no one said dont have an opinion before the season starts, I just think its awful of fellow fans to bash each others ideas when no one has any facts yet, just theories. It seems like theres a lot of "no thats stupid, Rockets cant win" sounding ideas coming from the self-proclaimed "realistic" pessimist crowd in here. I don't think Houston will get to the Finals, but I think they have the means to. I think if healthy, WCF at best, 2nd round at worst.
If you don't think Houston will get to the Finals, and you think WCF AT BEST if healthy, then I think you agree with the realistic pessimists.
No, you definitely do not post trash! I don't know how you did it, but you somehow managed the impossible feat of silencing a known GARM idiot......well done, sir!
Ah, well that is what I think, that at BEST they win it all.....but I believe that if you have a shot at getting to the conference finals, you are a contender, because at that point anything can happen. DD
Sorry, but no one on our roster has the upside Duncan or Wade had in their early years. DD, all your posts on this subject seem to say the same thing - we could win a championship. Well, of course we COULD win a championship. I (and others) are just saying it's very unlikely. The bottom line is that our best player can only play 24 minutes a game and will probably finish the season in a suit on the bench. If the lakers said that about Kobe, do you think they would be considered contenders? I LOVE the guy, but he's coming off a major injury that would be tough to come back from if he was 6'6 and 24 years old, much less 7'6 and 30 years old. I appreciate your enthusiasm. I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer...just looking at the team and the season objectively.
I guess that depends upon what you thing of: Brooks Martin CBud Patterson Hill Out of all of those, I actually think Brooks is the best bet, if you just watch the way he plays and the confidence, he is right there...and other NBA players can see it too.... I understand, but I don't think Yao's 24 minute limit is permanent, I think it is precautionary while they monitor his foot..... And all the comments by the organization where they say it could change going forward lead me to the conclusion that he will be playing near his 32mpg average by the playoffs. And I do see your objectivity, I just believe it is jaded by Yao's injury history. This team is better than any Yao + Tmac team, and that is a great thing. DD
We agree on a lot, just not mortgages and contender status, but I will bet if the Rockets get out fast, you will jump on board the contender wagon. We need a guy to hammer the war drums ! DD
Here goes my questions. As a Rockets fan these are the only questions I am concerned with. Will it be an entertaining season? Will I be engaged with this team enough to follow them? Will they play hard every night and make us proud as fans? If the answer is yes. Then I am in. Im a 99 altough my history here doesnt reflect it. I fell in love the Francis and Cuttino team that was young and exciting. The Tmac years were a bit dull because of predictibility. He was going to get a ton of shots and get a ton of points and get bounced out of first round. Lately I am more excited to see the type of offense that runs fast breaks, passes the ball and shows more teamwork. So we are not contenders? Who cares, i'm still a fan and im going to savor each game. Do I want them to be contenders? Of COURSE! but i am intrigued by the lack of predictability. Lets get this season started.
No one (except you) thinks any of those guys are scratching the surface or even belong in the same conversation with Tim Duncan or Dwayne Wade. They weren't regarded as such in college either, the way those guys were. They're not of that caliber. Martin, in particular, has been in the league way too long for us to think we have a Hall of Famer on our hands. He's been in the league for 6 seasons and is already 27 years old...in that time he's been a borderline all star. Never an "all-nba" type player that guys like Duncan and Wade are.
Plus, Duncan and Wade were ROOKIES! Martin and Brooks have been in the league for way too long for them to suddenly become All-Stars who are gonna become Superstars. The only ones who I think you could possibly consider become future HOF or Superstars are Patterson and Hill because we don't know what they are capable of yet and they are still young. Martin is already 27 and Brooks is 25, and we already know what they are good at. Really efficient scorers who do nothing else. Putting Martin and Brooks in the same category as Duncan or Wade is an insult to Duncan and Wade.
I don't know why some of you guys even watch. There's plenty of room on the Miami, LA, Boston bandwagons for you guys who don't think the team has enough superstars. I blame video games and fantasy sports.
oh come off that, "you're not a fan" crap. i love the rox. i'll be watching..and i don't need to pretend their championship contenders for me to watch and root for them. i watch and root for them because they're Houston.
Anything can happen. You can get past the Lakers and then meet a depleted or injured Miami teem that isnt deep. Alot of teams have won the Championship on luck of draw or injuries to another team. Could win because we got on a hot run or a midseason trade that made us instant contenders? Alot can happen in a season.
I didn't say or imply anyone wasn't a fan, especially not you, but some of the comments in this thread make me wonder why some people even watch. I couldn't care less if this team doesn't have any Superstars and that seems to be all some people care about and that is what lead to my statement. I do believe this team can content if (and these are big ifs) these things all happen A. Yao stays healthy B. They commit to playing Defense 48 minuets a game C. They learn to trust each other and play within the offense If not I'll be happy watching players I like playing as a team, developing, and hopefully playing deeper into the playoffs since 95.
i do not discount this possibility. but until they make a trade, i think the discussion centers around whether the current crop is a real contender or not
I only care if they have superstar in so much as: a. the history of the NBA indicates teams WITH superstars win and compete for titles...while teams WITHOUT superstars generally (with but a few exceptions) do not; and b. I'd like to see them win another ring before I die. They don't need to have a superstar for me to root for them or be entertained by them. Not at all. But I'm ALLLL for giving the Houston Rockets a better shot at winning a ring.
