What's up with the Rockets?

In fact, MJ missed more than 60 games in 2 different seasons in his career.

Only 1 season out of the 2 was because of an actual injury. It was during the '85-'86 season where he only played for 18 games. But I think MJ came back from that injury in time for the playoffs.

The other season, during '94-'95, where he only played for 17 games wasn't because of an injury. MJ came back to the NBA after his 1st retirement and played in minor league baseball. He only came back near the end of the regular season, that's why 17 games were only registered for that season. The Bulls played in the playoffs eventually losing to Shaq's Magic in their playoff matchup.

There you go. My memory sucks

Memphis is doing what most people thought the Rockets were going to do this year and the Rockets are doing what most people thought the Grizzlies were going to do. I thought both teams were going to have a pretty good season, but some people were just overrating the Rockets with too many high expectations.

No, people didn't know half the roster's going to be injured and Ryan Bowen would be starting.

Well, it was kinda obvious that D is going to be a problem. Van Gundy thinks that he'll miracously improve the defense of his team if he slows down the tempo of the game, but that just means less shots taken. When you have likes of Alston, Derek Anderson, Jon Barry and others patroling your perimeter, you know you have troubles. Alston is useless, Anderson is a shadow of his former self, Wesley lost a lot of his quickness (he is still decent defending opponent's PGs, but that won't help you if his backcourt buddy is 6'2'' 170 pounder who is terribly incosistent on defensive end), Mutombo and Howard are aging and Stromile is once again underachieving - what else is new? All these thing were obvious even before the season began. We also knew that Yao is nothing more than a very good role player and that this team will only go as far as Tracy takes them. And when he got hurt, he wasn't able to take them anywhere and there is where they went - nowhere. They need:
1. Stromile to wake up. I don't expect a lot from him. I know he's not a great rebounder, but he sure could provide that much needed dose of athleticism in the paint, both on offense and defense.
2. Bring another source of low post scoring and move Yao to the high post where his shooting and passing ability can be properly utilized. He should become more of a Brad Miller type of centre.
3. Bring a defensive minded PG, who doesn't make a lot of mistakes and can shoot the lights out. Mcgrady is the playmaker of this team, so that isn't that much of a need, but it would be nice to see him playing off-ball more and coming off the screens for a change.
4. Bring an athletic, defensive minded swingman who would take the defensive load off Mcgrady's chest.
5. Get rid of Jeff Van Gundy. This midget is overcoaching. He should let Mcgrady more freedom and move Yao into his more natural role.

While I was writing this, a trade came to my mind - Swift for Diogu and Pietrus. I doubt that Golden State would do that and Houston would lose its source of much-needed frontcourt athleticism, but just think...

Yao in the high post
Diogu in the low post
Mcgrady controling the game with his playmaking and scoring
Pietrus defending and penetrating
Head defending and shooting

This lineup would be young and filled with potential. Mcgrady is still in his mid-twenties and he could easily wait for others to mature (which would happen as soon as next year) and they could only upgrade their bench via MLE and draft. Too bad Pietrus is injury prone though...

more like Swift, Bowen, Barry, Anderson, Wesley and Howard for Diogu, Pietrus and Foyle and some other fillers

That gets rid of more shit and get in return only one shit

Edit: probably won't work

EDIT2: Pietrus, Diogu and Foyle for Swift, Howard, Anderson and Wesley works on realgm

more like Swift, Bowen, Barry, Anderson, Wesley and Howard for Diogu, Pietrus and Foyle and some other fillers

That gets rid of more shit and get in return only one shit

Edit: probably won't work

EDIT2: Pietrus, Diogu and Foyle for Swift, Howard, Anderson and Wesley works on realgm

That would be daylight robbery for the Warriors. Not only does Foyle suck, but he has a huge contract for a player of his caliber.Diogu and Pietrus has potential, but I'd rather keep Swift, Anderson, and get rid of Bowen, Alston, Wesley, and Howard.

Do you really want to keep Swift? Maybe if he starts rebounding

what is up with the rockets?? nothing, all going down hill for them...

the reason they succeeded last year was because the veterans' health kept up but this year they haven't played a single game with their best players... i have a feeling they need to shake things up fast or else head to the lottery... but the lottery isn't too bad either due to houstons lack of youth...

The rox also had a bad start last year and they also had bad injuries but they switched back to the winning track wehn bob sura returned to the lineup and the same will happen this season. they are currently forced to play without 6 (in words six!!!) players. Teams like Spurs and Pistons would not have a better record if they had such problems so the current record is not a surprise.

The rox also had a bad start last year and they also had bad injuries but they switched back to the winning track wehn bob sura returned to the lineup and the same will happen this season. they are currently forced to play without 6 (in words six!!!) players. Teams like Spurs and Pistons would not have a better record if they had such problems so the current record is not a surprise.

Injuries and the coaching is the problem I guess. I think Rockets can be a run and gun team.

McGrady's fiance had a baby in the middle of the Jazz game . to T-Mac.

Yeh, he left the game and went to the hospital . Guess what? The Rockets lost

Houston is last year's Timberwolves.

Noone could be that bad going from 1 to not even making the playoffs that was sad.

a poor mans t-wolves is more like it...

Alston's back...and John Lucas's son was signed lol

When's Yao back, another 2 weeks or earlier

isn't it another 4 weeks at least?

Yao as your franchise C is tragedy. Hell there is no real "C" out there worthy of being a franchise cornerstone.

Nah the injury was just for 2-3 weeks, and I think it's been more then a week so far.

Jeft Van Gundy's the problem...

Today they played against Golden State, McGrady is the only guy who can help this team really win. He scored like 14 in the last 2 minutes I guess, they got as close as one, but they let it go for their 5th straight loss?.. Damn, Yao cannot be a franchise player that can help the team win, but maybe help the team get rich he can.

change the coach to paul silas.... get rid of van gundy.... give the team the freedom to run a little more fluid offense... a great coach is a great coach but in the end it still is a players game...

man mcgrady is just crazy. How many times we keep hearing him score 10+ points in the final 2 or 3minutes of games??

Injuries and the coaching is the problem I guess. I think Rockets can be a run and gun team.

not when TMac, Swift, Head are the only players who could do that

Yao as your franchise C is tragedy. Hell there is no real "C" out there worthy of being a franchise cornerstone

lol how is it is a tragedy??

he probably isn't a franchise-type player but he's someone worthy to keep around for a while.