WOW - u guys speaking in such absolutes about "not having it" are talking out of your asses as much as any of the people you're talking down. We haven't even seen this group of guys play together yet and you're saying what we do and don't have, and then speaking UP about the Heat who also haven't proven anything when it comes to chemistry, attitude, and dominance. I'm not saying whos right and wrong exactly, just pointing out that you're just as full of crap so stop talking down to people just because they have faith in a talented squad. There's no crystal ball in your hands, but you can be pessimistic if you want. I don't think the Rockets will overtake LA, but cmon... the Spurs are probably going to be about the same as last year (still very good, on the edge of contenders, but probably not), Dallas may be slightly better than last year (meaning they make it out of the first round? not that great, but pretty good), Portland may or maybe not even be healthy but will be strong still, OKC will be better but they are not going to be dominant - they squeezed in because Houston was heavily injured and had a good finish to the season... but taking LA to 7 doesnt mean they're going to be #2 this year. and whoever said "as long as they have Durant, they will be better than the Rockets" - um, wrong. so wrong. Teams do win, and if you ever doubt chemistry over superstars, then think Pistons over Shaq, Kobe, Malone, and Payton. I'm not saying its every day, all the time, but there are injuries and other happenings throughout the year that keep teams with a "superstar" down. I mean come on, last year was Durant's breakout season and they were #8. The Thunder may win 2-3 more games this season, but they are not a 60-win team. I think our current roster is good enough for 53-55 wins. I think they COULD be better, but if 2005 to now has proven anything to me its that I cant predict sht about this team, lol. All I know is I am so much happier with this Yao/Scola/Martin/Brooks & co squad than I ever was about Yao/Tmac & scrubs. Depth DOES mean something in the playoffs, and just because you arent going to go 12 deep doesnt mean that your top-10 dont mean something in comparison to another teams top-10. and please stop going on and on about Miami, let them speak for themselves. We've seen superstar teams stumble in the past, even if they have decent role players. I know Hakeem/Drexler/Barkley were old, but they could still play...and failed at a title. the above mentioned Lakers team did as well. I guess you could include Hakeem/Drex/Pippen, but Scottie never gelled well here. Also, we saw Kidd/Mashburn/Jackson have a TERRIBLE Mavs team, but they were great players who just couldnt make it all work. Its going to be a great year, and I only want ONE thing. Well okay, two. I want to go through the entire year without a severe injury to a star player. Also, I want to advance and have a good showing in the 2nd round again, if not go on to the WCF. I think going to the WCF means you're a contender. I think Houston is as good this year or better than SA, DAL, POR, OKC, PHO, DEN, or UTA. Under the Lakers? yes, but isnt almost everyone. I think believing in my mind that we're as good or better than all of those teams means we have a possibility of contending. We have to get on the court first tho, because if we could win 42 games last year, Yao should make a difference in at least 10 more games.
sorry, 6. For a moment I think I was thinking of OUR LA series when typing this, heh. I will say that most people believed if Yao had come back last year that we wouldve been contenders because of that series. Well, besides Artest being gone and gaining Martin, we're not that different.
OKC "could" reach the 2nd round, but they better get a top seed because I dont know if their entire "team" is ready to move on. Yeh they have Durant and Westbrook, but I think as good as they have become.... people are blowing their team out of proportion a bit. and question... did you or others around you think Houston would be a contender in '10 if Yao returned, based on their play against Portland and LA? I mean, taking out Portland in 6 and taking LA to 7 (I know some was about LA underestimating, mixed with a fiery rest of the Rockets squad, but its still 7), EVERYONE thought wow... Houston is going to contend when Yao returns. okay, so Yao goes out... and we lose Artest, gain Ariza, lose Ariza, gain Martin. Artest played well in Houston, but his shooting % and shot-selection hurt so much that it almost negated his defense. I swear he was so FRUSTRATING, but he'd finally hit a 3 and you felt better. In those 13 games though, usually he wasnt a huge factor. He played a role, but not a star one. Seriously, if you watch a tape of the LA series you'll be like "wtf Artest?" every game. so, now we have Martin. and we have backup centers. Remember how Deke went out? So yeh, we made it through POR and Lakers WITHOUT a backup center. so... add Martin, reliable backup centers, a rising Budinger, a better Brooks, nice addition of Courtney Lee, a nice surprise in some new players, etc. I'd say the team that was supposed to be contending in '10 is actually better. At least on paper. We miss Landry, we always will, but he wasnt completely irreplaceable as long as after him there are very good role players as well in their own right. so, logically if you account for more than 1 season, yes I think you can doubt that OKC will reach the 2nd round AND believe Houston could be contenders this season. I think there are several teams that OKC would have trouble with, including Houston, so no I don't know if they will reach it even with Durant. I honestly think there's a better chance if the Rockets making the WCF than I do of OKC making the 2nd round. There may be logic both ways, but its incredibly arrogant of you to think that your "logical" use of an injured season (Yao out), along with Tmac being traded, as your only source of Houston Rockets logic in this comparison. sorry, I just dont like when people talk down to other people on a message board about their logic. Some people do have incredibly invalid points, but I dont think this is one to pick on someone about.
Get in the playoffs... and anything can happen. We are contenders for the second best team in the west. I do not think we will get there... I think we will take the Boston Approach... try and manage the match ups look at the standings and say..."We want them. Then them." WC finals are very possible. Can we win the title? Yes... We can beat Orlando, or Boston in a series, The Heat time will tell I am unsure about what this team is going to be in the playoffs. Without some data of how they play it is hard to say. Can we get there? Maybe.. I see us being 3-6 in the west. Look at Dallas last year... people were saying... oh they can challenge the Lakers... or they can not score and not beat the spurs. Do not count out a team that can get shots and take yours away. We know we can get shots... can we take the other teams away? I think we can by the end of the season. Bleed Red Rockets Red Fierguard
Seriously, he stupidly quoted your entire post, then bungles the TLDR gif....as if not reading and being ignorant because of it is something to brag about. DD
lol, yeh well... I know a lot of people don't like reading what looks like a huge mass of jumbled opinion garbage. I've read through some horrible page-long posts in my time...so I get the theory I guess. I don't post trash though. Not everyone may agree with me, but I don't post trash.
No, I just think it was moronic of you to post TLDR (sorry, fail at posting it, rather), and not even give the guy the courtesy of hearing him out. Whether or not you agree with his points, as I clearly do, you could at least have read them and tried to understand what a fellow Rocket fan is thinking about the team. The whole TLDR bit is tired, it is ignorant and it smacks of being proud of being stupid. And, how does it actually improve the board, or pertain to the Rockets? It is a divisive move, that is akin to sitting there with your fingers in your ears and going LALALALALLALALALLAL Just childish, stupid and ignorant, IMO. DD
Just read his disucussion and comment on it.....that is all I am saying. Also, please refer to Woody and Jessie's discussion about footwear in Toy Story 2. DD
Please stop with the 2004 Pistons comparisons. Besides that team, can anyone name the last NBA Champion that didn't have a future HOF player on the roster? The 79 Sonics maybe? Nope, even they had Dennis Johnson. LOL. And for the love of all that is holy, just because you are an OBJECTIVE Rockets fan doesn't mean you are any less of a fan than any of the cheerleaders blindly predicting a championship this year. I've been watching the Rockets since the best part of most posters here ran down the crack of their mama's asses and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress.* And those of you saying we shouldn't be predicting anything until the season starts.....well, hell, why doesn't Clutch just shut this site down until opening day? * obligatory Full Metal Jacket quote
Ima, it is easy to look back and say that team X won because they had a superstar. But Tim Duncan was a rookie when he won, Dwayne Wade a 2nd year player, lots of players were considered superstars AFTER the fact.... Maybe Martin or Brooks or Yao fit that category for Houston....and the 79 Sonics are another good example, Dennis Johnson was hardly a Superstar....even looking back now....a hall of famer...but not a superstar player. Making the Superstar argument is tough because there are a lot of superstars who NEVER won a ring......where does that leave them? DD
