Summary thread: Suggestions for improvement, player by player

Yao needs to catch and shoot instead of putting the ball on the ground so much and giving the opposition an opportunity to double team.

 

One thing I’ve notice Yao doing that I wished he’d stop doing is holding the ball from the bottom. He’s making it too easy for the defense to strip him. 3/4ths of the ball is exposed, plus it’s really difficult to get a strong grip when you hold it that way. If the defense can get even a single finger on the ball, most likely it’s going to come loose.

Instead of holding the ball from the bottom with his elbows facing downwards, I’d like to see him hold the ball more from the sides with his elbows pointed out. That way if someone thinks about trying to strip the ball away, they’re risking an elbow to the face, plus it’s a whole lot easier for Yao to get a strong grip on the ball.

 

He lacks upper limb strength, with his elbows pointing out, he may not have a strong grip. Big guy has big guy's problem, as well as slowness, weak vertical, etc.

 

You know what after reading your post, I went and review some of the pictures with him holding the ball. You are absolutely right, he holds the ball on the bottom half and that makes it ridiculously easy to dislodge. Yao can easily palm the ball and engulf it with both hands if he holds it in the middle. The only way the ball can be dislodge that way is a foul. No freaking wonder Yao loses the ball so often.

 

Good thread. Can't post too long right now ( Cue the cries of dismay!) so I'll respond later.

 

Thanks for the warning!

 

excellent points. To add my 2 cents:

Mobley:

*Know your role.
*Know bball is a team sports.
*More Ball movement, less dribbling
*Better timing your pass

Pike:

*Be given more playing time.

Moochie:

*Grow back your hair. It is more fun to watch than your game.
*Cheer harder on bench

MoT:

*Play defense
*Do not play pipes.

 

Great post...

Yao Ming needs to be more assertive and use his frame to bang the ball inside.

Steve Francis needs to be more patient and set-up his teamates better. Don't get caught up with the refs even though they are making shady calls. Take the game over when it seems to be out of control...be patient though.

Cuttino Mobley keep up the good defense and SHOOT MORE!

 

Yao- Be aggressive. Fight for boards, position etc. Play strong and smart. Create a balance of strength and finesse to keep opposition guessing.

Cato- Improve range. It wouldnt hurt to give Yao a little more room to work. If your man leaves to double it then creates more room for you to make a move to the basket for an easy 2.

Jackson- More consistency. If the shot isn't there become a point forward and help move the ball or move more without the ball to get easier shots to get back into the groove.

Mobley- Consistency is a question here also. Work hard to get open so you dont have to work so hard with the ball in your hand.

Francis- Relax and let the game come to you. Score when you can but involve the rest of the team into the flow of the offense. You dont have to dribble every time you get the ball. Practice post entry passing.

Taylor- Improve defense. Also after shedding pounds in the offseason you should be moving quicker. Take the slower PF's to the rack.

Moochie- MOVE the ball through the team.

 

Even if the rest of that post is crap , I'm going to give SJC a five star for setting a good example on how to start a good opening post -- Pointing out what should be the focus of the discussion thus eliminates confusion. Well done.

Clarity is Power.

Just to clarify that I'm not trying to derail this thread, carry on

 

Steve and Cat: Trust.

Trust that when they give up the ball, that their teamates know what to do. Many times Steve and Cat shy away from passing because they just do not think that their teamate has a better chance at scoring than they do themselves.

No more bound passes to Yao!

Mooch: Let Mike Wilks take his spot.

 

couldnt all these problems be fixed if they had a coach they knew what he was doing and tell the players how to fix it? If the kings can bring in average players every year to fit into their system,I dont see why the rockets with the 3 headed monster of Yao,Francis,Mobley should be scoring 80 pts unless its the coaches fault.

 

Mooch
- learn to dribble
doesn't have to do it during practice, cuz it will be embarrassing
but he can just do that at home, behind close door, get into a good stance.. and just dribble
try to keep each dribble the same height at first, when he got that, he can start doing fancy stuff like dribble at various height, but in control.
- learn to do a two hand chest pass.. and the two hand bounce pass
- DO NOT fake a pass in one direction, and then pass the same pass to the same direction
- look in the mirror, and say "i know I can" 100 times b4 each game
- count "1...2...3...4" if you find you are still dribbling, you need to pass it.

Yao
- practice dunking, doing different kind of dunks, different ways to dunks
- change his nickname to the "human dunking machine", or the "chinese dunkin' master III"
- when there are 3 or 4 defenders swarming you, swing your elbows! (and appear to be accidental)
- say "pass me the D**N ball" 200 times in front of the mirror b4 each game

bOki
- recognizes that he is the best player ever came out of slovenia
- recognizes that he has a sweet stroke and he can finish with left or right hand around the basket
- say "I'm the best player" 300 times in front of the mirror b4 each game

Steve
- recognizes that "the Franchise" is just a catchy nickname for his last name Francis
- make the simple pass
- do the simple moves
- shoot the midrange jump
- do the simple layup
- stop getting frustrated, you are only as good as the way you play
- respect every opponent, rather it be raul 'who?' lopez or stephon starbury

mobley
- drive to the basket
- drive to the basket again
- keep driving to the basket
- think pass when driving to the basket
- think pass again when driving to the basket
- shoot it if there is no one to pass to
- say "I am good, but not that good" in front of the mirror for 100 times b4 each game

 

I think JVG should also be added here. Please spend more time on the offensive sets, the inside out sets you had with the knicks don't work against the zone. Never ever put cato on the hi post because nobody will respect his jumpshot, he will never hit one from there and he's a terrible passer. Offense! offense! offense! We know the rocks can "D"

 

Good thread. This is a reasonable balanced thread for once...There's plenty for every Rocket to improve on after getting trounced by 30+ against the Kings...

One thing i would love to see Yao do is develop a hook shot...he might get rejected a bit less...then again, if he brings the ball down, he might get it picked...

Also, the team needs to run more...push the ball up fast....

 

Steve - Never, ever shoot without anyone else touching the ball in the half court set offense. If you are on a one man breakaway, dunk to your heart's content, but when it is five on five, try to get others involved before you start crossing over your man 19-20 times. Please never be the one taking the last shot at the end of a quarter again, you lost those privledges in the Toronto game. Also, plese always be guarding someone on defense. I have seen you standing with no one inside a 10' radius around you when a shot goes up. Either commit to the help or stay at home on your man. No more of this halfway bullcrap where you don't really help anyway and then your man drains a wide open 3. Try to work on stopping the penetration as well. Oh yeah, on a 3 on 1 fast break, the best play is probably going to be a pass, not a circus layup.

Cat - Attack the basket. I know you have an excellent jumper, and some of the people around here are begining to figure it out as well, but you are to quick to settle for staying on the perimeter. In 2000-2001 you were getting 6 FTA per game, now you are down to 2.4. You will get more easy points and put your opponent in foul trouble if you attack the basket. It will also open up passing lanes. Other than that, keep on doing what you are doing.

Jimmy - Settle down. Your shot is not falling right now and it looks like you are forcing it. Try to get some open looks at the mid range jumpers or draw some free throw attempts to get back in the zone. Keep up the good defense.

Kelvin - Get closer to the basket. Even if it means your man can double off of you to Yao, you are not doing anybody any good hovering around the FT line. Yao can find you underneath for an easy dunk and you might get a few putbacks. Remember, last year you led the team in FG%.

Yao - Stop tipping rebounds. I don't know where you picked up this habit, but it sucks. Jump. Grab the ball with two hands. Establish control. Just watch Kelvin rebound and try to do the same damn thing. Every time that you get possession of the ball, and then tip it, get it stripped, throw it away, that is a major failure. You are the biggest guy on the court every game we have played this year. Start acting like it.

Mo - Just because you are coming off the bench, doesn't mean you are not allowed to pass the ball. The goal of every possession should be getting someone an uncontested shot, if it goes in, then it goes in. You coming across the middle and shooting over two defenders is not the best we can do, even if you think that is a high percentage shot. Try to use your quickness on cuts to the basket every once in a while, like when you got those easy dunks in the Sacto game.

Eddie - Get your life straightened out and get your ass back to the team. We have invested way to much in you to get absolutely nothing out of it. You are payed millions to play a freaking game, your life really just can't be THAT horrible.

Eric - When you and Yao are in the game and Yao is in the low post, stay on that side of the floor. Your only major asset is shooting, so why are you moving away from getting open looks. Worst case scenario is that your man does not leave you and Yao gets to go 1 on 1.

Moochie - Try to remember back before you signed a big contract. You were pretty good back then. Try to play like that now. What the hell happened to your game?

Boki - You are shooting better from beyond the arc than you are from inside of it. It is apparent that you are not yet able to cope with NBA defense, so just wait until you get an open look. It was nice to see you slashing to the basket against Sacramento too.

 

YAO MING-CENTER POSITION- Yao Mings imitation of the Rock of Gibralter is not his natural way of playing Ewing and JVG are not using him to his best possible potential. He is getting cornered under the basket with no room to move and being blocked as he struggles to get the ball up towards the basket.Where is his great footwork and all the fancy moves he showed last year, where is his hook shot, why isnt he getting the ball in motion going to the basket for a two handed dunk?

FRANCIS-MOBLEY-MOOCHIE-JACKSON-TAYLOR-[THE I must score at any cost mentality] ALL need to practice passing the ball when they dont have an easy open shot.If this could happen the Rockets could start playing Team Basketball for a change.

CATO needs to do what he can do not what he can't. He should go back under the basket and be the best back up Center in the NBA.

NACHBAR-PIATOWSKI-PADGETT-WILKES are all high energy players. They should not have to play as a scrubs team but be interplayed with the Starters, because the starters show little enthusiasm for the game. It would be the way to move Mobley and Cato to the bench where they will be more effective,Cato on defence and short jumpers and the Cat as a great scorer.
MOOCHIE NORRIS-LOST CAUSE
ALTON FORD-Get fit and become our banger Power Forward.
EDDIE GRIFFIN- he is missed on defence.
PATRICK EWING-IF HE CAN- he needs to coach- no sign of his influence yet!