Going out on a limb, since they haven't even made the playoffs the last few years, but this is my prediction for 2004.

Best defense in the NBA (lowest opponents FG% as well as points scored - on a record pace for both categories). This is the key to championships.

Yao Ming getting better and better (37 points in 34 minutes tonight)

Mark Jackson (super sub) - second highest career assists to Stockton, runs the offense better than Francis, makes everyone else move the ball better too. He is the key to the whole thing IMO. This lets Francis play 2 guard where he should be.

Jim Jackson, Kelvin Cato, and Maurice Taylor - solid forward trio

Let's get ready to rumble!

Who's coaching now that Tomjanovich is gone? Van Gundy?

I know squat about the NBA. Now, hockey on the other hand :) ......

I was at the Magic game last night. The Magic sucked against the Houston Rockets. My prediction:
Magic will be dead last

PS: The rockets are playing very good. Need some defensive work. One word: YAO!

GO YAO! REPRESENT!

But he's no good without the team, Jimmy Jackson is awesome, Mark Jackson - he's a rotator, just trying to last as long as he can in the leauge, that's how I feel atleast.

Before Mark Jackson, the Rockets would always be second rate because Stevie Francis is just not that great a passer. The Rockets were always near the bottom of the league in team assists. He is a great player, just not a great point guard IMO.

With Jackson in the game (and he subs for both Mobley and Francis), overall ball movement is incredible. He places his passes so well that the other players can't help but score. And the other players seem to pass better too! It really is a beautiful thing to watch, this old guy is the missing piece of the puzzle for this team. Just wait and see......

Yao is even dunking now!!!!!!!!
Jackson gave him an alley-oop yesterday that he couldn't HELP but dunk! He is going to make Yao play up to his potential (which is incredibly high). AND, he's hitting Yao with passes outside up at the top of the key and beyond which he excels at, looks like Nowitski draining those 18-20 footers!

YAO MANG is a good player... but DALLAS MAVERICKS WILL take the victory

The problem is the West is so damn tough. The rockets are a great team, but I don't think they can beat any of the top West teams in the playoffs.

If the Rockets were in the East I would give them a 50/50 chance of making the Finals, but in the West I would give them about a 5% chance tops at this point (which is about were Vegas has them)

One thing about Mark Jackson is that he has to start making some shots or the league will start to zone off him completely and not even guard him outside kind of like they did with Kidd when he came into the league. I just hope he helps Francis become a better point guard.

-Mr. Wigggles

Originally posted by noahprtlnd
Who's coaching now that Tomjanovich is gone? Van Gundy?

Could someone answer this?

Originally posted by noahprtlnd
Could someone answer this?

yep Van Gundy

The problem is that the Rockets are something like 4.5 games back or so from first in this division. Got some catching up to do.

I boycott the eastern conference.

Lakers will take once their team is healthy

NO ONE CAN STOP SHAQ!

Originally posted by Immi
I boycott the eastern conference.

Lakers will take once their team is healthy

NO ONE CAN STOP SHAQ!



Unless he hurts is pinky toe again & ends up on bench :D
jk

Lakers are scary when they click & start playing well together- if the Rockets can start to do that then watch out.

Go Pistons.

No pistons........wankels

I'm watching Kings-Rockets right now. Good game.

Lakers will take it
No reason for them to lose

But if they don't make the Finals
then I pick Pacers

btw, I think low field goal percentage and allowing low scoring is pretty common in the NBA now
Just look at everyone's field goal percentages from the 80's, 90's and in recent years

it stinks more than leaving food in your car overnight

Originally posted by SpYnalChRd81
Lakers will take it
No reason for them to lose

But if they don't make the Finals
then I pick Pacers

btw, I think low field goal percentage and allowing low scoring is pretty common in the NBA now
Just look at everyone's field goal percentages from the 80's, 90's and in recent years

it stinks more than leaving food in your car overnight

the lakers have the talent to do it provided of course they get healthy. the rockets aren't there yet. like you i like the pacers and pistons from the east and the kings, mavs and lakers from the west. garnett and the wolves could surprise. yea it seems like FG percentage has gone down over the years but part of it has to do with the increase in the 3 point shot.

thought i'd chime in:

the WEST:

wolves...may FINALLY get out of the first round...but i guess that really depends on who they play. (they shoulda beat the lakers last year...)

mavs...(in my best bill walton voice) play some defense, PLEASE.

kings...(*see mavs)

lakers...they're "supposed" to win but with injuries, distractions and the other western powerhouses...i don't like their chances. (of course, they do have the zen master...)

rockets...watch out for the spurs

spurs...watch out for the rockets

nuggets...nuggets?!! yeah, i said it. they may just grab that 8th spot...then again, so might the clippers, warriors or hell, even the grizz!

the EAST: (who REALLY cares about the east besides people in INDY?)

summed up in one word: PACERS

i'm a bulls man anyway, have been all my life. yes, life is hard right now but i hear michael's talkin' bout coming back again... ;)

If Michael comes back he better be a manager or coach or something... anything besides a player

I don't want to see people like Jamal Sampson dunking over him

And yes, teams shoot too many 3's these days.
If you can't prevent them from shooting too much by moving the 3-point line back, then might as well move it up to 22ft again.
Remember that year people were shooting like 44% as if it was nothing.
The other part of low FG% is lack of fundamentals.

by the way, the only way Minnesota can make it past the first round is if they get THIRD seed or higher.
Last year they didn't have a chance against any of the other 4 Western power houses.
This year, if they get 4th seed or lower, they do have a chance of advancing, but a slim one at best.
However there is no way they can get through three brutal rounds of Western power houses and cap it off with the Pacers unless of course everyone else gets injured or there's a meteor storm or something...

Originally posted by Speed-ER doc
Going out on a limb, since they haven't even made the playoffs the last few years, but this is my prediction for 2004.

Best defense in the NBA (lowest opponents FG% as well as points scored - on a record pace for both categories). This is the key to championships.

Yao Ming getting better and better (37 points in 34 minutes tonight)

Mark Jackson (super sub) - second highest career assists to Stockton, runs the offense better than Francis, makes everyone else move the ball better too. He is the key to the whole thing IMO. This lets Francis play 2 guard where he should be.

Jim Jackson, Kelvin Cato, and Maurice Taylor - solid forward trio

Let's get ready to rumble!

Keep your day job, George Clooney. You now realize you should have gone the Ph.D. route.

Originally posted by ArXate
Keep your day job, George Clooney. You now realize you should have gone the Ph.D. route.

Season isn't over yet. The Rockets still have some growing up to do. I'm getting tired of hearing that about the team, and "Stevie Franchise." Come on, this is your 5th year in the league. When are you going to mature? Mike Bibby made you look like a punk. Francis shot 3/17 in the Kings game, but somehow made 13 assists - must be a career high.

Glad there's some other basketball junkies on here.

Your quote above reminds me of a story. I was at a restaurant bar sitting next to an older lady, and the bartender called her "doc." So I asked her what her specialty was, telling her that I was a physician too. She replied frostily, "No I am a REAL doctor, an EDUCATOR, I have my PhD." Whatever...just remember, when someone yells, "IS THERE A DOCTOR HERE?" (on a plane, in a restaurant, whereever)... they aren't looking for you!

They are looking for a REAL doctor.

Originally posted by Speed-ER doc
"No I am a REAL doctor, an EDUCATOR, I have my PhD." Whatever...just remember, when someone yells, "IS THERE A DOCTOR HERE?" (on a plane, in a restaurant, whereever... they aren't looking for you!

They are looking for a REAL doctor.
LOL!!!! now THAT'S funny!

SpYnalChRd81, i completely agree about the wolves. they need to be a 3-4 seed or higher to make it out of the 1st round. (and i was just playin about michael. :D)

nobody commented on my one word summary of the east...
does that mean u all agree with me?

Well let me say this. When you're a tenure track Ph.D., your grad students, or at least the hottest ones, won't hesitate to sleep with you. But when you're an M.D., all the nurses understand among themselves about the drugs, the demons, the depression, the emotional instability, and the general lack of character among the physicians and to not hook up with them.

The Cavs aren't a contender yet, but keep an eye on them. Lebron is playing above most expectations, Carlos Boozer is an animal (no one outside of Cleveland even knows who he is). Boozer was the Eastern Conference player of the week, this week.

Since the trade with the Celts, they're playing great. i think they'll grab the 8th playoff spot in the East this year. They'll lose, probably in the first round, watch out next year.

By the way, the Kings take it all this year, no doubt about it.

Originally posted by ArXate
Well let me say this. When you're a tenure track Ph.D., your grad students, or at least the hottest ones, won't hesitate to sleep with you.

That shows a lot of character, sleeping with your students, certainly some quid pro quo there, I'm sure. I'll bet you're right, "only the hottest ones" too. What a winner.

You'd better go do some more research on the rest of your assertions, spunky.

Is this shift_zoom8 back from the dead, with a different handle?

And let's keep it about basketball.

Originally posted by mdw33333
The Cavs aren't a contender yet, but keep an eye on them. Lebron is playing above most expectations, Carlos Boozer is an animal (no one outside of Cleveland even knows who he is). Boozer was the Eastern Conference player of the week, this week.

Since the trade with the Celts, they're playing great. i think they'll grab the 8th playoff spot in the East this year. They'll lose, probably in the first round, watch out next year.

By the way, the Kings take it all this year, no doubt about it.

cavs get williams and battie for davis and mihm. as a celtics fan at first i didnt like that deal but added some size to the front court with mihm and blount both 7 footers. mihm, welsch and blount won't make anybody forget bird, mchale and parrish anytime soon but i like ainges moves so far. the year tim duncan was drafted by the sprus the celtics had the most chances to get the first pick but ended up with 3 and 6 and picked billups and mercer but pitino never gave either enough of a chance.

Originally posted by Speed-ER doc
That shows a lot of character, sleeping with your students, certainly some quid pro quo there, I'm sure. I'll bet you're right, "only the hottest ones" too. What a winner.

You'd better go do some more research on the rest of your assertions, spunky.

Is this shift_zoom8 back from the dead, with a different handle?

And let's keep it about basketball.

Where did you get this Spunky and Shift_zoom8 from?

No one outside of Houston probably heard this, but still funny. Steve Francis missed the plane to Pheonix Sunday, called the coach (Vangundy) FROM THE RELIANT STADIUM (Superbowl) PARKING LOT and told him it was a "once in a lifetime" chance to watch the Superbowl, and he would catch a charter to Phoenix the next day for the game.

Vangundy told him not to bother to come, he was suspended.

Then Francis' agent called Vangundy to tell him that Francis had some emergent personal family matter to attend to and would not make the flight. He didn't know Francis had already called the coach.

Busted! Another example of a highly paid athlete not taking responsibility for his work. Sickening.

The Rockets lost by 20 points to the last-place team in the West Phoenix Suns.

Originally posted by Speed-ER doc
No one outside of Houston probably heard this, but still funny. Steve Francis missed the plane to Pheonix Sunday, called the coach (Vangundy) FROM THE RELIANT STADIUM (Superbowl) PARKING LOT and told him it was a "once in a lifetime" chance to watch the Superbowl, and he would catch a charter to Phoenix the next day for the game.

Vangundy told him not to bother to come, he was suspended.

Then Francis' agent called Vangundy to tell him that Francis had some emergent personal family matter to attend to and would not make the flight. He didn't know Francis had already called the coach.

Busted! Another example of a highly paid athlete not taking responsibility for his work. Sickening.

The Rockets lost by 20 points to the last-place team in the West Phoenix Suns.

That's pretty funny - at least it wasn't a home game, ie. one where people paid the franchise money to see one of their stars.

Still got a chance. They will win tonight to split the series.

We're talking about Shaq here.. he's the MAN in the NBA. There is a reason why people have to double/triple team this guy. There is no way Yao is ready for Shaq's dominance just yet.. maybe in another few years when he puts up more weight/muscle.

Kobe vs. Francis... uhhh no contest. Kobe will out play Francis.

Payton & Malone... Future HOF. Both very hungry for their first championship...

Oh and for stats.

80% chance of winning in the first round series when the team wins the first game.

100% chance of winning when Phil Jackson wins the first game of ANY series. Now that is some scary odds.

You can say, move onto round two, take on the Spurs. :)

Shaq can't shoot free throws (4/14 in game 1). Van gundy will take advantage of that weakness again every chance he gets.

Francis outplayed Kobe last game, even though both sucked. Kobe shot 4/19 from the field.

The Rockets' defense is formidable, and that is why they will win game 2 (unless Kobe shoots another airball at the end of the game which Shaq can "rebound" for an easy dunk).

I'll give the Houston Rockets 1 game at home... but there is NO way they are winning the championship.. let alone passing round 1.

One game, both Francis and Kobe played horribly. Overall performance.. are you going to say Francis is better than Kobe? Look at their careers... is that even a fair comparison? Make that 3 Francis type players for 1 Kobe.

Shaq has lousy Free throws.. that's always been the case... In the low post, can Yao Ming or ANY NBA player seriously contend against him? No. Dunks, sky hooks, etc... no one is going to stop Shaq.

Have you been watching the same Rockets? Formidable? The last 19 games by Rockets averaged about 17-22 turnovers per game. That is not good defense. The Lakers had more offensive rebounds as a team than Rockets, more blocks, same amount of steals,... that's not very formidable.

Spurs will take it again!!!!!!!

Spurs.. ok there we have a team that can actually win a championship. Great defense, consistent offense, and mr MVP Tim Duncan.

Too bad it couldn't be the Spurs vs Lakers for NBA championship... since that's basically the real finals. The east have no one to watch... blah.

I love the Rockets and I know Jeff Van Gundy, great man.

Go T-Wolves!

Rockets can't beat the Spurs, but they match up with LA pretty well. They are taking it to them tonight!

"Doc" we agree!!!!!

Doc, you're wrong about basketball too.

The Houston Rockets taking the championship? That's a funny one!!!

Houston's got some good players, but how about they start with taking one game in the first round!

OK, the Rockets are whiny losers, and will get swept in the series.

Quotes from today's paper:

Steve Francis - "If the Rockets fans believe in us....hopefully we can get a victory."

Maurice Taylor - "They're too good for us."

Who can we trade Francis for?

Francis has been whining a long time now... get rid of him, and try to get T-Mac :) T-Mac and Yao... omg.. killer combo.

Besides, T-Mac hates Orlando...

Bumped to annoy doc.

Go Lakers!!!!!

Of course we all know the reason doc's Rockets are down 3-1 is because of a liberal Democrat conspiracy. It appears to be the same conspirators that made Rush Limbaugh a dope head.

The real reason my Rockets are down 3-1 is because we suck.

That was a great game today. The Rockets tried hard, but the Lakers deserve respect for the way they won. Malone really showed his desire and ability and his hunger to win a championship. Awesome.

There is nothing quite like watching a superstar at the top of his game. Kobe did it last game, Malone today. Fun stuff.

Ya.. I'm so proud of Karl! He frickin rocked... for a 40 year old.. impressive. Lots of heart... But Peyton on the otherhand, what a whiner... he knew he came into a team as a "third choice" option to shoot. He knew about triangle offense... yet he still whines. Last season for him...! Let's try and get T-Mac during the off season :) Shaq, Kobe, Karl, T-Mac, and LUC WALTON! strong.

i have crystal basketballs commemorating the last two Houston Rockets Championships...hope i get a new one this year! GO ROCKETS!

My crystal ball says this year Houston has 0 chance of winning the championship. They are down 3-1... and still have to go through Spurs.. which they were just terrible against. They were 0-4 vs Spurs, 1-3 vs. TWolves.

I saw a stat during the game where something like 153/160 teams up 3 to 1 in a seven game playoff series went on to win the series. But I think two of those 7 comebacks were the Rockets during their championship in 1994. Utah and Phoenix? Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm pretty sure about Phoenix.

I think it's already pretty good Texas has 2 teams in the playoffs... but Spurs is the right team to put your money on. Houston is more flashy to watch, but they still suck. Defensive team? Just the fact that they were the 2nd most turnover team in the league this year says something. Get rid of Francis, and Maybe the Rockets will be good next year....

I just love how Francis was hyping up the crowd, waving his arm asking for the crowd to go nuts near the end of the game... then later Kobe busts some shots, Malones old fart defense (dirty playing style), and sends it to over time... and when Cutino pushed the Rockets up 4 in the overtime, Francis again thought he was tough sh*t, waving his arm up and down. Ha Ha ha... and see how that game went. Not only did Francis cost them a turnover in the final overtime minutes, but also look stupid not being able to defend Kobe.

Sorry Houston :D :D :D
Malone and Kobe were too tough. Only 9 points in the 3rd quarter? Next up the Spurs.

I haven't kept up with basketball much in a while. My mom is actually the huge Rockets fan in the family. Is Karl Malone with L.A. now? I hated him in Salt Lake. Dirty, rough, unsportsman playing style. I wish the guy would just retire. I don't really care which city he is in.

(Title of this Thread) <<<< Oooops!

Huge spurs fan here, I feel the gonna bust up the lakers again.
Send kobe home crying.... Again.

That game 6 last year was the single greatest game ive ever seen in my life. Boooya.

GO SPURS!

Originally posted by said7
(Title of this Thread) <<<< Oooops!

Huge spurs fan here, I feel the gonna bust up the lakers again.
Send kobe home crying.... Again.

That game 6 last year was the single greatest game ive ever seen in my life. Boooya.

GO SPURS!


A picture tells 1000 words..... LOL :eek:

Was that not the craziest finish? Two of the best/luckiest shots to end a game ever. Derek Fisher is an assassin. I loved Horry's airball at the end too - that's why he is a Spur now hehehe.

This series has the two best teams in the league. Who-over comes out on top will win the next two series. GO LAKERS!

That game pissed me off last night. I hate the Lakers! Actually it's mostly that I just don't want to see that no good Karl Malone clown win. I actually don't have issues with the rest of the team. Karl Malone is crap. He plays dirty and unfair. He is a poor sportsman. He isn't that good of a human being. He knew this was his last year so he wanted to change teams so he could win. That sounds like something poor sport kids do in video games. If your team keeps losing, change teams. Way to support Salt Lake you prick! I want them to lose just so that low life can walk away from the sport with nothing to show for it. It will complete the nothing he is. Sure he's got tons of money, but he'd rather have a championship ring. Go Spurs! Texas rocks.

I didn't like Karl Malone either...when he was on the OTHER team! But he actually had the BEST attitude on all the Lakers throughout the season, and is probably the reason they are now in a position to win it all (witness their terrible play while he was out in the middle of the season). The guy plays hard, and he wants to win. Wouldn't YOU want to win after 18 years? And sticking with a team for 18 years is hardly "not supporting Salt Lake"! Give him a break!

The Mailman is an all-time great, you cannot fault his style of play, i idolized that guy.

fwiw, anyone who knows, loves, plays, (and in my case both coaches and referees) the game knows that the pros suck. it is boring. it is slow. it is literally stupid basketball, full of violation left and right, with almost no defence and a terribly inconsistant level of effort from the players. the skill level of your average hulking NBA player (the rank-average bench filling "role player") is just a tall semi-talented nobody. your average super star is really quite amazing, but seldom utilises it to the fullest. this is why Jordan was the greatest, and won't be surpassed: he still actually WANTED to play (not just get paid), and wasn't a moron.

NCAA is where its at. real heart, real desire, real work, real atheleticism, real brains and coaching. where it is a personal challenge, a life-long goal to elevate ones self to a level of physical aptitude never reached before to win the game. where the Madness takes over all in March. forget the NBA.

I'd take the Street Basketball then if you want real fast, real heart, real atheleticism...etc etc. I know it's only a 1 on 1 or 2 on 2 type of game... but still very competitive to watch.