Hey, everyone can give their opinion- obviously, Durvasa's a fan, so I don't think he's belittling anything. In fact, what I like about this board is that, throughout all this media madness, and as much I like to hear the national media slobber over us for once in our lifetime, once the streak's over, and we're regulated to our normal place in the universe, the only opinions that wil matter to me are those on this board, because we're there on an every-day, every-week, every-game basis. Now, if someone in the national media were to say this, I'd be furious because they really have no business cutting us down for this remarkable achievement. But Durvasa's a big-time fan, so I think he's completely valid in presenting a different point of view, and an interesting one, to boot. I'm just glad that, regardless of the circumstances, the only thing others will remember is the 2x- game winning streak (yes, I'm predicting an end before 30). I'm thinking that a loss sometime in the next week or so wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. I think it's inevitable, for one, and it will also allow them to continue to focus on the big prize.
Yeh I said this in another thread when we had our 19 game winning streak. One poster criticized me, but nobody else really saw it I guess.
I think that's durvusa's point. If the Rockets don't get a championship this year they'll be the first team with a streak of 19 or more wins not to bring home the big prize.
True test is coming up next week. The streak will probably end, but I don't see why we can't go 4-1 against the Lakers, Celtics, Hornets, Warriors and Suns.
I think the difference between the Rox and the Lakers, Bucks and Lakers is pretty clear: none of those teams got screwed out of one of their two big stars for the playoffs. Damn you cruel fates! Anyway, as we get closer to the playoffs I might post a "How can the Rockets win it all?" thread. Preliminary thoughts: somebody else needs to take out the Lakers. I think the Rox might be able to hang tough with anybody else in the league
I somewhat agree except for the part where you said that this team has been taking advantage of a soft schedule since Yao went out... I think, if anything, our schedule since Yao went out has been more difficult.
The current team is pretty good. I think we will pass the first round this year, but lose in the second round
The only difference now is that before with Yao we were a big team that sometimes went small. Now we are a small team that sometimes goes big with Deke. The fact we are able to do so so efficiently is a testiment to coach Adleman and the front office and Daryl Morey. Now lets go get that CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
In order to win a Championship of any kind, a little luck has to fall your way. Here's hoping that all the cards fall the Rockets direction. Remember how San Antonio won all those championships with a team that wasn't all that good during the regular season. They had the mentality and the motivation in the playoffs but I'll still say, they weren't all that good athletically overall. So the Spurs with a little luck won a lot of championships.
If the Rockets step up to the plate next week and win some games against Lakers and especially Boston for sure, then this discussion is moot. I for one am ready for next week. I want the Rockets determination and will tested, I want to see how they are going to come out of this next week, then we'll see what team they are. Someone pointed out that after tonight, the Rockets next five will be against teams with a .600 plus winning percentage. I think it will say what are team is about. If we go with another five wins, I think it's time to start fitting the rings. Every sportwriter out there demeans the streak, and you can look at our modest 8 win streak without Yao as something, but we still beat Dallas and NO. No, Dallas didn't have Dirk and NO didn't have West, but we didn't have Yao either which tells me that our team without our best player is better than their team without their best players. Also, don't demean an 8 game winning streak, that's still good. I perfer to see the whole context and know that after Yao went out, there wasn't a let down. They could have easily started losing and blowing off the season, but they have worked their collective butts off. To me that makes 20 in a row special, no matter what happens in the future.
I am pretty sure most real fans would cherish 20 consecutive wins no matter what the postseason outcome is. The city of Houston is nuts right now. Sometimes people just make no sense at all. Its almost a crime.
i think that's what the rest of the nation is saying... that our current team makeup doesn't reflect a team that has gone 20-0, because 12 of those wins are with yao. however, the way we've been beating teams lately without yao (where the game differential has steadily gone up to 12 something a game) goes to show that we're playing well as a unit... so i'd still like to think that this is a 20-0 team... and that without yao, players have collectively picked up their game and focus... and that we're actually playing better basketball
Extending the streak to 20 games without Yao has been a fun ride after some very bad news. I will enjoy the ride until it ends. Sunday and Tuesday, the Rockets will be on national TV with consecutive feature games! Considering our outlook when Yao went down, that is amazing. Most of the NBA and Rockets fans assumed we instantly became irrelevant. Just enjoy what's happening and don't worry so much about the playoffs just yet. In the postseason, I will be happy if we win one series. That, along with the streak, will be enough to prove the franchise is headed in the right direction. But I have my doubts about us being able to win 4 out of 7 games vs. an opponent that will game plan against our offense.
Exactly!! Plus we jus started playing mutombo 8 games ago, so he's like a new old player. And luther was injured for awhile. What this team has managed to do is nothing less than remarkable. It was a TEAM effort. I was watchin espn after the NO game and they said statistically we were better without Yao. We may not be as flexible but we have gotten the job done. Oh yeah and even 'ELITE' teams have a bad game every now and again, the lakers recently lost to the kings. We beat the hawks by 8 on a bad shooting night and we have guys complainin get a life.
I hadn't actually thought about this but our Point Differential Power Ranking has actually gone up a bunch with Yao out of the lineup. Now we are walloping teams where before we were just beating them.
