The problem with the Suns is that they are the absolute worst match up for the Rockets. The Rockets dont fare well against this type of up-tempo spread offense. Against the other "elite" teams in the west, I like the Rockets chances.
I tend to agree. Lets just let it go because there's nothing we can do about a game that over. Like many mentioned, we were in the game for the better part of the game with Yao and Tracy having about as ugly a game as I can remember both of them having. Time to look forward towards the clip show
i would have liked to see someone else , ANYONE, show up to the game. Apparently chuck and howard were the only ones to get the memo. i couldnt stand the game anymore at the 10 minute mark in the 4th quarter. the refs were freaking clueless and had no idea how they wanted to call the game. I almost wish that tmac/jvg/yao all got tossed from that game. Pros of the game: rox played nash and amare pretty well, really everyone besides barbosa. it would have been nice to see snyder out there to match some of their athleticism, especially when it was obvious battier was getting circles run around him.
I don't think the final score really reflects the game. The Rox played horribly yet coming into the 4th they were only down by 8 and they got the lead down to 4 a few times. That's not bad considering how slow the Rox looked the whole night while the Suns seemed energized. I don't think its hopeless for the Rox against the Suns.
This is how teams learn and grow together. Ya gotta pay our dues in this league. We played the Suns tough in the first year we got T-Mac. This is like the third game in a row against them where we are coming off a back-to-back situation and the Suns are coming in with at least a days rest and possibly more. I'll take my chances against them in a seven game series any day, our defense is way better then thiers. They have no answer for Yao who is far more effective in the low post with rest.
Yeah, let us move on!!! We will still play Phoenix 7 more times this season: 1 in the regular season and 6 times in the playoffs.
T-Mac needs to step up, period. Last night he was horrible, the game would've been close had T-Mac played well.
Actually, Utah is 3-0 because they control the pace [led by Williams] and force PHX to play defense for the entire shot clock, unlike Rafer madness.
The Rockets will be fine. Yao looked tired and slow. While I've seen him get blocked by players smaller than him, Yao took the ball up much stronger earlier this season than before and would usually finish with a strong slam than he did last night. I think it also had to do with his dislocated finger, and the wrap around it. Yao won't play that bad again. McGrady looked passive and his shot simply wasn't falling. I think that would change in the playoffs. Plus JVG usually can muster at least a couple of games where he changes up the game plan the Rockets usually have and can steal a couple of wins because of it. This team is different, and they will be fine. If either one of them went off the game would have stayed within 5 and an opportunity to win it all. Someone mentioned knocking the Suns off their ass and disrupting players like Barbosa, you can bet they'll do that in the playoffs to every team.
wow i really hate the we're not good enough mentality on this board. f$%k that. we're 1-1 vs. utah 2-2 vs. the spurs 1-3 vs. dallas, but having won the only game yao played in and very nearly 2 others. we don't own them for beating them with yao but i certainly don't think we should lay down to them because they've beaten us without him. phoenix is just trouble. i think having yao in his best condition and actually playing them rested would help, but there's no getting around the fact that we've rarely been even close to them in a game. i'm having fun this season and i still believe we got a good chance come playoff time. have some faith that our two superstars can put it together at the same time.
i don't see it that way. it's more of a... "we're good enough but there some things that needs adjustment" mentality.
Well, some might be overly dramatic but they do have a point. I mean, we have to factor in alston's lo-fgp/hi-fga (i.e. turnovers) as a fixed part of our team. That just drives me crazy cuz it can be remedied without a big disruption to the overall team. I find it funny, in a not so haha way, that if our pg shoots less, we'd probably average 7 points more per game. The fact that we're handing out this handicap AND winning says alot, but still, it shouldn't be so. I'm no nba coach but even I see that there's something that needs to be changed for a title run.
The rockets are having 8 games losing streak against the suns. The team cant just put it behind their minds, excuse like 2nd game on the back to back was not acceptable! The team really have to come out a plan to play suns in april! Go rockets!
