The Rockets will have no such advantages vs Lakers except their unified team effort and knowing that they are .450+ shooters. Prior to the Rockets/Suns matchup last night, many Rox fans claim that it shouldn't be too difficult to defeat the 24-15 Phoenix Suns, when taking into considerartion the Suns are on their second-half of back to back games, and especially when considering the fact that they were beat by the Spurs in overtime the previous night. Fans hoped the Rox would certainly take advantage of the Suns vulnerable state and "capitalize" on it. But I find something wrong in this idea, because when the Rox face a supposedly tired team, or if the Rockets themselves are well rested, OR if the Rockets face a sub-.500 performing team, amongst a variety of other "advantages" going into a game; the Rox either lose or almost lose it (usually not the latter). I hope Yao or any other Rox didn't plan on taking advantage of a "tired Stoudamire" or "tired Marbury" last night. Both Stoudamire and Marbury severely challenged the Rox. Both the Rox & Lax are getting a complete days rest, perhaps honing some technique that will be useful for tomorrow nights brawl of the basketball biggies. The only thing that the Rox should take advantage of is THEIR OWN ABILITY to get the ball, move it, and shoot it. Even though the Rox rank 24th (out of 29) in the NBA's arsenal of offensive power, it's obviously made up for by the fact that they're the ranking 3rd in NBA defensive prowess. The Rox need a more dynamic and cutting offensive strategy that'll will compliment their ever-better defense (needs to step up for Kobe), and start widening the differential (and chance) in winning the games (OFFENSIVE STRATEGISTS AND TACTICIANS PLEASE POST YOUR IDEAS OR EMAIL SECRETLY TO THE ROX!!!!!) It's said, and I tend to believe, that Yao Ming's a complete-package basketball player with the willingness and flexibility to learn and adapt to new situations. I'm hoping that it doesn't mean that the other Rox brains' are already vulcanized (i think BF Goodrich invented that word when he developed a tougher car tire) and are not as willing to learn as Yao is (YAO! YOU'RE NOT PLAYING THE XIAN XENOPHOBES!!!!! SLAM IT YOO FU!!!!!!). There's a strange phenomena that the Rockets exhibit in their performance stats: whenever Yao Ming is really hot, the other Rockets are really not. When Cat or Franchise get hot, Dynasty seem like he's not. I'm hoping in the near future, that the Rox can somehow pull together and peak these individual energies for simultaneous deployment on the battle-court to consistently beat opponents in a minimum of 5-6 game winning streaks (i don't mind settling for three 27 game winning streaks next time), and regularly finish their games with 3 guys in double-double figures, maybe a routine triple-double amongst them. One beautiful development I've noticed of the Rox recently (and hoping they'll simply let it stick), is that they've been shooting well regardless if someone in the lineup shoots bad. Franchise recently remarked in a seemingly flustered tone: "if 1 guy shoots bad, we all shoot bad"; following a sewage defeat by the underachieving Hawks. It would appear that this disorder has become a non-issue, and proves that the Rockets' brains are not stiff blocks of vulcanized matter. I'd like to think that the Rox have already developed a level of team play as apparently exemplified in their last few games that seems to solidify their current 22-15 record. While it's still too early too tell, it'd be glorious for Yao Ming to achieve ROY, which isn't nearly as important to him as helping the Rockets win a Championship. ROY is glorious. MVP is glorious. But the Championship is MOST GLORIOUS. Every opponent the Rockets face is a worthy of facing the Rox...... the Rockets biggest advantage is knowing, and deploying their own abilities...... and the ability to overcome obstacles in the path that leads to glory.
