Come on, Gary Payton "definitely" will be really good at age 40? Do you have access to his genome? BTW, I checked, he has a 2 year deal. But he is going to exercise his option in 04 and then reup with them in 05? Again, you know this how? Shaq fakes his injuries? Maybe it is a coincidence that he does better in the playoffs, is it a coincidence that he keeps missing more and more games each year due to injury as he gets older? And his weight loss apparently hasn't stopped him from whining about his toe yet this year...0 games in. What about Chris Webber, does he fake them too? What about last year, was he faking e could beat the spurs? Do you honestly think the Rocket's roster will not change? In an offseason that most people called "quiet" We added Jim Jackson, Eric Piatkowski, Adrian Griffin, Torraye Braggs, Mike Wilks, John Amaechi, and Ben Davis' slot. That is 7/15 roster spots, nearly a 50% turnover, in 3 months time, in a quiet offseason. So yeah, I think it is pretty safe to say that there will be different faces around the Toyota center in 2006. As will it be for the other teams who we cannot beat in 2006 according to your predictions. Come on.
You certainly didn't afford Rudy any protection last year. Aren't you on record as saying that Rudy was "clueless" and that any "coach worth this weight in gold" would have been Top 4 last year with our talent?? You said Rudy had no excuses last year, but now want excuses for JVG. Whatever. I gave you a 5 game handicap AND a total of 5 player exemptions last year and you still lost. Regardless, Ill give you 2 player exemptions for Yao and Steve of 10 games each. Im going to take 2 player exemptions for each of the 5 teams that you feel the Rockets may leapfrog in the playoff standings (Dallas: Dirk and Nash; LA: Shaq and Kobe; SAC: Webber (ill go 15 games with Webber since we already know that hell miss 5 games to start the season) and Peja; MIN: Garnett and Cassell; SA: Duncan and Parker). Fair?? If you lose, I get control over your sig for two years.
