T-Mac on Dime #2Are the Rockets finished now that Yao Ming is out for the season? I hate to say it, being a big-time supporter of T-Mac (and fellow Seattleite Aaron Brooks) and all, but there’s really no chance Houston can go any further than a second-round playoff exit without their big man. And knowing T-Mac’s history, probably no further than the first round.
When Yao missed a large chunk of last season with a broken leg, T-Mac carried the Rockets, keeping them amongst the West’s better teams. He got help from Dikembe Mutombo, who stepped in and grabbed 12-14 rebounds a night in a starting role. That was in addition to PF Juwan Howard elevating his level of play and consistently getting double-doubles. Could we see the same thing this year? T-Mac can always put up MVP-ish numbers. But Howard is gone, and his replacements — Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes — don’t consistently produce. Mutombo is a year older, and even if he can still grab those 12-14 boards and block 2-3 shots a game, he cannot replace Yao’s points.
And last season’s sans-Yao stretch happened in the middle of the season, with Yao coming back in time for the playoffs. Now we’re talking about the regular season’s home stretch and the playoffs, in a year where the West is tougher than ever. Of all the teams you could say are legit contenders, even before Yao got hurt, the Rockets were probably the most flawed and vulnerable. Even if T-Mac and Yao scored 25 points apiece, they need guys like Rafer and Battier to hit open shots, and too often that wasn’t happening. Bottom line, they need a lot of breaks to fall their way, and with the way things have gone for T-Mac, do you really think that’s going to happen?
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February 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
nick says:
rockets are done again. west is too tough this yr. don’t think they make the playoffs
February 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Kobeef says:
I don’t think T-mac has the inner strength to pick himself up from another blow to his seemingly endless playoff drought.
Denver and Golden State will overtake them now for the last 2 west playoff spots and they will battle (and lose to) Portland and Sacramento for the right to be fringe playoff teams.
On the upside it makes the list of west playoff teams a bit more clear cut….
February 26th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Brown says:
This is great news for Warriors fans. I was getting worried they might end up in 9th place, but without Yao, the Rockets should slip considerably in the standings.
The Rockets aren’t that great of a team anyway, they have too many holes and deficiencies in their lineup. They seem to only go on winning streaks when Rafer Alston steps his game up, which isn’t something you can bank on. I doubt they would have made it out of the first round even with Yao anyways.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Prof. TX says:
I always hold out hope for this team until they’re mathematically eliminated. I just don’t know that they can do it this year. The competition is so tough, T-Mac looks more spirit-less than ever this year, and it’s a sad way for Mutombo to spend his last year in the league. At least Deke will get to see some playing time on his farewell tour.
They can play Scola and Mutombo at center to get shooting from the first and defense from the second. Landry can move into the starting PF with Hayes to back him up. They’re still almost two deep at each position:
PG: Alston/Jackson
SG: McGrady/Head
SF: Battier/Green?
PF: Landry/Hayes
C: Mutombo/Scola? (weak here)
Who knows? Maybe they can keep the 8th spot and get a lucky draw of a Laker team where Kobe just had to quit for his finger surgery right before the series starts.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
SWAT says:
man, i am so utterly depressed right now………
February 26th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
GEE... be clear says:
SWAT I am with you. It just hurts so bad.
Literally hurts.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
SWAT says:
any news on where the hell this injury came from? The bulls game he looked fine…not great but i thought it was just an off night. On the rockets website and the chronicle i just read this morning, like seriously 2-3 hrs before this was posted, that his ankle injury was nothing to worry about and he was just gonna ice it down. This sure sounds like it was a lot worse than that…
February 26th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Done son! Too bad. I really don’t want to see the under achieving nuggets make the playoffs now. They’re garbage. Portland needs to step it up.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Amar says:
while I like to rag on the rockets, I gotta say that this is just bad news. why couldn’t this have happened to kobe instead?
(ha ha)
February 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I’m afraid this is a sign of things to come for Yao. I’m a fan of his but I’m afraid as he gets older his legs are just gonna have more and more problems. What is this like the third time he’s had surgery on his legs? Imagine if he was an explosive player he would be getting injured even more often.
It makes sense he’s always getting swatted for lack of vertical. He’s trying to protect those giant legs from the pounding they would endure from actually jumping.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Jah says:
Stick a fork in ‘em!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Prof. TX says:
Here’s hoping that it’s not as bad as they think at first, and that he comes back in time for the playoffs.
I know that it’s not guaranteed they’ll be in, but it’s too early to tell and other teams could still have injuries or losing streaks too. The Rockets have an easy schedule over the next few games, will be a good test of how they recover.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
RocketMan says:
I say they still make the playoffs. Denver is on their way out and they have more consistancy issues than the Rockets do, especially on defense. T-Mac will play well enough to hold on to that 8th slot in the west. All for not though as he may very well suffer another early exit in the playoffs. West is too tough and T-Mac just doesn’t have that killer instinct anymore and that’s a damn shame cuz he has kobe like potential when it comes to dominating a game. No heart though or lack there of.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
finance_lady23 says:
ok we need to talk fantasy implications.
now that he’s out. what’s my move? how do you replace a guy like that?
February 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
control says:
Rockets MIGHT make the playoffs, but it will be a quick trip…4 games, 5 if Tmac does his thing and somehow doesnt get injured.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
E$ says:
Have ya’ll heard of Carl Landry? He’s beasting as of late
February 26th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Prof. TX says:
Landry should get the start at PF, and move Scola to play a Memo Okur type of C that plays at the high post and shoots jumpers to draw your Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan type of defenders out from under the basket. Either the defending C lets Scola shoot mid-range or goes out to defend him and risks the layups in the paint.
It’s not perfect, but it might be the best with the tools they have.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I guess we now know Brent Barry will take the Rockets off his list.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Jamal Magloire is available. Hey it’s something.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Austin Burton says:
Good call. I forgot about Landry. He’s still not getting them past the 1st round, though.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Prof TX,
Sorry but nobody is going to fear Scola taking jumpshots much less come out to guard him.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
ksh says:
we made the playoffs! but hopefully we beat the jazz 3 straight times 2 at home once on the road probably not happening but you never know lol