You guys remember before the chapionship runs, when we were right there on the brink of being a great team, and we somehow ended up with the #10 draft pick. Thats when we drafted robert horry, and became one of the best teams in the west and eventually champions. I'm starting to get the feeling that this might be the pick that puts us over the top. Anyone else have that feeling?
Sorry !! Have you been watching the Lowly Rockets in action this last season? If you have and you have accurate observations you will have concluded that the Rockets still need about SIX new player to be over the top , as you say! [ inorder to defeat the top four teams] Through retirement , the Draft . Trades and Free Agency the Rockets Management need to make a lot of creative moves before the Rockets can be considered contenders !! It is possible that it will take about three seasons before the Rockets are over the top! So don't expect too much next season, possibly we might make the playoffs.
Wow, this thread went from extremely optimistic to extremely pessimistic in just 2 posts. Our draft pick alone is not going to be enough to put us in the same category as the truly elite teams like the first poster claims, but we're also a very good team already when healthy. This past season can't be accurately used as a measuring tool. We won 34 games and the 8th seed in the West only won 43. You seriously don't think we win another 9 games with a healthy squad? We're obviously a playoff team, and if we draft right and get a quality player or two with the MLE we'll be competing sooner than later.
After watching our supporting cast play most of the season, I am less optimistic than I have ever been as a Rocket's fan. With the health of both TMac and Ming still uncertain, there is simply no reason to be optimistic. Throw in the Rocket's management track record on personnel decisions and one could get depressed. Like I said before, this organization needs a stroke of luck to rebound from the mess they are in.
again another post based on last season...as clutchcity said, last year can hardly be looked at. our "role players" were playing roles that werent would be completely different if tmac and yao were healthy all year. this coming year, you could see completely different players on the court. we competed in every game with just one yao ming on the court...imagine tmac comes back and hes healthy.....we get 10x better already. if yall want to get optimistic or pessimistic about anything...look back 2 years ago or wait until the off season is over.
Well, I agree. All contenders needs some luck. We had Elie, Horry and Cassell as the luck for our championship team. Detroit had Chauncey and Rasheed, Ben Wallace, San Antonio had Manu and Parker etc. We would seem to be due some.
Im not as extremely pessimistic as some are in this thread. But I see us gaining some ground this offseason. With a healthy T-mac back in action we will have gained a 20+ scorer per night........ And that in itself is worth something. Not to mention a Healthy Yao, some new free agents, plus the # 8 pick in the draft.
It's tru that by watching this past season it may seem that we need a lot of new players around yao and tmac. however, once healthy everyone can go back to playing thier role which will make our role players much more effective. I think we need to add perimeter defense and some shooting. between the MLE and our 2 picks I think we will have a nice team for next season.
i hope to god he loses bowen on thtat bench. i think gundy will play his new guys, h e would have alston more had he not been hurt. and we all know the swift and anderson saga. a couple of bums, one of which may get a ring for his trouble!
A Big Shot Bob comes once every lifetime...what other role player can you name that has won 6 rings!?
Ive been thinking this myself....if we use pick, mle, and te correctly....then i think we legit contenders....period
I think the Rockets are going to surprise some of you nay-sayers. Remember the team that tore through the NBA the second half of the '04-'05 season? Remember the team that would have beaten the Mav's in six with a healthy Juwan Howard? Assuming a healthy T-Mac(This is absolutely the key...nothing else(draft pick, MLE, Mike James, etc...) matters), next year's team should be that and more. Improved Yao, athletic swingman thanks to the pick, improved PG play thanks to Rafer Alston... Also, I believe we will see an improved Stromile Swift. No, really. Last season proved that it wasn't a change of scenery that he needed, because he still sucked. Hopefully he realized his game needs vast improvement and took steps toward improvement. With some lucky bounces, next year could be a very special year.
Agreed I think if Yao plays 20 more games and/or Tmac plays 20 more games it would be a safe assumption that we can get 10 more wins.
