<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Serge @ Apr 2 2007, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We got Nene inside very fast getting better big men he can do work inside when shots not falling. And AI can play PG they need to take Blake out replace him with JR. He is taller and won't be taking advantage of on D like Blake can be. And he is active with his hands and fast so he can get a lot of steals. Also AI plays D he trys very hard, and Camby blocks shots he just needs to come out and guard his guy also. Other guys do need to step it up a lot though.And offense is fine they need to tell AI to shoot more and stop passing it to much yes he now is passing to much.</div>You're falling to Denver on paper. I think I've watched Denver more than you have. AI does not have nearly enough court vision to be an effective PG, all AI can do is put up points in a hurry and cut off passing lanes. He does not have the court vision to get people easy jumpers. If you call blocking off passing lanes and always going for steals good defense, then AI is a good defender but that's simply not true. I said more than once that Denver has fine individual defenders but horrendous team defense. BTW, telling AI to shoot more will be far from the answer to the Nuggets problems, they don't need more scorers they need less.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ Apr 2 2007, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I agree that yesterdays game was an anomoly, both teams stunk it up offensively. the problem I see with the Rockets is if you get Yao into foul trouble, the Rockets will really struggle.</div>The Rockets were 21-10 without Yao this season. With T-Mac, Battier, Alston, head, Howard, and Bonzi, I think thew Rockets have enough firepower without Yao. The one problem with the Rockets is the PG position...Rafer Alston. He went 2-10 yesterday, and IMO lost the Rockets the game with that 3 when they were down by 2 with 12 seconds to go. He is VERY streaky, and every time down the floor he tries to force things way too much.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 2 2007, 09:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Rockets were 21-10 without Yao this season. With T-Mac, Battier, Alston, head, Howard, and Bonzi, I think thew Rockets have enough firepower without Yao. The one problem with the Rockets is the PG position...Rafer Alston. He went 2-10 yesterday, and IMO lost the Rockets the game with that 3 when they were down by 2 with 12 seconds to go. He is VERY streaky, and every time down the floor he tries to force things way too much.</div>^The rockets when healthy can definitely compete for that 4th best spot in the entire leauge. But thats just it...I dont remember the last time that they were fully healthy for more than like 10 games. Even though they did well without Yao, they still wouldnt be able to compete very well in the western conference playoffs. If they could show me that they could stay pretty healthy for an entire season, where both Yao and Tracy play 75+ games, then I would be more eager to put them at #4. But I honestly dont think that they can do that...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Apr 2 2007, 10:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>^The rockets when healthy can definitely compete for that 4th best spot in the entire leauge. But thats just it...I dont remember the last time that they were fully healthy for more than like 10 games. Even though they did well without Yao, they still wouldnt be able to compete very well in the western conference playoffs. If they could show me that they could stay pretty healthy for an entire season, where both Yao and Tracy play 75+ games, then I would be more eager to put them at #4. But I honestly dont think that they can do that...</div>All that matters is they have been healthy for the past 15 games, and unless some unexpected injury happens, they will be healthy going into the playoffs. T-Mac's back, outside of 1 7 game stretch, has been fantastic all year and says he is feeling great, and the Yao thing was an accident that he couldn't prevent. But as I said, all that matters is they are on a roll right now and healthy going into the playoffs.
^I wouldnt be surprised if either one of them got injured in the next few weeks. They never seem to be healthy for very long. And even if they do go to the playoffs healthy, they are going to have a tough first round matchup, and if they make it out of the first round, the 2nd round will be even harder.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Apr 2 2007, 10:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>^I wouldnt be surprised if either one of them got injured in the next few weeks. They never seem to be healthy for very long. And even if they do go to the playoffs healthy, they are going to have a tough first round matchup, and if they make it out of the first round, the 2nd round will be even harder.</div>T-Mac has been very healthy this season, going to play over 70 games (he had 1 7 game stretch due to akward landing on back, and another game or 2 due to the flu). Yao's injuries are due to his height, and while he has been prone to freak injuries the past 2 years, I expect him to be ready for the playoffs.Yes, the road to get to the Finals will be VERY tough. Luckily for the Rockets, I feel the Jazz will be the easiest matchup of the top 4 teams (statistically) in the West. And in the 2nd round, facing Dallas is a MUCH better matchup than the Suns. The reason for this is because Amare running up and down the floor makes Yao ineffective, and the Rockets defense is only effective in a slowed down game. Not to mention the one weak area defensively for the Rockets is at the PG position, and Nash would tear them up. Rockets always do very well vs Dallas, and T-Mac is one of Dirk's toughest defenders (see: 2005 playoffs).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Apr 2 2007, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Posting a lot doesn't make you smart. I agree with Dmoney</div>Not the reason................I was active, but my posts were never bs.Ask Ballaholic
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Apr 2 2007, 10:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You're falling to Denver on paper. I think I've watched Denver more than you have. AI does not have nearly enough court vision to be an effective PG, all AI can do is put up points in a hurry and cut off passing lanes. He does not have the court vision to get people easy jumpers. If you call blocking off passing lanes and always going for steals good defense, then AI is a good defender but that's simply not true. I said more than once that Denver has fine individual defenders but horrendous team defense. BTW, telling AI to shoot more will be far from the answer to the Nuggets problems, they don't need more scorers they need less.</div>AI be good at PG he is a underrated passer you don't just put up 7.5 assists last season 7th in the league, and this season same assists unless your a good passer. Putting up points AI is great at, but that is not all he does. You deff did not watch enough games then cause I see AI driving to the hoop and passing it out to a open 3 to players. I see him drive inside, and pass it of to Melo/Nene for a easy dunk what have you been watching? And in Philly last few year yes he only played passing lanes. But right now he is actually playing good D not just the passing lanes and if you watched you would know that. I never said he was a good D guy I am sure people who saw my posts before would tell you I said AI needs to play better D like before he went to Denver even though he plays the passing lanes. But in Denver he really playing hard D not just passing lanes.Please know watch you talk about before just saying stuff that are false. Ask BigMO, and ballaholic AI is really trying, and playing on the D side.AI does need to score more he has taking it to easy I am not saying a lot more just be more agressive and take over sometimes like he did in Philly he just don't need to do it as much now with Melo.And Denver can use offense from more then AI/Melo that way teams can't just say will take those 2 out of it, and win the game cause other guys are not scoring. They need Nene, Camby, JR, KL, ect..... all to be scoring in cases of teams taking AI+Melo both out of the game or one and the other is just strugling.
Sorry for the longtime bump..But are the Rockets and Nuggets still the 4th best teams?Detroit still not in the mix for you guys?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ May 6 2007, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Sorry for the longtime bump..But are the Rockets and Nuggets still the 4th best teams?Detroit still not in the mix for you guys? </div>1. San Antonio2. Phoenix3. Detroit4. UtahRight now, Utah is playing very well, so much so I put them ahead of Golden State, NJ, Cleve, and Chic
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KMart? @ May 6 2007, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. San Antonio2. Phoenix3. Detroit4. UtahRight now, Utah is playing very well, so much so I put them ahead of Golden State, NJ, Cleve, and Chic</div>I dunno, I think Detroit is the best team in the league right now. They playin incredible basketball...yet to lose a game...
^I think your nuts....Detroit is definaltey not the best team in the league. They played a weak team in the first round and have yet to play a game on the road against the Bulls. Look at the Spurs...They beat Phoenix AT Phoenix in game 1, and in the first round, they handled a MUCH better Nuggets team than the Magic. Spurs are for sure better than them, Phoenix is better, and so is Dallas...
1. Detroit/San Antonio3. Phoenix Suns4. Utah Jazz5. Golden State Warriors6.Cleveland Cavs7. Chicago/New Jersey
I thought the bulls were overrated all year and they've proved it. If the Pistons manhandle the Cavs, then they're pretty legit. But the Finals should be good. SA vs DET part 2 or PHX vs DET.
It sucks that Detroit gets and easy road to the Finals while better teams face eachother. Then, in the Finals, they get 3 straight games at home so the West team has to win the first two. :-/
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ May 8 2007, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It sucks that Detroit gets and easy road to the Finals while better teams face eachother. Then, in the Finals, they get 3 straight games at home so the West team has to win the first two. :-/</div>That's what I've been saying. The East is weaker yet the winner of it has more of a chance to win it all since they'll be more rested and prepared.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ May 8 2007, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I dunno, I think Detroit is the best team in the league right now. They playin incredible basketball...yet to lose a game...</div>It is incredibly hard to argue this. Detroit truly is playing masterfully.Phoenix gets a slight edge because of all their weapons, San Antonio gets the edge because they play a smart brand ala-Detroit with Tim Duncan in the middle. However, give it a week, and Detroit could be #1.
As far as power rankings as of now(teams still in playoffs)1.Phoenix Suns2.San Antonio Spurs3.Detroit Pistons(although Bulls could replace them as 3)4.Chicago Bulls5.Utah Jazz6.Cleveland Cavaliers7.Golden State Warriors8.New Jersey Nets
