Anything can happen in the playoffs. If we play good basketball to make it to the playoffs as the #3 seed in the West and then have Yao and Tracy at 90% of their game we will be having a championship parade in Houston.
One good update at PG and I think we can take anyone in a 7 game matchup. The inconsistency of Alston can kill us at anytime,
Wow- guess we won't be seeing you rooting for the Rockets come playoff time. I mean, what's the point, if we're just going to lose, right? Are some of you even fans? If you are this down on our team, why even join a message board dedicated to them... it really is a big fat waste of your time. We have a great coach who has taken a team to the NBA finals. We took Dallas to game 7 in that series, and we didn't really show up for that one. JVG didn't get "totally out-coached". Getting blown out in just a few games is being "totally out-coached". Whenever he wins, I guarantee you won't be saying that he "out-coached" the opposition, simply because of your negativity. He certainly hasn't been getting out-coached all season long. I'm going to laugh when all the JVG naysayers eat their words one day. I don't think he's the best coach ever, but he deserves COY for what he's done with this team. I mean, hell, he made our terrible 2003-2004 team somewhat competitive against a very stacked Lakers squad. He certainly doesn't get enough credit for what he does.
This probably is Dallas' year, they are likely to face and beat the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. Rockets are the wild card, healthy and playing like they are now, they can beat anyone on any night. They could go on a rampage during the playoffs and win it all. They are certainly the team I would not want to play in the postseason, but the Mavs have to be the favorite, they have the total package. However, anything can happen, that's what make's it fun.
The Rockets have the pieces to beat anyone. You look at the teams that have won over the past several years the Rockets share those teams characteristics. Defense is number one. Houston is a top the league in defense and every year the team that wins the title plays solid D. This is why I feel PHO will never win a title. In a seven game series, teams adapt to their style and adjust. PHO however cannot adjust b/c they simply dont play defense. Houston also has that one two punch that every championship team has. Chicago it was Jordan and Pippen, Hou it was Hakeem and Clyde (ok the first time it was just hakeem but there are always exceptions to every rule), Lakers it was Kobe and Shaq, and Miami it was Shaq and Wade. (Pistons are another exception that was just a complete team effort and San Antonio is analogous to Hakeem in his first year replacing him with Duncan though Hakeem may of had less help). Most teams though that win, win b/c of multiple superstars. These are the keys to each series. Mavs: Offensively houston will score. The mavs dont really have players that match up well to T Mac or Yao. Defensively is the key. In there last match Houston was at the verge of defeating the Mavs when Avery played small ball. JVG tried to play big through it and was punished. JVG must play a zone against the Mavs if they play small ball, this will allow Yao to remain on the floor and punish whoever is guarding him. Pho: The key againts Pho. is simple. Control the tempo. I have always found that Pho beats no one, the opposition defeats itself. Pho is a very small team so a team like Houston simply has to pound the ball inside or through drives and score in the paint. As for defensively, if Pho plays super small ball do the same thing as with Dallas. Zone. Those shots aren't going to keep falling down. Lakers: There is no special strategy here. Just play well. Battier and Mcgrady match up well against LAs top guns Kobe and Odem, and Yao should punish all their centers. This is a series that should be won on personel alone. Nuggets: Nuggets just dont shoot right. They have good players but they lack a post up big guy (best post guy is Carmelo) and perimeter teams dont win big in the post season. Name a team that has won it all that doesn't have a post up Big other then Chicago (A testament to the greatness of Jordan). SA: Almost forgot about this one. Spurs will play better in the post season but SA is getting old (reminds me of T wolves a couple of years back) and Bonzi has their number. Be wary of this team though I think Houston finally has their number. The post season is soo interesting especially now that their is more balance in this league (at least in the west). A lot of Houston's success is predicated on health. Houston's big three Yao, Tmac, and Bonzi do not have histories of health and key role players like Howard and Deke will need to be well rested (their great play thus far in the season can be attributed to the fact they started a month late thus they are fresh).
my main worry with phoenix is they render yao useless with their speed and gundy has to take hime out of the game. but with mac playing the way he is, it may not hurt us like the other times.
its all about the HEART! 2 years ago, we put the mavericks to the limit with a superstar lineup consisting of padgett, bowen, weatherspoon, wesley, (no J.Ho). but we have mike james and a 90% sura..only to lose by 40 (i think) in game 7 of the playoffs. but if we could be healthy, i mean all 15 of them, NBA chamionshiop is inevitable!
Phx and Dallas are both tough matchups. I think our chances are better against Phx. This is because in the playoffs, there is a lot more game planning, and it becomes tough for teams to score quick easy baskets, because the other team knows what you are going to do. I believe our halfcourt offense will be superior to Phx. They have no answer for Yao. Meanwhile, we may be the best team in the league in covering the mid-range pick and rolls and preventing backdoor layups. Because Phx passes so well, it will be difficult to stop them completely, but we are about as well-equipped as a team can be to slow them down. We do not fast break as much as Phx, but our team has enough athleticism to not simply get beat down the court. Also, if we give Yao a lot of short-range post shots, this will prevent long rebounds and reduce the Phx fast breaks. Dallas has improved since we last played them in the playoffs. IMO, the main difference is that Dirk seems to have developed a more reliable 17-foot fadeaway. This shot is almost impossible to defend due to his size. When Rybo was covering him in 2005, I thought Dirk either tried to rise straight up for his shot or tried to dribble past him. In both cases, by playing physical and sending help, we were able to harass the shot. But if Dirk goes up intending to fade away, no one, not even TMac can block it. We will have to rely on Yao's post game to cancel this out. I think we match up better vs Howard and Terry now, though. Chuck Hayes is a good defensive matchup vs. Howard, and Rafer is above average defensively. He's quicker than Sura was, which will give Terry less daylight on the jumpshots. SA has gotten old and is beatable. I rate us about equal with them right now, but we could be better if we can re-integrate Yao by the end of the season.
I wouldn't mind Dallas...We played them before in the playoffs without a pf...now we have two solid ones... We didn't play Bowen by choice...he was the lesser of two evils (Weatherspoon) with Howard out (granted he did well...but no offense).....now Howard is back and HUNGRY, and the Rockets are rolling...Yao is much more dominant then his 2005 version...plus he has had a lot of rest...with an entire month and a half to shake off the rust when he gets back (do you guys remember how good he looked fresh off the broken foot injury in World championship?), Yao will bounce back and be much stronger, much fresher,and from the sounds off it...hungrier....yes I stress the hunger...because these guys have it...the good guys have it this time...the tools, the coach, the attitude, the spirit, the mindset, the hunger....T-mac is possibly even better than his 05 self (as promised after the Mavs series..."I will be back, stronger") considering he is scoring 2 points less but is averaging an assist more (two points is two points) and is shooting the best he has in years... Head is deadly at the 3 ball and Alston is slowly becoming consistent...Wells is solid and getting better...and Mr. Finger-wag is playing like he is young again...see what he can do when he only needs to play spot duty behind Yao and can play all out full defensive energy for 18 min a night... We will destroy the inside...something Yao hadn't put in his mind to to last series...he has that dominant mindset now...Battier will shut down Josh who will be worn out by having been shut down by Batman and trying to guard Tmac....I just know we can beat these guys and take our rightful place at the top of the Texas triangle and the NBA. You guys feelin' hungry? -V
Suns are the only team we have not beaten for like 2 years. Mavs are great,but we can easily beat them when Yao comes back. they have inside match up problem. Spurs are done for this season. Lakes sucks when facing Tmac. Nugget? The new Nets? no problem. If we somehow can avoid suns in the playoff. i can see rox go all the way.
I disagree! I say it the exact opposite of what you said! I think can beat dallas of course given tmac and yao are healthy and active but Suns up tempo plays can give us problem in the regular season! though not playoffs given the playoff games are slower and more half court defense type of plays that is why Great defensive teams always come out on top and not up tempo teams (which always does good in regular season)
all of your assumptions are correct and I would not discredit anyone of you on it. However, I think there are main keys to Roclets success or failure when it comes the playoffs time. 1. Health - if Yao and Tmac can maintain their health condition thru the playoffs. I don't see any reason why we can't go deep and challenge the Mavs for the Western championship. With Yao and Tmac healthy, no one, i mean no team can matchup well with us and we are the dark horse. Yao will and can punish you in the post, tmac will destroy you outside area and plus he can do a little play-maker and distribute the ball to his teammates. Both Yao and Tmac are good passer and sees the floor well. 2. Getting thru the first round and having that homecourt advantage with Ref favorable to us is the key. We need to build up our confidence. once we pass teh first round all myths will be busted and tmac would be playing a much more confidence and comfortable level. Also we will need our non stars to step up big. Battier, Head, and specially Alston!
Cannot wait until this series. But Dallas is also stronger than two years ago. I predicted Dallas would win the last two NBA championships. I also think they will win this year. And since I seem to be always wrong, the Rockets are going to kick their ass!
i agree with everything...even some of the JVG stuff. My opinion is that we dont have to get "mismatched" against those team. We have plenty of big wing talent, but we dont know how they can play together because they never get a chance. Really, we could match any move the Mavs or Suns make with any 4 of the following + Yao/Howard: McGrady, Bonzi, Head, Battier, Snyder and Rafer. If teams go small with some bigger wing players, we can do the same. If teams go small with quicker wing players, we can do the same. This has been my point all season long, and everyone just wants to bash me because of what I said about Van Gundy.
