kryten128
12-19-2002, 10:51 AM
I just watched Pacers the game on tape and absolutely loved the way the Rox played, especially the way they passed the ball and looked for each other for the easy hoops. Some of the plays were just sweet, such as:
- Yao's behind the head pass to Francis for the layup, so smooth
- Mooch's alley-oop to Francis, who went waaaaaay up there
- Griffin's long outlet touchdown pass to Francis for the easy deuce
But what I loved the most, and what I found the most encouraging about the future is actually the passes that didn't quite connect, mostly because the receiver wasn't quite expecting the pass, such as:
1) 1st quarter, Yao got the ball just outside the key and made a quick bounce pass to Griffin cutting through the lane which went out of bounds because Griff spaced out (he probably thought Yao was gonna shoot and was going for the off board)
2) Yao was working the pick and roll with Francis, and guess what? Francis actually bounce-passed it back to the picker this time, except that the anticipation was just a little off by Yao. That could've been an uncontested slam, and it left me salivating at how well this play can work in the future. It'll be like Stockton and Malone.
3) Again, Yao amazes us and fools everyone, probably including his teammates as well in the end of the 4th, as he jumped into the air to receive an inbound from Rice from the corner. Seeing how the entire Pacer defense is collapsing on him, Yao flips the ball right back to Rice, who was wide wide open at the baseline. Rice had more than enough space to go in for a monster slam, but Rice didn't anticipate the pass and fumbled the ball a bit, which left enough time for a Pacer to come back and foul him.
What a bunch of highlights those could've been and I am eagerly waiting for the day when these plays are completed with consistency. That would be the day that marks the complete transformation of the Rockets from a dull, isolation, dribble-dribble-dribble offense, to a new dynamic, motion offense where everyone is willing to make the extra pass and find the open man. What an achievement that would be! But I guess it does take some time for a player's frame of mind to change, since they've been so used to standing around and falling asleep while somebody dribbles, crossovers, double-crossovers and dribbles some more before throwing up a prayer in the midst of 3 opposing players. So please, calling all Rockets. Keep your heads up, eyes wide open, and look for the rock!!! 'Cause it just may be coming back at you sooner than you think for the easy hoop. In the meantime, I'm just salivating for the day when some of these great passes, especially from Yao and Francis, start to connect, which'll no doubt help us win a few more games and give us some lasting memories along the way as well.
On a separate note, boy, do I feel bad for Kenny now that he has to watch AI dribble around the court in circles before racking up another TO or missed FG. I swear that kind of selfish play screws up the team game because not only do players become more selfish trying to get their shots, but they also aren't paying attention when a pass is actually coming their way. So please please please, my dear Rockets, do not go back to these bad, bad, old habits again now that we have a gem of a passing center.
- Yao's behind the head pass to Francis for the layup, so smooth
- Mooch's alley-oop to Francis, who went waaaaaay up there
- Griffin's long outlet touchdown pass to Francis for the easy deuce
But what I loved the most, and what I found the most encouraging about the future is actually the passes that didn't quite connect, mostly because the receiver wasn't quite expecting the pass, such as:
1) 1st quarter, Yao got the ball just outside the key and made a quick bounce pass to Griffin cutting through the lane which went out of bounds because Griff spaced out (he probably thought Yao was gonna shoot and was going for the off board)
2) Yao was working the pick and roll with Francis, and guess what? Francis actually bounce-passed it back to the picker this time, except that the anticipation was just a little off by Yao. That could've been an uncontested slam, and it left me salivating at how well this play can work in the future. It'll be like Stockton and Malone.
3) Again, Yao amazes us and fools everyone, probably including his teammates as well in the end of the 4th, as he jumped into the air to receive an inbound from Rice from the corner. Seeing how the entire Pacer defense is collapsing on him, Yao flips the ball right back to Rice, who was wide wide open at the baseline. Rice had more than enough space to go in for a monster slam, but Rice didn't anticipate the pass and fumbled the ball a bit, which left enough time for a Pacer to come back and foul him.
What a bunch of highlights those could've been and I am eagerly waiting for the day when these plays are completed with consistency. That would be the day that marks the complete transformation of the Rockets from a dull, isolation, dribble-dribble-dribble offense, to a new dynamic, motion offense where everyone is willing to make the extra pass and find the open man. What an achievement that would be! But I guess it does take some time for a player's frame of mind to change, since they've been so used to standing around and falling asleep while somebody dribbles, crossovers, double-crossovers and dribbles some more before throwing up a prayer in the midst of 3 opposing players. So please, calling all Rockets. Keep your heads up, eyes wide open, and look for the rock!!! 'Cause it just may be coming back at you sooner than you think for the easy hoop. In the meantime, I'm just salivating for the day when some of these great passes, especially from Yao and Francis, start to connect, which'll no doubt help us win a few more games and give us some lasting memories along the way as well.
On a separate note, boy, do I feel bad for Kenny now that he has to watch AI dribble around the court in circles before racking up another TO or missed FG. I swear that kind of selfish play screws up the team game because not only do players become more selfish trying to get their shots, but they also aren't paying attention when a pass is actually coming their way. So please please please, my dear Rockets, do not go back to these bad, bad, old habits again now that we have a gem of a passing center.