In a replying to a recent thread regarding Bonzi's return, I got to thinking about the roots of this website. I thought about why it was started, why its grown so LARGE, and why I can't seem to stop checking it multiple times a day. Yeah, I want the information, and the opinions, and all that; but after awhile the answer became clear. We all want this team to win. Here's my take: Health - We need 60+ games from the 2 superstars, and they have to be 100% come playoff time. Commitment - We need a team, 15 deep, that brings it, every day and night. Luck - Some will say you make your own luck, but a few bounces, calls, and game winners going our way this year will help. Talent - This roster is the most talented I've seen since Dream was here. Pip and Bark were great, but they were in the twilight of their careers. We have 3 legit high caliber players in their prime. Role Players - Battier, Bonzi, Chuck, and Supernova. Enough said. Preparation - This falls to the coaching staff. Numerous players (mostly vets) have said that they love JVG, and that no one they have ever played for prepares more efectively. Home Court Advantage - The Red Rowdies are a great idea. Outside of that, I think our regular seaon home crowds tend to fall on the tame side when compared to other cities. Don't get me wrong, when the team wins and is in the playoffs, the bandwagon fans fill the stadium, but the Toyota Center is a far cry from Arco or the Delta Center. We need some help in this area.... Thoughts?
I still think we might be a bit offensively challenged to compete for the title... Sure Novak, Head, Hayes are good role players, but they wouldn't see much playing time on a true championship caliber team If Yao and Tmac play at their best, like they did in that playoff series against Dallas, we have good clutch 3 point shooting consistently, and Batter/Wells play solidly in their roles, I think we can go deep into the playoffs. Health, committment, and luck are obvious factors needed for every team.
I think we need more than just 60+ games, I think if we don't have at least 70+, we will be in trouble come playoff time. With 70 you can assume a 50-20 record (roughly) and a 4-8 or so without them. That would make us a 54 win team and likely a top 3 team. With 60 games we would be 42-18 and 7-15, which would make us a 49 win team and that would be a top 7 team in the west, which would mean either Suns, Spurs, or Mavs 1st round On commitment if TMac, Yao (and probably Battier) stay healthy, EVERYTHING will be fine around it. (Look at Heat for example). 2 Superstars make EVERYONE else look so much better Talent - I agree this roster is much too talented to not at least get to Western Conference Finals IMHO. Not that Steve Kerr would agree, that guy thinks Kaman > Yao. Home Court - I hope that Bandwagoners never come back, nothing is more annoying to me than fans that come only when team is winning, either support a team in the good and the bad or just don't support them. As simple as that.
I think the Rockets have all the pieces needed all they need now is team unity, chemistry and players to know their role.
I disagree! Novac and Head will be good enough to be on any contending championship team! Head is about to surprise everyone with the great improvement he has made in the offseason and Novac is like money in the bank, just like Mario Ellie and Robert Hory were.
Only health will prevent this team from winning the championship this year. While healthy, I don't see any team beating the rockets in a 7 game series.
most of the things talked about so far apply to any championship team. health, luck, talent... here is what i tihnk the rockets need from this point foward: Time - enough roster changes. barring a total failure this season, i want to see 10 guys back on the roster for next season instead of 10 new faces. that includes the same starting 5. the reason is obvious. keep a starting 5 together, keep a rotation together, and let them become a well oiled machine. i understand why the roster needed to be turned over so many times, but we reached a point wher eit's ok to cool it for a little and let these guys grow together. Maturity - most of our guys are still "getting it". snyder, head, billy, novak, and hayes will all be a big part of our future success. they need to become used to nba basketball, more specifically, playoff basketball. this sort of goes under "Time", but it's different enough to become it's own championship ingredient so to speak. the difference being, the team as a whole needs ot get used to playing together and the young guys need to mature. even yao and rafer could use some maturity in thier games. barring injuries, this will be enough. let the roster simmer for 2-3 seasons and see how good these guys can get.
I agree that time and maturity are key with the obvious (health & luck) for a team to reach the pinnacle. Playoff maturity is different than reg season maturiity...I think this team can push into second round and Western Conf finals depending on how they are playing...I would be happy with that and it would remind me of the '93 team that lost to Seattle in Game 7. That team came back (same starting 5) and won the thing the next 2 years as they learned that seeding was important (game 7 of '94 finals on our home court) and they learned that Chemistry is equally important. This team and roster has to remain set so that the core can become playoff tested. You add a piece here or there especially if Bonzi leaves next season...although, if close to a title he may give the Rocks serious consideration if a slight raise were in order for year 2 for him. You add a backup center next year to replace Deke and draft the best athlete available late first round and second (if we have both picks in '07)...make it like a miracle to make this team because 1-12 are so damn talented. This last two cuts this year are going to be hard on coach because he has such a talented group...when was the last time that happened? Look at the Heat and you'll notice that they were new to each other but you had a team of playoff veterans (Shaq, Zo, Payton, Haslem, Walker) even Wade from the season before...not to mention a tested and proven coach in Riley...and he got them to peak at jus the right time. JVG has to do the same thing with this group...play to their strengths and make other teams beat us not ourselves...play solid D every time on the court and you will never be out of a game...use the bench as much as possible to get Novak, Head, V-span, JHo minutes to keep the minutes down for the starters. SA looks like the coast all year for 82 games and still manages to win 57-62 games each year but they are assembled for the playoffs not the reg season. JVG has to have a good year...get an extension and continue building this squad for a solid 5 year run ala San Antonio.
i agree the rockets should be able to get at least a good 5-6 years of great basketball. spurs have had a longer one then that though, pretty much since duncan has been there they have been good.
