Rockets chances of beating Blazers, Lakers twice each again.......

They are as good if not BETTER than last year.

How vague was that?

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

 

HOOP-T, are you talking about the Rockets, or the Blazers and/or Lakers?

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"There's 1,000 different things we're looking at, but there's not a lot of things there." -- Rudy T., apparently after taking a hit of acid.

 

I don't think it's legitimate to say that we're a clear favorite, or even have a better chance than most other teams, to beat Portland and L.A.
Granted, we did well against them, and those were some of the few games we can't point to from last season that give us bright hope about what can be in the future. But to say that we have them figured out after a couple of games and one season? I think that's a little premature.
You could make the arguement that we match up well against them, a la George Karl's Seattle vs. us in the 90's, but I don't think that's true at all. While Francis is the better point guard against both Portland AND L.A., I don't see that we really have an advantage at any other position, except at power forward vs. L.A.
However, to site more history in opposition to my own arguement, you may recall that Minnesota beat us fairly consistantly during the regular season for NO reason when the Rockets were at their peak. And of course when we met them in the playoffs we promptly swept them.
Sometimes teams develope the reputation as being "giant killers," a la David and Goliath. Ergo, everyone knows they're weak and non-threatening, but for some reason, they have a knack for beating good teams, and losing to everyone else. In my eye, this is the worst possible scenario, cause it means we're either underacheiving, or the opposition doesn't treat us seriously enough to even care about winning.
So anyway, I wouldn't get too excited about a couple regular season victories. What you wanna get excited about is a LOT of regular season victories, coming against a LOT more teams than just L.A. and Portland...




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"There are three kinds of lies:
Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..."
- Mark Twain -

 

We can do it again. I don't see why not. The Lakers are not invincible and neither is Portland, especially while Pippen is there.

In LA it is safe to say that we will not have answer for Shaq. But does it really matter? There are 4 other questions on the floor that we will most likely have an answer for. Shaq can have his. All we need to do is contain every one else. Yeah, I know this is a lame and cliche-ish plan but it's true.

Besides, they will have to actually concentrate on defense becuase we will be more than a handful. We will be lightning fast and hard to contain. Steve will be even better this year. He will consistantly draw a double-team every time he drives. His assists stat will increase this year because someone will always be open: Cato for the alley-oop. Walt with a three. Taylor from 15. Anderson drives in for a dunk. Mobley leaves his man in his dust.....

Just imagine our potential as all of the pieces fall in place. We have solid scorers in Francis, Taylor, Mobley, Walt and Shandon. You know both Francis and Mobley are going to be better this year. That's the kind of players they are. Shandon is going to have a better season now that he has found his place in the offense.

What we don't know is if there will be improvement from Cato and Olajuwon. We haven't really heard or seen anything about them all summer. We also don't know what kind of impact the rookies will have.

You have to believe that as a team we will be more confident. They are out to prove that they are way better than our record last year shows. They want to be in the playoffs and Steve wants to be an All-Star. From what I've read and heard, they are out to prove a point.

We will be a better team this year and we will win 50 or more games. I'm not talking Finals or anything but we will quickly leave the NBA cellar and go back upstairs where we belong.



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RocketFuel is dead!

 

I BELIEVE, but you know as we change and grow as a team so do the teams around us. Just as Francis and Mobley have im sure taken their game to a different level, you can bet Kobe has done the same. With the addition of Rider who under Jackson should prove he was worth the risk and then some, the lakers will be scary. Then you have the blazers. All the same weapons and then some. Davis replaces Grant, but then Kemp come on. (Oh yeah! Perdue, might as well give it to em...) No seriously, scary.. Now that said, the rockets will RUN, RUN, RUN, over them if given the chance. If teams can't find a way to slow them down, they won't. My bet, they won't.

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Dreams, are what teams are made of.

 

You have wonder, at least in Portland's case, if they will have a problem with chemistry. Unlike us, they have made a lot of changes. They made changes involving their starters, not their bench. I think it will be interesting to see how they mesh, if they do at all.

The Lakers are taking a big risk with Rider. Sure he may behave but no one can change their personality at will. If he is a bad seed, he's a bad seed. Even if he makes every practice on time, he may still have a negative vibe that affects the other people. I agree that Kobe will keep getting better, but will Shaq? Can he improve his game more? Will he stay uninjured all season?

While Portland and LA may improve some, Houston will improve more. Those teams will not get much better than they were last year. Even the Bulls lost games, even in the playoffs.

Houston, on the other hand, has a lot of room to grow. We have a line-up that will not change dramatically. We added a starter and two rookies. The core of this team found their groove at the end of last year and they are on a mission to make the playoffs and to make some noise.

So yes, I still believe that we can win 2 each from LA and Portland.



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RocketFuel is dead!

 

Taking 2 is not imposible but it should be harder mainly because this teams will be more aware of who they are dealing with but one thing I can say for us is that we have a coach that is capable of making a group of people work as a team ('94 and 95 anyone?) and build a chemistry that is almost a work of art! if the new additions blend in well then I can say look out for the rox !

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Life moves pretty fast, If you don't stop and look once in a while you might miss it!! ... Ferris Bueler

 

At this point I'd say 50/50.



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Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures.

Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the mother****** upside the head!

 

Darkhorse,

minnesota, hasn't had the advantage against us until recently. The season we took them out of the play offs, we had won 7 games in a row against them.

elie17

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Oh.. so this is how you add a signature huh? coo coo.