Exactly 50 wins? I don't know. What I DO know is that we can surely be better than Minnesotta, Utah and Phoenix. We will be better than Seattle and Golden State. If Portland choose to let Sabonis go, and start Randolph, while giving more time to Qyntel Woods (basically semi-rebuilding), then they will drop from 50 wins as well. We won't be top 4. But I think we can be 5th or 6th. Yao Ming and Steve Francis will have a system designed specifically for them, and we have a new coach, who will see a lot of things Rudy coudn't see since he was here so long.
In all likelyhood, Yao vs. Stoudemire will be a dead issue in 3 years as Yao will soon be serving Stoudemire his a$$ in the paint!
Yup, he is the guy that used to say that Hakeem's Dream Shake was travelling. But that is a fair assessment of the team for next season.
if we make the playoffs next year as the 8th seed ill be happy. i seriously doubt we will be any better than the 6th seed.
So if Tom is right (and many here seem to agree), the Rockets just fired a city icon and the best coach in franchise history to go from a 9-seed to a 6-seed, when they would have improved anyway?
I always find it funny when people whip out the ol' "...but other teams will be getting better" excuse. We were better than Seattle, Golden State, LA Clips last year. There is no reason for me to think that that will change this season. It's not like were not going to improve. They crap like that as if we are on a downslide or something. Not only will we be better than those teams, we will pass Phoenix, Utah, Portland, and maybe even Minnesota. A 5 spot in the West sounds reasonable to me.
My whole thing is we have a 7'6" stud. There's no reason why we can't beat anyone in the Western Conference. We just have to believe we can. The game is mental when you reach our talent level.
Depending on what moves are made this summer, I think a top 5 seed, and a 50 win season are very likely with JVG running things. I dont think the Rockets will surpass Sacto, Dallas or SA in the standings. However, as far as the 4th seed goes, it depends on which Laker team shows up. The Lakers this season actually were not the 4th seed, Minnesota finished ahead of them. If the same lackadaisical Laker squad shows up next yr, the Rockets could edge them out to get into the top 4. I think a top 5 finish would be a HUGE improvement esp considering how difficult the Western Conference is. JVG would definitely get major consideration for the Coach of the Year if the Rockets pull this off. I think year after next is when we start to make our title run.
Very impressive accomplishment for Rudy let's see if JVG can do as well against the elite teams. Don't count on it. Not the first year. The Rockets will improve, they would have with Rudy, but I don't expect to consitently beat the elite teams. If they do better against the Lakers, Kings, Mavs and Spurs I will be impressed with JVG and he will have my support. Not that he needs it but will be the determining factor for me.
In my recollection, the rockets weren't all that vs elite teams last year, 1-7 vs. Dallas and SA?ouch. They better improve on that or I will be pissed. The split with Sac and the 2x shaqless lakers was nice, but overall not that impressive vs. the 4 semifinalists. What would be nicer woudl be if they wouldn't drop so many gimmes. There were so many inexcusable losses to poor teams last year I can't even count them all: Cleveland, Miami at home, the Clippers at home, Atlanta, Washington, Denver, Twice to the abysmal Knicks, TWICE! If Rudy had won 2 or3 of those all eminently winnable games, he would likely still have a job.
Only heavy if you think Yao Ming won't improve AT ALL. If the team underachieved this year, then a 6 seed next year is nothing. If their 9-seed was underachieving, then what should they have been? 8? 7? So say JVG comes in and they make it to 6. That doesn't sound like much improvement to me to justify firing a coach, much less Rudy T. There are many variables that will improve this team next year that have nothing to do with coaching -- Yao Ming simply being able to play more minutes, Yao Ming attending training camp, Yao Ming simply getting BETTER, bigger crowds (hopefully), their head coach not missing a good chunk of games, etc.
Could be that they were underachieving because of the coach. TheFreak is just setting himself up to still be able to b**** about Rudy T stepping down next February when we're playing tons better and solidly entrenched in a playoff spot. Of course, he'll probably be posting on Dusty Garza's site by then anyway.
Let me try to understand this logic. 1) You are OK with 9th place under Rudy (Implied with your justification for not firing Rudy). But 6th place under JVG is not much of an improvement? 2) Yao will improve and help the Rockets win more games irregard of the head coach ?!! Don't you belong in the same crowd that gave Rudy all the credits for the 2 rings, for "developing" Hakeem .... ? Wouldn't you say it's double standard? Give JVG an even break, will you? Wouldn't you like the same given to you also?
Yes I'm okay with 43-39. 6th place the following year is not enough of an improvement to justify firing an icon in my opinion, no. The team would have gotten better either way. No, I'm in the "players win games and championships, not coaches" crowd. How so? I have no problem with JVG.
You know there are too many talking heads in the NBA when Terrible Tommy Tolbert's opinion appears to matter...
