"Yao played great. I thought he could’ve played better. He still had 28 points and 12 rebounds, but he could have still played better than he played tonight." http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_Cool_Off_Heat_10798-290774-34.html "I was trying to be a leader, trying to fill a void." http://blogs.chron.com/franblinebury/2008/11/sunshine_superman_rockets_100.html#comments
He constantly brings all the players on the floor together during a dead ball to discuss plays and whatnot. He is doing a good job trying to be a leader.
It is what I was afraid of that Yao and Tmac are too weak to be a real leader and have let lessor players lead...like Rafer etc. But, let's give Ron a go.....why not? DD
I know this sounds odd (don't laugh), but Rafer Alston is the vocal and floor leader of the Rockets. Alston is the talker in the locker room and the motivational speaker. He is also the one running the offense that's why the Rockets look so disorganized when he isn't playing. By the way, I'm not a huge fan of skip but he is the leader of the Rockets.
Which is a big reason they underperformed, if your best player is not your leader you are not going anywhere. DD
um really? you mean the shaq-kobe lakers? those 2 were knuckleheads off the court who had terrible chemistry and hated each other won those 3 rings? wasn't dfish the team leader (notice how the lakers made the playoffs the year dfish returned to the team) along with fox and horry? you mean that kings team that challenged the lakers the best had webber as its leader? oh no, it was divac, their 4th best player. didn't wade admit he's not a vocal leader last yr? he just leads by example like most players do? the leader doesn't have to be your best player. your best player just has to perform like he's your best player. the role players just have to step up. you cannot explain luther head's disappearance in the playoffs on the lack of leadership; you cannot argue for bobby jackson's 2 traveling violations in a game 2 on a fast break due to a lack of leadership; you cannot explain injuries due to a lack of leadership. players just have to play their roles. ours haven't. it's as simple as that.
Crystal clear moment last night was when somebody poked the ball away from Yao after he grabbed a rebound, Bull commented that Yao should grab rebounds with elbows out, then the camera pans to Artest and Yao, Artest visually demonstrating to have elbows out to discourage ball pokers while talking to Yao. I can't remember what exact time during the game though.
More so than Tracy, anyday Yao leads by example, not by being the most vocal! I have no problem letting Ron be the leader, Yao leading by example and Tracy being the cheerleader. Go Rockets!
they usually look pretty organised when AB is playing and Skip is on the bench. Artest is exactly the kind of leader we need. "DO IT or i'll choke you"
Ah oh Yao just said Shane is the best defensive player in this team. Hope that wasn't a response for artest saying he could've played better.
you think clyde and hakeem were vocal leaders? kenny smith was practically the "leader" those days or atleast one of the vocal guys. leaders come in all forms, shane is most definitely a leader, as is rafer, they're very vocal on the court. yao leads by being a fantastic teammate and possibly the hardest worker in the league. when your best player is busting his ass you generally follow. jvg said as much about him during the wizards game.
This team has multiple team leaders. I don't know why most people keep wanting to pin it on one person. Adelman, as a player's coach, creates that kind of environment.
