Rockets Look Good

[Ghost Writer]

Those d@mn Rockets look poised to give us problems this season.

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.

The addition of Alston gives them a big-time 3-point shooter to complement the inside-out game.

And I can't believe the Nets missed out on Stromile Swift while messing around with Abdur-Rahim and let my man go to the Rockets.

Don't be surprised if our old rival winds up being our biggest foe.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I don't like the Alston move very much but the Swift pick-up was one of the more quietly impactful moves this off-season. In terms of some of the other top teams in the west like Dallas and Phoenix it's debatable whether or not they got better this off-season, but I think that the Rockets certainly did.

[1Parker1]

Those d@mn Rockets look poised to give us problems this season.

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.




Shaq>Yao
Kobe>Tmac
PJ>Van Gundy

Although I do believe Houston will give us problems, I don't think htey resemble the Lakers dynasty..

[samikeyp]

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.

I see where you are going GW but IMO, Shaq during those runs was 100x better. TMac-Kobe though is very close.

[ChumpDumper]

The new guys don't have a history of raising their games in the playoffs, but they do have a decent amount of depth. Staying healthy will be very important.

[Spurminator]

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.

I'll deny it... It remains to be seen how Yao will look after a summer of rest, but he's no Shaq.

The Rockets are better, I just don't think they've made enough additions where you can honestly say they've improved from a 5 seed to a legitimate Championship contender.

[MiNuS]

"good" is not enough to beat the Spurs.

capiche?

[Banks91]

I'd give the rockets 40 % chance of beatin the spurs. A better percentage then anyother team out there.

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't know about all of the Rockets moves. They've added some guys whose names carry weight, but I think they're going to struggle a bit to mesh that talent into a workable team.

They have a big-time superstar in McGrady, but around him, they're kind of working without a philosophy. They have a few guys who are suited to transition basketball (Swift and Alston particularly) and might struggle in a slow-down offense; they have a few who are best suited to playing in the half-court (particularly Yao, Mutombo, Anderson, Wesley), which seems to be the style that Van Gundy would rather play. They lack a real distributing PG -- if Parker isn't a distributor, than neither is Alston -- and with the exception of McGrady, their wings are either very old or not very skilled. And the growth of the Rockets from a playoff team into a legitimate contender depends on a big leap forward for Yao, which I don't think is a given.

Like spurm I think the Rockets are better, but I'm not sure that they're that much better.

[Marcus Bryant]

Houston makes the same kind of moves every summer. BFD.

[Gummi]

I'm more worried about the Suns then the Rockets. The only guy on that team that worries me is McGrady. McGrady can take over a game just like he did against us last season. Yao is not the great player people thought he would be, and their role players aren't that impressive. They're either old or career underachievers. Swift is a career underachiever and his move to the Rockets doesn't scare me one bit. He's is not going to give any of our PF problems. He scores one way and one way only, by dunking. Either it's just straight dunking or follow up dunking.

[Marcus Bryant]

The Suns concern me if they can somehow morph into a postseason defensive stalwart after a season of not being one. Honestly, their acquisition of Raja Bell reminds me of the Mavs' acquisitions of Adrian Griffin and, um, Raja Bell. You don't turn your team into a top defensive unit by acquiring a defensive specialist. You do it by getting a total team commitment and that includes the coaching staff.

The Suns are too wedded to the open court game. Plus their owner is an ass.

[Extra Stout]

The Rockets organization has, I think, figured out what kind of players they need to put around their stars to be successful.

Right now, however, their backcourt is still pretty much a stopgap. And, they don't have experience deep in the playoffs.

I think they're at least a year away from a serious title run. But 55-27 and a semifinal date with the Spurs is a reasonable expectation.

[GoSpurs21]

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe. Except that:
1) no one is afraid of Ming the way they are afraid of Shaq
2) Shaq and Kobe actually get out of the 1st round of the playoffs
3) the rockets dont scare anyone
4) Shaq and Kobe have 3 rings

but other than that Ming and McGrady still dont remind me of Shaq and Kobe at all, but I guess you think all all-stars are alike.

You really need to let go of your "cant win championship without multiple all stars" mentality. And I know Manu was an all star last year, but you all but denied him.

[Marcus Bryant]

Houston gets the same type of players every offseason, either names or guys who are the hot free agent. There's never a rhyme or reason to their acquisitions. Moving James for Alston is a prime and recent example. Sure, if I'm running an And 1 team I want Skip To My Lou wearing my colors. But in the NBA? Fuck no.

Once upon a time they landed Clarence Weatherspoon. This summer it was Stromile Swift.

[Extra Stout]

Houston gets the same type of players every offseason, either names or guys who are the hot free agent. There's never a rhyme or reason to their acquisitions. Moving James for Alston is a prime and recent example. Sure, if I'm running an And 1 team I want Skip To My Lou wearing my colors. But in the NBA? Fuck no.

Once upon a time they landed Clarence Weatherspoon. This summer it was Stromile Swift.

They needed more speed in their backcourt. James is a decent player, but rather plodding. Plus, he did not get along with Tracy McGrady. Alston is a quicker player. With Bob Sura out indefinitely, they figured they needed to do something, since they did not trust James to be their starter.

Despite that, I admit that an Alston/Anderson backcourt is a stopgap. They need further upgrades at both guard positions.

Swift is a great fit as a role player to complement Yao Ming up front.

The Rockets at least have figured out that what they need is speed (and youth) in the backcourt, and athleticism with physicality up front (since Yao is so soft), and are pursuing those kinds of players. That is a marked change from the past, when they threw multimillion-dollar long-term deals at CBA scrubs to whom Rudy Tomjanovich felt loyal.

But executing their roster strategy will take a few years.

[BlueShark#6]

Those d@mn Rockets look poised to give us problems this season.

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.

The addition of Alston gives them a big-time 3-point shooter to complement the inside-out game.

And I can't believe the Nets missed out on Stromile Swift while messing around with Abdur-Rahim and let my man go to the Rockets.

Don't be surprised if our old rival winds up being our biggest foe.
Puhleeeeease....Ming does not really dominate us in the paint the way Shaq used to..Ming gets winded way too quick...McGrady stuck it to us last season when he rattled off a bejezus amount of points in like 30 some seconds....The Rockets should not scare us!

[FromWayDowntown]

But you can't run with Yao on the floor. He's shown no ability to keep up in a running game. Speed and quickness are great, but with Yao around, that the speed and quickness has to be of the sort that can make plays in the halfcourt. I don't believe that Alston is a half-court type of PG. I think he needs to get out and run to be effective, but if they're going to get out and run, they've more or less eliminated Yao except as a filler on the secondary or tertiary break.

[Marcus Bryant]

They needed more speed in their backcourt. James is a decent player, but rather plodding. Plus, he did not get along with Tracy McGrady. Alston is a quicker player. With Bob Sura out indefinitely, they figured they needed to do something, since they did not trust James to be their starter.

Despite that, I admit that an Alston/Anderson backcourt is a stopgap. They need further upgrades at both guard positions.

Swift is a great fit as a role player to complement Yao Ming up front.

The Rockets at least have figured out that what they need is speed (and youth) in the backcourt, and athleticism with physicality up front (since Yao is so soft), and are pursuing those kinds of players. That is a marked change from the past, when they threw multimillion-dollar long-term deals at CBA scrubs to whom Rudy Tomjanovich felt loyal.

But executing their roster strategy will take a few years.


Perhaps. But the patttern seems clear to me. Every summer the Rockets make a bunch of moves and then Rockets fans break out their Clutch City shirts (you know, the type that look like someone wiped their ass with them and then a fungus started to grow on it) and proclaim the upcoming season to be their season.

Face it, Rockets fans are to NBA fandom what LL Cool J is to Hip-Hop.

[SWC Bonfire]

Robert Horry can't save them now, the bastards. :jack

[rayray2k8]

houston has always given the spurs problems and they may be a thorn on the spurs side. still not enought to take them in the WCF, but hey at least there's some pretty decent competition out there ;)

[TOP-CHERRY]

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.
I can! Yao is overrated. :)

Besides that, I agree with you.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Well everytime duncan played against Yao this last season he (duncan) played like a little flustered girl

meanwhile yao just standing there seemed to give duncan problems

[batman2883]

Yao is no better than Rasho, he's just bigger, dude for the size that Yao has he should be dominating every game like Wilt did. The dude is as soft as they come, like him and Rasho have the same mama or something.

[T Park]

Yao Ming is a more talented shooting and taller version of Rasho Nesterovic.

Plain and simple.

Hell, I think Rasho might play better D than Ming.

[SequSpur]

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.

:lol :lol :lol :lol

Is this sarcasm or basketball knowledge?

:lol

[mavsfan1000]

Yao is nowhere near a dominant center. Dallas put Dirk on Yao and Yao should've gone off but he didn't.

[Money316]

No one can deny that Ming and McGrady are reminiscent of Shaq and Kobe.
Where's the end of the line?
:fro :fro :fro

[z0sa]

He said reminiscent, like maybe not the exact thing, but it seems like it. So I agree, it could be reminiscent of shaq and kobe. especially tmac - that fool is clutch!

[mavsfan1000]

I guess the rockets are 50% of the Lakers because Mcgrady is as good as Kobe but it is laughable comparing Yao to Shaq.

[DesiSpur_21]

Yao = 0.4 x Shaq
TMac = 0.7 x Kobe

[z0sa]

I think Tmac is like 0.85 of kobe...

[mavsfan1000]

T-Mac is better than Kobe but Yao is Rik Smits

[slayermin]

I would say Yao has shown glimpses of being dominating but he is way too inconsistent. Also, he is too nice. Shaq is a bully. He has dominated through intimidation and brute force. If Yao ever decides to do that, he would be unstoppable.

Tmac and Kobe are very close. Kobe was able to refine his game by playing next to a seasoned Shaq. Tmac has pretty much refined his game on his own.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Guys drop the bias for a second and recall last seasons houston games


i remember duncan trying to go baseline and getting stuffed
going to the right hook and barely making the rim

yao's length gives duncan problems cuz duncan likes to use his length


in a 1 on 1 setting, duncan didnt exactly play like i'd want him to against yao

[gospursgojas]

the addition of Rafer doesnt improve the Rockets at all.....hes a headcase and I still hate him for pushing Tim last year. This isnt rucker boy

[ca®lo]

yao's no shaq.

whats up with that comparison.

again.. im no shaq homer but..

yao's no shaq.

[TOP-CHERRY]

Guys drop the bias for a second and recall last seasons houston games


i remember duncan trying to go baseline and getting stuffed
going to the right hook and barely making the rim

yao's length gives duncan problems cuz duncan likes to use his length


in a 1 on 1 setting, duncan didnt exactly play like i'd want him to against yao
It's no bias. What bias? You're the one who brought up Duncan into this. What we are saying, well at least what I'm saying, is Yao is nowhere near being as dominiant as Shaq. Nowhere near. So someone pointing out that the TMac-Yao combo resembles the Kobe-Shaq combo isn't very accurate.

Why I think Yao is overrated? Blame the media for hyping the hell out of him before he came into the league. They made him out to be this monster at the game... Which he definitely isn't. He's been no Shaq.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

It's no bias. What bias? You're the one who brought up Duncan into this. What we are saying, well at least what I'm saying, is Yao is nowhere near being as dominiant as Shaq. Nowhere near. So someone pointing out that the TMac-Yao combo resembles the Kobe-Shaq combo isn't very accurate.

Why I think Yao is overrated? Blame the media for hyping the hell out of him before he came into the league. They made him out to be this monster at the game... Which he definitely isn't. He's been no Shaq.


it wasn't directed at you, just everyone downplaying Yao's impact, comparing him to Rasho

If our 3rd string Center is comparable to Yao Ming, then this is the greatest NBA team of all time

I have no comment as to whether he's overrated or underrated
All i know is he does affect the game to a noticeable degree when they play the Spurs...And downplaying that and calling him Rasho but taller is wrong.

It should go without saying that he's not as good as Shaq. If that's all we're discussing then..................................

[Ghost Writer]

Comparing an out-of-shape Clarence Weatherspoon to an emerging Stromile Swift is short-sighted.

Alston is needed to basically pass it into Ming and then drain 3s.

McGrady is a superstar.

This is not the typical summer for the Rockets as the guys they got actually have upside.



Phoeniz did what Dallas did in trading offensive firepower for defensive presence. Unfortunately, like the Mavs, they cut off their nose to spite their face, because their competitive advantage was being able to score at will. Now their team is suddenly balanced... and slightly above average.

[Ghost Writer]

P.S.

Do you people know what the word "reminiscent" means?

Name a duo that has more potential to be like Shaq and Kobe in their primes than Ming and McGrady.

Duncan & Ginobili?

[Marcus Bryant]

Comparing an out-of-shape Clarence Weatherspoon to an emerging Stromile Swift is short-sighted.

They're the same caliber of player in the league, basically. 'cept Spoon was much more a rebounder, from what I recall.



Alston is needed to basically pass it into Ming and then drain 3s.


And fuck up team chemistry. James could drain 3s, pass the ball to the Chinaman and run an offense. Dumb deal but typical for the Rockets.



McGrady is a superstar.


As he was last season and the season prior and...



This is not the typical summer for the Rockets as the guys they got actually have upside.


They got a 6'10" tall power forward who couldn't break 5 boards a night last season.




Phoeniz did what Dallas did in trading offensive firepower for defensive presence. Unfortunately, like the Mavs, they cut off their nose to spite their face, because their competitive advantage was being able to score at will. Now their team is suddenly balanced... and slightly above average.

Uh the Mavs never gave up their offensive firepower for a defensive presence. What they did do was sign a guy who was to be their defensive "stopper". That is not a good formula. Yes, the Spurs have Bruce Bruce, but the entire team is built around a commitment to playing great defense. If you're going to play a running game and then rely on one or two players to play your defense for you then you are going to get exposed at some point in the playoffs.

[Marcus Bryant]

P.S.

Do you people know what the word "reminiscent" means?

Name a duo that has more potential to be like Shaq and Kobe in their primes than Ming and McGrady.

Duncan & Ginobili?

Well, they do have 2 rings together as a combo.

[Solid D]

Houston is deep and solid with their additions. I didn't like the trade of Mike James for Rafer Harper, though. :smokin

[Rick Von Braun]

Face it, Rockets fans are to NBA fandom what LL Cool J is to Hip-Hop.
:lmao

[SequSpur]

P.S.

Do you people know what the word "reminiscent" means?

Name a duo that has more potential to be like Shaq and Kobe in their primes than Ming and McGrady.

Duncan & Ginobili?


Ming and McGrady will never be a Shaq and Kobe.

Ming will never be related to Shaq, but maybe related to Rasho and Sean Bradley.

Next.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Do you people know what the word "reminiscent" means?



no shit


I dont rate them as high as you Casper, but still...mcgrady and yao are a duo to be reckoned with

However...noone can deny this all-too classic observation made by nkdlunch


They look like a team of giant nerds. Yao looks like he's about to pull out his calculator and TMac looks like Urkle :lmao :lmao :lmao