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The West is soooo tough!! Who may give the Rocks room to get into the Playoffs??????

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by vince, Jul 15, 2000.

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  1. vince

    vince Member

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    The Lakers, The Blazers, the Spurs, the Jazz, the timberwolves, the Suns, the Kings, the Mavericks, the sonics, the Grizzleys, and the rockets

    Then you have the rest of the pack the Clippers!!!!! But this is the team of the future with Miles!!!!!!

    It's one thing for sure, this season will be a huge battle for any team.

    I don't think this will be that bad in terms of competition; But lack of coaching will be in a microscope.

    Let's analyze this, the elite teams are the Blazers, the Lakers, and the Spurs.

    Your playoff bound teams are the rest of the pack, but you need coaching. Coaching will do the rest because there are some imensley talented team in the West.

    I've seen ESPN Classic and those old teams of the 70's and 80's cannot come close to these new teams. And its all about defense.


    The Rockets have a core for the future that were coming together last year near the end of the season. The Grizzleys have would be all-stars at all positions, the Mavericks have two potential 1st team candidates, the Suns have players at all positions, the Kings have MVP candidate Webber, the Sonics have Payton in his prime for MVP status, Minnesota has Garnett enough said, The Jazz still have Malone and that is consitency, and now it looks like the Clippers have their act together.


    This is what the NBA is all about. Where evey team has a chance. Where it isn't about mediocracy, but total competition.

    The Lakers, Blazer, or Spurs will win it all. But this is for sure every team in the NBA may have some hope about competing for it at least one point in the Season.

    I'll say it here. With Croshere I'd bet that the Rockets are amongst the top 5 teams in the West. Good enough to compete against the Lakers, Spurs, and Blazers. But what more can you ask for? It's all about competition.

    Oh, and then you have the Pathetic EAST!!! What a JOKE [​IMG]

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    #1 vince, Jul 15, 2000
  2. vince

    vince Member

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    If you didn't catch on in the post, my trump card is Rudy!!!

    Coaching will make all the difference.

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    #2 vince, Jul 15, 2000
  3. aus

    aus Member

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    The west is gonna be so tight.

    Top 4: Lakers, Blazers, Spurs and Suns - definetly (barring injuries) in playoffs

    Then: Wolves, Kings, Sonics
    - playoff teams that should improve

    Then: Jazz - its been said for years but they will fall THIS YEAR!

    And: Mavs, Rockets, Nugs - good up and coming teams

    And then: Grizz, Clipps, Warriors - all have young talent but someones gotta come last


    Its all gonna come down to injuries and as you said coaching. At the moment I see the rockets coming 10th, but with a bit of luck such as Malone getting hurt or Nellie screwing up in Dallas or Steve exceeding all expectations we could squeeze in. And once you get to the playoffs any thing can happen!

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    #3 aus, Jul 15, 2000
  4. ulysses

    ulysses Member

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    The way I see it there are a few teams that WILL make the play-off, because of talent, will power, or NBC. They are:

    Lakers
    Phoenix
    San Antonio (with Duncan)
    Portland
    Utah (although, I think it would be hilarious if they sat it out)

    Of the last three sports we have some fierce competition: Timber Wolves (who I personally think have been under achieving and may have a break out year in the 00-01 season), Sacremento (held back only bvecause of lack of D, but not missing in the scoring department), and Seattle (no team with GP can be bad). While Vancouver will probably have a breakout year soon, I don't see it happening next year. Dallas and especially the Clippers are still a season or two away from the play-offs. But I think the Rocks are in the mix for a spot. We'd probably land in the 7th or 8th spot: meaning we'd get LA or Portland in the first round. The kicker is, both teams are ones we've had good success against. (As far as I know, H-town is the only team to beat both TWICE last year.)

    We ended strong last year. Keep the chemestry going and DO NOT ALTER THE MIX.

    I don't know how the rest of you feel, but I'm sick of the rockets constantly making "daring personell moves." Sure it worked well with Clyde and Chuck (well, at least once season), but lets face it-- that's when Dream was in his prime. We need the sort of telepathy that's given Utah the wins (without the flops). I'd love to add a piece like Croshere, or Grant, but when people start talking about trading the Wizard, Cato, Hakeem, Thomas, a trade pick five years from now, last year's Kim-chee, and a boot-legged copy of Bakley's wedding night video I star to cringe. And did I mention the kitchen sink?

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    #4 ulysses, Jul 15, 2000
  5. BobFinn*

    BobFinn* Member

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    Coaching in a microscope? [​IMG] Thats gotta hurt [​IMG]

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    "Is this thing on? I'm in charge now"-Alexander Haig

    [This message has been edited by BobFinn* (edited July 15, 2000).]
     
    #5 BobFinn*, Jul 15, 2000
  6. Htownhero

    Htownhero Member

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    I think Utah is pretty close to a really bad season. Malone's never going to get his ring there and he know's it, that's why I see him doing something like demanding a trade and tanking till he gets one. Maybe it's just wishfull thinking, but I wouldn't be shocked in the least if it happened.

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    "And On The 8th day god Created Basketball, And on the 9th He Created The Dream To Play It"
     
    #6 Htownhero, Jul 15, 2000
  7. 4chuckie

    4chuckie Member

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    I hate to support Utah, but I have a feeling (especially since it is Stockton's last year) that they may have a great run. They still need to sign another decent player via FA to replace Horny, but I would not discount Karl & Stockton in what will be Stockton's last year, and possibly Karl's last year in Utah. They are not as good as LA or Portland but they could give SA a run.

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    #7 4chuckie, Jul 17, 2000
  8. DrNuegebauer

    DrNuegebauer Member

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    There's a lot to do with matchups too; San Antonio OWNS the Lakers - they went 3-1 over them last season and the game they lost Duncan was out (incidentally they won with Duncan out in another game) - and didn't they sweep the Lakers in the Western Conference semis on their way to a championship? Having said that, the spurs may still need to add a decent FA, someone who can play some backcourt minutes.
    Speaking of Utah, as much as I hate to say it, they may get Reggie Miller in a Jazz uniform. Reggie is desperate for a title and going to Utah to team up with Malone and Stockton would make it a possibility... if that happened I'd rank Utah as one of the elite teams in the West. Sure having 3 "stars" on one team is no recipie for success, but look at how hard Miller has to work to get open shots in Indiana, now picture him in Sloans system, getting open looks from slick Stockton feeds... I HATE the thought of it! Of course should Eisley leave the Jazz they could be struggling to make the post season....

    I don't think any team is just going to fall out of the playoffs, if the rockets really want to make the playoffs we're going to have to earn it. Seattle and Sacramento aren't locks - and Phoenix always manage to have enough injuries to give their fans heart flutters - sure the rockets are a chance and so are the mavs, but that means there are 10 teams in the "playoff mix" and only 8 will make it... go you rockets!!!

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    #8 DrNuegebauer, Jul 17, 2000
  9. AntiSonic

    AntiSonic Member

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    Seattle's not going. [​IMG]

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    WE WILL WATCH THEM FALL... Next year :(
     
    #9 AntiSonic, Jul 17, 2000
  10. vince

    vince Member

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    Which Rocket team shows up next season? That is the deciding factor wether the Rocks can make the playoffs. At the end of last season the Rocks were playing magnificent.

    But the other side of the argument was that teams took the loley Rocks too lightly!!! NAAAAAAhhhhhhh!!!! [​IMG]


    But, I like what Rudy is doing with this team. He is playing matchups and problems caused by players who play multiple positions.

    Look the Rocks don't really have a banger inside so they go out and draft Thomas last year, and outside shooter; then they get Collier another outside shooter; Massenburg, another outside shooter; they draft Langdi, they still have Bullard; and they want Croshere. Da Ya C a Trend?? Open spaces for Anderson, Mobley, and Francis.


    Hey all year long you guys have been saying that this is Mobley's, Anderson's, and Francis' team. Then the Rocks need to build this team to exploit their talents.


    Imagine this::::: Francis brings the ball across half court, he passes it down to Mobley, Mobley breaks down his man, the defense under the goal collapses on Mobley, Mobley dishes it out to Anderson who goes for a dunk on the weak side, but passes it down to Francis because Shaq almost swats it away, Francis drives it in on a broken defense and throws a sharp pass on the Left corner to Collier (and hopefully Croshere) who drains the three. All this because the lanes were open!!!!!!

    Outside shooters will make Mobley, Anderson, and Francis all into superstars!!!!!

    If this core is not kept together then in 3 years you will see all three in all-star games competing against each other!!!!

    Oh, I bet you thought I'd forgoten about Cato, well on offense he stays outside and just concentrates on Rebounds. But that would clogg up the lane!!!!

    Yet another Excuse to get Rid Of CATOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

    Cato must be traded or released!!!!!!!!

    Hahahaha, Released!!!! If you beleive that one boy do I feel sorry for you!!!

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    #10 vince, Jul 17, 2000
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