I don't miss anything, personally. Teamwise, we have downgraded the PG position, at least scoring and rebounding wise. As far as passing, ball handling, smarts, timing, etc. we haven't lost much, maybe gained some. But the PG position has to be upgraded. We still need to upgrade the PF position and JJ won't last forever.
I think our team right now will eventually be better than the Francis-Yao led team could have ever been. I do seriously miss the energy that Cat and Steve brought to the team. I actually believe they are having tons of fun out there. The Rockets team right now looks like they are out there to do a job only. People are saying that this years team is so much smarter. Although it might be, I am still not seeing the results. Way too often this year, the final 5 minutes has been our downfall where we have possession after possession without even getting a shot due to turnovers and offensive fouls. So ... I don't know where the fact that our team is so much smarter is coming from. They might have less turnovers throughout the game, but in the tough situations in the end, I'm seeing more TOs this year than last, but I do believe that will change once these guys play together for a year and we get a decent PG.
When both Tmac and Yao are running at the same time, Rockets always almost ungardable. It becomes a probelm when both of them have to sit out because our bench is weak. This is why I miss cuttino because he always gave us 38+ minutes. He and francis were also exchangeable that we rarely saw the team playing with both of them sitting on the bench. Can we get Bobby Jackson somehow? -___- Cato's blocking ability is neutralized with hustle plays of Dikeme i think.
The final 5 minutes have been a downfall, yes.. last year, the entire game was a downfall all too often. Actually, I reread your post..and you answered your own question. This year's team is smarter...and if you can't see it in the games and need stats, then yes, overall turnovers are down. If you watched the games both years, pure r****dedness and lack of basketball sense is down. Guys penetrate with an idea of kicking the ball out. Guys know where guys should be and actually are. There are still mistakes, yes, but less ones based on pure stupidity (in a basketball sense). Once the team plays together enough (I'm hoping about Januaryish), I expect improvement. A better PG will help next year, but in the meantime, I expect some good things from the current team in the 2nd half of the season
I miss the energy and aggressiveness of Cato. I miss Cuttinos game all around and his court personality, he has had some hilarious moments. I miss SFs determination and drive to win the game. I miss steve's technicals for "taunting". and I truley miss the connection between Yao and Steve after a win or loss..
I miss the passion, and leadership our team had last year. Do I miss it enough that I wish we were back there again? No. At least right now I'm much too hopeful of the future. I miss out speed, and defense from last year sometimes as well.
Do you call passion and leadership all the dribbling and wanting to have the ball until the clock was almost expired and then throwing bricks?
cuttino-- one of my favorite rockets ever loved to watch him use his first step to blow by people and very good finishing and always had great enthusiasm for the game
No I call passion diving on the floor for loose balls, hurling your own body out of bounds trying to save the ball. I call passion the willingness to battle with bigger stronger opponenents for the ball/and or rebound and coming out with the ball, because of quickness and desire. I call leadership the ability to inspire the team, to make them comfortable in their roles, because they know that a person is a leader. I call leadership being big enough to put your own personal stamp on the team. The team had a personality last year, and for much of this year it has been a formless blob trying to take shape. As I pointed out in my post I don't miss those things enough to regret last year's team, because I am filled with hope by all the talent we have now, and the flashes I have seen. The Portland game in particular was a good showing. I call the dribbling out the shot clock poor decision making. Last year we had passion, leadership, and poor decision making.
I missed Cuttino almost beat Coline Pine to a bloody pulp after overheard a conversation between Yao and Coline in Chinese, supposedly there were a lot of the "N" words sounding flying out of that conversation.
Ditto. I miss Steve and Cat's passion and fire. I also miss Steve getting it to the rim and either getting off the layup or the alleyoop to Cato. McGrady is the better player, but I wished he had the passion that Steve has and I sure wished he would take it to the hole more.
