Let’s Go Rockets!! Tonight’s the night Tracy and Yao will finally advance to the second round of the playoffs. I know the game’s in Utah and the Rockets have struggled there, but it’s going down tonight. At this point I can’t tell if I’m being positive or delusional. I just watched San Antonio and Phoenix close out their series (at home but so what), and now it’s time for Houston to do the same. Utah, thanks for the memories.. We’ll see you next year. The Houston Rockets are moving on to the second round.
I caught somebody hatin’ on Rafer Alston over at www.redrowdies.com . We’re all rooting for the Rockets.. What’s the problem bro? Calling Rafer Alston the worst point guard in the league is A) wrong and B) NOT POSITIVE. I guess you would prefer Sebastian Telfair. Or maybe you would like Smush Parker’s 14 minute, 0-2 from the field, 2007 playoff performance.
For those not in the know, Rafer is a street ball legend.. Alston aka Skip To My Lou was able to make the transition from the parks to the arenas. I met him one time when he was with Milwaukee. We talked more about “Skip” than Rafer even though he made it clear he was very proud to make it to the NBA. Here he is back in the day:
Everybody can’t be Nash, Kidd, or Paul. On a team with Tracy and Yao, you need somebody that can bring the ball up court, get the team into it’s offense, and hit wide open shots when guys are double teamed. STML can do all of those things. Rafer shot 36% from 3 point land this season. His mark could be better, but he’s in line with the league average. He doesn’t put up the biggest assist totals either although that’s more of a JVG style thing.
If you’re wondering why I’m defending Rafer Alston, you haven’t been keeping up with YBB lately. Let’s go everybody. Support the Rockets. ALL OF THEM.
YOU CAN TRACK MY ROCKET SUPPORT AT THE LINKS BELOW:
The positivity tour got off to a good start in Houston last night. Actually it got off to a slow start until Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy read my blog to his team at the half. Tracy McGrady, 1 point in the first half, was so inspired by my writing and support that he came out and scored 16 points in the 3rd quarter. T-Mac’s outburst combined with solid play from Yao Ming and Skip To My Lou led Houston to a 84-75 victory.
I’m not gonna take all of the credit for this victory.. the players and coaching staff definitely did their parts. A lot of people say that you don’t need a coach in the NBA.. You can just roll the ball out and the guys will do what they do. Not true.
Jeff Van Gundy is one of the best coaches in the league. He might not be as much of a pleasure to look at on the sidelines as Pat Riley or older brother Stan, but the dude can coach. Jeff has compiled a winning percentage of .574 in his 11 years in the league. He has only finished below .500 once when he has coached a full 82 game season. I’ve had the opportunity to meet JVG twice. He pretty much yelled at me the first time (after the Lakers/Knicks, Kobe/Childs game), but he was much cooler the second time. That time we were heading over to Minute Maid Park for the All-Star game or the Homerun Derby..I can’t remember which. Regardless, we put the past behind us, and I’m looking forward to meeting him again when he’s the coach of the 2007 World Champion Houston Rockets.
This is a clip or montage of Tracy McGrady gettin busy against the Utah Jazz. He dropped Jim Brown on the Jazz back in January. That was without Yao in the lineup so Tracy was carrying the load… It also lets Utah know Tracy can and will go off if he has to.
Houston’s quest for their 5th visit to the finals and 3rd championship begins tonight. Since the Celtics didn’t make the playoffs, WE should be in good shape. McGrady and Ming are both top five players at their positions. Shane Battier is the ultimate glue guy. Dikembe Mutombo is a great back-up center no matter how old he is, and Juwan Howard, Rafer Alston, Luther Head, and Chuck Hayes round out a decent supporting cast. The role players could be stronger, but Bonzi Wells was lacking the positive attitude that (I) the Rockets want on the team and he had to be sent home. He’s gonna miss out on a ring. Damn shame.
