We officially have the best record in the league right now. We should enjoy the moment because when was the last time we had the best record in the league? Probably 1997 when we were 21-2. Yao Ming had a nice game with 16 points and eight rebounds and the Franchise was decent almost getting a triple double even though it wasn't the best of his shooting nights. The Player of the game last night was Cuttino Mobley. Some of these people were saying that he could really only have that type of game one every ten games, well he proved as wrong and surprise us with a 30 point game with 5 out of 8 from 3-point range. He showed us tonight that he's here to stay. One quote from the game last night that you would've seen if Rudy T was still there or these same players last year is that even though we won by 20 and played great defense (held Miami to 70 points on 35 percent shooting) he was still disappointed early on. It was beacause he thought Miami's defense kept us from running our offensive plays effectively and kept us from doing what we wanted to do. If this was last year with Rudy T with the same players, they just would've been really excited with the win, get us too laxed for the next game, and not point to the fact that in the first half, we let the opponents defense limit us to what we were doing. That never-happy disciplinary attitude were just what the Rockets needed and might get the players mad that the coach didn't get them enough credit. But this is what they'll need to play against Dallas, that madness and hunger.
I don't think it belongs in another thread. The Dallas game will be interesting. Now, we're definitely not the favourites, so if we lose, it's not as bad as losing to Memphis. What's important is how they react to the result, whatever that may be, of the Dallas game. I'd like to see how we react to losing or winning a big game. Let's see what kind of character this team has developed. Dallas poured 125 points on New Orleans, whose starting line-up features George Lynch, PJ Brown, and Jamaal Magloire. That's a pretty damn good defensive team right there, so let's hope the Mavs aren't suddenly coming together. I seriously doubt we can hold them to our opponents' average, however I think we can keep them in the 90's, and I don't think they can keep US under the 90's. Yao will get 20, Francis 20, Mobley 15. That's 55 points, 35 points short of 90 points. Can Cato, Braggs, Padgett, Boki, JJ, and Moochie surpass 35 points? I really hope so. Because if we're 6-1 and just beat the Mavs, then we'll be for real.
Sane, we are for real. Was it you who about two weeks ago said we had two stars and now needed to trade Mobes to get another? It may not have been you. I would like to add that Mobes has as good a chance to score 20 and anybody.
DearRock, It was me, and I still haven't backed down. I love the way Mobley's been playing, he's been absolutely stunning. However, I won't believe that Mobley will stay committed to this all season - until I see it. We're better than I thought, that's for sure. I was in the "We'll definitely make it, maybe 6th or 7th seed even" category. Now I'm believing we have 6th locked up, and will try to make a run at #5.
you must be thinking of whoever has that silly sig that says "in today's wc you need three star players to succeed (which is patently absurd, given the fact taht the Spurs and Lakers have dominated the conference for the last five years with two or fewer) who will be the rockets third star player?" In other words: "I love RealGM and making up silly trades!"
Easy Sane. I'll reserve my judgement until I see how this team competes against the Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, Kings, and Wolves. After all, it's the only 'sane' thing to do. I was initially very impressed by the Nets win, but the Nets haven't shown me much after 6 or 7 games.
The last 5 year's Western Conference does not equal this year's western conference. A lot of the conference powers now put 3 or more all stars on the court. I think saying you may need three stars to win in the west this year may turn out to be very true once the west's powers have a couple of months to gel. Patently absurd? I think not.
the rockets being "serious" or not should not be defined by a single game against dallas. rather, it must be defined by the talent of our team and how we play the game. as jeff van gundy has said repeatedly, the talent is there. then again, almost every team in the nba has the "talent" to win. what must be there is the 3 Ds: dedication, discipline and desire. we have shown, for the last 10 outings, that we have those things. the only thing we have to show is the ability to maintain our focus for an entire season. sure, there will be slipups here and there where we revert to silly ways. however, if we continue to show the fiber of champions, we will eventually be just that: champions. Sane, if we beat dallas we are for real? so, if we lose, does that mean we are not? what if we get robbed by the refs? what if it's a barnburner and we lose? what if nash gets hurt in the game, and we win? what if we ignore yao ming, play one on one all game, then win in the end? there are far too many complexities and possibilities to an individual game to determine a team's credibility in this manner. sure, it would be encouraging to trounce the mavs, but it - in and of itself - does not determine our "realness". the way we've played the last 10 games, Sane, we are for real. as real as the spurs, wolves, lakers, and kings. why? because we have a defined system of playing that our players have bought into wholeheartedly. never has it been more evident that now, when we are losing players and missing players, yet plug another part in and don't miss a beat. as long as the key components are executing (yao, cat, steve), everything else can be tinkered with. that's a undeniable mark of a TEAM...a TEAM that has bought into a championship-worthy system. it's difficult to conceptualize any roster going from lottery participants to legitimate contenders, but we are just that. rudy had the necessary components, but was unable to get them to buy into the necessary system. but the talent was there. the parts were there. what you're seeing now is a coach getting those components to work together. believe it. it's real, baby.
Sane, Was it you who about one & half years ago said the following: & was it SJC who posted the following in the same thread: Sorry, just can't resist to have some fun
Bask in it while it lasts..... I think we are going to get burned by the more physical teams in the West. Hopefully Im wrong though....
who are these "more physical teams in the West" you refer to? the spurs are far from "physical". the lakers haven't played a lick of defense yet, so i don't call them "physical". the wolves? the wolves? physical? olowokandi <> physical. sacramento? physical? vlade divac & cwebb <> physical. i know you don't think dallas is "physical". it won't be the legendary "physical" team that will give us problems. what will give us problems is the team that has more chemistry together. the team that believes and executes their system better than us. shaq has the ability to physically overpower anyone, but as long as the lakers don't believe in defense, they will be vulnerable. the spurs already proved that.
Tim Duncan is back, the Spurs are physical. O'neal is reason enough to say the Lake show is physical. Portland is physical too. Dale Davis, Randolph, etc.
Also, even with the offseason additions of "stars" on so many WC teams, it'll be interesting to see who comes out on top, the Lakers with their 4 future HOFers or the Spurs with Tim Duncan. Please name the other superstar the Spurs have?
could you please explain what you mean by "physical"? never, ever, ever in tim duncan's career has he been considered physical. he's a finesse player - offensively and defensively. o'neal is physical, yes, but does not always apply himself. portland, yes, is physical. that are also chemical. as in a chemical reaction waiting to explode. we won't be beaten because other WC teams are more "physical". chemistry? yes. they may have a bit more. confidence? yes. they may have more. talent at individual positions? yes. some may have more. but don't tell me they'll beat houston because they are more "physical". that's bull.
