I just missed the end of the PTI session. They were discussing the Rockets and can they go all the way or not. They also had Tim Legler on the show. Can someone who saw the entire session please recap?
Legler said he really likes the Rockets but said we will have trouble with Phoenix because of the Amare vs. Yao matchup. Doesn't make much sense to me. Yao probably defends him better than anyone, and we DID win two in phoenix, did we not?
IMO this is a rare time that i would give more minutes to DIKE and bring on padgett & bowen to the playing time minutes because that suckers can kill us in the three land
What's more, there are fewer defenders in the league that he has an easier time scoring against. But, it will all depend on officiating in that individual matchup.
On the one hand Yao has consistently shown that he can give Amare fits. But deep down, I probably fear this matchup the most (much more than Shaq). Because Yao's biggest problem is foul trouble, Amare's attacking style could really be a problem. I hold my breath everytime Amare tries to drive on Yao. If AS is getting the whistles, he can take Yao out of the game in a hurry.
Legler said on Sportscenter that he thinks Houston will eventually win a title but he doesn't know if it will be this year because we'll have to go through the Suns. While in theory I could see why people would pick Phoenix over us, I don't see how they're such a bad matchup. We beat them twice on their homecourt and one of our losses came early in the season back when we sucked. Even then, the game was close and Phoenix was just unconscious from 3. I think Dallas is the far better team than Phoenix. Amare has alot of trouble scoring on Yao and they don't have that guy like Dirk that can take over a game.
I have no problem with the suggestion we will make it past Dallas but might not make it past Phoenix or San Antonio (assuming they can beat Denver). We wouldn't be favored and we have the nucleus to continue to contend - particularly with an entire year together and an offseason where we can add muscle underneath. I'm certainly not counting them out, but if they don't make a run to the title this year, I'm convinced now more than ever that they will and sooner than we probably thought.
Let's review: Deke (n) -- Deke waved his finger after blocking the layup. dike (n) -- The Dutch boy put his finger in the dike. dyke (n) -- The Dutch girl put . . .
we should be the underdog if we manage to play phoenix, they won 60+games, but i think they're very beatable. no team in the league holds down amare like we do and yao is a huge part of that. amare doesn't impress me at all when they play us and it makes me wonder what the hell other teams are doing allowing him so many dunks. that's all he has. i guess that's why we have the second best defense in the league and allow the least points in the paint. their three point shooters and steve nash are going to be a bigger focus.
IMHO -the officials do have a lot to do with Phoenix' success. If the game is called tightly -advantage Phoenix. If the game is allowed to be more physical with the whistles swallowed, -as the Dallas series has been--the the Rockets can win against Phoenix. Shawn marion is key to their success. If we could neutralize him....bb
I should clarify the Rockets would be the underdog against the Suns- I agree the Suns are the better team. Dallas is also a better team than us - in the regular season at least. The Rockets seem to want it more...... Go Rockets - underdogs put all the pressure on the favorite to win. Think of the pressure now on Dallas after losing twice to what Michael Finley called a "so-called" good basketball team..... They must be freaking out--what must that billionaire owner think after all that money he has spent..... Legler is right - but I fear the Spurs more than the Suns-especially in a series...
Ah..i am not interested in looking past the next game at all.... Dallas is not going to just roll over ! Oh, I forgot, they have Shawn Bradley. Never mind.
I think we are getting ahead of ourselves. What got Dallas in trouble is that they started thinking about June before April is over. We can't do that even as fans. We will have to bring the same kind of intensity to every game until the job is done. Our heads should not be in the coulds...we need to be focused and keep that hunger. Keep your eyes on the prize at hand, people. Game three!
I like having my head in the coulds. We could sweep Dallas, we could win the NBA title, we could win 16 straight playoff games. The coulds are great. If Tim Duncan doesn't get right, and quickly, and the allow Denver to take that series, I like the Rockets chances to go all the way. Dallas is a tougher matchup for the Rockets than Phoenix, Seattle, or Denver. Our biggest challenge could be in the NBA finals, facing Detroit or Miami, but we usually play Shaq tough and I don't think Detroit will do to the Rockets what they did to the Lakers last year. NBA Champions 2005 BABY!
