Rudy should make a copy of this article for each player on the team, using it for motivation... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/811197 All that trash talk adds up to garbage By FRAN BLINEBURY Back in the middle of the NFL season, before the Baltimore Ravens started their Super Bowl run, coach Brian Billick threatened to fine any member of his team who uttered the word "playoffs." See where it got them? Seats of honor in their own victory parade. We'd consider having a similar celebration for the Rockets. Maybe if they could keep their heads above the .500 mark for more than 48 hours. The Rockets can talk. Oh yes, they can talk. More trash than a trailer full of Jerry Springer guests. The Rockets also can drop more trash than a sanitation department truck at a landfill. "Why should we bite our tongues?" asked Maurice Taylor. "We've been killing those Eastern teams all year." Yes, killing them. So who had the chalk outline around their corpse on Tuesday night? It isn't a solitary clunker that produced a 103-85 loss to the Miami Heat that is offensive. Or even the fact that Miami ran the floor better and defended better and shot the ball better and led by two dozen points in the middle of the third quarter. These things happen in the NBA. Just not to the good teams. Can't withstand sore Heat Is it callow youth or raw stupidity that allows these Rockets to keep putting together win streaks of one and two in a row and then proclaiming themselves ready to take on the world? The Rockets welcomed the Heat into town by claiming that with all of their clearly abundant talent, they would likely be competing for the No. 1 playoff seed if they were members of the Eastern Conference. And while, this season at least, that is an honor that ranks right up there with being the best actor in the Stallone family, the guys in the Miami uniforms took slight offense. "We read what they said in the newspaper and we wanted to come out and show them," said Tim Hardaway. "We showed them what the East is all about and we shut them up. We read what they said and it was a little bit of a message to them." One can only wonder if the Rockets will ignore this message as they have all the others delivered right in their own backyard this season. This isn't a home court advantage the Rockets are protecting. It's more like the check-in desk at Motel 6. They'll leave the light on for you, maybe even a couple of mints on the pillow. Talk, talk, talk. Like Rosie O'Donnell on fast-forward, with just as much substance. They are Cuttino Mobley constantly talking about how he and Steve Francis make up the best young backcourt in the NBA and how this year's schedule would have them both voted onto the Western Conference All-Star team together. Talk. The All-Star rosters were filled out and the Rockets will not be represented at all, though one could make a very good case for Francis, who is the real deal. Elite? Too many holes in game Mobley continues to put up shots and collect points, but too many of the former and not enough of the right kind to seriously think about deserving a place among the elite. And that's not to mention his defense, which we won't as a favor. Talk. They challenged the Heat and then stood and watched Miami pick up the gauntlet. Shandon Anderson does another offensive disappearing act, making just one of four shots. Kenny Thomas comes off the bench and might as well have had his arms and legs bound, managing just one bucket and four rebounds in 22 minutes. Then there was Taylor. Or rather, there wasn't. As a power forward, Taylor was tossed around like a throw pillow by his Heat counterpart Anthony Mason. When Mason, who really is an All-Star, wasn't pumping in jumpers from the baseline, he was going inside to knock around the Rockets like so many bowling pins to grab 15 rebounds. Taylor, as is frequently his custom, preferred to stay out of harm's way and shoot jumpers. He shot 3-for-9 and then resumed his ongoing discourse on the march to the playoffs. Talk. A few days ago, he proclaimed that he "liked" the Rockets' tepid record. Maybe this is what you should expect of a refugee from the wretched LA Clippers. After all, in the months after he was raised from the dead, you likely didn't hear Lazarus complaining that his dinner was overcooked. It's all about perspective. From a Clipper, this is the penthouse. Win three, lose six, win two, lose three. "We're gonna keep streaking," Taylor said. "And there's no reason we should stop talking." Except, of course, sheer embarrassment. ------------------ http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/houstonrockets2000 [This message has been edited by DaneB (edited January 31, 2001).]
Motivation is what has been missing from the Rockets this season. Sometimes, they just look like they couldn't care less whether they win or lose. This is a problem that is plaguing the NBA and high paying sports in general. I think that players should get more money for winning games. That way, EVERY player would be motivated. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
Thats why I think Mr. Langhi should be coming off the bench before Mr. Bullard does. Langhi brings this team heart, grit, and MOTIVATION. When Dan runs down a rebound wether offensive or defensive gives your team more energy. They want to come out and try harder because there is a rookie out there hustling more making them look lethergic. Thats what I have to say on that. ------------------ <font size="1"> "I move for no man." --"So be it." </font>
The Rockets need to really commit to playing defense. Philly used to sort of do the same thing, they would play defense one night and they next night they would be lackadaisical. This year, they've really commited themseleves and hustle their @$$e$ off each and every night, look where it got them. If the Rockets really want to make the playoffs, Francis should speak up and lead this team. He should play more of an assertive role if we are going to accomplish anything this year. ------------------ http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/houstonrockets2000
They are Cuttino Mobley constantly talking about how he and Steve Francis make up the best young backcourt in the NBA and how this year's schedule would have them both voted onto the Western Conference All-Star team together. From what I heard Cat said that they'll make the AS team if they get a good record. ------------------ Cuttino Mobley Online
FrancisFan, Don't worry about it. I remember it will- you're right on that. I don't think you're from Houston, so let me give you a tip: Fran Blinebury is an idiot. He never writes columns, and esp. on the Rockets, except when there are chances to forever bash them, and when he does he is so wrong with his information it isn't even a joke. When you read something somewhat controversial that doesn't sound accurate on the Rockets, check the source. If it's Fran Blinebury, you can pretty much discount it all. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Teams win and lose games, not individuals. Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Just wondering.. Which columnist is decent? ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
Jonathan Feigan is great on giving a fair, unbised opinion of the Rockets, although he doesn't do columns I don't think. Mickey Herskowitz and John Lopez do a pretty good job of sports column writing for the Chronicle IMO. Dale Robertson can be bad at times, but overall he is pretty decent. Fran Blinebury just really ticks me off often with his style of writing. At times he is downright awful, IMO like he was with the column posted here. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Teams win and lose games, not individuals. Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
I dunno about motivation.... Millions of dollars would motivate the hell out of me. ------------------ "Kenny, The Basketball scientist, Whoo Hoo." Charley B, on TNT
Cat's quote is: "I have personal goals ... I want to be an All-Star, and you might have a better chance if you start," Mobley said. "But I want people to say, 'Hey, he's consistent.' I want Steve (Francis) and me to be All-Stars, and making the playoffs gives us a better chance of doing that." PS Thanks For clearing it up TheCat. ------------------ Cuttino Mobley Online
