I would say last years chemistry especially on the streak was the best chemistry I've every seen from the rockets. 95 no way Mad Max was trippin all season when they brought Clyde in. None of the 94 rockets liked that trade except Dream. They had just won a championship with that squad most felt like they weren't given a chance to do it again.
aldeman's best ever Divac webber t-mac 08 version drexler 92 version bibby Van Gundy's best ever YAo 06 version charles Oakley Latrell Sprewell Tracey Mcgrady 05 version Charlie Ward? cant think of anyone else, vassilas? Rudy T's Best everHakeem 94&95 version barkley 97 version Pippen 97 version Drexler 95 version francis rookie year rudy's line up would dominate!
Rankings are meaningless. The fact is, we're a contender now. Finally, I've waited a long time. BUt before I get my hopes up, I want to see Yao, Tracey, and co stay healthy. we all know how fragile our guys are. But outside of that, we have enough to win a title. It may not be easy, but with 3 stars, we'll finally have to offensive power to give teams headaches galore. Just stay healthy Yao and Mac. Please!
I agree with you 100%. We need to be healthy before anything to get our goal. We haven't even seen what our team can do in the playoffs. Without Yao last year in the playoffs we still went 6 games in agiast Utah. So that means if we can get a healthy Yao we can take them down, because the main thing we needed in that seris was a inside scorer. So if we can get a healthy Yao and T-Mac with Artest we can seriously make a run for the title. We will give almost every team matchup problems offensivly and defensivly. So I think we have what it takes.
We are number 1 in the West this year... Kobe will be rendered useless from a constant defensive rotation of Battier and Artest. We own the NEW ORLEANS Hornets. The Spurs don't scare me. Dallas is done. The only two teams that we MIGHT have trouble with are the Suns and the jazz. We shouldn't have trouble with the suns as long as rafer can slow down nash, and he usually does a decent job. The jazz just have Okur, who is a matchup disadvantage for Yao. Last year we just didn't have enough offensive fire power to roll with them. I think Artest, and a healthy Yao and Tracy will murder them tho! The jazz play dirty and we just haven't had any real "swagger" players to play dirty back. Artest will fix that problem... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jBx8LSwqRpE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jBx8LSwqRpE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> My Western Conference Standings: 1. Rockets 2. Lakers 3. Spurs 4. jazz (by default. but will finish with the 6th or 7th worst record) 5.Hornets 6. Suns 7. Trail Blazers 8. Nuggets/ Mavericks/ Grizzlies (my sleeper )
To be honest, I am not going be a homer, but didn't we only fall out of first place by 2 games and having no Yao for 30 something. I thought the Rockets, this year were going to be near the top without the trade for Artest. Our bench went from being depleted to being filled with likes of Barry (vet), Landry (2nd year player), Hayes (great defensive pf), Francis (former all-star), Greene (versatile super rookie), and Mutombo (still above average defensive center). I didn't even mention Dorsey and Bobby Jackson. I am pretty sure that bench is better than what LA has. If we are healthy, I can't see LA beating us 4x without someone getting injured. I couldn't see it last year. LA wouldn't have come out of the West, if they ran into us with a healthy Yao Ming. While, they were without an unproven Bynum. No way they beat us. Now this year, they add Bynum and we add Artest. We only give up Bobby and rookie who hasn't played for us. The Rockets are slightly better talent wise. Yao > Bynum Scola < Gasol (Gasol is taller and probably a better player, but not that much better) Artest > Odom T-Mac < Kobe (Obvious, but T-Mac still a premier shooting guard) Alston = Fisher (Fisher might be better defensively and clutch shooter, but he can nullified pretty easily and he did not play well last year against Rafer). Houston's Bench > LA's Bench Battier, Barry, Hayes (or Dorsey), Landry???, Francis, Mutombo???, and Head Vujacic, Walton, Radmonivic, Ariza, Farmar, and few prospects minus Turiaf ....they played well for a stretch in Western playoffs...and were pretty much hot for about 8 or 9 games. Then, they ran into a defensive juggernaut and team with a deep roster. Became a total non-factor. Big thing is the Lakers don't have anyone to slow Yao Ming, Bynum is too short and not nearly as big in his frame as Kwame Brown who could somewhat make Yao struggle.
hey im new here, I just found this website a few days ago and I've been enamored reading all this content, I never knew there were this many rocket fans out there, just wanted to say this was great, Ive been a fan since I was a kid in the late 80's. As for Chemistry, I really like the fact Artest and Alston have known each other for many years from back in NYC. This will really help even though they're both "headcases". When you got a core like TMAC,Yao, and Battier that have been together for a while combined with a guy in a contract year like Artest with a coach everyone loves I see no possible distractions other than Stevie whining about PT like last year. If healthy this team is gonna be something, not 72-10 something bc the league has way more talented teams now than those "one trick ponies" of the 90s where every team had 1 star player but 65 wins would be on par I think. Personally I'd love to see us go at the season with Yao sitting out til the playoffs and then we bring out a fresh big gun, but its not happening....a man can dream can't he. Again Im really loving this forum more by the second hope to contribute alot
If this team is healthy, I can't see how we won't be in the NBA finals as no team will be able to match up with us. That's all there is to it.
I agree with Lou, I think if we play our game and have a great bench with Battier,landry,brooks contributing its over.I just think Pierce and Allen would be neutralized by Battier/Artest. In the West Artest/battier can handle kobe/odom, paul/peja, manu/tony, its gonna be exciting to watch the defense hound people. The only team that worries me slightly besides NO is phoenix just because of the two big men and how shaq plays pitifully all season but he shows up when he plays houston, i fyou guys remember last year he brought his "A" game in the miami/houston game and went off for like 25/15 and they beat us. I just don't see shaq holding up a full season or being a threat deep in the playoffs
You're right. Last year, before YM went down, I still didn't think we had the horses to compete. It's different now. If healthy, Tracy has no excuses. If this team still can't get out of the first round next Spring, tear it down, tear it all the way down.
Every team in the west has major weaknesses. For the Lakers, it's the same weakness the Rockets had - contain Kobe and the rest of the team can't match up with a preimer team like the Celtics. For Phoenix - it's back court defense and a lack of depth now. For Dallas - they are just soft San Antonio has an aging duncun and he doesn't have enough help up front - particularly with horry being done. New Orleans - david west isn't enough. peja isn't who he once was. they just aren't powerful enough. All very good teams, but none are dominant. The Rockets, with three stars, and a legitimate bench are a scary team. Best defensive team, and now with enough offensive fire-power (particular with scola in his second year). And if Francis makes a comeback - watch out, it will be unfair.
I think we'll finish with the best record in our division, and a top three seed. No question about that to me unless castrophe in injuries.
