The similarity between this years record and last years record is misleading. This team is playing much more cohesively. They play much smarter in almost every aspect of the game. Ball movement is exceptional, but players are moving too. I have actually seen some successful fast breaks. They are a joy to watch. The last couple of games they have won ugly, but they still won. I have really enjoyed this season overall. There are thirty games left, I am hoping for at least a 20-10 record and 51-31 overall.
We are at the apex so far with hopes of getting higher, I just think we are looking better as a well played team rather than a group of guys out on the court liked I saw at the beginning...
Perhaps not, but you have to look at the way we were winning last year versus this year. Last year was inconsistent start to finish. Win two, lose one, win three, lose two. We never went on any strong runs and lost to inferior teams throughout the season. This year, we started out weak as our chemistry developed (chemistry that had been "developing" with SF, Cat, and Yao for two years previously to no avail) and lost several games to teams we should have beaten easily. However, since the Milwaukee game in late December, we have only lost to teams that I consider to be good teams (the only possible exception being the Lakers) and have had several great wins against very good teams. Our chemistry is coming along nicely, our rotation is pretty solid and we seem to have learned both how to win close games and how to put away inferior teams. The YOY might not look too good, but the last month and a half looks better than any 6 week stretch I can remember in the SF/Cat/Cato era.
put it this way - compared to last season the Magic fans should be estatic (and some are) - but since they had that hot start, they are falling back to the pack and the fans are gripping. The opposite is true in Houston - weak start with a strong performce in 05 has everyone juiced. You should not look at last season's team - look at last year's team (Nov Dec 2004)
Imagine if we had Wesley, Barry and a healthy Sura at the beginning of the year. Sure it would have still taken some time to gain some chemistry, but I bet we win A LOT more of those December games than we did with the previous version of this team.
4 games vs. Sonics, 3 vs. Suns, 2 vs. Spurs 1 vs Mavs, 1 vs Kings 1 vs Heat. 7 out of those 12 games on the road. Plus some games against Memphis, Lakers,Cavs, Washington, Chicago etc. I don't see Rockets can finish 20-10.
according to the stat experts at ESPN, we have the toughest schedule ahead. But this is a "Happy thread" so I would say we are going to make those .500 or above team going below .500
March 2005 W - @ Chicago W - @ Washington W - Dallas W - @ Seattle L - @ Phoenix W - @ Sacramento W - @ Golden State W - Portland W - Boston W - @ Minnesota W - Miami W - Cleveland W - @ New Orleans W - @ San Antonio W - @ Utah W - @ Portland 15-1 watch and learn
