Yao Ming out for season

[BostonBunk]

This really sucks because I was looking forward them making a run but thats gonna be difficult with him out. Did they go undefeated for the month of February?

[Lamrock]

Time for Kandiman?

With all apologies to Sammy Davis Jr, the Kandiman can't.

http://www.nbaliveforums.com/viewtopic. ... 4329#14329 Heh.

I wonder if Houston makes the playoffs now. They were in the big 7 in the West before the injury, and I wonder if the 4.5 games between them and 9th place (held by Denver) will be enough to hold the lower teams off without Yao...

[BZ]

hopefully he's back for Olympics for China....he'll play on one leg if he has to....

More like, the Chinese government will force him to play irregardless of injuries, 08 Olympics being in Beijing and all.

The Rockets can call this season a success as long as they make it to the 2nd round.

I'm sure they're regretting right now trading away Bonzi Wells, who was pretty much their only other post player. Didn't quite understand that trade to begin with.

Well, they got rid of Bonzi's who probably would've gained 30 more pounds after he signs a new contract with a new team in the offseason, and off-loaded a useless Mike James who'll become useful only when playing in the his final contract year, for Jackson who has been successful playing for Adelman before, and thoroughly understands
Adelman's offense. The only downside of the trade is giving NOH a stronger bench. But I don't really think the trade made any bit of a negative impact on the Rockets at all.

[Andrew]

http://www.nbaliveforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=14329#14329 Heh.

Talk about bold predictions...at one point it appeared as though Olowokandi could at least be halfway decent (but still a colossal blunder as the first overall pick in that Draft) but better than Yao or Dirk? Not exactly.

[Andrew]

At the risk of jinxing them, the Rockets have just run their winning streak up to a franchise record 17 games with a record that's currently good for the fifth seed in the West. It looks as though it might be down to the Nuggets overtaking the Warriors, or alternatively the Jazz for the division lead and automatic top four seed (though the former seems more likely).

[Andrew]

Make it 18 in a row, good for the third seed.

[Sauru]

are we gonna start hearing how the rockets are better without yao? i mean that seems to be the norm in this kind of situation

[JT_55]

are we gonna start hearing how the rockets are better without yao? i mean that seems to be the norm in this kind of situation

Let's not forget the 12 of the 18 game winning streak was with Yao...

[cyanide]

19 wins in a row now. Sad thing was, I only started noticing the Rockets were doing well lately when they hit 16 wins in a row. The media doesn't really talk about them much, imo. I wonder why they're doing well. They look OK on paper, but not a team that would put a ridiculous winning streak.

[Andrew]

are we gonna start hearing how the rockets are better without yao? i mean that seems to be the norm in this kind of situation

The suggestion will probably come up but if Yao had been playing in the last seven games the streak likely would have still been alive so I think more people are going to look at this as the Rockets overachieving or doubling their efforts in Yao's absence rather than downplaying Yao's importance to the team.

I only started noticing the Rockets were doing well lately when they hit 16 wins in a row. The media doesn't really talk about them much, imo.

I agree, they very quietly went undefeated for a whole calendar month. I guess everyone got caught up in the other things like the blockbuster trades, the race for the eighth spot in the West, the revival of the Celtics and the woeful struggles in the East. Then, all of a sudden, the Rockets have the longest winning streak in the league despite losing one of their best players seven games ago so it becomes harder to overlook.

[Abctest123]

Make it 18 in a row, good for the third seed.

Holy crap, I completely forgot about the standings, just knew that they had a huge winning streak . When did they rocket (no pun intended)from like 9th or 8th seed up to 3rd? Did they move up to third after becoming division leader and leapfrog a few spots, or did they slowly move up the playoff spots?

I hope McGrady atleast gets out of the first round this year or this amazing run would be an absolute waste.

[benji]

They did it the same way the Jazz did shortly before them. Yeah, they slowly moved up while others went up and down. Hornets, Suns and Mavericks have all had some bad weeks lately too. It's not just the winning streak either. They've been 28-3 since Jan 2nd when they were 15-17.

[Andrew]

Holy crap, I completely forgot about the standings, just knew that they had a huge winning streak . When did they rocket (no pun intended)from like 9th or 8th seed up to 3rd? Did they move up to third after becoming division leader and leapfrog a few spots, or did they slowly move up the playoff spots?

They've actually got the third best record in the West as it stands today, San Antonio remains the leader in the Southwest Division.

[BIG GREEN]

Don't be fooled because they have been playing mostly shitty teams recently. They'll keep the streak going to 21 or 22 until they get run over by either the lakers or the celtics...mark my words. I've seen the rockets play....and they live by jumpshots with a couple oldschool blocked shots by mutombo....that won't cut it in the playoffs. No team is going to win the championship without a good low post offensive threat to either score or draw the double.

[Kenny82]

Yeah, I kinda have to agree with Yohance on that one. Their bench isn't deep enough either, and they'll run into problems against teams with a big frontcourt that play full throttle.
Plus, it looks like a cinderella story, but the thing is, you have to keep it going. As soon as the bubble is going to burst, it'll all happen very fast...
Depending on what team they play, I don't see them getting past the first or second round.

[cyanide]

Depending on what team they play, I don't see them getting past the first or second round.

Well, McGrady's known for not carrying a team past the first round...

[Sauru]

even if they take the first seed i dont see the rockets coming out of round 1

[BZ]

even if they take the first seed i dont see the rockets coming out of round 1

That's the beauty of the West. All the playoff seeds are legitimate champions when matched with most of the subpar playoff teams in the east.

My guesses are that the Rockets would burn themselves out trying to stay alive in the standings and keep their streak alive, since if they slip a game or two they can very well fall back down to 6th or 7th.

Don't be fooled because they have been playing mostly shitty teams recently. They'll keep the streak going to 21 or 22 until they get run over by either the lakers or the celtics...mark my words. I've seen the rockets play....and they live by jumpshots with a couple oldschool blocked shots by mutombo....that won't cut it in the playoffs. No team is going to win the championship without a good low post offensive threat to either score or draw the double.

My thoughts exactly why they won't make it far in the playoffs. As a Rockets fan, I honestly think the title is indefinitely out of reach without Yao. Getting out of the first round would be more than enough, as it'll finally boost T-Mac's confidence and hunger for more for next season, with a healthy Yao back in the lineup.

However, I somewhat disagree on the fact that they've been playing shitty teams. With Yao in the lineup, they've played mostly low to middle end teams, but without Yao, they've managed to keep the streak alive against playoff bound teams like Washington, Denver, Dallas and New Orleans (twice). Although given that Dallas and New Orleans were missing their key players, they were still evenly matched imo, considering that the Rockets only have T-Mac as their primary threat.

On a side note,I've seen T.V "analysts" brush off the Dallas and New Orleans victories as an advantage for the Rockets because they were missing key players, notably Nowitzki and West respectively, and I found it funny how they've totally skipped the fact that the Rockets were missing their key player as well...

[Andrew]

And now make it 20 in a row after today's win over the Hawks. As it looks as though the Spurs are a few minutes away from losing to the Hornets, the Rockets will tie them for the second best record in the West.

[ryan6liu]

Why's everyone saying rockets suck even though they've won 20 straight? They have NOT been playing all shitty teams...winning 20 in a row, 8 without Yao, is an outstanding achievement. And they live on their defense, not just taking jumpshots (although they are a good 3 point shooting team).

Stop hating on rockets.

[Bruce]

What surprises me about the 20 game streak, is that Adelman is head coach. I've never known an Adelman coached team that played top notch defense.

[benji]

Defensive Ranks
1989-90 Blazers: 4th
1990-91 Blazers: 3rd
1991-92 Blazers: 2nd
1992-93 Blazers: 3rd
2000-01 Kings: 7th
2001-02 Kings: 6th
2002-03 Kings: 2nd
*2007-08 Rockets: 2nd

[Andrew]

It was kind of a close call against the Bobcats but they've now achieved the second longest winning streak in league history. If Gasol's out of the next game with his sprained ankle, their chances of making it 22 in a row seem more favourable.

[Sauru]

this is a great set up, win a shit ton of games in a row. take top seed in the hard as hell west. get swept round one.

[BIG GREEN]

Yep...that's pretty much what is going to happen ....I should sell that script to hollywood. Although i'm rooting for either them or the suns to come out of the west.....just cause of shaq for the latter.