[Poll] Which Rockets team is better?
by goingforthecorner on Feb 25, 2009 5:04 PM CST
21 comments
Even without a healthy McGrady, could this team as currently constructed be better than last years team before Yao got hurt?
This year, we basically get to replace T-Mac with Artest, and we have much better versions of Scola and Brooks. Now AB is starting with Lowry backing him up, while Rafer was playing a lot last year.
The expectations last year were pretty high before Yao got hurt (already won 12 in a row before he went down officially). After their impressive blowout @ New Orleans last year, I thought that was really the year. It looked like we were on the way to a #1 seed. Even without Yao we finished just 2 games back of the 1 seeded Lakers.
This year expectations have drastically changed since all the distractions with T-Mac, injuries to Battier and Artest, and now Rafer being traded. But could it be that this current team is now better or at least on par? I don't have those championship expectations like I did last year, but maybe it's just because I'm underestimating this team. I still believe a healthy McGrady is what's going to prevent us from going all the way, along with no longer having a true PG, but that's just me.
No cursing in title. No pirated material, such as links to online game streams. Thanks.
0 recs |
21 comments
Email
Print
Comments
depth
also has a lot to do with it…no more head…now going with a more expirienced abcup PG (brooks was a rookie) …better backup PF (landry more explosive last year, and sturggling a lil’ but better)…and most importantly, my vanilla wafers!
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Feb 25, 2009 5:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I see what your doing here
I voted with last year before Yao went down. I think this team could overtake that team, but right now it’s WAY too early to tell
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Feb 25, 2009 7:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
You probably get what I'm doing
specifically with T-Mac’s true value when healthy compared to Artest.
But it’s still a legit debate I think because of depth and experience like the above poster said. This year we have Wafer and Barry, last year it was Head and Novak.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 25, 2009 8:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't let Tom see that!
I don’t disagree, it’s a good topic, though I think one better after May
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Feb 25, 2009 8:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh no you didn't...
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Feb 25, 2009 9:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Great question.
Last year feels like forever ago now.
Your a ten, but I'm on eleven!
by JakedaSnake on Feb 25, 2009 9:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The current team is obviously better.
They’re performing better, for one. While T-Mac’s absence and knee hurts the current team, Brooks is improved, Landry is healthy, Scola is better, and the bench is stronger.
And since Rafer isn’t around, there aren’t six extra 3 point shots being jacked up per game.
Plus, wasn’t Chuck starting games until shortly before Yao went out? That’s a major offensive upgrade right there.
by Only_A_Lad on Feb 25, 2009 9:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
That team had won 12 straight games
And game 1 of that saw Luis Scola as the starter. Rafer was also playing out of his mind, I think Dave said only 2 bad things about him during that stretch, he was playing THAT good
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Feb 25, 2009 9:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You can't just count only those 12 games
You have to count the whole of it. Including the part where they dug themselves into such a massive hole that only a 22 game win streak would get them into the playoffs.
by Only_A_Lad on Feb 25, 2009 9:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That's the difference in the question
I’ve seen what that team could do once it gelled, I haven’t seen the full power of this team. So I’m not counting just those games, I’m counting what the effective “finished product” was.
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Feb 26, 2009 12:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I like this team now.
Rockets seem much deeper and the players that we had last year (Landry, Brooks, and Scola specifically) have emerged to be even much better this year.
We may have lost McGrady (as in, the McGrady that led this team during that incredible run), but I believe Artest makes up for some of that AND of course having Yao there is great. To me, it offsets the fact that we don’t have McGrady even if the Portland game showed that we don’t have our go-to guy on the perimeter for the close games. Can’t depend on Yao every time (and that’s not a knock), but you can’t depend on McGrady every time either.
Skeets and Tas noted on their TBJ Podcast today that Artest is too streaky to be that guy, but I’d take that knowing he has the capabilities. Guys just have to be confident when their names are being called.
All in all, the emergence of Brooks, Scola and Landry, the addition of Ron Artest, and having Yao at this time feels like this team is in a much better position. Having Wafer and Barry come off the bench isn’t so bad too, they can contribute.
by misterterrific on Feb 25, 2009 9:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
obvious
Joey Dorsey votes for THIS team.
Last year he wasn’t on the team.
are you going to argue with Joey?
by grungedave on Feb 25, 2009 10:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The slight majority goes with this years team
My expectations of our team last year before Yao went down was the WCF. Again, keep in mind we were probably going to get the 1 seed if he doesn’t go down.
But since the majority feel this team now is better, then your playoff expectations are WCF or beyond?
by goingforthecorner on Feb 26, 2009 10:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
WCF and beyond
Lakers get beat in the first round and we go all the way like in 1994 1995 hahaha
by benchot on Feb 26, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Lakers and Spurs.
The Rockets may be a better team than before right now, but you can’t forget about these two teams. I see WCF at most, or a 2nd round appearance at the very least.
by misterterrific on Feb 26, 2009 6:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
We need a quality road win
before i pronounce this team as “Greatness.”
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Feb 26, 2009 10:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
We should play much better on the road
now that JVG’s defense is back. But you’re right, our home/road splits are way too Jazz-like.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 27, 2009 4:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
The defensive improvement will be a big factor.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Feb 27, 2009 5:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Not quite there yet!
It is really hard to say after getting spanked by Chicago last night which was a total embarassment. Last year’s team would have jumped on Chicago, they lack the killer 22
game instinct that kept them a float, but they played very hard no doubt than last year’s team. But it is scary to think that a better winning team could easily do the same thing to them in the playoffs. That blame goes to the coach not the players for not adjusting to that fourth quarter crumble.
by rocketballer on Mar 1, 2009 3:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
this year's squad vs. last year's squad.. tx_razed@yahoo.com
man, with the way ron ron’s been playing since tracy FINALLY sat his a$$ down, I think we are actually better this year.. ron ron is bringing more intensity and a better jumper than tracy.. he’s being a leader and this team, including yao, is following his lead.. yao’s actually been dunking alot lately.. but ron’s starting now & putting up better numbers, over 50% 3pts since tracy went out.. ron plays better defense than tracy also.. so we basically got the same squad with a better bench, and we dont even play brent barry or deke.. definately a better squad this year, ron’s not afraid to take big shots & i wouldnt be surprised if they went deep in the playoffs..
by t mac must go on Mar 5, 2009 12:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
