the 'Boys suck.
Because we have two players as good as Finley. (Francis and Mobley), a deep bench, and a top 5 coach. Actually, IMO you have a player better than Finley (Francis) and a player almost as good as Nash (Mobley). I wasn't comping the Rockets to Dallas - the Nowitzki thing is a problem there - just talking about them compared to the rest of the West. And I agree about Rudy T.
Do us all a favor and find it in your heart to pull your head out of Mark Cuban's a-hole long enough to realize that you should not question a former champion until you have a ring yourself. And I'm not talking about the ring-around-the-collar that your boys have on their mushy, feminine, bathrobes that your douchebag owner bought all of them so they could don them during their pedicures. Listen here genius...it takes more than 17 assistant coaches on your bench and playstation 2 in every locker to win a championship. Maybe you should find your way on over to the Denver Nugget or LA Clipper message board and you can discuss all the sh*t you haven't won. Until then, BLOW ME!
"Maybe you should find your way on over to the Denver Nugget or LA Clipper message board and you can discuss all the sh*t you haven't won. Until then, BLOW ME!" As charming as this response is, it raises a point that rarely makes sense to me - the argument that because a different team of players at a different time won a special pair of rings means that this set of players is special. And I guess I won't have any success keeping the Mavs out of this... ah, well. Let me try asking another point here - is there something on the roster that you believe will improve over the course of the season? I understand that you've won games so far, but so far that's included two OT wins over two teams that are struggling, and a close one over Phoenix. Denver sucks, but again, it's important to beat them. I'm wondering if there's more to the team than what I see - a great guard rotation, an excellent coach, and a patchwork roster.
Well we were the 9th best team in the west last year. Franis is better, Mobley is better, Cato is better, KT is better, Rice is better than Shandon Anderson, Willis is slightly better than Hakeem was last year, Moochie is better, Williams is probably worse, Griffin is worse than MoTaylor but will be much better, Rest of the bench is better. Overall we only have one worse player and the west is much weaker so we should be in the top 8.
NJrocket, how old are you? 15? What a stupid post. You must watch too much Rhome or something. This guy asked some legitimate questions, to which someone should be able to provide some serious answers to. I didn't see any smack in his posts, but I saw plenty in yours. Pole's post was a little better, but here is an opportunity to rationally discuss why the Rockets are a playoff team. Maybe we could even have a good poster show up and make us proud. (OP, Crispee, Nike, Juan, etc???)
"Overall we only have one worse player and the west is much weaker so we should be in the top 8." OK, there's a good point that I hadn't thought about. The Rockets were the Mav's coaching staff pick to make the playoffs as late as April of last year, based on the way that they seemed to be coming together. Francis could be better - maturity in decision-making. Mobley? Seems hard to find improvement there. Thomas doesn't seem better to me, but hey... that's JMHO Cato? Gosh, he's got talent, but I don't buy him until he shows up for a quarter of a season at least. Rice? Our biggest disagreement. I see a player that will pull your team down, not an asset. He won't be able to keep up with the guards, and he can't defend worth squat. Willis better than Hakeem? Didn't it hurt even writing that? But, it might be true... What's on the bench that you like?
Hey Moe...if you don't see the sarcasm and overwhelming amount of condescending BS in his original posts and responses, then you can blow me too.
Rockets have just as much, if not more, right to be considered a playoff team. Look at the other teams trying to make the playoffs. IMO Pheonix looks very soft, a totally different spirit to that team. Denver without Mcdyess can't compete for a playoff spot. Utah is looking bad (not counting the 2 games against LAL), hoping this is the year . Seatle is playing inconsistent like usual. Even if Portland makes the playoffs, that still leaves 2 spots untaken. Tell me who you would put in front of the Rockets for the 7th or 8th spot? Golden State? Clippers? Denver? Pheonix? Our front court is providing what we need. Rice should start getting his touch, if not, oh well, still a playoff team. Have you seen Griffin's defense? On Garnett even? Any young rookie is going to be confused on offense, especially when he hasn't played with his teammates in preseason. Yet he single handedly kept us in that Minnesota game. Tell me how you don't understand that wins/loses decide whether your a playoff team and not whether you have frontcourt strength, or good rotations. We win 48-50 games and we're a playoff team. Tell me who has a better chance of getting the 7th or 8th spot??
With our guards, we don't need a strong frontcourt, just a solid one. Despite his last dissappointing 2 seasons, Cato has been that. Willis has been incredible. KT - eh, soso. Rice has struggled, but I think he will turn it around. And surprisingly, he has made key DEFENSIVE contributions to a couple of wins already this year. In the minutes he has played so far, Griff has played great. IMO, I doubt he'll get the starting spot from KT(I don't see Rudy doing that) But if he does, due to injury or just winning it straight out - watch out!! TMo and Oz are significantly better than fodder. They both lit it up in the preseason, and if given the opportunity, could be solid contributors. IMO, one of them should be getting Wiz's minutes. add that to one of the best - if not the best - backcourt in the league, and you have a playoff contender, imo.
your reasoning is flawed. the main reason the rocks are good are their backcourt trio of mooch, francis and mobley. their ability to not only drive and dish plus being able to hit Js consistently is dangerous.
GA, you really have to watch this team to know what we're about...Cato is showing a LOT more hustle and emotion so far, and has managed to stay healthy (*knock knock knock*). Willis is a short term solution until Mo Taylor gets back. Taylor was ready to go off this year. He came on strong at the end of last season, and was working hard on his game in the offseason. You don't know how big of a blow it was to lose him. Our coaching staff and front office made a good effort to rebound, offering Marc Jackson that contract that GS matched. Eddie Griffin will get more PT as the season progresses, so he should improve our front line. This entire season so far has been an adjustment... Beware the two headed monster!
"Never underestimate the heart of a champion" -- Rudy T We have team chemistry and a whole lotta confidence to boot. That could go a long way in our quest for a playoff spot.
I appreciate the politeness of your posts, GA. I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for the time being. Francis is a special player. Mobley is one, too, and he is underrated around the league. Both players are maturing in their decision making and shot selection. Kevin Willis, while old, has looked great so far. If he can play the way he has, our frontcourt doesn't look bad at all. Kenny Thomas is undersized at the 4 but is too young and has too much talent to be classified as merely a decent sub. Walt is consistantly criticized on this board but remains a quality 3 point specialist and a solid passer and ball-handler for a forward. Moochie is one of the best backup guards in the game. As to players that will improve over the season, Griffin is the immediate first answer. He might have been the most talented player drafted this year, and he has only scratched the surface so far. I expect gradual improvement, and increased playing time, as the season wears on. Rice also has alot more game left than he's shown so far. His shot is still textbook, and he is a better defender than he's given credit for (ask Phil Jackson). Morris and Torres are Rudy's type of players, and may surprise like other guys Rudy has drafted late or brought in from the CBA. This team isn't a championship contender, yet. But we are better than the Suns, probably better than the Jazz, and maybe better overall than the Twolves as well. The Blazers have plenty of reasons to fail this season. I'd be surprised if we missed the playoffs.
