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When completely healthy next year. Who do you think will be better Houston or the Lakers?


Lakers
PG Fisher
SG Kobe
SF Odom
PF Gasol
C Bynum


Rockets
PG Rafer
SG T-mac
SF Battier
PF Scola
C Yao


Rafer began to play really well at the end of last season and Scola stepped up as well. Not to mention the bench that the Rockets have as well as the Lakers. I think these would be the top 2 teams out west as of now with New Orleans and San Antonio following and then Dallas, Phoenix, and Utah.

LOL @ this question..LOL @ Houston being better than the Spurs or Hornets..

SA made the conference finals with an aging team and NO was 1 game away..the Spurs are going to sign younger player, and the Hornets will sign a guy or 2 and mature..

how is a team like Houston better than either? their 2 best players can't even stay on the court..I'm pretty sure it's difficult to win when you only have 1 of your 2 best on the court..

Dont forget about the Hornets

HarlemHeat37 wrote:LOL @ this question..LOL @ Houston being better than the Spurs or Hornets..

SA made the conference finals with an aging team and NO was 1 game away..the Spurs are going to sign younger player, and the Hornets will sign a guy or 2 and mature..

how is a team like Houston better than either? their 2 best players can't even stay on the court..I'm pretty sure it's difficult to win when you only have 1 of your 2 best on the court..

that's what I am saying if every team is healthy I think these would be the top 2 teams out west. Also it depends on what San Antonio does to get younger.

I know that's what you meant, but when does Houston ever actually stay healthy? we hear about how good they are every year..

btw, I'm not hating on Houston..I like most of their players, I'm just tired of waiting for them to actually do something..

Not to mention that TMac has proven to be a choke artist down the stretch.

choke artist? did you even watch the rockets vs utah series this year? ._.

The Main Event wrote:Not to mention that TMac has proven to be a choke artist down the stretch.

Wouldn't this, of all years, sort of make people aware of the degree to which stars are NOT defined by their post-season success if they play well and their teammates suck? And, this year of all years, wouldn't assuming McGrady didn't earn a second round a few years back be something people might not want to do?

McGrady's post-season numbers are literally amazing.

As to this thread's question, well first off, yes, IF the Rockets are healthy, they're as good as anyone.

But as a Rockets fan myself, I can't say that counting on them to be healthy is a safe bet.

But in terms of the hypothetical, absolutely...a healthy Rockets teams is probably one no one wants to meet in the playoffs.

The Main Event wrote:Not to mention that TMac has proven to be a choke artist down the stretch.

So was KG before this season...and to a certain extent all of the Boston big 3 were considered choke artists, pierce being the least.

Just ONE FREAKING HEALTHY YEAR...

ah, the classic "what if" rockets thread.

its now officially the off-season incase anyone didn't know it yet.

dcash4 wrote:ah, the classic "what if" rockets thread.

its now officially the off-season incase anyone didn't know it yet.

I am Rockets fan, but I have to agree with ya, some of the poster just love to jinx on this team. Come on, lets get out the first round first before making this kinda of threads. Even with the 22 game winning streak, this team still have too many question marks.

1. Health, I am a huge Yao fan, but I have to believe he can't play 75+ games in rest of his carreer.
2. 3rd scorer, where is the 3rd scorer?
3. True leader, who is the true leader of this team? Neither Yao or Tmac are leader type of materials.

You mean Lakers and Hornets right? Cuz Chris Paul is only getting better and is going to boss on the league next year.

Let's continue this discussion if the Rockets ever stay healthy. Right now, the Lakers are the best team in the West.

Harry Palmer wrote:

The Main Event wrote:Not to mention that TMac has proven to be a choke artist down the stretch.

Wouldn't this, of all years, sort of make people aware of the degree to which stars are NOT defined by their post-season success if they play well and their teammates suck? And, this year of all years, wouldn't assuming McGrady didn't earn a second round a few years back be something people might not want to do?

McGrady's post-season numbers are literally amazing. .

It's amazing how people ignore TMac's numbers and his overall play in the post season. He dropped 40 points on the Jazz while shooting 50% from the floor in the last game of their series and they still lost. No one player can do it by himself. It just can't happen.

Any way, being a Laker fan, I have a slight bias in terms of who I think will be better. A healthy Rockets team is pretty damn good. However, the Rockets just can't seem to stay healthy. Even healthy though, im not sure they could beat teams like the Hornets, Spurs, or Jazz. If the Rockets stay healthy, they're more of a bet to be some where in the 4th seed range, maybe 5th depending on whether or not you'd put the Jazz over them.

Maybe Yao should just sit out the first couple months of the season so he will be rested later in the season so he won't get hurt.

McGrady cost the Rockets that series against the Jazz. The excuse machine for Tmac is endless. It was funny to watch Kobe play the same team in the next round and show how you suppose to play. If Tracy had played the entire series with the aggressiveness that he showed in game 6 the Rockets would have won that series.

People look to much at numbers and not what actually happened in the playoff series. A perfect example was Tmac's "I'm happy to be in the second round" series against the Pistons. Tmac attitude lost them that series. His numbers were amazing. He set the tone for the Magic's play however. In the first 4 games he was playing like he wanted it bad. Then the next 3 games his body language completely changed. Game 5 he looked asleep and Orlando played that way. Game 6 he got frustrated and the team played just like him. Game 7 he figured he blew the chance in Game 6 and was laughing as the season ended.

Tmac has not won a playoff series because he is not consistent in his effort. Utah series you saw 2 completely different players. When Tmac played hard Utah couldn't guard him. When he played soft and lazy he just stood out on the perimeter throwing up jump shots.

Rockets have to figure out how to beat the Jazz before they worry about being better than the Lakers.

JordanBulls Rockets fans will appreciate if you stop making these threads , you are just jinxing us and we won't stay healthy once again.
As a Rockets fan I believe we can be as good as anyone if we add another quality guy without giving up one but , we are 6th in the west behind LA , SA , NO , Utah , PHX until we prove otherwise.

And please fellow Rockets fans lets not say if we are healthy and stuff like that , just let things be , who knows we might get lucky.