anyone else not worried about this team?

Dead brain cells cannot be recovered--with our present technology. That's why stem cell research is so important for the members of this board.

 

I'm not worried yet. It normally takes awhile to integrate a new major player onto a team. Usually a new guy will try to feel his way along for awhile, trying to blend in with the rest of the team, until at some point he feels comfortable enough to really start looking for his shot.

If a guy has a specialty, like rebounding or defense or sometimes even high scoring, he can typically do that right away, with the high scoring being more difficult.

The Rockets have three positions that need to be integrated. T-Mac needs to be a playmaker, as well as a scorer. Howard certainly has not been as aggressive with his game as in the past. (He needs to compliment Yao Ming). Point guard has been chaotic. Sura is now feeling his way with the team. He hardly looks for his shot at all. I guarantee you that will be much different later on in the season if he doesn't get hurt.

Yao has been erratic. I think the philosophy going into the season was to play inside-out. Yao hasn't stepped up. T-Mac has tried this, trying to be a team player. I don't think you give up on the concept, but at this point, I think the team will play better with T-Mac running the show and Yao complementing him. This would make it easier on Yao to get close to 20 and 10 on a consistent basis.

People will want to point to Orlando and say they have 3 new starters playing much better. If Grant Hill weren't playing like his old self, they wouldn't be nearly as successful. Not trying to be too negative, but I think Francis and Mobley only know one way to play, and so there hasn't been much of a feeling out period. You know, the way they played the 4 years before Van Gundy when the team didn't win enough to get into the play-offs. Cato plays defense and rebounds. Not much adjustment there. If Grant Hill can't hold up the entire season, my guess is the Magic will struggle.

The players have to start to get comfortable with each other, and it sounds like that might be happening after these last two games. I know that regardless of the outcome of these last two games, they have been much easier to watch.

 

OK. It's on now. I think you may have tapped into something.

Who can publish Bush and Kerry in Rockets gear?

 

This organization has given this kid every opportunity to succeed and all he has done is failed. Dawson and JVG got rid a young talented group of players just to make it easier for Yao. They got rid of Kenny T because he was too small and offensive minded to play with Yao, at least they got Posey. However, they didn't want to resign him becasue he couldn't spread the court out for Yao. They didn't want to give Eddie Griffin another shot with the team becasue they felt he would be a bad influence on Yao. They got rid of Steve, Cat, and Cato because they didn't pass the ball to Yao. They got a top 5 player in the league with TMac but have him hand cuffed because of Yao. They built this stupid offense where everytime down the court they give the damn ball to Yao so he can turn it over. He gives them ZERO defense and rebounding. I am sick and tired of seeing Tmac have defer to this kid. I'm pulling my hair out everytime Yao gets the ball in the low post. They give him the ball way too many times. When TMac is being defended by scrubs, who he can take at will , he still gives the damn ball up to freaking Yao. If making money from marketing this kid is more important to Les than winning a championship then I hope they trade TMac because with Yao he will never be in the playoffs.

 

One of the upsides I have seen in the past two or three games is that Yao is being much more conscious of keeping his feet planted on the floor when challenging shots. This will reduce his fouls per game and will allow him to play more minutes which should translate to more productivity.

 

OK I'm stupid. I didn't realize it's a joke (and the reply below it as well). Really, how can professional fans like you, not to know it? But there are at least some guys out there who don't know it, and I'm answering the question for them, not for you only.

Yes it sucks when someone has to explain your joke. It sucks even more when you are made a joke when you actually intend to help.

 

You have a proven track record of hating Yao from day one, even before he was drafted, spreading false information, never giving credit after excellent games, but showing up after every statistical sub-par game to hate on Yao.

I can see only one possible explanation for this hate, but feel free to try to explain.

 

Sir J C has asked you in more than one thread to explain your self yet u still havnt Speak up heres your chance(amed)!

 

He (amed) always disappears after a 'challenge'.

 

(1) JF of the Chronicle (who has a good track record with his clairvoyancy) predicted a 49-win season. However, that included predictions of an 8-8 November, and an 11-3 December. The Rockets are not going to win the rest of their games this month.

(2) A 49-win season is not enough. Even if they pull off an 8-10 game winning streak, and manage to finish with 48 wins, that is underachieving, and Van Gundy cannot be allowed to keep the job.

 

Worried....Not sure worried is a good word for what i am. Disappointed. I expected the Rockets to play .500 from start.

 

I am actually very pleased the game modifications brought by the team:

There are more transition offense, more baskets attempted before the defense sets in and packs on Yao.

There is one thing that Yao doesnt take enough credit for: opponents teams change their defense to counter Yao. The other teams packs the paint with so many bodies that this alone frees T Mac and others for shots.

This is probably why he / V Gundy does the high pick so often, this prevents the opponent from packing in too early and he then can cut inside just like a trailer on transition offense.

Taking this into account, I know we are on the right track when:
- We have transition baskets
- Our forwards and guards have their shot going
- Yao somehow manages to get the ball with single coverage in the paint, it is 50 % of the time a sure basket for us.

One thing that would be good to have is Yao making his outside shots, this would add another dimension to the high pick and roll! He usually made those in the past, but this year he has missed nearly all of them.

I think JVG (from watching all the rockets game up to now) wants this sort of offense set:

- Transition offense with Tmac, Fwd
- Yao as a Trailer
- Yao post up => defense packs it in
- Yao high pick => T mac has the ball

From then on, the rockets usually havn't executed well and seem to get a bit lost. T Mac usually ended up with a jump shot because as the defense was already compact and is adjusting there is no space in the paint for a while.

However if Yao has his jumshot going and T Mac cuts inside and switch the other wing:

it goes like:
- Yao high pick => T Mac cuts inside
- Yao rolls => shot position => paint is opening up
- Post T Mac or ISO T mac on the wing.

You have already 18 secongs there with up to 5 shot positions only for T mac and Yao.

I think they are going towards that but it is still not gelling... Once it will be in place though, opportunities are endless.

 

I keep wondering when that arm protection gear is gonna come off.

 

I don't post all that much, however I read a lot and do agree, there has been a lot of bashing, but, we just truned in a whole new roster of 9 new guys from last year. Maybe, if we are SO terrible at the All-Star break, there is need to panic. But, I think right now, we need to just wait and let JVG coach, and see what happens, espically this next stretch of games we have.

 

My only worry is that the ignore function will go away...