I BELIEVE!! Anytime you have a super star on your team (STEVE FRANCIS) you should always BELIEVE...GO ROCKETS...
I believe that the Rockets will easily make the playoffs. They will not reach my earlier prediction of Midwest champs, but I still think they can pull of a 6 or 7 seed.
Me too. I see our backcourt stepping up even more. With the additions of Rice, T-mo, and Eddie, I feel we are deeper t han last year's team.
Before this happened I prophesied that we'd lead the league in scoring. That's impossible without 4 consistent scorers, so it's not gonna happen (it was gonna be a really fun season). Now we're just top 5 in scoring... We still have Steve, Cat, and Rice to do the main damage. Cato and KT will fill out and get us lotsa putbacks and alleyoops. Still a high scoring team, dangerous from any point on the floor. We will make the playoffs. KT will step up and surprise. I predicted #6 before this (maybe #5), but I only predict a fall by one slot as a result of Mo's injury - #7. Worst case we sneak in at #8. I still say that this is one of the scariest teams to play in a playoff series - maybe the scariest. No one knows what Steve & Cat will do. Maybe they'll fold. Maybe they'll explode...
The playoff door is open, all the Rockets have to do is step through. They are still better than the Suns, Wolves, and Jazz. Now they have to play even harder, in every game. If the Rockets want to make the playoffs, they will. I love Mo, but it's not like they've lost Steve or Cuttino. If the Rockets sign Mason, I would definitely lock the Rockets into the playoffs, maybe even the fifth seed. Mason is easily as-good as Mo, if not a bit better. He provides defense, hustle, and good offense as well. I don't know why he wasn't signed by some other team weeks ago.
ZRB, your optimism scares me more than a respected member's pessimism would. It's a bad omen. +++++++
Even before the injury I didn't think the Rockets were a playoff team because I didn't think the other teams ahead of us got worse or we got that much better. Everyone wants to pass this argument that with the same nuclues being together the Rockets would be better. How quickly we forgot that most of those victories came against the then weak east. This year however brought a stronger east and an very strong west. Yes Mobley and Cat form a very good backcourt, but a backcourt hasn't won a title since Isiah and Dumars did it in 89-90. Everyone will point to the Bulls, but they had Jordan and 2 All stars in their prime. If you put the teams in order in both conferences, where are the Rockets? Even with Mo Taylor, at best the Rockets could hope for is 7th or 8th maybe. People will look at Griffins frame and say he will get overpowered, but Taylor was out-quicked and overpowered in the conference, so whats the difference? As I look at the west, the only 4 that plays a power game is still Malone and Duncan . Most of the other 4's in the conference like to face up and put the ball down or shoot face up jumpers and this is where Taylor picked up most of his fouls. Personally, if Eddie can have a Joe Smith type of rookie year 13pts,8rebs,2blks, the rockets have more of a chance at the playoffs than with Taylor or Kenny Thomas. Griffin's quickness on the court both in transition and rebounding will more than make up for Taylor's slow footed jump-shooting skills. At least now with the zone, Rudy can stop running that bull$**t offense and get some motion going.
Alright 03, I think we will. While it wasn't good for the team, I think this is just an opportunity for Griff to step up and play.
Hell, we'll not only make the playoffs, we'll get the 7th seed. I think Mobley's a good bet to average 20+ now. Francis will just dish to Rice more. Depth is the problem. Another injury could be crushing.
Nope, the west is just too good, and unless Cato got a heart transplant, this team is going to get close again, but fall just short. DaDakota
I say we will. 7th seed. #33 will be ROY. Steve 24ppg 7ast 6reb Cat 22ppg 5reb Rice 18ppg 5reb KT 12ppg 8reb We need a rebounder. Balls to the Wall.
