And they were a dangerous team on paper last year before the season. Even getting beat in the first round of the playoffs people were predicting them as championship contendors.Amazing what a difference a year makes?I'll admit they're a good team on paper. The difference is the Clippers have shown themselves a good team in reality while the Rockets have to prove it after last year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (falconman1130 @ Oct 11 2006, 12:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And they were a dangerous team on paper last year before the season. Even getting beat in the first round of the playoffs people were predicting them as championship contendors.Amazing what a difference a year makes?I'll admit they're a good team on paper. The difference is the Clippers have shown themselves a good team in reality while the Rockets have to prove it after last year.</div>The only reason they weren't a playoff team last year was because of injuries. Howard, T-Mac, Yao, Sura, Swift, Alston and Barry were all out for extended periods of time last season. T-Mac says he's as healthy as ever (the injuries last season were muscle pains....NOT related to his chronic problem, very different compared to Amare's surgery), and Yao had someone step on his toe and got that toenail removed, but will only miss 10 days of action. But his broken foot has healed and he played very well in WC's. Forget what everyone else does, this team has shown that as long as T-Mac and Yao are producing 20PPG+ each they are an extremely dangerous team. Battier will fit right in, Alston played well last year, Howard has played with Yao for 2 years and Mac for 3 years so he won't be a problem, etc... Only person that worries me is Bonzi since he is missing training camp, but as long as he is there to help off bench in playoffs it doesn't matter as this team is a 5-6 seed without him anyway..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Oct 11 2006, 12:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The only reason they weren't a playoff team last year was because of injuries. Howard, T-Mac, Yao, Sura, Swift, Alston and Barry were all out for extended periods of time last season. T-Mac says he's as healthy as ever (the injuries last season were muscle pains....NOT related to his chronic problem, very different compared to Amare's surgery), and Yao had someone step on his toe and got that toenail removed, but will only miss 10 days of action. But his broken foot has healed and he played very well in WC's. Forget what everyone else does, this team has shown that as long as T-Mac and Yao are producing 20PPG+ each they are an extremely dangerous team. Battier will fit right in, Alston played well last year, Howard has played with Yao for 2 years and Mac for 3 years so he won't be a problem, etc... Only person that worries me is Bonzi since he is missing training camp, but as long as he is there to help off bench in playoffs it doesn't matter as this team is a 5-6 seed without him anyway..</div>Again I say, on PAPER the Rockets look sweet. And maybe they would have been contenders if it wasn't for injuries.But guess what? They got injured and wound up in the lottery.So the responsibility following that season is for them to show up and prove they aren't garbage. Until the season actually starts the Rockets are a 34-48 team who didn't live up to their potential. REGARDLESS of the reason, it happened. Thus the burden of proof is on the Rockets.Which, if they really wanna succeed, is how they have to view the season. Players are better with a chip on their shoulder...
