Whats needed to be contenders All of us here aspire to make the playoffs. But what is needed to make this team a continder, because after all that is the true goal. We know Franchise and Cat's improved growth is needed and expected. We NEED Cato to continue to be a force and to improve his hands. BUT WHAT ELSE? How fast does EG grow? The only way to get better is to play. What do we need to subtract?add to improve this team greatly. Do we need another player? If so is it a big name big man like Duncan, Wallace or Mcdyse or is it just an above average roll player like Outlaw, Camby or O'neal. A marque name would be hard to obtain in trade and would take a good wait for free agentcy. I guess the questions are where is team now, how far are we from being back in the top, and what is needed to get their?
oops contender Sorry I spell like shet But I love this team and want to see them make all the doubters look stupid. Les A has shown he is not afraid to make moves to try and win. So you never know if they will try and improve this team with changes or just let them play and see what happens.
Rudy T. needs to give ample minutes to Eddie Griffin and Terence Morris to allow them to get comfortable with NBA type of basketball. Practice scrimmages just don't provide the same amount of intensity and urgency to improve. The departure of Olajuwon has given Cato that urgency to improve. I mean, who else would play center. They paid him $42M right? And the Rockets should improve their passing, especially Mobley. If he's not passing, then they ought to field Tierre Brown. If Rice isn't 100% healthy, then Morris ought to start.
Rockets must learn how to play in a half-court slugfest. Against the big dogs, the games aren't run and gun, it's a slowed down, knockout, dragout affair. Improving on defense (2nd half of last night's game) and avoiding turnovers are the key. In a 2-3 pt game, every possesion is precious, and the potential game winner. We must not turn it over more than 13 or so times a game against teams like the Lakers.
We must improve our turnover-forced turnover ratio. I wish we would apply token backcourt pressure if nothing else to take time off the shot clock. Pressure is always designed to force turnovers but to speed the game up which i think we should do. The ratio at which we turn the ball over versus forcing turnovers is the reason we don't score as much as the old rockets. We didn't force a lot of turnovers, but we didn't give the ball away either.
AMEN! I've been saying all along, with the new 8-second half court rule, the Rockets should press the ball on occasion. We have long armed guys (Morris and Griff) who can give some guards and in-bounds guys a little trouble passing over the press. We have 2 great players at swiping the ball and playing the passing lanes (Francis and Mobley). And we have a "goalie" who can block shots if all hell breaks loose (Cato). Like you said, we don't have to create TO's necessarily, but we can slow down the other team's offense, making the 24-second clock our ally. I think our roster is tailor made for pressing a bit.
We need either some great defense from our SF position or average/decent defense and more scoring from the SF. In other words we need Rice to step it up, the Wiz to knock down the 3's and Griffin/T-Mo to show us their skills. I think we'll be continders!
We only need one thing. Maturity! You have got to have a team that knows how to win. Every game and situation is different. Sometimes rebounds kill you, other times turnovers, sometimes shooting % or FTs. The wise teams know this and do whatever it takes to win the game. Plus they know a critical possession when they see it. Few teams get blown out. Most games are winnable by either team half-way through the 4th quarter. Then the real professionals step up to secure a win. Simple as that. Steve is beginning to show some of that. Mobley is NOT. I cringe but Cato has been showing it too. He has been consistent and he was clutch in the last game. Didn't you notice that Clyde always seemed to get a blocked shot or steal when you needed it the most. Or Dream would always make a huge defensive stance. That's what we need.
Originally posted by kidrock8 We also have the depth to pull it off. I agree, but with emphasis on the "on occasion" part. Even with the new rules, teams will adapt to a pressing defense, just as they did when the Celts played it a lot. It's great on occasion, but as great as it is when it works, it's worse when it doesn't. Good teams will break it and get easy buckets. But since we have so many quick players who can adjust, we should be able to pull it off. (I question your use of the work "great," though, in describing SF and CM stealing the ball. I think we have yet to see either of these guys elevate their D to that level, although CM's progress is encouraging.) Originally posted by krosfyah I think they're both improving in this area, but give them some time. We definitely need the maturity, and it is coming, but I think you may be seeing the lack of team cohesiveness and calling it lack of maturity by the individual. Remember, of the twelve players on the active roster, half -- Willis, Rice, Griffin, Morris, Torres, and Brown -- are new to the team, and four are rookies. Let me repeart that: we have four rookies. It will take a long tme to integrate these guys to the point that they are really playing cohesively as a team. I hope the team resists the urge to tinker with the team during the season, because we have the potential to be very good, but badly need playing time together. If I recall corredtly, opening night was the first time the Rockets starters had ever played together as a unit.
