So I'm driving home tonight listening to ESPN radio with their NBA coverage. I didn't realize until they mentioned it but the Rockets, our Rockets, are the most improved team with 10 more wins than they had at this point last season. (I think they said Toronto is the team with the worst turnaround.) Isn't that a good thing? I guess amid all the bad vibes around here I/we often forget that this team ain't all that bad. There's nothing wrong with wanting them to play better but they ain't all that bad. Keep the faith.
I hear ya Free Agent. You're right they're not all that bad. But hearing that stat reminds me of those who say Cuttino Mobley shouldn't be criticized because he took less money. It's a stat that really tells more about how low the Rockets dropped off last year, due in large part to injuries, than how much they "improved". Did they really improve, or just get a bunch of players back? Mo Taylor is back. Steve Francis has controlled his migraines. Glen Rice is ... err, never mind. A #1 pick was added to the team. And they're basically on the same pace with where they were 2 seasons ago: 40+ win team just outside of the playoffs. My problem though is not really with the record. 26-22 is a decent to respectable record when you consider the future prospects of some of our players. My problem is that I don't think this team is playing basketball in any way that leaves room for huge growth. Still a lot of one-on-one basketball in a team set that does not reward passing -- still depends largely on the hot/cold shooting of streaky guard(s). If not by trade, something absolutely has to change in this basketball team. It's not going to be the guards shooting at a higher percentage, so will it be Francis becoming a more efficient team leader/playmaker? Mobley becoming more controlled (ie more intelligent) and letting the offense come to him? Yao becoming more of a dominant post player? Honestly, my only strong hope is for the latter.
I probably can't explain this correctly but there comes a time in your life with things just start to "click". Something that didn't make sense before all of a sudden seems easy and becomes routine. I'm hoping that is what eventually happens with Francis mostly but the team in general. Some will say it's Rudy's job to make it happen but it's not always that easy. Sorta like my golf game. I've had instructors tell me what to do yet I couldn't do it right away. After sometime some of my game has gotten better because I've seen the light in some aspects. But it took time. (I still suck but not because of my coaching.) I know most people, here especially, hate to hear this but I still think chemistry is the overall issue. The lineup as changed more than I would have liked it to with some injuries and such but I think it'll work itself out. I hope these guys are using this time to reflect and get their heads straight. But I'm not stupid and realize most are probably in Vegas or some island with basketball the last thing on their minds. My other wish is that Francis and Yao are so juiced about playing with the all-stars that something between them clicks and they are able to spread some of that to their teammates. A guy can dream, can't he?
last season is not a true indicator of where the rockets were. the team this year is just picking up where we left off two years ago. put an astrix next to the rockets record last year. if you dont know what an astix looks like just ask any spur from the 99 team.
I agree 110% Clutch. This is a very misleading stat when you figure we won 45 games the year before last. Last season we were killed by injuries. Even without Yao we should at least be around the same point we were 2 years ago, which we are, problem is with Yao we should have more talent ,which equals more wins. Honestly, I know that realistically we are about were we should be as far as wins and loses. What bothers me is the fact that I don't know how many of our starting 5 can/are long term solutions. IMO Mobley either has to go or play off the bench, Posey is still a huge question mark without an outside shot, and the jury is still way out on EG. The only guys I see being sure fire long term commitments are Yao and Steve, which after 5 years of rebuilding is pretty frustrating.
I don't see how anyone can compare this team to the team 2 years ago. There are a lot of different pieces. Hakeem was a dud. Francis was just a sophomore. We still had Walt Williams, no Glen Rice. No Yao. We also had Shandon Anderson and Kenny Thomas on that squad. I just don't think you can make an even comparison between the 2 teams because they are so different. Not only that, this season isn't over so who knows how many wins the Rockets will have?
Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Mo Taylor were all starters on the team that won 45 games. If we have upgraded the 3 spot and the 5 spot while Steve and Cat should have improved why not compare this team to the one in 00-01?
I think we have all seen that the Rockets are only as successful as Yao Ming lately. In wins against Sac, Minn, and the 1st half against Dallas and the 4th quarter against Cle Yao Ming was a major peice in the offense. Hopefully Steve, Cat and Moochie will have time to think about that during the all-star break. The closer we get to the play-offs the more a five man game is going to be needed because the competition is just going to continue to get tougher.
Yao has definitely become the centerpiece of our offense, but I don't think some of the Rox players realize that yet. We have all witnessed how good this Rox team can be when they play team ball. So the potential is certainly all there. I hope that Rudy will be able to turn things around soon, but I doubt that he has what it takes to trigger the metamorphosis. This Rox team, even if it makes it to the post season, won't get past 1st round because of inconsistency both on offense and defense. If we want to beat teams like Mavs and Kings, we'd better make some moves soon.
If we are the most improved team in the NBA, then what's all the hype about trade several players to make rockets a better team. To be honest, I do not want to see any current players to be traded. Despite all the losses, we sure are a better team.
Most improved team is not the same as the best team. I want my Rox to win championships and until they have achieved that, there will always be room for improvement.
Who said we upgraded the 3 and the 5? Hakeem was playing great basketball for a long stretch towards the end of that season that got us a bulk of these wins and I'm Sorry but as much potential as Yao has he is still not as good as that Hakeem. As for Posey he is still learning.
Come on Clutch this started out as a positive thread! Why, one post later, do you have to switch it to negative. Don't we have enough of those threads already? I know your being realistic, but there are still some positives in in this season and in spite of what you think there is room for improvement.
I agree that the Rockets are a much better team this year compared to last year. They just need to play some consistent basketball in the 2nd half of the season, and beat the teams that they SHOULD beat. (IE: Grizzlies, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Bulls, Clippers and etc) Now if they would've won the games that they should have won, the Rox would probably be in seeds 5 or 6 right now. Oh well, they're only 2 1/2 games from #5, which isn't all that bad actually.
Even if our Guards suddenly realize how important Yao is to our offense, can Yao carry that kind of load this year? I'm doubtful. Someone needs to just blurt these words out to Francis : Be more efficient in EVERYTHING you do. The only problems with Francis are efficiency and consistency. If someone pounds that into his head, I think this team can be much much better. As for the role players, Posey is a big question mark. With the kind of shot he's been displaying, even with everything else he brings, he's not for 6M or 7M a year. His defense is great, but it's not Artest-like, so no way he gets that kind of money for that kind of offense. His shot hasn't improved since he's been in the NBA so you have to wonder if it will ever improve. I see T-Mo as a nice compliment to this team at a low salary. His offense is way better than Posey's, and brings almost as much defense. He's also 6'10 (at least) and brings great shotblocking to go with his rebounding. He's also got a friendship with Steve, and HAS improved, so you can expect more improvement from him. What's the next step for T-Mo? If he works on his overall game (a little bit of everything) I believe he is the perfect SF for this team. As for Griffin, we just have to wait and see. Right now, he CAN'T do anything. Even if he had the moves, he couldn't use them with that kind of frame. We'll see next year whether or not Griffin will add 10-15lbs to that new-found aggresiveness and become a great PF for us. Otherwise, we may need someone else. As for Mobley, I think it's been well documented. He is in fact the most flexible player in the league in terms of style. But his unique relationship with Francis on and off the court may be the problem behind this team. Also, we need someone at the 2 who can handle the ball more often and dish it out. I'd love to bring Jamal Crawford off the bench, and if succesful, start him, if not, keep him on the bench.
For what it's worth -Then and now: Team Averages: Rockets 02-03 92.6 ppg Opponent 91.2 44.2 rpg 41.1 18.2 ast 20.1 Francis 00-01 19.9 ppg 6.5 assists 3.31 turnovers 02-03 22.7 ppg 6.1 assists 4.19 to Mobley 00-01 19.5 ppg 2.5 assists 2.30 turnovers 02-03 18.4 ppg 3.0 assists 2.35 turnovers Taylor Playing less minutes now 00-01 13.0 ppg 5.5 reb Minutes per game: 28.6 02-03 7.4 ppg 3.2 reb 19.7 Yao vs Hakeem Hakeem Played in just 58 games. Avg 26.6 minutes 00-01 11.9 ppg 7.4 reb 1.21 blocks Yao Avg 27.7 minutes 02-03 13.0 ppg 8.1 reb 1.98 blocks Shandon Anderson 00-01 8.7 ppg 4.1 reb
That 45-37 team played so much better than they really were. There should have been no way for a team led by Steve "Sophomore" Francis, Cuttino "Still working on getting it" Mobley, and Hakeem "I used to be awesome" Olajuwon to have been that close to making the playoffs. Damn, I loved that team. This team is so much more talented. We have better talent at every position...an older Francis...an older Mobley... Posey> Anderson...Eddie>Mo...Yao>Hakeem(At that point). I wasn't really upset until those last two games before the all-star break. After the two big wins, we should have stomped both Minnesota and Cleveland. I still don't think a trade is going to help this team, though. I think if we stick with this team a little longer, we will be happier than if we moved Steve/Cuttino/Eddie for Miller/Brand/whoever else you guys want.
It's easy to jump from 30 to 60(especially when there's no badgering illness) , but much much more harder to go from 60 to 90 or 100. Anyone who's taken a class knows that. Our goal being a Rockets fan is to see the Rockets score 100, not 60 points in the final exam. So when it's good to see the Rockets get 60 points - knowing that they could do it before - it's sad to say, in honesty, that this team has major glitches to work on to play efficient and consistent team basketball, the only recipe for scoring 100. Until those issues are solved, the outlook on this team is bleak in terms winning it all, but bright in terms of going from 60 to 70, as there is always room for individual growth of our players. So I guess it all depends on the perspective of being a fan.
We can improve without trading. Getting more experience is a way to improve, especially for young players like Yao and EG.
Agreed. It's like Dream or MJ. The team doesn't take off till its best player becomes its most demanding. This is the rookie and cultural hurdle Yao hasn't jumped yet. The guards aren't going to pass him the ball consistently till he gets in their face and demands it.
