Rockets can learn by watching Sixers By FRAN BLINEBURY Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle PHILADELPHIA -- While the basketball world prepares to spend the next few months -- and maybe years -- figuring out how to deal with the purple people-eating Lakers, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the vanquished. What the beaten, battered, broken, bloodied 76ers demonstrated over the course of a sparkling regular season and an amazing seven-week run through the playoffs is that nothing works like hard work, and nothing succeeds like expecting and accepting nothing less than success. Which brings us, then, to the Rockets. The period for quiet understanding and patience during the reconstruction process is through. The time to applaud youthful exuberance, to talk about planting seeds and nurturing the future crop, is past. Now it is all about about reaching out to seize whatever opportunities lie waiting and to shake loose a few more that don't seem to exist. That is the fuel that cranked the engine of the Rockets organization during their championship heyday and that needs to return next season. No more talk of slow, careful building, of taking one step at a time to the top of a long ladder. No more pointing to a 45-win season that could have and should have been better and patting themselves on the back for being the best-ever team to not make the playoffs. Not with the potent duo of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley coming back for a third season together and the clock ticking. Big-ticket free agents aren't always the answer. Chris Webber certainly did not put Sacramento over the top. In short, you can't buy heart. And all-out effort. Lead, follow or move over What you can do is make it a requirement. The 76ers showed the Rockets the blueprint. Under the exacting and intense demands of coach Larry Brown, the Sixers, in fact, showed the entire NBA the path to follow. Perhaps it did not deliver the ultimate prize, but it gave the city of Philadelphia a much greater sense of satisfaction and accomplishment than five-year plans that went out of style with the former Soviet Union. While the Western Conference is, indeed, a more rugged neighborhood, the 76ers didn't thrive merely by the relative weakness of the East. They expected more of themselves from the opening bell, and they delivered. Which is a vast difference from the give-us-time song and dance that has been allowed to seep into the Rockets' mentality. They have become a team willing to settle and make excuses rather than extend beyond their reach. If skinny little Allen Iverson can be the lead horse, there is no reason Francis cannot follow suit. He is taller, stronger, quicker, a greater overall talent. What Francis needs is for coach Rudy Tomjanovich to take the reins off his own Secretariat and let him run free. The Rockets should be Francis' team, not just in name, but in every-night action. Only then will the rest of the group follow. Francis must be permitted to stop worrying about whom he might be offending. Anybody who can't keep up should move over, get left behind or be run down by the express train. All about heart and soul Iverson showed us this can be a little man's league again, but only if the little man has the freedom to grab it by the throat. Just look at the lineup that was on the floor for the Sixers at times during their last stand in Game 5 -- Iverson, Eric Snow, George Lynch, Raja Bell and Kevin Ollie. This was clearly not a team that got where it did on raw talent. The 76ers were about a total commitment from all of the players who were willing to continue with fractured limbs and from a corps of undersized big men who bought into the cause and gave up their bodies. Competing at that level is not about potential, wishing upon a star or hoping that a 7-foot, undermotivated, underachieving Kelvin Cato is going to become something he isn't. As long as Cato is permitted to bring his dog-and-phony show to the dance, no one else can ever be asked to lay everything on the line. An organization that can no longer find a place for its icon, Hakeem Olajuwon, twists itself into pretzel knots rationalizing Cato. How curious. How sad. As long as the Rockets continue selling future promises instead of raw, all-out effort in the here and now, they will never recapture Houston's heart and soul. It's time for the organization to remember what once made the Rockets great. Short of that, they could watch tapes of the Sixers. I couldn't agree more. What got the Sixers to the finals was their all out effort. I have no doubt that the 45-37 Rockets are a far more talented team than the Sixers. What got them into trouble at times was their lack of effort. Some games they'd show up, and others they wouldn't. If they had played like the Sixers in every game, I have no doubt that they would have reached about 55 wins. I agree with every word in that article. Every word. ------------------ Protrolls.com! RITQAIOCLHTPFOTFWBPTD
Great article! ------------------ Rarely is the question asked: Guns kill squirrels than REDRUM to fools across the nation?
Great Article, despite the fact that this whole "heart" thing is a little hackneyed. What Fran doesn't take into account is that the Sixers have the best interior defense in the league IMO which improves your overall team defense. This is not to take away from the Sixers guards, because they probably are the best on the ball defenders in the league, it's just that the Rocket's guards didn't have the luxury of being bailed out if burned by their man with our cupcake frontline. I want the team to continue to be built around Francis and Mobley, but like he mentioned, I want Francis to be more vocal when certain players are slacking off. It only takes one player to do this, not the whole team b****ing at a guy. He needs to get on Kelvin Cato like Magic got on Divac, and he needs to let Mo know that it's not a good thing to get outrebounded by the guards on your team. Also, Fran doesn't admit that, in general, Houston fans are fickle, and rather says that the attendance is low because the Rockets don't put out alot of effort on many occasions which is a joke. He probably came to this conclusion from the home losses to the Warriors and Clippers, but that's more a sign of a young team underestimating their opponent than it is of a team lacking in effort. The Francis not "offending" players part is obviously a reference to Shandon Anderson. I like Shandon, but he thinks he brings more to this team than he really does, and he had no reason to b**** about touches considering he hasn't improved offensively, but rather has gotten worse in his stint here. I think bringing in some rookies is going to be great for this team, because there will be some real competition for minutes in the frontcourt, and competitive practices usually lead to a more efficient and high energy team on the court IMO. Like others have mentioned, don't build your team in regards to how they stack up against the Lakers, because you will never beat the Lakers at their own game. Just continue to build the team around our backcourt. This last part didn't have anything to do with the article, it just needed to be said ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited June 17, 2001).]
I found the five year plan reference funny because coincidentally this is Iverson's fifth year. I also felt I've read the article, without the rockets reference. ------------------
interesting.. ------------------ Rarely is the question asked: Guns kill squirrels than REDRUM to fools across the nation?
Fran's whole point in this Article was how the Rockets could take a lesson from Philly but weren't the Rockets just as dominant over the East as Philly? Hmmmmm? Pathetic article. ------------------ [This message has been edited by crash5179 (edited June 17, 2001).]
Been following this website for a while now...it's the greatest. So time to jump in. Totally agree with article, and the time is now. What I saw from LA and Philly was an incredible COMMITMENT TO DEFENSE that really hasn't existed here since the mid-90's. ------------------
That was a nice article and I think every bit of its true, but we did beat them by 25 points in there own building ------------------ Agent
The important lesson is that commitment to the team to do whatever it takes to win is needed to return the Rockets to greatness. Rudyball was about defense first and offense second. We have lost that from personnel changes. It began with the Barkley acquisition and has continued. Anderson was promised a starter role, and that promise was kept, but it set a bad precedent and led to minutes for Anderson he did not earn. Same was true of Taylor. When you look at this team, you see way too many guys who offer only offense, and lack the toughness than Eric Snow exhibits. Who are the players who lack the drive and hard edge to compete well every night? Cato, Rogers, Collier, Wiz, Taylor and Anderson. Who plays every night like losing really hurts? Cat, Steve, Moochie and Thomas. We have to get enough players with the heart of a champion to become champions. I'd like to see us acquire more players who hate to lose anytime. That is the one thing that MJ brought, even more than his talent. He would not let them lose a series. I would love to see Steve and Cat assert themselves that way. There is a lot of talk about team chemistry and all the guys loving each other, but this is not a YMCA league. There is no room for Wiz, or Rogers, or Cato on a team that wants to win every night. You have to have players in the paint who act like opposing players coming inside is a personal insult to them. You have to have small forwards who dog their counterparts mercilessly. Pick up the defense and let our guards terrorize the league the way I know they can. ------------------
Decent article but a little melodramatic. I love hard work and it is truly rewarding in and of itself (perhaps Kelvin Cato will learn this someday...probably too late). I was pulling for the hard working underdogs. Hard work aside the Sixers swept GS & VANC, but were just .500 against every other WC team. Maybe their work was just a little easier in the East? ------------------ Raef to Rocks in '01-'02! [This message has been edited by GATER (edited June 17, 2001).]
strange article with a lot of faulty analogies... If a team has the league's MVP, best defensive guy of the year, the best coach, etc...isnt it a bit weird to paint them as the scrappy underdog, getting by with nothing but heart? I mean, given the weak status of the eastern conference, the Sixers barely made it out of each series they played in. Also, I guess Fran can knock five year plans all he wants, but given how ridiculous the Soviet Union actually was, it was still considered a superpower for several decades. I'd rather see the rockets with a five year plan and considered a superpower, than a team that which is considered a success by getting demolished in the finals. Just as long as the Rockets dont eventually implode like the USSR.. If anything, I consider the Sixers a highly overrated team. Given all their talent and a coach deemed the league's best, they should have easily won all the series they played in as well as the championship. I hope the Rockets in no way immitate the Sixers. Rather, I hope they forsake the individual honors in favor of a team system that actually wins championships. ------------------ "The difference in this (tied) series has been Dikembe Mutombo" - Bill Walton
Man you missed the entire point of the article. I think what he was saying was that the Rockets shouldn't go exclusively after high-priced, glamor free agents, they should just shore up their weaknesses with solid role-players, dedicate themselves to defense, and expand their roles. Instead of being happy with their season and making excuses, things like they could have made the playoffs if this shot had fallen, they should work extra hard in the offseason and be more unselfish. Something the 76ers did. Instead of going after Webber, the Rockets should go after solid role players to shore up the SF spot, and the interior, and the bench. ------------------ "I'm not here to protect my reputation, I'm here to make my reputation! Mama Barkley didn't raise no chumps!" - Charles Barkley
I hope the Rockets in no way immitate the Sixers. Rather, I hope they forsake the individual honors in favor of a team system that actually wins championships. The 76ers DID win a championship, a conference championship. The 76ers are a good team, but all of the individual honors don't guarantee a championship, and shouldn't have made them favorites. All it did was show that they worked. I don't know how people can call a Conference championship team "overrated", but the 76ers are the type of team I want the Rockets to model, as far their work ethic, team chemistry, and players knowing their roles are concerned. ------------------ "I'm not here to protect my reputation, I'm here to make my reputation! Mama Barkley didn't raise no chumps!" - Charles Barkley
RocksMillenium, Maybe the rockets should trade for a player that becomes a free agent on Aug 1st like the Sixers. The article makes since to me now. ------------------
LOL! The Rockets went the opposite way and kept their center who will be a free agent Aug. 1st! See we are immitating the 76ers! ------------------ "I'm not here to protect my reputation, I'm here to make my reputation! Mama Barkley didn't raise no chumps!" - Charles Barkley
Sure, the rockets would be better off with a better attitude and working hard in each game. Still, I just dont think the analogy between today's Rockets and today's Sixers makes much sense. I mean if you say - the Sixers worked hard, we should work hard...that's fine...and true...but that's obvious...why should Blinebury's elongated forutne cookie become a golden mantra for our Rockets? In order for the sixers to get where they are, they had to go through a lot of growing pains. Iverson almost stepped into the trading spotlight at one point. I mean why should the Rockets be faulted by having a few years to find themselves? Afterall, how many years had Phily been rebuilding between glory eras? Sure, it'd be nice to see the rockets hustle like Philly does now. And it is getting to be time for them to find themselves, but do we really want to take the road Philley took to get there? and when all is said and done, are we really going to pat ourselves on the back and say - second place, good job. A conference championship is a huge accomplishment, but not an ultimate goal. So I guess what I dont get is why do we need a 500 word essay to say - Philly hustled, Rockets would be better off hustling more too. I mean didnt Dallas hustle, show heart and do better than everyone anticipated? I thought their comeback against Utah was a lot more instructive than Philley squeeking out various series winners at home. I have to give Philly credit where credit is due, but other than saying Rockets would be better off hustling more, the analogy between rockets and sixers just doesnt fly. Afterall, one of the reason's this was so sweet for Philly is because it was a long time coming. I hope the Rockets dont go through that to acheive a philly-type hustle and heart. ------------------ "The difference in this (tied) series has been Dikembe Mutombo" - Bill Walton
I agree with what you said for the most part, but theres no way you can question Carlos Rogers' heart. If there is one thing that CRog brings to the table, it is the heart of a champion and the intangibles and hustle plays. ------------------
At this point in rebuilding, the Rockets are far more talented than the Sixers were at this point. They are far more talented than the Sixers are now! What made the Sixers great was their hard work. If the Rockets played with the same attitude that the Sixers bring every night, they would be an elite team now. They wouldn't have to wait 5 years before they make it past the first round, they could win NOW. ------------------ Protrolls.com! RITQAIOCLHTPFOTFWBPTD
The problem with imitating the 76ers is that we don't play in the East we play in the West. Put the 76ers in the West and they are in the same boat as us, struggling for one of the last play off spots and not a realistic chance at reaching the finals. If the Finals are what our goal is then we must go after the best, not just role players. Horry, Fox and Fischer were great but would not have been in the finals with out Shaq and Kobe. There are good role players available every off season in the draft and free agency but players like Webber become available to you only every so often and when they do you must act or you will always find yourself struggling for one of the last play-off spots...unless you play in the East. ------------------
