KG got to the western conference finals with a crap team. and won last year. kobe's team went to the finals last year and took boston to 6 games, and has the best record so far this year. yao... nuff said.
I think we have a chance. Everything is going well when Tmac left. The team is just better without his lazy azz. I know the team won't admit it but they know it's better without him...and without that sorry azz Rafer that does nothing but chuck up 3s. I mean when is the last time that you find a Rockets team that constantly dominate their opponent on both end of the floor.
This is the first time in a LONG time that we actually have hope of securing the #3 seed. Last year we knew we were getting #4, but #3 is in our reach. OP said it best why can't we win a championship?
Artest is helping us a lot, we're a pretty solid team, and I can't wait for the start of playoffs. But: - Artest doesn't plays more within the offense than McGrady, in any way. - Artest can't create for his partners like McGrady does, in any way. - Artest is not as talented as Tracy, in any way. And we'll see that in playoffs.
The Lakers are better than they were last year. If the Rockets can somehow get past them then yeah, I'd say the Rockets actually stand a decent chance against any of the contenders from the East. The Rockets actually play Cleveland and Orlando extremely well. BTW, I think the Rockets have a fighting chance to keep the #3 spot going into the playoffs.
Well,not quite,the Lakers has been playing without Andrew Bynum again this year and shipped away Ladmanovic.Despite his poor defensive skill,his firepower from the 3 point range did help a lot in the last year's finals.I definitely have faith in Rockets getting past the Lakers if we play our hearts out.Oh,don't forget we have 2 lockdown defenders on Kobe.
and the Rockets are better than they were last year. In fact, i'd wager that the Rockets this year are better than any team with T-Mac and Yao the past 4 years. The problem is noone seems to want to believe that a team without T-Mac is better than a team with him. Artest has been more efficient than T-Mac has been his entire career.
I believe in the rockets, and it frustrates me when i go to these games and the stadium is so empty. And on top of that i hate when i see fans leave halfway into the 4th quarter if we are losing and leave and the beginning of the 4th when we are winning. I hate to say it but we have to many fake fans, and not enough true fans. We need to do our part as a fan and support our Rockets through thick and then, They are like us and probably read these forums or and message board and they can see the fans leave early you dont think that matters to them. They deserve a standing ovation when they win a game at least. I want to see them go far this year and believe they can. I just hope everyone else can support the team because i know i would want that if i played any professional team. Besides with Tmac gone who to me has become blinded buy money, We have players that play with HEART and players that play with heart and effort feed off our support. and thats all i have to say about that.
Championship caliber teams do not implode in 4th quarters. Chicago was an absolute disaster and last night could have easily been Chicago Pt. II. Unless Yao finds a way to get the ball down low and get off good shots this team will continue to lack the ability to close out games. Ron is shooting well right now but if the only last second play this team has is Ron dribbling until the clock is down and either hoisting a bad shot or passing to a team mate who has to take a bad shot then the Rockets are toast in the playoffs. I honestly think Kyle Lowry's dribble penetration and court vision could end up being this team's bread and butter down the stretch when Yao is neutralized by fronting defenses or the officials. Lowry can get to the rim and finish, draw fouls and also has the ability to get a good pass to the perimeter once he sucks in the defense. Bottom line, this team still needs to find someone who can create GOOD shots at the end of games or hope Lowry keeps developing into that guy.
Wait till 2010 when rox sign Carlos Boozer, or league darling Dwade, until then Utah > rockets including their fans .
Yao has been better at moving without the ball and getting low post positions this year, he's been hitting like 60% of his shots with lower scoring output, so he's not limited by fronting now, the only questions hangs is his ability to defend the pick and roll.
Screw Utah and their fans. Maybe I'm mistaken, but Carlos Boozer can opt out after this year, and I, for one, anticipate him doing that.
AB needs to mature, Yao needs to dominate, Von needs to start scoring again... Our defense can keep us in the game...
KG had a crap team when they went to the conference finals? What the hell? Did you just go back and look at their roster using today's judgment on players back then? They Sam Cassell, who was putting up 20 a game, and Latrell Sprewell, who was still an effective scorer. Let's not forget that brought Wally Sczerbiak off the bench, along with Troy Hudson. That team was certainly not crap.
