[ESPN] Rockets Preview

Post #1 » by **TMU** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:12 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview20 ... 11-Rockets

Let's remember these names:
- J.A. Adande
- Chris Broussard
- Tim Legler
- Michael Wallace (WHO?)

aznkillabeezZz · Post #2 » by **aznkillabeezZz** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:19 pm

How do you manage to become an expert when they always predict wrong?

DreamShook34 · Post #3 » by **DreamShook34** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:32 pm

I hate these stupid predictions. We have gotten better while other teams have gotten worse. We have such a deep team! We are down 2 men and we are still 2 deep at every position. I have no Idea why everyone has a hard on for Portland... They have 3 injured Post men traded away all the people that made them have scary depth: Bayless, Outlaw, Blake. How are they going to be 3rd in the west?

B. Roy and Aldridge are very good but they aren't going to be better than they were last year.

That Zach Harper guy seems to be the only sane person on these predictions.

Lakers
Mavs
Rox
Thunder
Jazz
Portland
Spurs
Suns

bubba · Post #4 » by **bubba** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 12:45 am

i do believe we are the deepest team. our backups could be a starting team somewhere. lowry/lee/budinger/hill/miller thats an athletic team that can run. michael wallace!?! who is he, notorious big's brother? 11th in the west? he must be gettin high on biggie's supply. miami may be the big 3, but at every position were 3 deep!!

Guy986 · Post #5 » by **Guy986** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:20 am

I'm predicting 53 wins

grond · Post #6 » by **grond** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:34 am

Think Legler's pessimism actually stems from doubt over Yao's ability to stay healthy a full season more than anything else. And sadly, who can blame him?

TheMan44 · Post #7 » by **TheMan44** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:54 am

2nd seed. Heck yes.

Indeed, Rockets are deepest team in NBA - if healthy.

The second unit of Lowry, Lee, Bud, Hayes, and Brad is insane.

spolgar · Post #8 » by **spolgar** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:10 am

Of the folks that are on that board, some folks feel we are just not as good as the teams they ranked ahead of us. That's fine. The thing is, without exposure from the stars, even the analysts really don't watch the Rockets as often as they should. They will look silly, as some of them often do.

At least we aren't reading Scoop Jackson or hearing Steven A Smith anymore on espn.com. At least now, ESPN is to sports analysis as your local neighborhood Dairy Queen is to food. The most entertaining writers there just write about themselves, which is something a tradition that Hunter S Thompson started at espn, but sadly did not leave with him. I can postulate about how Red Smith can piss on the side walk and the puddle would have more penmanship than half of ESPN's staff put together, just like Tim Legler would postulate that the Timberwolves would have difficulty winning 20 games this season. I would readily admit my supposed hypothesis was hyperbole, but I'm not sure Legler would be so intellectually honest. Other than Hollinger who has his own system, I do not see the process of how these folks rank their teams. The fact is, I don't think the authors really know how they themselves do it either, but as writers go, their job isn't to speak of sport as analysis, but to speak well of the game. Therefore they get away with stating their argument with as much rigour as an episode of Ripley's Believe it or not.

My point is, don't get too offended. The good teams with the star talent are going to come in the top 4 seeds. The bad teams and their fans know who they are, they aren't going to quibble. The middle teams are the ones getting the shaft, but it's largely because of lacking in star power. No one really knows what's going on beyond the conference and the division favorites to win. The folks who have to write have to put something there because ESPN's readership don't like reading sports writers lacking in confidence. Or false bravado for that matter.

//Rant

Azull · Post #9 » by **Azull** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:44 pm

I can understand the 7-9 rankings based off of legit questions about the team and Yao. I think we will be back up at that 4-6 pack of teams however with a ceiling of getting the #2 seed we should have 2 seasons ago.

Hollenger makes a good point about knowing where the floor is as far is wins with this team. The question really becomes 1) what teams below us improved and 2) what teams above us got worse.

Is this the year the Spurs finally run outta gas? Will Chris Paul and the addition of Ariza be enough to get NO to the playoffs? How will Griffin help the Clips (im guessing a lot). Will OKC live up to the hype (Im guessing no even though they are a PO team).

moofs · Post #10 » by **moofs** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:12 am

aznkillabeezZz wrote:How do you manage to become an expert when they always predict wrong?

Ask a stock market analyst and/or your financial advisor.

Post #11 » by **TMU** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 2:59 am

moofs wrote:
aznkillabeezZz wrote:How do you manage to become an expert when they always predict wrong?

Ask a stock market analyst and/or your financial advisor.

Post #12 » by **Optimism Prime** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:32 am

T-Mac United wrote:
moofs wrote:
aznkillabeezZz wrote:How do you manage to become an expert when they always predict wrong?

Ask a stock market analyst and/or your financial advisor.

The only way this could be better if aznkillabeezZz was actually a stock market analyst and/or financial advisor.

College Boy · Post #13 » by **College Boy** » Sat Oct 30, 2010 5:44 am

Did anybody happen to hear JVG predicting the Rockets and Heat making the finals?