Rockets Act I. A Shot For The Stars

So it begins. This team is absolute hell on the hardwood despite being a shell of what they might become. The Rockets, still without Shane Battier’s defense and with T-Mac at far less than optimal strength, have already proven that they can win without playing anywhere near their best basketball. Ron Artest has been everything that Rocket Nation had hoped for and more. The win over Dallas only solidified what many already believed to be true. Ron Artest was the missing piece of a championship puzzle! When you factor in the development of Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Luis Scola, and the other key addition of Brent Barry, it really becomes unfair.

Where do we go from here?

Aaron Brooks has arrived! His playmaking skills have grown considerably over the offseason. His offseason of hard work has paid off as the game has slowed down considerably for him. This is a problem for the rest of the league because you can no longer leave this Rockets point guard unaccounted for. Bigger problem is that there is simply too much firepower surrounding him. What’s a team to do? Who do they leave open? Either way they are getting burned.

Shane Batter will eventually be back. Luckily for Houston, his transition will be a seamless one as Shane is perhaps the greatest of Houston’s exceptional role players. Houston won’t miss a beat as he works his way back into the rotation, and once fully recovered he will insert his imprint on the game as only he can. The game’s great scorers will spend many anxiety filled sleepless nights worrying about how to get buckets against the two greatest wing defenders in the league. Shane’s ability to play a different brand of lock down defense will only compliment Ron’s linebacker style and cat quick left hand. Scorers beware!

T-Mac’s return to form is something that every non Rocket is wishing against. He is clearly hurting, but is perhaps playing his best basketball to date. You don’t think so? Look a little closer and you will see the Rocket’s most talented player facilitating the offense and getting to the line despite operating on just one good leg. What’s worse for opponents is that he is canning his free throws, and while it is still early, it appears that this trend will only continue. He’s taking his time and should be around 80% on the year. He is doing exactly what he has to do for this team to win as he works his way back from injury. Once healthy, Houston will soar to unimaginable highs that will most likely include another jaw dropping winning streak.

Yao and Ron have been as advertised, and will be key to Houston continuing its good start to the season. They will be aided by an elite bench and the savvy play of the recovering Tracy McGrady, and their stifling trademark defense will keep them close during the season’s early pitfalls. When finally healthy they will dominate in ways Houston has not seen for decades. A team of unrivaled chemistry, that boasts perhaps the league’s most devastating defense finally has the offensive ability to not only punch teams in the teeth, but is also now capable of delivering the final knockout blow.

I only ask you all to enjoy the team and the ride we are all embarking upon. Embrace each team member and support them throughout. For after years of blowups, this Rocket launch is surely destined to reach the stars.

 

Everyone has the rockets in their top 5/6 teams. I know when healthy we have the guys to guard anyone and everyone on opposing teams. My question is whom do they have to guard our stars?