So I went to the game tonight, my first Rockets game attended this season (and actually going back to the Rockets/Lakers playoff series I think). And having examined a game through all four quarters first-hand, I came away w/ some noted observations (that I didn't want buried in the game thread). 1) Every single game (with the exception of the few blowouts) it has been the same damn story. The team can smell the finish line but just can't get there. It's like that gatorade commercial of that triathlete whose body completely breaks down 10 yards from the finish line. Then he hops onto the gatorade bandwagon and wins the following year. Well the Rockets are that guy and T-Mac is the gatorade. The unbelievable thing is that this is happening every single freaking game. You think the law of averages would kick in sooner or later but no. Different game, same story, same ending. 2) This team is a great team. You heard right. We have the right pieces, the right mix, the supporting cast to surround our stars. This team can make it to the playoffs and contend....if they play a full 48 minutes. What I saw tonight and have seen this season numerous times is a team that can be outstanding when they want to be...a team that can play great defense, which leads to some nice buckets on the other end of the floor. They came from 15 down in the 4th quarter to tie the game. They did that on defense. But they lost, by 5 points. Why? Because of their defense. Three consecutive layups allowed in crunch time will not help you win the game. And another thing, this team leaves too many shooters open. The team last year prided itself on its defense. I remember players saying JVG wanted every shot contested, a hand in every shooters face. Well I'm not seeing that this season. They'll do it when they want to...but again, they don't play that stifiling defense the whole 48 minutes. 3) This team seems to be meshing a little better on offense. The points were distributed evenly (w/ Yao notching 30). But I still see too many broken plays, too many times players not knowing really what to do. But again, the players, and more importantly, that backcourt, seem to be coming around, however slowly. 4) This team is incredibly frustrating. We're 3-11, but could easily be 11-3. It's hard to even see that record with a team that began the season w/ such high expectations. It reminds me the year the team started 0-11. Only this team can win - with or without (a few games at least) T-Mac - but everybody just shuts down in the final minutes. 5) As the losses mount, I grow more worried that this team will become too comfortable to losing. And with each loss, they dig themselves a deeper hole, and eventually, if they cannot pull themselves out soon, that hole will be too deep, even with T-Mac. 6) This doesnt have to do w/ the team, but why is it that every time I drive by Toyota Center or walk inside it, I just don't get that feel that the Rockets play there. You go to Reliant and MMP, it's obvious who the home team is, and its obvious why you're going there. That has always been my biggest grievance with the arena. I know it was built as a multi-venue site, but first and foremost, its the home of the Houston Rockets. So let's make it actually look like they play there please. Hang some banners on the outside of the building. Splash all those white walls and concourses with some red, with some color. Let me be excited to attend a game there. Anyways, those are my thoughts...the biggest ones that I noticed having watched the whole game in full view were points 1 through 3. Being at the game really magnified those. And like I said, this team, as it is right now, the players, the coaches, everyone...they can win, but they have to want it; they have to be hungry for it. And they have to show it, on the floor, the whole game, every game. *T-Mac please, please, please...come back soon.
Nice post, but no team with Juwan Howard or David Wesley playing key roles is a team with the right pieces. I still think the Rockets will make the playoffs this year if T-Mac comes back, but they won't go as far (the west finals) as many think, because at the end of the day, Howard and Wesley do more harm to the Rockets than good. This 7 game losing streak is proof of that. The supporting cast still needs to be upgraded, alot.
We need to get younger. we need more athelets. Wesley is way to old to be our Primer defender whilst Tracy is out. We need a Ruben Patterson or someone who is less nuts.
While I don't know if they really hinder the team, I do think - especially with the emergence of Head and eventual impacts Stro and Alston will make - one or both could and perhaps should be traded away for a better, true backup forward option. Bowen - even though he hustles - should only be on the floor during garbage time.
Shoulda kept Padgett, and dropped Bowen (money?). And I'm waiting to see ALston and head play together.
Kidding aside, I think we should put Moochie in the final minutes. I believe this guy has a heart to win, he has shown it many time with the rockets. Yes he doesn't have a lot of plays but I know he knows how to finish a game.
I agree with your post overall. Here are two things that stuck out to me during the game last night. 1. We lost this game by inches. What I mean by that is, there were so many semi-open looks our shooters had, but they had to pass them up because the the defender coming over was too close for a comfortable shot. If the shooters had just had a half-second more we would've had 15-20 wide open shots last night. When T-Mac comes back, there will be so many more wide open shots for our shooters because of the attention T-Mac will draw with his penetration and mid-range game. Anyone remember the Nets double-teaming TMac as soon as he crossed half court? When McGrady comes back, our shooters will have open looks all day. 2. Our perimeter defense needs a lot of work. Chicago was killing us with their little pick/screen and pop they'd run down in the corners. The guard rolls by the post players screen and they'd either get good penetration or an open mid range jumper. At the end of the game, they were getting wide open lay ups. We need to figure out a way to get more help stopping penetration so Yao isn't stuck trying to stop an unimpeded Heinrich. I wonder why JVG doesn't try a sort of semi-zone so we can counteract a lot of this...
Good thread and thanks. I have/had overall your threads' same sentiments watching on TV. One thing I would like to add...and it can be said of last years' start as well. We are not getting breaks. Last year...a bogus offensive foul on Jim Jackson on a back screen vs Minn, Mihm not called for grabbing Yao's hand during a crunchtime shot...to name only a few. This year, the Rockets play great D for 23 seconds but Nocioni hits a Bird-esque shot behind the backboard as the shot clock expires. That 1 play made the score 85-80 with 2:33 left.
I too think Padge would be useful for this team He has a consistant 3 baller and played well when he was in there good CHANGE OF PACE guy Rocket River
One good thing about Bowen. He guarantees us there will be one open man and one open shot everytime down the floor. Padgett doesn't give you that, lol.
I've liked what I've seen from Moochie this season. He seems to have a renewed sense of focus and determination, and when is out on the floor, he brings some energy and a veteran presence in handling the ball. In fact, I think our backcourt is starting to shape up quite nicely with Head, DA and Mooch and Alston when he comes back. We're just really weak in the forward spot right now. McGrady's injury exposed that. What we need is a better Ryan Bowen, someone who brings the same hustle and energy on the defensive side, but has a better offesnive skill set in his repertoire. And another thing I noticed. While the officiating wasn't that bad (a few questionable calls though), the league needs to stop calling all these ticky-tack hand check-esque type fouls. Basketball is a physical game, so let 'em play. Otherwise it just disrupts the flow of the game. And I'm starting to think Yao will never be judged fairly, no matter what he does. Same story every game, he gets mugged on the offensive end but not calls, yet he is whistled for some lame ticky-tack foul on the other end (sometime it was his fault but other times it should have been a no call) And I saw him get dragged down in going for a rebound, dragged down to the floor, but he was called for the foul (I didn't have the luxury of instant replay so I'm not totally sure if he was pulled down, but if he wasn't then it should have been a no call). I guess it's just something he has to play around.
My impression is that the talent level on the floor is not very high. The bottom line is that the Rocket's starting lineup looks like a group of bench players, second teamers, old second teamers. And folks, you can slice it anyway you want to, but the record tells the truth. Positive thinking doesn't win games in the NBA, talent does.
When healthy (and not counting Sura cause he's done) our starting 5: Yao, J. Howard, T-Mac, Anderson, Head Bench: Deke, Stro, Barry/Bowen, Wesley, Alston/Moochie Cut to a typical 8 or 9 man rotation: Yao, J. Howard, T-Mac, Anderson, Head --> Deke, Stro, Alston, Barry/Wesley That's a solid pool of players right there. I'd put that starting five up against any team in the league. Now to the bench, you have some age there in Deke, Barry and Wesley...but that can be fixed through trades. Still you have two young, athletic contributors in Stro and Alston (that could become starters), and a proven solid backup to Yao in Deke. The only glaring weakness, again, is at the small forward. But this is hardly a group of bench players (ala Texans).
Some of my impressions and comments on what's been said so far: Despite the losing, we are competing. It's sad we came back from 15 points and gave away the game in crunch time. But the fact we came back from 15 points instead of mailing it in says JVG still has the attention of the players. JunkyardDwg, this team will not become comfortable with losing. Won't happen for a lot of reasons. Too many to bother listing. Luther's development this year may be more important than all of our free agent signings. I though for sure that regular season defensive intensity would stun him for at least the first 1/2 of the season. His succes against lax defenses during the preseason showed what was possible. Who could have imagined the Mavs, in game #11, would actually double team this guy at the 1/2 court line to get the ball out of his hands! Rafer and Stro will determine if this team can actually do damage in the playoffs. We've gotten zero from Rafer and very little from Stro. If either or both of these guys turn into very productive players, our team jumps up a notch. If not, our goal for the season then becomes just making the playoffs and trying to break the first round barrier. We are 3-11, which is worse than last year. 47-21 will give us 50 wins and guarantee the playoffs. If we don't turn it around soon, making the playoffs becomes an issue. When Tracy comes back, we'd better turn on the jets quickly and go on a run. Thankfully, the schedule gets easier. I predict we will make a trade or two before the deadline. JunkyardDwg, the league is cracking down on perimeter hand checking, simple as that. There is no mystery here; players must adjust. It's different on the inside, and yes, Yao gets some unfair treatment. Some of it is on him though, and he needs to play smarter. More than anything else, I'm disappointed with Yao not figuring out how to foul. Each and every time he fouls, it should count and the shooter should NEVER MAKE THE BASKET! Yao, if you are gonna foul, smack or grab the guy just like they do you. No more ticky tack stuff. Put some fear in people.
Well, that's not the team that has been starting, Bowen and Wesley have started several games. I consider both bench players. In your starting five, Howard and Anderson are better suited as subs and Head is a rookie.
Well I don't think anyone will dispute this team will go nowhere with the current, injury-free cast (ie w/o T-Mac). But injuries aside, I'd say we are an upgrade or two away (and some playoff series wins) from being on the same level as the Spurs, Pistons, Heat, etc. And Juwon I believe was our starter last year (before his injury) and was pretty integral in our success. But again, those were a couple injuries ago. Either way you have a solid starting five (when McGrady returns hopefully Tuesday) and some good bench players (but a clear need to get younger and better talent in the small forward spot)
Two things I left out, Now that DA is coming off the bench, he's finding his range. First gun off the bench is where he belongs. Some games he'll be very good; others he won't have it. That's the way it is with gunners off the bench. Starters must be more consistent. I'm really anxious to see how Luther's interacts with Tracy. Having them on the floor together for 20+ MPG could reveal a lot about Luther. He should have even more wide open 3 point shots. It's also going to be interesting how aggressive he remains on offense, both attacking the basket and pulling the trigger on threes. If Luther stays effective when Tracy returns, this will open up the middle for Yao and his very high FG% should return.
We do try hard all game. The problem is this team is great defensively, but on offense, JVG doesnt know how to do anything. So we continue to miss our shots, while the other team steps up and scores, as they are capable of. JVG would throw TMac the ball at these points and just chill out. JVG doesnt know how to handle the clutch. We arent a strong rebounding team to start with, we arent good against fast gaurds, we arent strong in the paint, we are turnover prone, and horrible shooters on offense. These are problems throughout the game. JVG doesnt know how to adapt and solve problems.
