They'll be better than last season but not a lot... Losing Hakeem Olajuwon is obviously big, but he had slowed down, wouldn't go out and play people on the perimeter at all. If they can get anything fromKelvin Cato at center, they'll be better defensively.Long-range, though, Cato's not the answer.Jason Collier is not the answer even short-range...Eddie Griffin was lazy in high scholl and lazy at Seton Hall, so I see no reason he won't still be lazy. He has talent, but Walt Williams will outwork him,and as much as Houston seems to be counting on Griffin, Williams could end up getting more minutes....Terence Morris can do a bit of everything, but he's not a real difference-maker.Still, Steve Francis andCuttino Mobley will keep the rockets in most games. They're among the best one-two duos in the league. Either one can handle, shoot on the run, break people down,make standstill shots and defend. Anything else you can ask of a guard? Both guys, along withGlen Rice ,are willing and able to take big shot. Rice won't win you a championship, but he's got some gas left in the tank, and he'll be good with this back court,where he's be able to roam and find his spot.... Kenny Thomas is an underrated player-a four with the quick feet of a three. He gets the job done with know-how....If the Warriors hadn't matched Houston's offer for Marc Jackson and the Rockets could have brought him off the bench, they'd have a nice rotation, but it's going to be tough for them to get much better in the West. Rated #10 in the Western Conference behind Phoenix and ahead of Golden State I feel that they have not included Willis, and it should bring the Rockets up a few spots.
So, what that really means is that the Rockets are going to have a great year. Remember, SI had Oregon State winning the NC this year, and the Red Sox are supposed to be working on a 3-peat right now. SI's so wrong so often, you can set your watch to it.
Seems like the media always is down on the Rockets. Even the years when we won back - to - back championships they hated us. Made them look stupid then, maybe we can do it again!
If we had Horace Grant and Corliss Williamson on the Rockets, we could put on the floor a lineup of: Horace Corliss Morris Torres Norris Pretty cool, eh? Well thank God we dont!
