It is certainly better to build around the stars you have rather than slutting around at the first sign of adversity. I would, however, have been interested to see how Villenueva and Redd played alongside Yao next season...that could have been something. Rochut
What were TMac's stats in the Utah series? In game 7? Just curious EDIT: here you go I'm cool with you not liking him, I understand he has flaws, but saying he wilts in big situations is total bull****. Look at his career playoff stats and supporting casts. It does take five (I hate that phrase)
Oh, please. This revisionist history that McGrady has sucked in the playoffs is complete garbage. It's one thing to compare him to Olajuwon, or Drexler, but do you really want to stack Francis, Cuttino and Barkley's Rockets career next to McGrady's? Guys don't get 29 points, 13 assists and 3 blocks as McGrady did in Game 7 last year and "wilt." The Rockets lost to the Jazz because they couldn't buy a rebound and didn't have an answer for Boozer. Do you think Drexler's 31 points in game 5 against the Jazz in 1995 would have been enough if Olajuwon didn't kick ass and drop 33 and 10? McGrady has averaged over 30 points a game in his playoff career and has hit game winning playoff shots. Outside of last year, which team was he on that was actually better than the team they were playing? McGrady is not without criticism, but the hysterical bashing he gets by Rockets fans around here is ridiculous. For the record, I watched Rockets playoff games when they were on tape delay. I love the Championship era Rockets more than anybody, but those "heroes" did anything but "bring it" every night. Robert Horry took weeks at a time off. There's a reason he was nearly traded for Sean Elliot.
Exactly- it's like the notion that Kenny Smith was a clutch player. Oh, please. One Game 1, Finals, 1995 does not a clutch player make. And I worship the 1994 and 1995 Rockets as much as anyone. But there's literally very little perspective from some on those teams. Just like there are those who are overrating our team now. Not overrating the streak, just overrating the team, saying that we're a shoo-in to get past the first round and all. Let's face it, without Yao, the odds are stacked against us. I don't have any doubt they can beat any team in a 7-game series, but I also do not blow off teams like the Mavericks, Suns, Jazz, Hornets, Warriors, and even the Nuggets. The important thing here is that, at the moment, the Rockets of 2008 have done something no other team in the history of the franchise has ever done. Whether that translates into a first-round victory, NBA Finals appearance, championship, who knows? Stranger things have happened. But no matter what happens this year, one thing you can always say is, "Hey, remember when the Rockets went on that crazy winning streak?" Just the same way we talked about the resurgence of the Rockets in 2005 after the 6-11 start. This is fun, people. Enjoy it!
tinman, you know I have nothing against acknowledging past history. What I don't get about you is, why do you only defend players who are no longer with the team, and never defend the ones who are actually playing for us?
no one has accused Rafer Alston of thinking Boston is better than Houston. I defend Rick the Ruler. Why does he not count? he and Doug E Fresh started this game!
Rafer was accused of stabbing people in a bar. I don't remember you defending him. TMac was (still is) accused of tons of things. I don't remember you lifting a finger defending him. Yao was accused of being soft and caring about China more than the Rockets. I don't remember you creating a thread to defend him. You remind me of my history teacher. He cared more about dead people than those whom his life was actually depending on.
This bunch of players have won more games in a roll than any other Rocket team in history, not to mention a third of those wins were done without one of their superstars. If they are not heroes, I don't know what is.
Who cares about what Rafer does outside a bar! Its his prerogative like Bobby Brown said. Robert Horry is still alive
Agree 100%. They looked idiotic and when they were proven wrong they continued to look idiotic and stick by their stance. Tmac is double teamed EVERY single play in the game. He helps Landry and Scola get double digits. It is sad that casual fans will actually listen to these guys. Yes, they were good and great players(Magic and Barkley) but they are BAD commentators. Why is that so hard to believe? Have you seen Clyde say anything insightful while he has been announcing. He is even forced to watch the games and he still has no idea what player's strengths and weaknesses are. On the other hand Bullard, who is still not all that great, actually tries to analyze the plays because he obviously developed a passion for plays and since he was a role player he was forced to learn the plays to a T so he could get an open shot. Clyde and other players relied on their talent and greatness to win games whereas most lesser known players(role players) know the X's and O's better than the stars in some cases. See Thomas, Isiah; Barkley, Charles; Johnson, Magic. It is really unfortunate that Kenny Smith does not analyze from a role player/team point of view because that is what he was. Instead him and Charles will only talk about how...(insert star or somewhat star player) "needs to step up". What kind of commentary is that? When you can BLATANTLY tell that they are not watching 95% of the games then they have no business analyzing it. Yes, people take them way to literally but at least try to resemble halfway decent analysis once in a while. I love how people act like Charles is "trying to get ratings high". I agree in a sense but you can not obviously tell me that he is watching more than 5% of games in a season. It is possible to be funny and entertaining while actually watching games. Am I allowed to criticize a former Rocket's player for something they have done OFF the court? Yes, I think we are all allowed to criticize them for their post careers but we can not underestimate what they have done ON THE BASKETBALL COURT. I will never forget my love for these players ON THE COURT because that is when they were at their best, but anything off the court is fair game IMO.
I hope so too... Everyone hates on the star of a team that doesn't advance in the playoffs and questions their leadership, work ethic,etc. Lets face it Garnett, Kobe, AI, and many more have gone through periods where they couldn't advance in the playoffs. It happens. He has never been on a team with a high enough seeding to be favored to win. I think the lazy/work ethic comments come because people have unrealistic ideas of how good a player is. Then he isn't as good and they think he isn't trying. But I definately wouldn't put him in the same sentence with the dream, Clyde, and Elie in terms of Rockets hero history.
lol, I used to think they looked alot alike to but they look more different since they got older. I can still remember playing NBA Jam when they had the secret characters and they used like the same character for Horry and Will Smith.
if the rockets were win a championship now, he'll appoint himself as the ever defender of ALL Rockets. but unless that happens, this team and every subsequent team hereafter will have no "heart". it's always a wonder how people can even call themselves a fan of any team but as soon as the going goes bad, they keep wanting to tear the team down.
it adds another chapter in the resume of the orginal Clutch City team. elie - 1 more championship Horry - 5 more championships casell - wcf, ecf, taking the clips to the playofsfs when the chapter ends, it will write that that team was a great team with SPECIAL players and a Hall of Famer. this destroys that they only had one good player on that team argument by the Rocket haters.
