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Originally Posted by bootstrenf
the rockets are starting to scare me. they're looking really strong...
t-mac, yao, bonzi, battier, rafer...looks real strong. they don't have the depth of the clippers, but their starters have us beat, i think...
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Center: Yao is better than Kaman, but not too much better
PF: Brand vs Howard... no contest
SF: McGrady/Battier vs Maggette/Ross, no contest if McGrady plays more than 50 games
SG: Wells is better than Mobley, but not too much better
PG: Alston vs Livingston, (possibly huge) edge to the Clippers by end of the season
Bench: Clippers are easily one of top 2 or 3 deepest teams in the league
Starting talent I'd say they're more or less even. Except theres a humongous problem here... most of the Clippers are defensive-minded players (minus Cassell) + a defensive minded coach. While most of the Rockets are offensive-minded players (minus Battier).... + the most stubborn slow-down defensive coach in basketball today.
Jeff Van Gundy can't seem to really exploit the offensive firepower at all... put Rick Adelman or Don Nelson in charge of the Rockets and you've easily got a 55+ win team. But until they give up on trying to force-feeding the defense, they'll continue to struggle to make the 8th spot.