The Rockets will finish no higher than 7th or 8th in the Western Conference and lose in the first round. Check out the following for why. MoTaylor is not committed to rebounding and getting in shape. He is a 1st Quarter all-star and a 4th Qtr disappearing act. If Mo play improves the Rockets will finish 7th or 8th Cato, no need to discuss this nonfactor, anything he gives us is a plus. 6 fouls in 6 minutes is his mo. Glen Rice, 2 old and slow. He will score maybe 15 a night and give up 20 against the top 3's in the division. We have watched his defense dissolve and with no backup big man (MoTaylor and Cato) to help on D, he will be exposed. Too young, Langhi, Griffin, and ToMorris will be counted on to deliver and they are not ready yet. This will take at least 2 years for those knowledable about NBA ball. The Rockets will improve if they can land another big man to play a rebound and defensive presentce role. I felt Marc Jackson and Shammond Williams would have been an improvement. By the way, is Rudy locked on Michigan Wolverine ballers, MoTaylor and GRice? Rudy this is the L, not college.
We will finish higher than you think, for the follwing reasons : 1) Our backcourt is the best in the league - bar none. 2) We are perfectly suited to absolutely gut zones like a trout. 3) Langhi, Griffin and Morris will contribute. 4) Kelvin Cato will not suck this year.
1) Cassell and Allen, Armstrong and McGrady, and Snow and Iverson are better, but that is just my opinion. 2) I agree. 3) Langhi sucks, but I like the two new guys. 4) I also think Cato will have a good year. There just aren't that many legit centers in the NBA anymore.
5th in the west- above the Jazz, Suns, Softies, and Wolves. Behind the Lakers, Mavs, Blazers, and Kings.
I just love the way you people down your team. makes me wonder where are the true rocket fans on this site that stick with them through thick and thin instead of predicting them another lottery team or eliminated in first round. YOU SEMI ROCKET FANS ARE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING! With a lineup like Francis,Mobley,Mo,Rice and Griffin thats Rebounding and shooting which wins ballgames! Everyone who watches the rockets play knows francis is no ballhog and with him sharing the ball to Rice and Cat its gonna make Francis an explosive ball player this year. Picture this senario: Griffin inbounds the ball, Francis dribbles down low passes back to Mo, Sees Cat wide open in the corner,Rice breaks away from a double team Mo passes to Rice at the 3 point line,Rice shoots he scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This team is definitely an upgrade over last year. I have a feeling that CD and Rudy are not finished dealing yet. We need some help at center and we have too many small forwards. This team will make the playoffs this year. Probably the 7th or 8th seed.
Any chance we can package a trade -Glen Rice and a sign and trade with another player for Eric Snow???... Rice makes us older and slower-
Eric Snow? That came out of the Crawford Boxes, as in left field... I'm really sure Mr. Snow will be happy to be the backup to either Francis or Mobley... Great idea, let's trade our starting SF, and 3rd best player, for a backup PG/SG... How bout toss in Francis for the Sixers backup PF?
Lottery bound at 43 - 39. I am in an extreme minority with Thanos & pippendagimp who feel Rice will hurt the Rockets. Here are his 2000-2001 stats in 14 games against WC playoff teams: 28.2 mg / 40.7% FG / 39.4% 3PT This excludes his best and worst games where he only played 9 minutes in each (how he got off 13 shots in 9 minutes vs San Antonio is beyond me). Here are his stats for all 16 games: 25.8 mg / 42.4% FG / 39.0% 3PT I am not impressed by his stats and (although I have never met the man) do not care at all for his on court personna. To undersatnd that, think how you would feel if your least favorite NBA player was obtained by the Rockets in a trade....ugh! I pain just as much as the next Rockets fan when they lose. Please show me where it is cast in stone that I have to approve of every trade the Rockets make or like every player on the team. Or lose touch with reality when making a prediction. Did you predict they would go 82-0? Why not? This is in keeping with your criteria of a "true" fan. Just because someones opinion is less optimistic than yours does not indicate their level of enthusiasm. Nor does your lack of objectivity make you a better or more "true" fan.
I'm a true blue, blood red Rocket fan who has watched practically every game since 1993. I'm also a hoop realist who can step out of fan mode and looking at a team compared to others. Kobe and Shaq were swepted consecutive years by Utah and San An respectively before ascending the mountain and winning a title. The Rockets were beat by Seattle a couple of times. This current team has not made the playoffs, let alone have a battle in the playoffs. Pull off the Rocket color glasses and look objectively. If Rice averages 16 shots a game, I think he would be happy in the offense. I think Steve's and Cat's penetration, that's depending on Cat passing Ball will help Rice become successful. However, I doubt teams will leave Rice when Steve and Cat start penetrating. They will leave shooting up to Cato and MoTalylor. I would not leave Steve, Cat, or Rice.
I think you're missing the point: the defenders can't leave anyone now. Double team any one of our starting five, and someone will be open to score. Leave Steve to double Cat, he passes it back to Steve and he gets an open shot. Leave Cat to double Steve and he passes it to Cat and he penetrates. Leave Mo to double Rice and Rice passes it to Steve, who gives it to Mo for the open shot. Leave Rice and its another open shot. Leave Cato to double anyone and it's an ally-oop or an open dunk. This is the beauty of having 4 starting scorers + a 5 who can stand around the basket and wait for defenses to leave him. This starting lineup will be nearly impossible to defend against.
Treeman, Good observation, however, how many times have we seen Fato take ill fated jumpers. In addition, neither MoTaylor or Cato have been clutch in the 4th Quarter. They would prefer a bail out jumper and we both know that Cato doesn't shoot free throws well. I like our look to start the game, which is dependent on Cato's man doubling and Cato finishing. I have no faith in Fato at all (I'm from Missouri the show me state). In addition, this is also dependent on Cat passing the rock, check his assist totals from last year. He went a couple of games without an assist. That's horrible at the 2 spot. Even Jordan averaged more assist than Cat. He is the KING of forced shots. I'm defending the Rocks, MoTaylor and Fato have to beat me for the Rocks to win.
ok whatever ya'll........rockets will be the 6th best team behind some 5 teams that get better records....then they will beat all the top teams and win the championship.....its like deja vu in the 95 all over again
I agree that neither Mo nor Cato are clutch, but we've got 3 other options now who are. That's better than 2 any way you look at it. I don't expect anything of Cato offensively other than staying near the basket and waiting for the ally-oop pass or the open dunk. I also cringe when he actually shoots... As for Mo, he is a solid scorer, and can actually help to draw defenses away from Cato. As for Cat passing, I agree that he is a bit of a ballhog. However, with a scoring option at every spot on the floor now, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the team's total assists went up significantly, and that is much more important than any individual player's assists. I couldn't care less who gets the assist, as long as it happens. That said, I also wouldn't be surprised if Cat got a few more assists either, just by virtue of having another scoring option (he never seemed to want to pass it to Shandon - wonder why?).
I said it before on another poll like this & I'll say it again. <font size=4>60-22, 4th seed</font> Homerism at it's very best.
This thread blows and here's why... 1. Everyone seems to have all the answers when, in reality, none of us have any. 2. Predictions are easy to make but no one ever is willing to admit they were wrong. 3. This must be the 100,000,000,000,000,000th thread of this kind here in the past 2 years. 4. It seems that being honest about your feelings either makes you a bandwagon fan or completely blinded by your love for the team. 5. If any of us could see into the future, we'd be too busy counting our money to post in a thread like this one.
I have to disagree with you Jeff. If I could see into the future, I'd be able to afford to have someone else counting my money for me.
