Are The Rockets Better Without Yao?

[ShaY]

Just kiddin , proud of our guys , it's too bad it's not like nba live where you can turn off injuries , our supporting cast is really good.

[T-Wack]

They are, and have been better without him. We're a good team, either way, but history shows that we are better when he's on the bench. Guys play more free when they don't have to worry about getting him the ball all the time, and Hayes is ten times the defender that he is.

I've said it all season long, and as soon as he went down, I had a renewed faith in this team.

[TMU]

Hate to say this but they certainly look much comfortable playing without Yao or McGrady. Now that the media has officially written us off, there's definitely a lot less pressure on our players. They're running better, their ball movement looks significantly better, and most importantly everyone is chipping in. I don't know if we can win either of the next 2 games but it's certainly encouraging to see them play with a ton of heart.

[Roxflynorth]

Our offense runs a lot better without Yao but we also gave up 30 points on Gasol...I think it's all about matchup

[dunleavyjr]

It's not gonna happen in Game 5, trust me.

Lakers' focus had been on Yao. Yao being out, the Lakers lost direction and
couldn't make the needed adjustment to the Yaoless Rockets.

It will not happen again in Game 5.

[TXSun]

is that a joke? you're not better just played with tremendous heart. great win.

[PocketRockets]

Of course Dunleavy.

What was the laker's defensive gameplan coming in? I'm pretty sure it was stopping Artest's drives to the lane and they did a great job of that. I think their emphasis on Artest killed them, especially kobe who let battier shoot wide open shots all game long. If battier continues to keep the defense honest, we'll be in great shape, but if he doesn't shoot at least 30%, we'll lose. We shot well and they didn't. Our only hope is for Brooks to play two great games again before Kobe does b/c it's clear as day, they can't win if kobe doesn't play outta this world.

I hope we get off to a fast again b/c kobe will try to take the game over and that's when he's at his worse. And that will help our slim chances.

[hackle]

It's a question I wanted to bring up too. Honestly I dont know what to believe, it certainly looked like we were a better team, at least for this game, and on both ends.

Our lineup causes confusion for other teams, i think even in game 5 Lakers will have difficulties in defending us. We are like the pistons at its prime a couple of years ago, just too many options. If Rick keeps running his system (which is supposed to be one of the best offensive systesms), we can give the lakers a real hard time.

[fabio]

Rockets aren't better: they are different. With Yao, you get more offensive power and you lose an important amount of D, however, Rockets are a good D team so it doesn't matter much if Yao isn't a great defender as long as he adds on the offensive side. Keep in mind today Rockets ahd a lot of luck in the shots and Lakers were overconfident. I hope that happens again, but realistically speaking, Rockets are an offensively changed team, so I'd say Yao is the most important player in the team.

This being said, I admit sometimes when players that don't see much playtime have a chance they may have a great game, but that usually happens in 1 or 2 game, otherwise they'd be starters

[smapor]

This team can still compete because of two thing.

Its called never give up and play hard. Any other team would of collapsed when you star players are out.

However that is exactly why I said, Rockets can afford to sit Yao 10-20 games a season for a rest. The Rockets with this attitude can win without him.

But if you think this current Roster can sustain wins during the whole season with out both Yao or T-mac, you must be smoking some good crack for a low record of 4-2 without Yao or Tracy.

With Yao, we won over 50+ games, had a chance to win the division and past the 1st round after 12 years.

I know Shay was kidding, but some of you take this seriously which I laugh @ because without Yao in the Portland serious, we most likely could not advance as Portland committed 2-3 people to defend Yao.

Laker's were bound to play a horrible game after winning 2 games. Its @ our home, our guys if anything wanted to play even harder losing Yao.

If this current team can win the series, than sure....lets prepare to think about 2010.

Also AB scoring 30+ a game isn't going to happen every game. However this playoff team depends on 2 players Artest and AB for offensive numbers, because we all know Yao will get focused. Only those 2 can create for themselves as Starters.

If AB can score in the 15+ every single night, with a healthy Yao, Tmac, and Artest. We are going to be super tough next year. But as we all know AB is really inconsistent. Next game, he might go 3-18 with 0 assists.

Last statement, we got this win because of a big reason only 10TO, compared to the the last 2 games. honestly I felt if we didn't have that many TO last game, we would of won. TO were not because we passed it to Yao, TO because the team was dumb and lazy.

[MigrainePatrol]

If somehow the Rockets make it past the Lakers there's noway we could compete with Nugget's Nene. Laker's don't have that thunder dunking big post presence. I don't think Chuck could bother Nene much. That's why when Yao went down we really lost it for the season.

[bballmaniac27]

No we are not a better team without Yao and we are also not a better team without a healthy McGrady.

If we beat the Lakers maybe I will reconsider.

[dunleavyjr]

Phil Jackson was upset during the game 4 post game conference. He even said the
F-word. Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elbej-_bzxA

[red96]

It has to make us feel good as Rockets fans to see the team play good despite all of the hardships to the roster. Last year when Yao went down and we continued the streak. This year when T-Mac hung it up and we played even better. Advancing to the 2nd round without Mac and Deke. And now a Yaoless Rockets showing no surrender to the Lakers. It shows how much heart and determination this team has. But when I think about it after the fact, I start to fell a little down again.

I start to think of what coulda, shoulda, what this team have accomplished if Yao and Mac stayed healthy the last 2 years. Talent is not the problem. I think we have enough talent, determination, and will to win it all. We just cant get it all on the court when we need it.

[fabio]

No we are not a better team without Yao and we are also not a better team without a healthy McGrady.

If we beat the Lakers maybe I will reconsider.

For starters, I think Rockets weren't a team with T-Mac. Yao is a different story, you can replace T-Mac in many ways with players less talented and still have the TEAM working (please note the capital letters). Yao is extremely difficult to replace

[HTown_TMac]

Deke did a good job of replacing Yao last season.

[dunleavyjr]

For starters, I think Rockets weren't a team with T-Mac. Yao is a different story, you can replace T-Mac in many ways with players less talented and still have the TEAM working (please note the capital letters). Yao is extremely difficult to replace

Let see... 7'6" with skills.........too bad Shawn Bradley already retired.

[Teckon]

Shawn Bradley does not have the skills, nor the bulk of Yao. He is good to be ridden by Tmac though :lol

[stockmarketgod]

I think the Rockets should have played the bench more this season, better without Yao or 100% Tmac no...

but with Yao in and then you sub in the bench players who like to run, I liken it to a baseball game where you have a knuckle ball pitcher, pitch for 7 innings, then send out a 100mph fastball pitcher

[rocket_zoom]

but history shows that we are better when he's on the bench

Which history, you mean game 5?