1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall 3× NBA All-Star (2002–2004) NBA Rookie of the Year (2000) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2000) 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall 8× NBA All-Star (2003–2009, 2011) 2× All-NBA Second Team (2007, 2009) 3× All-NBA Third Team (2004, 2006, 2008) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2003) 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall 7x NBA All-Star (2001–2007) 2× All-NBA First Team (2002–2003) 3× All-NBA Second Team (2001, 2004, 2007) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2005, 2008) 2× NBA scoring champion (2003–2004) 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall 2× NBA All-Star (2013–2014) All-NBA Third Team (2013) NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2012) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2010) 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall 8× NBA All-Star (2007–2014) 5× All-NBA First Team (2008–2012) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2007, 2013) 3× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2009–2011) 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009–2012) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2008) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2005) NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2008) 5× NBA rebounding leader (2008–2010, 2012–2013) 2× NBA blocks leader (2009–2010) And yet it's meant nothing... And we're down 0-2 in the first round after what seemed to be a spectacular season and our best seed since 1996-1997. Despite having the "talent", Houston has failed to launch in the post season and it looks like we're looking at an early first round departure yet again. And as a Rockets fan this makes me angry for even following them. Where are you on the five stages of grief? Clearly I am now at anger.
Just imagine what it's like being a Knicks fan. You'll feel better. At least the Rockets have a solid future. The Knicks fans are operating on the "hope" that Phil Jackson will turn out to be a wizard of a GM despite never having done the job before, and that their "superstar" player will stay despite being on a team with an awful roster, no cap space, no lottery picks, and arguably the worst Owner in the history of North American professional sports. 1 play off series win in the last 13 years, 0 championships in 40 years... I feel for you. I really do. NOT.
I have basically reached Acceptance and attained calm: Denial and isolation: took two shots and drank a beer Anger: shaved my beard, took down my Hakeem shrine, posted on clutchfans Bargaining: started yelling at my girlfriend about how the Rockets would have won the game "if only McHale wasn't an moron." Depression: worried about having to watch a possible Game 4 where the Trail Blazers sweep the Rockets. Acceptance:realized that the Rockets were never going to make it past the next round under most peoples' expectations. Someone started this really stupid thread today (claiming Harden doesn't recognize he's sucking) with a "stages of grief" theme but yours is well put together: Open letter to James: The first step to playing at a 'high level' is Denial I have one minor problem with your post. "Houston, we have a problem" is the biggest cliche in Houston sports history. It's especially annoying because the original quote was "Houston, we've had a problem here." I'm sure the majority of people who use the phrase today don't even recognize that it came from Apollo 13 (excellent film---also, not implying you don't know this). Anyway, carry on.
"Houston, we have a problem" I see what you did there! That's the NASA thing, but you made it sound like it's about this playoff series. So original! Why hasn't anyone ever thought of that before?
