There is a temptation to point fingers at a time like this, and much of the blame being tossed around is deserved, but let's try and maintain some semblance of objectivity here. This is not the end of the world, and the Rockets have had reasonable chnces of winning both games against the team most expect to take the whole damned thing. That said, it is reasonable to look at both of the first two games as lost opportunities. In game one, we shot ourselves in the foot early and often with turnovers, and failed to exploit on a tendancy for very slow switches or indecisive defenders coming off screens, especially the Lakers vaunted backcourt duo. Additionally, we made what has by now become our teams' signature error in allowing ourselves to lose sight of the 7'6" guy in the middle far to readily. It wasn't just the guards; Mo Taylor has developed a bad habit of making as though to pass into the post, adopting a Statue of Liberty pose while Yao fights for position and the defense closes in on him, and then when he has waited long enough for the post option to close, putting the ball on the floor and backing in for a hook or a pass out. In game two we surely needed to expoit Shaq's foul trouble, and we simply didn't. Yes Malone was getting away with murder against Yao, but force it often enough and the Mailman would have been on the pine too, and we'd have been in an ideal position. Kobe got off, and there's not much we could do, but forcing the ball out of his hands was working with Shaq sitting, and we went away from it for no reason I can discern. Even more than in game one, despite the final score, this was the game where things were unfolding as we would have hoped, and we failed to capitalize. This kind of thing is typical of a young team, and we have developed a rep around the league for stupid mistakes at key moments and even more for going away from what's working for no clear reason, and this series has shown those two elements of our team in alll their glory. We need to stop whining about the calls the Lakers get...it's like complaining about growing old; it may not be fair, but you know it's coming so deal with it. Yes, we're young. Yes, the series isn't over. And yes, either way, this is a learning experience we need. But we haven't been outplayed so much as we have not realized our opportunities, and haven't played alll that smart. Every game and series can be reduced to woulda coulda shoulda, but with the odds as stacked against us as it was advertised pre-series, and with neither of our best players playing all that well, we held both games in our hands at different points, and let them slip away. Cause for greater hope for the future, true, but even greater angst in the present then it would have been had we simply been outplayed. You know what they say are the 4 saddest words in the English language....what might have been...
never mind then, I'm sorry if I sniped your thread, everyone knows you're one of the better posters round here. Carry on.
What is your problem man? If anyone posts anything that can be interpreted as supporting Yao you are all over it. You need to go to Treasures and relax okay? I actually don't think most of the Steve bashers are even that bad. But now I know what you're going to do -- so before you label me a Steve basher, I defy you to find one post by me that calls Steve names or anything as desparaging as him having no balls, etc.
I wish I could but I live in Boston man... there's NOTHING like that up here... the place is puritan, puritan I tell you.
sorry bout that, for living in the strip club capitol of the world I don't get out to those places nearly enough, iguess it bothers me giving money i worked for to some girl who is pretending to like me.
the Dolphins stink man... Jay Fiedler, Ray Lucas I mean c'mon give me a break. They always friggin seem to beat the Chiefs whenever they play every other year though.
MacBeth, I agree wholeheartedly. When Kobe gets hot like that and the Laker scrubs start hitting threes, LA is damn tough to beat, even with Shaq benched. Throw in Malone hitting jumpers and trying to kick people in the nuts and the Lakers are just about impossible to beat. However, I'm confident we'll win at least one at home, if not both. I think Francis has played with a lot of guts so far, and if that continues good things will happen. Also, provided that LA does beat us in this series, I personally think they are going to get mowed over by San Antonio. Just my $0.02.
I also agree MacJAG it is not over just yet i was really worried coming into today that this was going to be a a real ugly blow-out loss, so the first half was a pleasant surprise. the effort to contain shaq to 2pts was amazing was of course disappointed we went off the rails at both ends in the second, they forgot about Yao and Steve needed to drive to the rack more and at the other end they doubled too much when they didn't need to and didn't show Malone and lakersa role players enough respect on their jumpers hopefully they can bring their D from the first game and a half to game 3 PS SSG what's up with you lately, you stop taking your meds???
I second this notion. SA gonna punk LA. That team plays some real defense. Karate-Man (Bruce Bowen) will drop-kick Kobe's lights out, and it looks like Robert Horry's doing his play-off thing again, too.
THis thread is hilarious. Starts about the Rockets....then to fighting...then friends....then strip clubs....then dolphins......then to the Lakers..... Good read .....time to go to sleep now.
Fouls stopped Shaq more than anything the Rockets did. No coincidence either that Yao did much of his scoring while Shaq was seated while he ate the ball more than once when Shaq guarded him 1:1. Yao must be part tired, part intimidated or something.
