Will the Rockets be a factor in the west?

[TwoHandJam]

I thought coming into the season that the Rockets would prove to be our toughest competition in the west, but it looks like that title could default to the Mavs because of all the injuries the Rockets have sustained.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2233832

McGrady's back problems aren't going away. Sura just had knee surgery and surgery on a disc in his back (I just learned) so it doesn't look like he'll contribute at all this year.

Alston now has a hairline fracture in his fibula as well! Their backcourt is just a mess with all the injuries. If McGrady gets well, he and Yao will always make noise but I just don't see them being a factor this year.

Are the Mavs going to be the best we've got in the west? We're definitely in the Nuggs' heads.... the Clippers? Grizzlies?

[boutons]

The clippers haven't beaten anybody:

@ Seattle W 101 - 93
Atlanta W 92 - 77
Minnesota W 100 - 99
@ Minnesota L 78 - 93
@ Washington W 102 - 97
@ Atlanta W 102 - 95
@ Philadelphia L 108 - 113
Milwaukee W 109 - 85
@ L.A. Lakers W 97 - 91
Golden State W 113 - 101

but the Mavs have completely embarrassed the Spurs and Pistons @DAL,
but have lost to decent teams on the road.

At this point, Hou will struggle to get a playoff spot, so that leaves only the Mavs, meaning next week's Spurs @Mavs requires that the Spurs kick their asses and deflate their heads on the Mavs home court.

[TwoHandJam]

Beating the Wizards on the road counts for something and even beating the Warriors when they were playing "on the road" is good.

However I agree, I don't think the Clippers will prove to be tougher than the Mavs. Cassell is the key to their winning ways right now just as he was when he got Garnett out of the first round. He's fragile so when he goes down, so will they.

I have to say that I'm thankful that since the east has improved so much, the road to the finals in that division shouldn't be a cakewalk like it was last year. Whatever team we face will be definitely "softened up" to some degree.

I do feel though that with a dearth of real competition in the west, our Spurs might not be tested enough during the regular season.

[baseline bum]

Beating the Wizards on the road counts for something and even beating the Warriors when they were playing "on the road" is good.


The Wizards have been in a huge tailspin ever since beating the Spurs. They're right at .500 now.

[Supergirl]

Houston's future rests solidly on McGrady's back. And since that back is already wearing down (and he's YOUNG!) it doesn't look good. I thought they'd be better. They still might be, if McGrady gets and stays healthy.

[Mark in Austin]

Even if McGrady's back holds up, there is still the issue of his laissez-faire defensive style.

McGrady will always be good for a few highlights and gamewinners, but he'll never be a champ until he plays with intensity at both ends of the court consistently.

[leemajors]

luther head looked incredible last night. if swift would ever grow up they could be solid
they need tmac bad and it was incredibly stupid of him to rush back so soon. 3 games out is not 3 weeks.

[leemajors]

mcgrady played pretty damn good d on dirk last year in the playoffs

[howard2]

It depends on Mcgrady and how well they play together as a team.
They have lost Sura for some time.
Houston needs another PG.

[mavsfan1000]

Houston needs a point period. They lost James and Sura and Alston sucks.

[leemajors]

if head can play like that consistently they have a point.

[Kori Ellis]

McGrady's back has been an issue on and off for a long time. I really thought the Rockets would be one of the best teams in the league.

But they don't use Swift properly, Sura just had his second surgery in the last 3 months (knee then back), Alston has a broken bone in his leg (though he's day to day?), and McGrady's back is acting up.

(Oh and Dion Glover just had surgery if that counts for anything.)

I wanted them to be better, but they aren't.

I hope TMac's back is fine soon, but it's probably just a matter of time before it will be a problem again.

[Despot]

The Rockets will start clicking at some point in the season and be respectable, but I don't see them making it out of the first round of the playoffs no matter who they play.

[TwoHandJam]

luther head looked incredible last night. if swift would ever grow up they could be solid
they need tmac bad and it was incredibly stupid of him to rush back so soon. 3 games out is not 3 weeks.
I agree that Head looks like a player. I thought he just had a good outing against us but he played exceptionally well last night too. JVG was even calling plays for him.

[mavsfan1000]

The rockets were tough last year because of their guards. This year Wesley, Barry, and Sura have not been effective. Mike James is no longer playing for them which was a stupid trade. Good luck Houston.

[ZStomp]

No. Not even last year did I ever think they were to be feared of.

[Horry For 3!]

McGrady's back has been an issue on and off for a long time. I really thought the Rockets would be one of the best teams in the league.

But they don't use Swift properly, Sura just had his second surgery in the last 3 months (knee then back), Alston has a broken bone in his leg (though he's day to day?), and McGrady's back is acting up.

(Oh and Dion Glover just had surgery if that counts for anything.)

I wanted them to be better, but they aren't.

I hope TMac's back is fine soon, but it's probably just a matter of time before it will be a problem again.
Van Gundy is an idiot. He rarely even plays Swift. Swift > Howard easily. Swift played decent amount of time tonight and got 11 pts 12 rebs. So he can easily contribute a lot better than Howard.

[leemajors]

howard doesn't fall asleep on the court. swift takes way too many plays off. he is definitely more talented, but juwan is better on d and can hit a few j's

[mavsfan1000]

Swift is way overrated by what I have seen. He is athletic but his effort and IQ is not that good. What the fuck was he doing shooting a 3 pointer in a crucial part of the game against Dallas. It is a one man team right now and Yao is not effective in the 4th quarter.

[z0sa]

IN my opinion, Yao isn't effective period.

[boutons]

"The Wizards have been in a huge tailspin ever since beating the Spurs."

understatement.

San Antonio W 110 - 95 5-1
@ Cleveland L 99 - 114
@ Minnesota L 98 - 109
@ New Jersey L 83 - 89
Denver L 105 - 108
@ Orlando L 83 - 91

.... 5 straight L, and certain to make it 6 tomorrow:

Fri 25 @ Detroit

[exstatic]

Howard is kind of the PF version of Bowen. He bangs, plays D, hits the J, and can be counted on to be in the right place on the court. That's why he's getting the minutes. JVG isn't much different from Pop in that you have to do certain things to earn court time. Swift's nickname has always been Slow-mile, because he's not very court savvy.

[gospursgojas]

Not if Yao continues to play like a woman

[Spurologist]

yeah the rockets will be a factor. a non-FACTOR

[Rummpd]

Rockets have not been the same since getting abused in a game 7 last year, meanwhile Yao looks to have regressed.

[Brutalis]

Short easy answer: Not until Hakeem comes back.

[z0sa]

Yao, as sad as it is, has been overrated for a long time and hes not the player people have put him up to be. China is one thing, the NBA another. He gets tired, frustrated easily, and hes about as unclutch as it comes. I like him but hes just not that good.