Difference in last night's game, San Antonio depth of guys who can create vs. Rockets' lack of guy who can create. Yao Ming having a bad game, Tracy goes cold, and the Rockets had no one else to rely on to get their own shot. The Rockets faced the first team to put pressure on their two stars and everyone else failed to pick up any slack. Compare that to Beno who got the San Antonio run started, Finley who came in the second half and knocked down some tough shots. San Antonio already has three stars, Parker, Ginobli, who can carry the team at times and the rockets can't even compete with that, and when you go to the bench its no contest. Parker has a bad game and Duncan doesn't have a great game by his standards and they don't miss a beat. Do not be fooled by some of the Rockets early success, wins against the Knicks and Bucks aren't much to write home about, and if you think the Miami win was great, the Heat are 3-4. The Rockets faced their first playoff intesity in a game and they have alot of holes exposed.
Hayes being out was a BIG problem in that he gives you the garbage points, and extra possessions on the offensive end, and is a great defender on the defensive end. I think JVG got outcoached by Popovich.....Pop sat his lackluster starters and inserted an entirely new lineup that would hustle to make a point..... And the team responded. JVG left his starters in there as they were floundering, and not hustling, basically getting out competed. Another area where Hayes helps a lot..... But, IMHO, the lack of another player who can create shots on the floor hurts a LOT......now the Rockets have that player....firmly planted on the bench.... Imaging V-Span creating for his teamates, and playing solid D on the opposing team's PGs. JVG needs to get VC-Span into the rotation....go to a 9 man rotation.... How many players played for San Antonio last night? DD
I agree with what you're saying about the third scorer, but the win in Miami was still very good -- as was the 30+ point win over Dallas. The Rockets do have issues though... and doesn't sound like Bonzi is anywhere close to being able to (or willing to) help us. It's beyond ridiculous how much better of a fit Mike James is for this team than Rafer Alston.
While I don't like Mike James for chemistry purposes, the fact that he has an attitude would be welcome on this Rockets team. Their biggest issue is lack of leadership, someone who won't let the team stop competing. Sura style...... The entire team is too soft, they need a killer in the lineup. DD
I watched the game and I think JVG should have tried a different look in the end. When you miss 18 of 19 shots in a row and you have a guy on the bench in Steve Novak who, if nothing else, can really make shots, you should throw that guy in there...and to give VSpan a try couldn't have been any worse than what was happening already.
the players on Spurs's bench is all proven veterans. PoPo knows what they can do and they know what they should do. our bench is full of unproven rookies and sophormores. I am afraid JVG still doesn't know their positions on this team. For now, I understand and support JVG on not playing VSpan and Novak. I will give him 1 month, at most till Christmas, to figure out what the two potential rookies can contribute to the team.
I have so much respect for that damn organization (Spurs). It's obvious that the Rockets have the TALENT to compete guys....you don't go up on a team like that without great talent. We were out played...out coached and out classed. It's not the end of the world, but when the game clock reached the minute mark...it sure felt like it. This game might be a blessing in digest....we need to make adjustments and make sure THIS never happens again. The team needs to FEEL this lose and let it marinate in their mouths.......so they will never want that taste again.
Come on, Ellison is a proven veteran, more than Padgett? Look, clearly Barry & Horry are proven veterans, but the rest of their bench is fairly unproven.......the difference is that Pop is willing to SIT his starters to make a point..... JVG will not play his bench no matter what, it is mind boggling....how can a player develop if he isn't given a chance to play? DD
For this point, we can say Pop deliberately played his bench to turn the tables. But maybe at the end of 3rd quarter, he had nothing else to do except to do so and expect not to lose more so as to leave a chance in 4th quarter. After checking this season's stats, before this game, Udrih only hit 2/12 from downtown (3/3 last night), Horry only got 7 point 3 stls and zero 3p (10pts, 2 stls and 2 3p). I would rather bet Pop just won an unexpected win last night.
This whole Bonzi Wells situation is starting to piss me off. Is he just going to sit out and pout all season about not getting the contract he wanted? Does he realize that nobody is going to pay him more if he doesn't play? At first it wasn't bothering me since I think we have enough depth, but he's a talented player and we could still use him. I'm starting to think we need to get him on the court just so we can showcase him for a trade ... with the way it looks right now it's apparent he doesn't want to be here.
There's no such thing as 3rd scorer. The rest of the team are capable of scoring. Last night we stopped scoring not because our guys were tired but the defesnse of spurs went to a diffrent level and the ball didn't move at all. They couldn't pass the ball. I repeat, the ball was not moving smoothly due to tight defense. Part of the reason was mental breakdown when the 18 point lead disappeared.
Wrong. We lost because our starters got complacent, and then TIRED, and when the Spurs put in their RESTED starters ours had nothing left in the tank. DD
Totally agree. Its not so much about bringing in someone who can score but bringing in somebody who late in the game can make a momentum changing play that will fire up the team. This is why Elie was so important to the Championship Rockets. He is the guy who when things were starting to flag would come in and make a very gutsy shot or some other play and get the team going. Sura two years ago was the guy who could do that and Hayes might be the guy now if not for injury. IMO V-Span could be that guy but it won't happen as long as he is riding the bench.
What he said. I was going to post the same thing. Sura can make it to the game but Wells can't? What a load of crap.
i agree, it could have been a 30+ win just like the dallas game. however, losing by this style in this early stage is not a bad thing. I think yao WAS the main reason we lost: possible reasons: he's metanlly tired after playing against shaq? he's relaxed after officially crowned as the best center? he decided to take a back seat after seeing 'old' tmac in the first Q. spurs played really dirty D and got away with it. talent wise, this team is there to compete with any1
the first ? stands, the second is a joke, and third ? maybe stands but IMO the true reason is the fourth ?
