I think they can make up the offense in other ways ... the main thing concern I have is can they maintain the defense? Will slashing opponents be able to attack the basket now with Yao out? He has a big impact even when it doesn't look like he does. Mutombo worked in JVG's system for the defense and rebounding... I don't know that he will in Adelman's. We'll see.
We're at 36 wins right now. You think we need to win 56 games to make the playoffs? I don't. I think 53 wins will be the magic number.
There's 26 games left first of all. Secondly, there's no way the Rockets have to win that many to get into the playoffs. I think 50 wins should get it done with the way Denver's been struggling as of late. 14-12 the rest of the way is definitely doable(barring any further injuries). They went 20-12 without Yao a year ago and that was with an inferior roster.
still believe. emphatically. the key will be to reinvent ourselves. with yao gone, we must adapt to be a faster, running type team. yes, the teams that have given us fits, the type of gameplay that has proven unimplementable in houston. all must remember 06-07, and how 'it was all over' before it began. deke stood up and gave us more than we ever imagined he had left. hell, i thought he would have retired two seasons ago. but he stepped up and offered what he had, interior defense/presence. i don't anticipate him offering half as much as he gave us last year, but this allows opportunity for 'another mutombo'. to put things in perspective, 06/07 w/o yao was in much worse shape and still managed to put enough wins together to get to the door step. this team has the opportunity to run an uptempo, high scoring offense like a phoenix or gs because this team has ATHLETICISM. the previous four seasons have been devoid of true flyers on the wing, or should i say devoid of athletic non-busts. jackson, brooks, novak, green, landry, scola should all thrive in a faster paced game style. as bad as it seems, we're not in bad shape now. landry will be the litmus test to all this imo. his athleticism has proven enough alone to take over games. if he can hold it together on the block, and gather all the offensive game he can find, i think he could excel at starting center (maybe 28-34 min) in a revamped rockets offense. now, throwing up big numbers in a trash game against the pacers and being a starting center in the most tightly contested playoff race are two different genres. never underestimate people with something to fight for. convictions run thicker than blood.
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Well, the bar has been lowered. Before, I wouldn't have been happy at all if the Rockets had lost in the first round this year. With Yao out, though, everything takes on a different meaning. If the rest of the team surpasses expectations and plays with heart, then I'll be proud of them whatever the end result.
I belive. Scola can do C. Landry/Chuck do 4, our guards will do O more effcient. The only thing I concern about is our D. Yao is a big part of our D. Reb will be ok. O will be ok, Tmac is really step up now a days. We can make playoffs and past the first round. Belive. Still belive we can make the new win record . let's say: 17 wins. Go Rockets. Fans in Houston, go to the arena and make noise there. YES WE CAN.
I voted that we make pass the first round. But deep down, I don't think we have a better roster than last year. The reason Scola and Landry have been effective offensively is because of the presence of Yao. Without Yao, open jumpers and layups will be hard to come by for our bigs. Defensively can they stop the PF's out in the west? I am not betting on it. I think without Yao in the picuture, last year's Deke > Scola + Landry.
Hollingers take Will (Denver): Does Yao's injury Make Houston the last team out of the playoffs in the West? John Hollinger: (3:09 PM ET ) I don't think so. They can go 12-14 the rest of the way and end up with 48, which is what it will probably take. Their schedule has enough creampuffs that they should be able to do that.
1 game at a time baby, we can win our next 2 games w/o Yao, if we beat the teams we are supposed to beat, we will make the Playoffs.
