Mail Time: Can the Rockets win the West title?
Rockets.com's Damien Pierce opens his mailbag to answer fans' questions
Rockets.com beat writer Damien Pierce opens up his mailbag each week to answer fans' questions.
So ask Pierce anything about the NBA or the Rockets. He’ll come up with an answer or an answer that sounds right. His answers, of course, are entirely his own opinion.
In this week's mailbag, fans want to know if the Rockets can win a Western Conference title and who should be the top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Pierce will be fielding questions again on Feb. 9, so send in your queries.
로켓츠 멜벡 타임입니다.. 매주 미국 현지 팬들이 로켓츠에 대한 질문을 올리면 느바휴스턴홈 담당 기자님이 답변을 해주시는.. 그런 프로그램이죠.. 가십거리로 즐기세요~
Do you think the Rockets can win the Western Conference?
-- Nathan Sanders, Houston
The Rockets are in the conversation of conference title contenders after wrapping up a strong first half of the season, but the Mavericks and Suns are clearly the front runners for the Western Conference crown.
The Mavericks are probably the most versatile team in the league because of their ability to play any style and the Suns are obviously being compared to some of the NBA's greatest offensive teams. Both clubs create matchup problems for the Rockets because of their ability to spread out Houston's top-rated defense.
Are the Rockets capable of stunning Dallas or Phoenix in a seven-game series? No question. Despite a combined 1-3 record against the two teams at the halfway point, the Rockets haven't played poorly against either team and have been in position to win each of the four games in the fourth quarter.
The Rockets will more than likely have to beat both the Mavs and Suns in a series to win the West and that won't be easy. But if Tracy McGrady's back problems are a distant memory and Yao Ming has regained his dominating form in April, the Rockets certainly stand a chance.
첫번째 질문.. 로켓츠가 서부컨퍼 우승할수 있을까요..
물론 전반기를 괜찮게 보냈고 가능성이 아주 없는 것도 아니지만.. 맵스와 선즈가 너무 강력한 모습을 보여주고 있죠..
맵스는 어느 스탈의 플레이든 해낼수 있는 다양함을 가졌고 선즈는 느바 최고의 공격력을 가진 팀이라고 할수 있죠..
하지만 우리 로켓츠도 만만치않은 팀이기 때문에 해볼만 하겟죠? 이번 시즌 현재까지 두팀을 상대로 1승 3패이긴 하지만..
매경기마다 4쿼터까지 팽팽하게 접전하는 모습을 보여줬었죠..
물론, 지금 이 시점에서 로켓츠가 서부 우승을 먹는다는데 동의하지 않는 분들이 많으시겠지만..
맥의 지금 같은 펄펄 나는 모습과 야오의 정상 컨디션이 돌아온다면.. 분명 가능성은 충분하다고 봅니다!..
Who did you vote for on your All-Star ballot?
-- Ron Dennis, Kingwood
My ballot looked like this:
Western Conference
G - Steve Nash, Phoenix
G - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
F - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
C - Yao Ming, Houston
Eastern Conference
G - Gilbert Arenas, Washington
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami
F - LeBron James, Cleveland
F - Chris Bosh, Toronto
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando
Feel free to correct me.
두번째.. 이미 정해졌지만 로켓츠 기자님께 올스타가 누가 될지를 물어보네용?
서부 - 내쉬, 코비, 노비츠키, 가넷, 야오
동부 - 아레나스, 웨이드, 르브롱, 보쉬, 드와잇
Has Jeff Van Gundy settled on a rotation now that Bonzi Wells has returned to the lineup?
-- Jeff Williams, Houston
He's hoping eight is enough. Jeff Van Gundy has gone with an eight-man rotation since Bonzi Wells returned from a back injury, but it's too early to say that the Rockets coach has settled on the current lineup. He is still evaluating it.
What he's keeping an eye on is how Wells' addition to the lineup changes everyone else's role -- even his own. Luther Head has become a backup point guard in the current rotation and Shane Battier is playing increased minutes at power forward. Wells, meanwhile, actually closed Wednesday's game against Seattle at power forward since Van Gundy didn't want to pull Battier off Ray Allen on the defensive end.
So far, all the rotation tinkering is working. The Rockets have won four straight games and Van Gundy has managed to find a fit with Tracy McGrady, Battier and Wells on the floor together. With McGrady creating offense for his teammates, Battier is getting open three-point looks in the corner and Wells is getting more looks by either posting up or cutting to the basket.
The Rockets coach recognizes that some of the position changes aren't the ideal fit for each individual, but the move might be best for the team if Wells continues to produce off the bench. Van Gundy will at the very least stick with the rotation until something -- like a losing streak -- changes his mind.
세번째 질문.. 밴건디님의 현재 라인업 방식이 계속될지..
밴건디님은 8명으로 경기하는게 충분하다고 보시는듯.. 거기에 반지도 이제 팀에 잘 녹아들고 있죠..
하지만 현재 라인업에 대해 언급하는건 너무 이르다는... 아직까진 계속해서 평가중인거죠..
특히 반지의 투입으로 로테이션에 얼마나 시너지 효과가 나나..
그리고 요즘 루떠헤드가 루카스 대신에 백업 포가로 뛰고 있구요.. 완소 베티에는 파포로 뛰는 시간이 늘어났죠..
아직 현재까지는, 라인업..뭐 잘 돌아가고 있는 편이구요 3연패 뒤에 4연승중이니...
그리고 요즘은 맥과 베티에, 반지가 같이 뛰는 라인업도 자주 보이죠.. 맥이는 자기한테 붙은 더블팀을 이용해서 다른 팀원들에게 공격찬스를 내주고,
베티에는 사이드에서 정말 완소적인 3점을.. 반지는 그의 특기인 포스트업 플레이나 컷인 플레이등 잘해주고 있죠..
물론, 이런 라인업 방식이 개개인들을 보면 안어울리죠.. 베티에가 파포라니.. 하지만 전체적으로 봤을때 아주 잘들어맞고 있구요..
로켓츠가 다시 연패를 거듭하지 않는 이상.. 이 라인업은 계속 될거 같네요..
Which star freshman should be the first pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, if they go pro after this season? Kevin Durant or Greg Oden?
-- Mark Jones, Austin
I'm not sure if my membership in Texas Exes can be revoked for writing this and I can't even believe I'm saying this after watching highlights of the Texas-Texas Tech game on Wednesday night, but I've got to go with Greg Oden. I don't think you can draft a star forward over a potentially dominating big man.
That's not to say that I don't like Durant. Believe me, I'd buy my Final Four tickets right now as a Texas fan if it wasn't in the middle of Rockets season. Maybe those expectations are a tad too high, but he's got the potential for a Carmelo Anthony-like run through the NCAA Tournament. Durant could certainly be the next elite scorer in the NBA and I don't think there's any question that he's having a better freshman season than Oden.
But I can't see passing on a kid who could be the most dominating big man of the post-Yao generation, especially when it's so hard to find great centers.
네번째 질문.. 07 드래프트.. 누가 1번 픽일까.. 듀란트? 오든?
이건 뭐.. 갑자기 드래프트 얘기를..
여튼 이 기자님은 오든을 택하신다는.. 듀란트도 물론 앤쏘니와 비슷한 플레이로 장차 느바 최고의 스코어러가 될 가능성이 충분하지만.. 빅맨 오든을 택하겟다는..
With as much as the Rockets shoot from the perimeter, doesn't the team need someone with maybe a little attitude on the boards, especially on the offensive glass? Do you think the Rockets need to acquire a power forward before the trading deadline?
-- Jose Mares, Houston
The Rockets could certainly use some extra size since Yao Ming is out until March, but the team isn't in dire need of help on the boards.
Just look at the numbers. Despite having exactly one guy in the current eight-man rotation standing at least 6-foot-10, Houston is fifth in the league in rebounding differential. That's right. Fifth. The team is in the middle of the pack on offensive rebounds, but I suspect that will improve now that Bonzi Wells has returned to the rotation.
Would an additional power forward with some size improve those digits? Probably. But I don't think the Rockets have to acquire a power forward before the trading deadline.
마지막 다섯번째 질문.. 로켓츠 외곽슛 성공률도 높고 시도도 많은 팀이죠.. 그래서 그런지 골밑 플레이어가 필요할거같다는.. 데드라인 전까지 파포 트레이드는 어떨까..
물론 야오 이후로 골밑 플레이가 많이 줄었지만,, 현재까지 성적을 봐서도 많은 필요성을 느끼지 않고 있죠..
로켓츠는 8명의 그리 크지 않은 키로 시즌 경기를 해나가고 있지만.. 리바디퍼가 리그 5위죠.. 게다가 반지가 돌아왔으니 더 많이 잡아줄 것으로 예상 되구요..
이제 야오도 돌아올테니 파포 트레이드는 필요 없을거 같다는.. 생각이네요..
헌데 우리카페 로켓츠 팬분들은 1번뿐 아니라 4번이 가장 필요하다고 하셨는데..
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오늘? 무톰보옹 은퇴 관련 기사가 낫죠..
원래 이번해를 마지막으로 은퇴하려 하셨으나..
워낙 요즘 회춘모드이신지라..
그리고 가족들 딸,아드님이 셋이나 되시더군요..?
가족들이 아주 원한답니다~
그래서 고려하고 계신데
현 느바 최고령이시죠 아마? 40세?
제 생각에도 진지하게 생각해봐야 할게 아닌가 싶네요..
물론 지금같은 페이스라면 좋겟지만..
나이도 나이시고.. 명예롭게 은퇴하는것도.. 좋을거 같구..
여튼.. 무톰보옹 요즘 잘해주고 계십니다~
오늘 폴 24득점?인가 하면서 활약하던데..
챈들러도 괴물같고..
바로 내일 경기니까 좀 힘들겟죠?ㅋㅋ-_-;
내일 승리를 기원하며 5연승을 향해
Go Rockets!!