I'm not ready to hop on the "We've Arrived" bandwagon yet, but no question the Rockets came away with something more than the win yesterday. When Francis made Greg Anthony toss his jock into the fourth row and then nailed that pull up jumper, my jaw just dropped. That move was unbelievable and came at crunch time... Rudy T was right -- Francis' potential is unlimited. In my mind, no question he was the MVP of the game, but I came away just as impressed with Thomas. The only difference is, unlike Francis, I don't know if we're going to see the same type effort night in and night out, but Kenny was all over the place. One thing that I didn't want to go unmentioned (because I forgot to note it in the recap) was his body on Pippen's drive late. If Thomas doesn't fluster Scottie there (watch the replay), the Rockets lose this game and have to hear about how Pippen won it in the last seconds. If he keeps playing like this, I would say the Rockets most pressing need going in to the Draft may be small forward. Great game... really have to credit the team, especially the rookies.
Right, don't gather up the horses for the "we've arrived" yet. But, for the last month, I've been thinking...have we really left. The Portland announcers made a good point last night. Not including last nights great win, the Rockets were 3 and 10 in games decided by less than 6pts. Sounds like some bad free throws cost us some games. Is this a sign that we've arrived, or that maybe some of the players have just taken it up to another level. I don't think much has changed other than the guys are getting used to playing each others habits. What I do think has happend is that a gel has taken effect. Hakeem will only ad to this as he shakes the rust off.
What would our record be right now if we hadn't used the D.I.E. offense with Hakeem and Barkley on our way to a 2-10 start?
I Love This Team My approach this season was let them play, give them all the ammunition they need to play, and win or lose, don't let them feel like losers. They deserve better than that. They have played with as much heart as any Rocket team I have cheered in several years. I have been holding my breath for the last dozen or so games, hoping that the losses don't have an overall negative effect on the kids. There was some brief signs of frustration and confusion. Then, over the last three games, they began to win one game after another. I'm thinking we need a win over a front runner to really give this team a reward for hanging in there. Portland was worth the wait. Most importantly they learned that even if they are down, they have the ability and the depth to play whatever game it takes to get a win. This team has learned to win despite a number of mounting obstacles. I was busting a gut at the end. Man, it felt so good. My Favorite Highlights 1. The ankle breaker you mentioned. 2. The Thomas stop on Pippen with 5 seconds. 3. The cheering, ranting, heckling crowd at Compaq. 4. Brian Grant's look at Hakeem when Dream Machine tried out the new groin with an old move.
Clutch, I have a different take on this matter. I think Francis is looking better for 2 reasons. One, his comfort level is up as he gets used to playing NBA ball. Two, and equally important, the officials are letting him play and giving him calls that usually only veterans get. He is going to the line more often, and the refs are not calling "PALMING" any more on him. The crossover on Anthony late in the game was a clear PALMING violation, however, the refs never call it on the star players, and Francis is getting that STAR respect. Thomas, IMHO has huge potential. He has great court awareness, and tenacity when he is in there. Can he keep it up? He better or his playing time will diminish. I like Thomas and Francis starting, I wanted Thomas to go to the bench once Hakeem comes back, but now, I think the starting lineup should be... Francis Anderson Williams Thomas Olajuwon Key veterans Cato Mobley Drew Rogers Minor role players Bullard Miller Gray Cut....Curly. DaDakota PS, In the unlikely event that the Rockets squeek into the playoffs, any clutchcity.net member is welcome to watch the game with me on our movie screen here at the office. [This message has been edited by DaDakota (edited January 19, 2000).]
DaDakota It actually may have more to do with a league wide concentration on making the game more exciting, that is not slowing it down anymore, and a recent broader interpretation of the rule. From a (nameless) guy who ought to know, he says, (and some of this is his actual words) .... throughout the league they have started to unofficially interpet "palming" as occurring when you roll over the ball and "carry it" while moving without first establishing a dribble pattern (or interrupting a dribble pattern to affect the same outcome) .... and,while you do one or more of the following: 1. you are facing a close defender,while advancing directly toward a defender or a defender who is advancing directly toward you. 2. you are moving your legs or attempting to step away from a defender's advancement without establishing a dribble pattern. 3. if the action clearly gives you an added indefensible advantage that you would not have had, if you did not palmed the ball. These palms" infractions are overlooked if: 1. it would not have affected the play. That is the defender would not have been able to intercede with the play anyway. Kinda like a "No Harm, No Foul" thing. 2. you had established your dribble pattern earlier in the play, which included brief over-handed or horizontal movements that did not interupt the dribble pattern. This will be called the Iverson/Francis Handicap for no other reason than it describes it reasonably well. Rocketball I stand corrected. There indeed should be a fifth selection. Arvydas Sabonis (Goliath) is struck a deadly blow by Francis (David), and the populace shall evermore refer to this action as sabonisizing an opponent.
Have they arrived?? Have they ever left? Yes, they did leave. There's no question that at the beginning of the season they were not playing even the same caliber as last year. However, I don't believe that their record should be as bad as it is. My reason is INJURIES. Remember, they were starting to play well just before Barkley blew out his knee. Being a young team, that completely demoralized them and was the sole reason they lost 5 in a row. Then they got their confidence and really started to jell with Cato making the largest impact, aside from Francis. All the while, Steve has been getting better each game. But then, disaster in the middle with injuries to Cato and Rogers first getting sick before the personal tragedy. If anything, however, this was the catalyst for Francis stepping up to the next level--he got so tired of losing that he broke out of his cautiousness and really began to make Rudy's system work, giving confidence to the rest of his teammates as well. Francis' coming to the next level is one factor the Rockets have begun to win. But the other is the emergence of a post presence in 1) Kenny Thomas who, I admit my being wrong before, deserves a starting role and the chance to prove he can play this way consistently (right on there, Clutch), and 2)Hakeem, whose offense isn't up to par (who surprisingly for some, although I called it earlier in the season, is accepting the burden of adpating to the new system), but whose defensive presence is a HUGE factor. How many blocks and steals per minutes played has he averaged these 2 games? When in the last several years has his defense been so dominating? Man, even if the Rox have little or no chance of making the playoffs, they have to try. I just couldn't stand the embarassment of being in the lottery and I don't think they could either being a young team only now devleoping the confidence necessary to win in the playoffs and in the championship. I really believe that confidence is an underrated factor in the NBA--just witness the Clippers who have been known to work hard for years under Bill Fitch and their other coaches and have had tons of high draft picks. ---------- Lost in a daze of chanting Francis-Francis-Francis-Francis.......
My favorite highlight was Pig Miller turning and slapping Pippen on the butt after the final horn had sounded.
We would have kicked the hell out of Portland if we could have hit some free throws or the refs would have made the right call on 3 of the 4 charging calls. Anyhow, these guys are learning what it takes to win. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they are going to be world beaters from here on out, but I have a feeling things are beginning to turn around. I had my "stadium sound" on my stereo pumping the game last night. The crowd was fantastic and the team responded. ------------------ Lottery? I don't think so.
grummett/Pimp -- Let's also give Pig a round of applause for hitting both of those clutch free throws. Who'd a thunk it?
Absolutely, Will. With the exception of the late defensive lapses on Wallace and Pippen, the Rockets made every play they had to down the stretch. Another highlight for me was the look of sheer joy on Rudy's face at the end. TNT showed a close-up of him earlier in the game and he looks like he's aged 5 years since the beginning of the year.
Believe me, Will, I was yelling and cheering and pissing off neighbors with the "stadium" in my apartment! ------------------ Lottery? I don't think so.
Popeye, You missed the best play of the game, and that was Francis dunk over Sabonis. Not necessarily the dunk itself, but him getting wrapped up with him, Sabonis getting pissed, and then Carlos letting Sabonis hear about it all the way down the court... love the game, glad I was there, usually I go to the boring, blow out games, this one was fun....
I just have to start off by saying that was the best NBA experience I've had in my life so far... I too was at the Compaq Center for last night's game and it was just an AWESOME effort by the Rocks AND the crowd! I don't know how it sounded on TNT or FOX but, inside the laptop it was rockin in the second half. The most beautiful noise was the DEafining stream of BOOS that sounded off while the ball was in the air on the way to Quitten's hands and for a full second after he released it...EVERYTIME. The mule-ride and the dance by Francis got the crowd going crazy. It seemed like the whole crowd were true Rocket fans who knew the detailed history of the team and all their problems when they gave them that Hair-raising standing Ovation at the end of the third quarter for their effort. That was the best feeling I have had in a long time. Thomas's play was incredible and had me telling my buddies "that kid can play!" over and over again. His post game interview with Gene was pretty interesting too, he seemed incredibly shy and confident at the same time. He said that he has been putting forth effort the whole time he has been here, but at the same time he was nearly blushing when Gene mentioned his 42 points in the last two games and the huge role he's played in the wins. We've got a lot to be thankful for with this guy, a couple of more seasons with Hakeem and some P.T., he'll be pretty dam good. ------------------ -Peace to the Believers
I stand corrected. During the Clutchchat when Kenny was selected, I went against it and I was wrong. KT is really starting to fit. TNT cameras showed Tomjanovich pumping his fist after Greg Anthony' s brick. Hacks be silent. Hakeem is back and as I posted before, the Rocks will make the playoffs. ------------------ We would like to get rookie Francis on the break for some easy scoops in the first quarter...
