Info from Today's Insider - our favorite reporter - Chad Ford: The Upside Houston Rockets – After all the hand-wringing that's gone on in Houston the first two months of the season, could the answer to the Rockets' problem be this simple?: Give Tracy McGrady the ball and get out of the way. It sure appears that way. After McGrady and Jeff Van Gundy had a heart-to-heart about T-Mac's role (or lack thereof) in the offense, McGrady has come out on fire and the Rockets have started winning games. Since McGrady exploded for 48 points in an overtime loss versus Dallas on Dec. 2, the Rockets are 10-4. McGrady, who averaged just 20 ppg in November, upped his average to 27 ppg in December. He's also grabbing more rebounds and dishing out more assists – just more evidence that he's getting involved. McGrady's offensive explosion has not been a detriment to Yao Ming's game. Yao's averages in points and rebounds actually went up in December despite the fact that McGrady is averaging 6.5 shots per game. Now that T-Mac has to be the focus of the opposing team's defensive effort, suddenly the floor has opened up a little more for Yao. Factor in the strong play of late by Bob Sura and the recent acquisitions of David Wesley and Jon Barry, and maybe the Rockets aren't in as much of a quandary as we thought they were. -----------------------------------
I guess he forgot that during that 14 game stretch, our competition were average at best with losses against some good (dallas twice) and some bad (charlotte twice). Real test is this month. And I always thought that TMac had the green light from JVG to do whatever he wanted but Tracy would rather get Yao more involved early. It's just now, TMac is saying 'screw it, i'll get myself involved first' Chad Ford is a jackass
This article is almost a direct opposite of the George Karl article. Ford says McGrady needs to take over games and Karl says we need to pass the ball more.
I think he goofed up (somthing Chad Ford is known for). I think he ment averaging 6.5 more shots this month than the last.
I guess some people do not realize that by playing a more uptempo game, players get more possessions, rebounds, and assists. This is the reason why T-Mac and Yao have increase their numbers. This is also the reason why Steve have increased his numbers, and so on.
Finally, a recent assessment of the Rockets that is fair. Thanks Chad Ford (didn't expect to say that one)!
Breaking News: NBA is contemplating 4-pt & 1 plays in the coming 05~06 season. The trial is being run though Houston Rockets.
LOL! I think he is basing this on TMac's 4 point play ability or something! LOL! McGrady's line for the Suns game: FG M/A: 0/0 | 3PT M/A: 7/7 | FT M/A: 6/7
All of us saw this coming. Our cupcake schedule in December has all the writers thinking that our troubles are almost over, or all of the sudden T-Mac and Yao are developing chemistry. I love this team, but call me skeptical about any permanent changes. January will give us an idea about this team's mettle.
The "10-4" part - does he realize who we played? Or some of the teams we lost to...twice to an expansion team, for instance? WE'll get a better gauge of this "new and improved McGrady offense" when we play better competition this month. And even then, we won't do anything in the playoffs without Yao involved.
Good article. I lvoe anything about hte Rockets. But yeah we didn't play really good teams. We shoulda been 12-2..man we coulda beat the damn Bobcats
I understand we haven't played the best competition, but it is hard for me to believe that you people have not seen improvement in this team since the trades were made. Prior to the trades, even against terrible competition, the Rockets were unbearable to watch even when they were winning. Since the acquisitions, the Rockets look like a real basketball team. Regardless of who they played, they definitely look a lot better than they did early in the season and the whole team looks a lot more confident in what they are doing. So save me the whole its only because of the schedule spiel.
the glass is half full for me. I know we played cupcakes - but if you excuse the Bucks game (and only the 1st Bucks game) - because of JJ Shock - the team is not just winning against medeocre teams, they have beat the crap out of medeocre teams. the rox beat teams with similar records as them and they looked good doing it - ... and, now that they did it against creampuffs, hopfully they can apply it against stronger teams
The majority of the league is average, so you can't criticize the Rockets for playing a "weak" schedule. Especially when they have wins against Milwaukee and Utah, teams that are supposed to be winning. This isn't college basketball, a win is a win and you play far more average teams then good team.
