NBA.com say that the Rockets could really mix it up in the west and could place 5th or higher in the western conference. They did a midwest preview here is the link http://www.nba.com/news/2000preview_casey_midwest.html ------------------
Don Casey is one of the best coaches of all time. ------------------ "You look a team that's been to the mountaintop like the Houston Rockets, I'm going to put pressure on myself to be the best possible player that I can be. With the pieces they already have in place and myself, we can do some amazing things next season." Maurice Taylor
Best rank prediction i've seen so far. Well, except for the guys on the tread that said we'd go 82-0... ------------------ I'ma need more than 6 and a half rebounds a game from the PF
hey i'm don casey. oh wait, that's not my name. but i do think we'll be in the top 5. hiccup bbbwwwwwwiiiiiirrrrrr what was that?
I tend to be more of an optimist than a pessimist, but I really don't see Houston breaking top five. If we made the sixth seed I would be completely ecstatic. This is the Western Conference. The competition here is absolutely insane. And as bad as it was last year, almost every western team, even cellar-dwellers Clips and Grizz, have improved. I've said it many times before, and it's worth repeating, the Rockets of 2000, that is, the Rockets record after Jan 1st, is .500. That is basically where the team was playing- two really significant winning streaks, some bad losing streaks, but overall .500 ball. I expect the rockets to end up with a tad over a .500 record this year, which may be good for the 8th, maybe 7th seed. The reason people keep getting pumped that we're going to get such a great record is because of our amazing young talent. But I think people keep forgetting what little can be done with incredible young players. There are examples galore. Nets have Marbury and Van Horn and now Kenyon Martin. Denver has Van Exel and Dice. Vancouver has a starting lineup with Shareef A-R, Bibby, Dickerson, and now Stro Swift. Wolves used to have Garnett and Marbury and Gugliotta, and still barely made the top eight. Man, the Bucks have Cassell, Tim Thomas, Ray allen, and Glen Robinson and they were one game away from missing the playoffs- in the eastern conference. I don't think having a young core of studs like Francis, Mobes, Taylor and SA make us automatic for home court in the playoffs. There is waaaaay to much history going against that. I think there are a few very important intangibles that separate us from other disappointing young talented teams, but the return will come on that in the long run. If we make 8th or 7th seed, give LA or Portland or SanAn some trouble to consider in a 5 game series, and go home with some lessons learned, I will consider the season a great success, and a turning point on the road back to greatness. Only one year out of the playoffs is really an amazing rebuilding effort. If the Rocks do better than that, I will be in heaven.
One thing,"the rockets drafted Pryzbilla"??? That doesnt show too much knowledge ------------------ We find it necessary and we know we shall win/As we are confident in the victory
just because a preview says the rockets will be top 5 does not mean it is a good preview. The ones predicting a losing season or just on the verge of the playoffs are much more accurate. Right now the Rocks are on the outside looking in, and I actually kinda like it. Upset City baby! ------------------ There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, lies, and heypeeisms. -DrofDunkingDonuts
Nolen: What really seperates us from those teams are our awesome management and coaching staff. Tomjonavich is legendary and I can't even begin to name the coaches of the teams you mentioned. There is one really interested fact on Rudy's resume. He was the only coach to guide his team from the lottery to a division title in his first full season. So he definitely knows what it takes to win. Considering that he pretty much knew that we were going to stink it up last year gave me confidence that he truely knows the team's capability. If he says he sees good things for the team this year, I believe him. This is how I think the West will be set... 1. Portland 2. Lakers 3. San Antonio 4. Utah 5. Seattle 6. Houston 7. Sacramento 8. Phoenix I think we have a chance of taking the taking 6th, but I agree, we're nowhere even close to have homecourt advantage. The only way we're not in the playoffs is if some sort of disaster happens. [This message has been edited by DaneB (edited October 27, 2000).]
