Time for me to take a deep breath, relax, and remind myself it could be worse

by grungedave on Dec 30, 2008 11:42 AM CST in Random Commentary

Yes, I am annoyed that the Rockets blew last night's game and are "only" 20-12 this year, which is no longer good enough for first place in the Southwest Division.

Southwest Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
San Antonio	20	10	.666	0	Won 5
Houston	20	12	.625	1	Lost 1
New Orleans	18	9	.666	0.5	Won 2
Dallas	18	12	.600	2	Won 1
Memphis	10	21	.322	10.5	Lost 2

(updated 12.30.2008 at 11:36 AM CST)

That said... it could be worse. For instance - remember last year?

At this time last year, the Rockets were coming off a defeat to the Celtics (no shame there), and had a robust record of 15-17. So, yes, this year is an improvement. It may not seem like it, but it is. Five games better is still five games better...

And there is a bright side. Just look at our schedule in February! Those are 10 easily winnable games. And the "other" game is against Cleveland, a team we normally match up well against (and Yao wants revenge now, too). By the first of March, the Rockets should be healthy (Big 3), wealthy (big winning streak!) and wise (learn from the Washington debacle. Please!).

Aside from health, the only "resolution" the Rockets should make is to stop taking lesser teams for granted. We've somehow lost to Washington, Indiana, Memphis and the Clippers. I cannot explain that.

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Comments

I gotta agree with you. It is hard not to be frustrated losing a game against teams we should be dominating. Win those games and we are 24-8, a much more desireable record. But I have never seen so much negativity from a teams fanbase when theyre only one game out of first and havent even played their best ball yet. Keep the faith, guys. They’ll figure it out before the end of the year. And we wont need to go on a 22 game winning streak just to get back into the playoffs this time.

Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1995!

by Mike Kerns on Dec 30, 2008 11:52 AM CST reply actions

We will win out in February

It’s so hilarious reading the forums and seeing how everyone pretty much forgot what happened last year. THE EXACT SAME EVENTS, only we have a way better record now than we did last year. Yet people are still overreacting, saying it’s another 1st round exit, blow the team up next year, Adelman sucks, I miss JVG, etc etc.

We really are in the ADD era.

by goingforthecorner on Dec 30, 2008 12:06 PM CST reply actions

but...

I really do miss JVG.

by grungedave on Dec 30, 2008 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

I do too

I was never into the JVG hiring, and I thought it was total low class for Les to interview Adelman BEFORE JVG was fired.

JVG excels at doing more with less. But the concern I had is because of his strict discipline and stubbornness, I worry if he would’ve done less with more?

But also, with JVG, we’d also have Tom Thibodeau. Celtics championship never would have happened either. Yao was getting better with Thibs and has not improved his game AT ALL under Jack Sikma.

I do think our record would’ve been better with JVG this year with these players. Our roster would’ve been different though in reality. Adelman was a key reason in us drafting Brooks, for example.

by goingforthecorner on Dec 30, 2008 1:12 PM CST up reply actions

No artest with JVG

Van Gundy would not have wanted to add Artest. The Rockets should be fine I think. They may not win the 57-60 games I thought they were capable of winning, but they’ll be in the mid 50s I think and host a playoff series.

by forshizzzle on Dec 30, 2008 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think you can say that for sure

First of all the coaches have a say in decisions but it still boils down to Morey. There’s no way JVG would reject a trade to get Artest when we didn’t have to trade a single starter. If he had to choose from B-Jax/Donta Green and Artest, I can’t see him turning that one down.

by goingforthecorner on Dec 30, 2008 8:56 PM CST up reply actions