The Van Gundy's really like basketball so I cant help but
like them. Kinda like Vitale. I will never forget Van Gundy
getting stuck on the bottom of Alonzo Mourning's shoe
and getting drug across the court.

I actually thought Kenny Smith did a good job explaining what makes the Rockets different without McGrady but not necessarily better.

Artest (usually) has no problem embracing the #2 role that T-Hack could never deal with. He will defer to Yao and run Adelman's offense that is meant to work inside-out. The players have routinely been making comments about how now they don't have to worry about certain players getting their points and how they have more attitude now, etc. McGrady is soft and that shows up big time in how he plays and his attitude.

After the Rockets presumably re-sign Artest, it'll be interesting how fast they tell McGrady to whistle dixie in May 2010.

That being said, they're not a title contender, but I will get a mountain of satisfaction out of them winning even one playoff series without #1.

NT

How do I get in on some cheesesteaks?

Based on the huge bags under his eyes...

Yes, he was.

Now sit down Mrs. Crutchfield.
I will finish my English paper on
my own.

After the hamburger deal we will cut you in.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

SCAVS!!!

Fritos!!! That's a great way to get it to 4k...... No bacon?

That's less than three hours from Scav's house. Multiple casinos, for pit stops, on the way.

It's interesting how good the Rockets' role players are and how good their coach is. Remember last year when they lost Ming during that winning streak and still ended up winning something like 10-12 more in a row? This year, they lose McGrady and don't miss a beat. They are very well coached and the guys know their roles. They key, I think, is that nobody tries to step in and fill the role McGrady left. Also, the team plays with more cohesion once he's not in the game. The ball doesn't stop as often and the offense is much more free-flowing. It's also correct that Artest handles the #2 role better than McGrady does.

To say whether they are better with or without McGrady is difficult. They probably get just as far in the playoffs in either scenario. I think that they might be a better regular season team without him. But in the playoffs, he'd help them big time. When you are playing a team 4-7 games in a row, all of the scouting will be done. Teams know what you want to run and know defensively how to take that away from you. What you really need is a guy that can create his own shot and that draws attention. McGrady is the only guy they have that can do that consistently.

I think that the rap he's taken over his career has been unfair. When healthy, he's been one of the best all-around offensive players we've seen in the last decade. I feel like he's right on par with guys like Wade and Bryant when it comes to his ability to score, rebound, pass, and lead an offense. It's just unfortunate that he's so damn brittle and seemingly a little mentally weak.

You mean the Tim Legler who stated before the year that the Mo Williams acquisition was extremely overrated and the Cavaliers would fall from their 4th seeding in the East last year behind teams such as Philadelphia certainly and others and they wouldn't improve on their 45 win season of a year ago?? (not that I remember or was paying attention when he spewed that stuff!!)

I wish Morty was around so we could talk about Lebron James and Mike Brown.