The Rockets: Better without Yao?

FavreFan · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:22 pm

It almost certainly seems like it. The next two games will be bigger tests. Their ball movement and defense are way, way, way better with him out. I can't believe that TMAC is leading a team built on chemistry, defense, and ball movement, and its been working to the tune of 16 straight wins, 7 straight wins of 12+ points, and 4 straight without Yao, who most consider the best C in the NBA, although I wouldnt have him in the top 3. It definitely seems like they are making the playoffs, and if they can avoid the Spurs and Lakers, I think they can be competitive in a series against anyone else, as long as T-mac doesnt reverse to his previous ball hogging, no-defense, form.

Brick · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:24 pm

Yao stopped taking PT away from Carl Landry.

FavreFan · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:29 pm

Boilermaker Rick wrote:

Yao stopped taking PT away from Carl Landry.

I feel like we are entering Bob Sanders terriroty with Carl Landry.

Bagels · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:31 pm

I think it's fools gold. They are playing well, yes, and Landry is playing well. But Yao gives them something very few teams can match up against. Not counting a washed-up Diesel, Duncan is the only PF/C in the West capable of matching up against him. If they could dictate the pace and let the offense go through Yao, I believe they would have been a tough out in the playoffs. As it stands, even if they win 25 in a row I still can't see them advancing past the first round.

FavreFan · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:33 pm

I've always disliked Yao. He seems too soft. He still cant play defense very well without getting in foul trouble. He doesnt crash the boards as well as he is capable of. I dont think you win in the West with a finesse Center dictating things. I'd take Camby in a second over him, especially on a team like the Rockets.

Bagels · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:39 pm

Crash the boards? He's averaging double digit rebounds. He's one of very few players averaging 20 & 10. He also has only fouled out twice and has only a handful of other games where he even had 5 fouls.

And while not a true 'banger', I wouldn't say he's soft either...when I think of 'soft' centers I think of people like Brad Miller or Rik Smiths, players who don't post up, stay 15 feet away from the basket and take jumpers. Yao clearly spends most of his time in the paint

FavreFan · **Posted:** Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:10 pm

T-Mac with 41 points and 9 assists in a win over the Hornets again last night. With their upcoming schedule, the streak should reach 21. Im not so sure they will be an easy out this year in the playoffs. They also have Ewing Theory written all over them.

buckeyejake · **Joined:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:36 pm **Posts:** 707

maybe thats why theyve not skipped a beat, because now nobody else is a 25 point guy except mcgrady so he can completly take over. i love it because i always been a huge rockets fan.

Bagels · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:55 am

I'm still steadfast that they're going home in round 1

Woodridge Ryan · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:37 pm

Let's keep in mind Yao was playing in 13 of the 20 games they have won in a row. Cool your jets.

buckeyejake · **Joined:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:36 pm **Posts:** 707

Woodridge Ryan wrote:

Let's keep in mind Yao was playing in 13 of the 20 games they have won in a row. Cool your jets.

ill cool my jets when this streak is over. cause i dont think ive ever seen my nba team this great. actually all i got for consistency is my ncaa team.

W_Z · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:19 pm

Bagels wrote:

I think it's fools gold. They are playing well, yes, and Landry is playing well. But Yao gives them something very few teams can match up against.

yeah. a freak.

i said somewhere (tried to find the post but couldn't) that i thought the rockets were better off without yao right now.

my thoughts on yao:

http://score670.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=16304

i think they have a better chance winning a title without him.

FavreFan · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:51 pm

Bagels wrote:

I'm still steadfast that they're going home in round 1

I agree that they will probably going to lose in round 1, probably in 6 or 7 games, but I wouldnt be surprised if they did well. Ill be rooting for them probably, it'd be a cool story if they got to the West Finals or even somehow won the conference.

Brick · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:52 pm

The chances of a long playoff run for the Rockets are dependent on the health of Carl Landry.

schmitty1121 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:10 pm **Posts:** 6774

Dominating the Lakers today. Unbelivable run this team is on. Still need to win a playoff series though.

buckeyejake · **Joined:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:36 pm **Posts:** 707

schmitty1121 wrote:

Dominating the Lakers today. Unbelivable run this team is on. Still need to win a playoff series though.

i think theyll win a series. but it might get tough in a 7 game series against a better team.

Houston Homer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:34 am

Y'all better not jinx this....I'm refusing to comment at this time.

I do love me some rocketball. "Never understimate the heart of a champion" - Rudy T

And Carl Landry - woohoo Purdue!

Bagels · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:47 am

Dylan wrote:

Dont be surprised if Houston is your NBA world champion this season.

I would be shocked. I would be very surprised if they made it out of the 1st round, which I still don't think is going to happen. Assuming they finish 1, 2 or 3, I still can't see them taking out Golden State, Denver, Dallas or any of the potential 6-8 seeds.

Clearly they are overachieving. You're not going to get 31 points from Rafer Alston too much. And everyone singing the praises of Mutombo- yes, he's playing well and giving them interior defense, but you can't seriously count on someone 80 years old to produce for you in the playoffs night in and night out. Someone with a young athletic center like Golden State & Biedrins will run circles around him. It's all about McGrady, and I don't feel he's going to be able to compensate for the lack of talent in a 7 game series.

Bagels · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:58 am

Dylan wrote:

Bagels wrote:

Dylan wrote:

Dont be surprised if Houston is your NBA world champion this season.

I would be shocked. I would be very surprised if they made it out of the 1st round, which I still don't think is going to happen. Assuming they finish 1, 2 or 3, I still can't see them taking out Golden State, Denver, Dallas or any of the potential 6-8 seeds.

Clearly they are overachieving. You're not going to get 31 points from Rafer Alston too much. And everyone singing the praises of Mutombo- yes, he's playing well and giving them interior defense, but you can't seriously count on someone 80 years old to produce for you in the playoffs night in and night out. Someone with a young athletic center like Golden State & Biedrins will run circles around him. It's all about McGrady, and I don't feel he's going to be able to compensate for the lack of talent in a 7 game series.

I think you are underestimating how talented they are. Shane Battier is one of the best defenders in the league. Alston is a very good defensive guard. They have alot of great 3 point shooters. Everyone loves to make fun of Dikembe, but whenever hes called on he plays very well. I dont see that stopping in the playoffs. He clearly has fresh legs and I think he has plenty left in the tank. He still looks like he is in great shape. I think they beat GS in 5 or 6 games if that were the matchup. Dallas might beat them, I still think they would beat them. I dont think Denver could win more than 1 game against Houston if they keep playing at the level they have been.

As for Alston not being able to get 31 every night, conversely TMac isnt going to go scoreless for the first 2 1/2 quarters every night, Their entire team is playing great, and its a different guy stepping up every night. If Kobe had played more like TMac last night, the Lakers might have won. Kobe instead tried to be Superman down the stretch and took alot of bad shots, whereas TMac found alot of open teammates and relied on them to win it. This is by far the most unselfish, team-oriented ball I have ever seen him play. Unless he reverts back to his old self, which I dont see happening, I think this is a very dangerous team this spring.

I don't think I'm underestimating their talent, I think you're overestimating it. Alston, Battier, Mutombo, etc. are all role players. Obviously being on a streak this long they are all playing really well. I just don't see how they're not going to get exploited in a 7 game series. You say Alston is a good defensive PG. Well, which PG's in the West do you think he could defend reasonably well over the course of a 7 game series? Deron Williams? CP3? Baron? Kidd? Iverson? And I'm not trying to be an asshole but the fact is McGrady could very well revert to his 'old ways', we have no evidence to the contrary. He's never gotten past the 1st round. So now why all of a sudden in a stacked conference do I think that he's going to be able to do it? For the record, you feel they'd beat Golden State in 5 or 6 and Denver in 5....There is no way they beat either of those teams. I'd give them a good chance against Dallas just because Dirk is about as much of a choker as McGrady is

FavreFan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:40 pm

I think the new guy is overhyping the Rockets a bit but they can definitely beat Denver in 6 games or less in a series I think. Dallas will be tough, Alston doesnt matchup well with Kidd. He's better against smaller quicker guards. I think he would play Iverson well. I think Golden State would be a bad matchup for Houston though.

Edit: Nice to see another guy talking hoops. Hopefully he stays.

FavreFan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:11 pm

Dylan wrote:

There is a reason the Detroit Pistons always do well in the postseason, despite not having "superstars".

Uh.. yeah, they play in the Eastern Conference.

Bagels · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:13 pm

Dylan wrote:

Im not going anywhere. And Favrefan(Why are you named that on this board anyway?) and Bagels, I disagree that you need a team full of stars to win. Team chemistry, ball movement, and defense win in the postseason. We saw these two elements go up against eachother in 2004. The outcome wasnt even close. There is a reason the Detroit Pistons always do well in the postseason, despite not having "superstars".

Well, that point is debatable. While it's hard to say if the Pistons have a superstar or not, individually I would take almost all of their players against Houston's at the same position. I'd take Billups over Alston. I'd take Rasheed over Scola. Prince over Battier. Plus Detroit's bench is much deeper

Probably the only spot I'd give the Rockets the advantage is McGrady

And I'm not necessarily saying you need a team full of stars to win, but I think it's been proven that you definitely need 2, possibly 3. And the Rockets have 1.

Bagels · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:14 pm

Oh and yes, I agree with FF, good to have another NBA person around here. Welcome Dylan

FavreFan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:21 pm

Baku, I would take Battier and Houston's bench over Prince and Detroit's bench, although I think it is very close. I think if TMac keeps playing like he has during this streak, him + Alston is about a wash with Billups + Hamilton, maybe even giving the edge to Houston. Ill take Dikembe over Maxiell for a 7 game series. Scola vs Rasheed is the biggest mismatch in that matchup. Rasheed might be the most underrated player in the league.

Either way, its really fun watching Houston and Ill be rooting for them in the West.

The Original Kid Cairo · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:23 pm

FavreFan wrote:

Rasheed might be the most underrated player in the league.

Rasheed gets a bad rap because of his reputation. A lot of people don't want to give him his props.

As far as most underrated though, I still don't think Camby gets the recognition he deserves.

FavreFan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:29 pm

Kid Cairo wrote:

As far as most underrated though, I still don't think Camby gets the recognition he deserves.

You wont find a bigger supporter of that statement than me.

My all-underrated team

PG Jose Calderon(I have a feeling this will change by next year...it better)
SG Monta Ellis
SF Shane Battier
PF Rasheed Wallace
C Marcus Camby

Coach: Byron Scott

FavreFan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:35 pm

It'll become RodgersFan after the Pack win the Super Bowl next season.

This excerpt from the last Sports Guy basketball blog made me LOL.

Quote:

Q: Do you realize that, according to John Hollinger's PER rankings, I'm the 12th-best player in the NBA right now on a per-minute basis? I'm better than Al Jefferson, Carlos Boozer, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Brandon Roy, Allen Iverson, David West, Paul Pierce, Monta Ellis and Baron Davis!
--C. Landry, Houston

SG: Wait, why haven't they asked you to be on the Dream Team yet? Is it too late to make a roster change? Boozer, you're not going to Beijing! You've been bumped by Carl Landry!

buckeyejake · **Joined:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:36 pm **Posts:** 707

Dylan wrote:

Dont be surprised if Houston is your NBA world champion this season.

dont get me excited. ive never seen them win a championship, i dont remember 94 and 95 if was 4. if you jinx this your banned.

The Original Kid Cairo · **Posted:** Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:39 pm

buckeyejake wrote:

Dylan wrote:

Dont be surprised if Houston is your NBA world champion this season.

dont get me excited. ive never seen them win a championship, i dont remember 94 and 95 if was 4. if you jinx this your banned.

Wow, you're a kid. You're only 17 years old?

buckeyejake · **Joined:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:36 pm **Posts:** 707

Kid Cairo wrote:

buckeyejake wrote:

Dylan wrote:

Dont be surprised if Houston is your NBA world champion this season.

dont get me excited. ive never seen them win a championship, i dont remember 94 and 95 if was 4. if you jinx this your banned.

Wow, you're a kid. You're only 17 years old?

yes. i guess your not kid cairo anymore.

The Rockets: Better without Yao?

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