The final step... We've finally developed a contender-worthy identity.

Great f'n post! Makes me feel all giddy inside.

I just hope we don't jinx ourselves. If we can just continue to play great defense, the rest of the schedule should be much easier than what we've had so far. Perhaps there may be one small trade in store to put us over at the deadline (maybe for an immediate help off the bench guy like Darrell Armstrong), and we'll be even stronger to end the season. Either way, things are really looking up for the Rox and we finally be getting into true contender status.

 

Yeah- do not jinx it - look one game ahead only.

 

i was about to post something very similar...

*knocksonwood*

 

Great post, lot of positives going into the 2nd half of the season.

A win or 2 over Dallas would top off our stellar 1st half!

 

Exactly, one game at a time. Thats why we cant get too low after a loss or too high after a win. Man, I hope we can beat the Mavs. We must split the next 2 with them.

 

I hope JVG can turn the team up a notch mentaly heading into the playoffs.

 

Having veteran players will ease the process. Guys like Juwuan, Mutumbo, Bonzi, T-mac, and Battier will know how to pace themselves and get prepared for the playoff run.

 

i hope tmac and yao can mentally turn it up a notch in the playoffs.

knockonwood

 

who said anything about split? Our squad last time (minus Yao/Tmac) stuck with the Mavs until the end. We just didn't have a closer.. We have one this time... and hopefully by next time we'll have 2.

plus the Timberwolves have given us more problems than Dallas this season.. and we just got through steamrolling them.

 

tmac played last game he went off for 45, 21 in the first quarter. he didnt play against the suns the next night.

the main problems that contributed to the lost that night was a)offensive rebounding, particularly the guards letting long rebounds get away from them. The mavs shot 10/15 from the 3-pt line in the second half mainly due to wide open looks off of offensive rebounds.
b)tmac's hot night made everyone really tenative on offense. the only person who shot the ball when he had the open look without hesitation was juwan and even at times he didnt take the open shot. tmac set everyone up nice in the third after he hate like 39 or so but then every kept passing back to tmac to do everything. it was like the lakers with kobe.
c)bad shot selection early in the fourth quarter---a 2 point deficit to start the fourth quickly grew due to quick bad shots and poor offensive execution (partially tied with part b since tmac was out for the first few minutes of the fourth)

but back to the question at hand
its thrilling to see the rockets play so well without yao after the way they folded last year (granted better talent and less injuries this year) and its great to see tmac back to what he is, an elite player. he has been written off by so many folks in the media after the dismal season last year. this team has established a defensive identity. when i came in and saw the score was 12-9 last night with a little bit more than 1/2 quarter over in the first i said they are going to win this the defense has already set a tone.

outside of the spurs,bulls and denver game i cant recall of a game where the team had completely broken down in the 4th or closing minutes. (the dallas game they started to miss some shots, good shots towards the end which could have changed it) two of those games were early in the season so there has been progress made. its nice to see the rockets do well, but there are a lot of good teams out there. i expect the lakers and jazz to fade a little due to harder schedule and injuries but if this rockets team can hold on till yao gets back they are going to be hard to deal with in the playoffs.

*knocks on all the wood in his office*

 

Here's my question though. Do we really want to be third seed? That may sound like a ridiculous question, but hear me out. I think the team we have the most trouble with is Phoenix. I think the Rockets can beat the Mavs and the Spurs (the Mavs being more difficult). If I had to choose between the Rockets playing the Jazz, the Lakers, or the Nuggets in the first round, I choose the Jazz.

If things continue to go as they do now, Dallas and Phoenix would be neck and neck until the ned of the season. However, Phoenix is starting to have some injuries show and I think Dallas will end up winning the west. If we are third seed, I assume we'd play the Lakers in the first round with the Spurs playing the Jazz and having homecourt over them. I think the Rockets win over the Lakers (but it may take 7), Spurs beat the Jazz easily, and the Mavs and Suns advance. That puts us up against the Suns in the second round. While the Spurs and the Mavs play. I think either the Spurs or Mavs can beat the Suns in a 7 game series, I'm not sure we're there yet. If we were the fifth seed, we'd play the Jazz in the first round, BUT have home court. Then we'd face the Mavs in the second round and let the Spurs play the Suns. To me that just sounds better...just a thought anyway.

 

OMG, we all must anti-jynx this thread!!

the rockets have the worst bench in the league! and fragile players to boot! it's only a matter of time until deke and jho get injured....and of course tmac again...

keep it going if you know whats good for you!

 

It goes without saying...

 

I don't want to jinx, but the Rockets are going to be very hard to beat 4 out of 7 games, especially if Yao gets back in time and he gets back to MVP Yao, and we get in a rhythm as a team heading in to the playoffs. I have a really good feeling about this team, they are really good and I can't wait til the playoffs.

 

As far as the Suns go what does it matter if you play them in the 2nd or final conference round? If you think they will make it to the conference finals then you will have to eventually play them. The real NBA Finals champion will want to leave no doubts anyway so bring them on.

 

I agree! You know how the media is: The Rockets never would have beaten the Suns in '07, or "The Suns should have been the champs in '07". We'd never hear the end of it. I say bring it, Phoenix!

 

Never ever underestimate your opponents... Toronto are playing excellent basketball right now and by the time we faced Boston, they might lost 100th straight games but that will make them more hungry and played with more fire!

Nothing comes easy, we have to take one game at a time!

I do like the rockets chances!

 

in order to be successfull. you have to think of something deeper, not just "OK, lets play good defense/offense to win", NO. it takes more than that! i dunno, maybe its passion, desire, intensity. but most of the times, it all depends on the heart, will and determination.

...no matter who your opponent is..

Thats the key ingredient if you want to win the NBA finals and become the world champs