Beating the Kings, Nets & Bobcats on this homestand is really no big deal (even though most of the year it was a miracle if they didn't drop a game to a crappy team!) However beating the Mavs and Blazers is a big deal. They now have wins over the other 7 western conference playoff teams except for the Lakers and are 9-7 overall in games against that group. That's pretty good - and it's not a fluke. There is no doubt the Rockets are good enough to win a first round series. It will not be easy, but there's no question they're good enough to do it.
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Aaron Brooks and Rafer Alston since the trade....
AB - 18-44 FG (41%), 6-12 3FG (50%), 4.3 apg, 5 rpg, 15.3 ppg (Rockets 3-0)
RA - 9-30 FG (30%), 2-10 3FG (20%), 7.3 apg, 1.3 rpg, 8.3 ppg (Magic 2-1)
I think we are seeing why GM Daryl Morey felt the risk was worth the reward to trading the starting point guard away at this point in the season. Brooks has his shortcomings, but even in three games, he has figured things out pretty quickly and is taking care of the ball better and running the team better. Paul, Williams, Nash, Parker, Billups are all better point guards than Alston. Fisher, Kidd, & Blake are nothing special at the point. The Rockets are certainly no worse with Brooks at the point as they were with Alston in terms of matchups. But now they also have two units who can run and two point guards who can push and finish.
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A win over Cleveland would allow the HOUSTON Rockets to do something they have never donw before. While in Houston, the Rockets have never had a 6-0 homestand.
They went 7-0 in their last year in San Diego during the only 7 game homestand in franchise history. In year one in San Diego, they actually had an 8-game home stand- they went 1-7.
Either way, they have at least proven to themselves they can defeat some pretty good teams. What is still remaining over the final 25 games???
2 games against the Lakers, San Antonio, New Orleans, Utah, Phoenix (10 gms)
1 game against Cleveland, Orlando, Denver, Portland Dallas (5 gms)
The remaining 10 games are against teams with losing records - (Chicago, Minnesota (2), Toronto, Memphis, Charlotte, Detroit, LA Clippers, Sacramento & Golden State)
My prediction? - The Rockets will have home court advantage in the first round after finishing 2nd in the Southwest Division, likely against Denver or Portland with Utah winning the Northwest Division.
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Trading Sage Rosenfels is not a bad move if they get at least a 4th round pick. The Texans will sign a backup QB and probably add a young QB to develop that they plan on keeping on the roster.
My rankings of the choices for backup QB -
1. Gus Frerotte --- 37 year old journeyman was 8-3 starting for Minnesota last year and should be available after the trade becomes official. Also started 5 games for Kubiak in Denver in 2000 & 2001 going 4-3 with 12 TDs and 8 INTs.
2. Patrick Ramsey --- Just turned 30, only real chance came in his first 2 years after being over-drafted in the 1st round by the Redskins and those were the Spurrier years so I'm almost willing to give him a pass just for that. Has hardly played the last 4 years and while he is a former Bronco - his time there did not coincide with Smithiak, just Shanny Sr.
3. Ryan Fitzpatrick --- Only 26 years old, has only played for bas teams (St. Louis and Cincy). Has the type of skills that would suggest he'd be a good fit in this system. Spent a lot of time on the field last year and might show better results with a better group around him.
Keep this in mind. If Schaub does not have a good (i.e. winning) season and plays far less than a full season for a 3rd straight season - then the Texans should let him go. He's due a $10 million roster bonus following the '09 season. No reason to continue with him at the helm if this season comes up short. The Texans will be into Schaub for around $19 million for 3 seasons following this season. No reason to push that total to near $48 million over 6 years by keeping hiim around if 48 games into his tenure he has not established himself as a healthy winner here.
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Killer Vids
You want to get excited for NBA hoops heading down the stretch and into the playoffs? This NBATV ad should do it.
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I've had Rich Eisen on the show a couple of times before and he usually talks about running the 40-yard dash at the combine. He did it again this year for the 5th time, He ran twice, neither of which is very compelling. But when they pit him against some of this year's combine participants, it's a good laugh.
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