So the Rockets finally lost a game. They did it up right, getting blasted by the Celtics on national TV. They played pretty well for about 22 minutes, clinging to a 40-35 just moment before the end of the first half. But Boston scored the last 5 points of the first half and the first 5 points of the second half and that was that. The game was blowout once the C's took the lead for good right there.So is the national media going to come crashing down on the Rockets just as they did 11 games ago, when Yao's season was deemed over? Probably. Plus a bunch of unnecessary "I told you so" from the experts. But that of course is silly. I said ever since they got this season turned around sometime after the first Boston game in January, they are a threat in the playoffs, but nothing more. Not a favorite. And with the loss of Yao, that really hasn't changed.
It's all about match-ups. Until they play the rest of the teams they might meet in the playoffs - it's nothing more than a guessing game how they might stack up against them. They've beaten NO twice in '08 and face their toughest game of the season Wednesday in New Orleans. If they emerge from that one with a win - no matter any other details - then New Orleans is a team I will pick them to beat should they draw the Hornets in the playoffs.
Same thing with the Suns and Warriors later this week. It'll be the first time they'll have played either one without Yao, yet they'll be trying to beat each for the 2nd time. If they get that done, I'll be ready to say this is another team or teams the Rockets can beat in the playoffs.
In the case of San Antonio, who they might beat for the 3rd time this season when they meet them on 3/30 - I never feel like the Spurs play the regular season like they do the postseason, so even though I do like the match-up against them, I'm not sure I'd pick the Rockets in the opening round if the two met.
All that stuff is way off in the distance. Just go get a win or two on this 3-game road trip, steady the ship and clinch a playoff spot. Worry about the rest later. (Like why T-Mac managed just 19 points in the last 2 games combined.)
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I'd like to extend my personal best wishes and a speedy recovery to longtime Rockets announcer Jim Foley who announced after last night's game that he's be taking a medical leave for bladder surgery. I'm pleased that he was a part of this recent magical run; I'll never forget when the Rockets grabbed their 20th straight win and Foley exclaimed, "I never thought I'd see it again." since he'd been a part of the Milwaukee Bucks 20-game winning streak some 37 years ago.He said he plans to be back alongside Gene Peterson if the Rockets can comply with a little postseason success and I sure hope we get to hear that as well, before he and Gene slide into their planned retirement from their posts.
In his absence, Rockets long-time Studio Host Craig Ackerman will fill his role as Rockets color analyst and I've been asked to fill Craig's role as Studio Host.
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I'll leave you with this as a guaranteed pick-me-up, compliments of Rockets.com. Click here and enjoy.-------------------------------------
----------------------more throughout the day-----WEX
2 comments:
What is the deal with Carl Landry? He had 2 Docs check it out and it is still swelling after activity. If he tore his ACL again would the hide it?
If he had done that then he would not have practiced on Monday and shootaround on Tuesday. He's getting close, but they are being ultra conservative and remember he had a serious knee injury in college so Landry wants to be extra careful so he's ready for the playoffs.
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