TO all you 'TANKERS' - - Their are some Jazz Fans that need you help. THE ROCKETS DON'T NEED YA . . . Cause WE *WILL* goto the Playoffs . . .*this* year. I'll Tell you Why. 1. Steve Francis - HE WILL RISE 2. Cuttino Mobley - is playing inspired Ball 3. Bryce Drew - he maybe a Career Backup but d*mmit .. . He a good one. I have more faith in him now than i did at the beginning of the season. 4. Shandon Anderson - WILL STEP UP. Honestly, I think he, Francis or Cuttino will be the new Mainstays of the team. 5. Carlos Rodgers - better than Advertized 6. Kenny Thomas - Is looking good. Not only does he shoots 3's but they LOOK GOOD. They are not LUCKY SHOTS!! 7. Cato - WILL ONLY IMPROVE 8. Hakeem - WILL RETURN WITH A VENGENCE. 9. Matt bullard - Playing Well 10. Walt - WILL IMPROVE 11. Massenburg - WILL RETURN 12. BARKLEY WILL BE BARKING!!! 13. Rudy - WILL BE A COACHING FOOL !!!! He will come through in a Clutch. 14. I THINK SAM MACK ATTACK WILL BACK, JACK! THE HEART OF A CHAMPION IS BEATIN'!!!!! Rocket River 'Tank the Season ' - The Rocket FutureForward FANS 'SHUT UP YOU FOOL!' - REN HOIK [of REN AND STIMPY FAME!]
Rocket River you have run through it pretty well. Actually you have enough one-liners there to start your own T-Shrt business,man.
I hate losing Charles Barkley, but I too think the Rockets have good chance of making the playoffs. To me there chances depend on Rudy T's ability to adapt a style without two dominating post up players playing. I know he'll keep the guys positive and say all the right things, but will they listen? ...Also, if this isn't about overcoming adversity, I dont know what is.
Eight teams make the playoffs. These four teams will likely make it to the post-season: Los Angeles - O'Neal and Bryant Portland - Wallace and Grant Sacramento - Webber and Williams San Antonio - Duncan and Robinson Which leaves four spots between: Houston - Francis Minnesota - Garnett Phoenix - Kidd and Hardaway Seattle - Payton Utah - Malone I don't think Francis, at this point in his development, can carry Houston into the playoffs. I subscribe to the theory that you have to have at least two dominant players to contend. (You need dominant players, good chemistry, and a little luck to win a title.)
I second that UB. We are too young to make a run this year. maybe if Dream were here for the next 6 weeks, but w/o him we will be in such a hole. This playing time will make us a better team next year. I think we are only one lottery pick (forward) away from a good team.
oh i see. lets NOT talk about the team that is actually all alone in 8th right now! geez. guess they dont have a shot.
WE HAVE A DECENT CHANCE OF MAKING THE PLAYOFFS. WE HAVE TO SEE HOW WE FARE THE NEXT COUPLE OF GAMES WITHOUT CHARLES; THEN WE WILL KNOW WHAT KIND OF TEAM WE HAVE.
I think we will make the playoffs.Not only will the style of play change,we are likely to make some smart move.Once we get there..............
I don't think they will make the playoffs. I see this team playing all the young guys and letting them grow and learn to play together. Personally, as a Rocket fan for over 30 years, I would rather not slip into the playoffs in the 7 or 8 spot. I would rather take my chances in the lottery and retool for a run next year. I just want Francis, Cuttino, Thomas, Cato, and Anderson to get TONS of time on the court as they are the future of this team. I don't mind losing if they are gaining experience. It would be better to win and get the experience though, but not realistic. DaDakota [This message has been edited by DaDakota (edited December 09, 1999).]
I'm sorry, our lineup just doesn't compare with the other teams in the west. I agree that SA, Sacramento, Portland, and LA are locks. But then: Minnesota- Garnett will put them in the playoffs, singlehandedly, if he must. Seattle: GP and Vin Baker are better than Hakeem and Francis, at least this year. To make matters work, they have a huge head-start. Jazz: Stockton, Malone, Horny... in decline, but still better than anything we can throw at them. Bryon Russell and Howard Eisley are also quality players. Phoenix: Gugliotta, Kidd, Hardaway, Chapman... we can't really compare with that either. Denver: McDyess, LaFraentz, Mercer, Van Exel- I'm sorry, but even Denver's lineup outclasses ours. Look at the rosters of the teams involved. I think that you'llf ind that we really just don't have the man-for-man firepower. Look at it this way: nobody was predicting a high seed for the Rockets WITH barkley. How many games, especially with the absence of Hakeem, is Sir Charles worth? If you're conservative you could say 5. Liberally, perhaps 10-12. I don't think we're going to subtract that # of games. I don't think that in a conference so competitive, a borderline playoff team can lose that many extra games, and still make the playoffs. That said, if KG or GP get hurt, we MIGHT have a chance. [This message has been edited by haven (edited December 09, 1999).]
The key is the rebounding from CB4's replacement because Cato is not getting his share of boards. The Rockets would probably need to have a winning percntage of .600 or better the rest of the way to make the playoffs. Every future loss makes that percentage number get even bigger Mango.
Nugzfan: Allow me to offer an apology. You guys got some nice young players. LaFrentz and Mercer have strong games, and I've always liked what I've seen of McDyess. Got to see him at a charity game a while back. Back when it was a question of Pippen or McDyess, I was hoping for McDyess. Now that we're talking about trying to make the playoffs, we are going to have to seriously consider those that hold the spots now...
