Disturbing Trends

Well, we all have seen the games, or at least I hope we have. I am talking about the disturbing trend of Francis being clearly outplayed 1-on-1 offensively and being killed definsively without even double teams being needed anymore. Look at stats all you want, Francis has been terribly embarassed and outplayed in almost every game of this 5 game West coast swing. You could just sense his frustration and helplessness through watching the game. I have no doubt that he is trying, but it is not working.

This might be a new concept for many, but I believe the absolute problem with this team and the reason for their inconsistancies is their collective and individual personalities. Here is what I mean, when you watch Allen Iverson or Stephon Marbury you see the burning desire in their eyes, in their style of playing. They are "thuggish" on the court and have that gladiator mentality of eating the opposition alive. That is what makes them so special. You watch Baron Davis this year and you see his toughness and strength on the court, which seems to have greatly inspired the players around him. We immediately recognize the impact certain players had on the game, The Jordans and the Isiahs and the Birds, those guys made EVERYONE around them better and their styles and desires were infectious. They set the tempo for their teams.

Now I ask you, where in the Rockets do you see a single player capable of overtaking the team with his heart and passion for the game? Is it in Steve, the man who has better talent than Allen Iverson but yet is very uninspired and quiet and lacks leadership? Is it in Cat, the man who is simply as selfish as they come? Is it in Yao, the man who is so soft spken and shy and until now still is too young to have passion?

You cannot underestimate the value of leadership and emotions in basketball. Many teams in the past have solely won on emotions, many come to mind. The Bulls did not win all those championships because they had the best team, but because they had the best emotional leader. Kobe will never be a Jordan not because of his talent, but because of his heart. Francis will never be a Marbury because of his lack of passion. He will never become an Isiah or the Oscar Robertson for the same reason. Even the Rockets in their chamionship runs had an emotional or multiple emotional leaders in Mario Elie, which seemed to make him valuable to teams not because of his talent, but because of his heart and passion. Avery Johnson of the Spurs had the same effect on his teammates. Just ask Sir Charles what his Suns teammates still say about him. Ask Allen Iverson's teammates what made them beat every team in the East that was much better than them talentwise one after the other, how they won that first game in the Finals against the Lakers and stunned people. They will all tell you it is the intangibles that make you win consistantly, not just talent.

My question is, where is our emotional leader? Where are our emotions as a team?