Hello all, It's been awhile. Hope you've been well. The holidays, football and various projects have kept me away from the Rockets beat for a few weeks. Unfortunately, not enough has changed since mid-December. Anyway, here's my take on last night's collapse: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/ballz/2008/01/76ers_vs_rockets_night_of_the.php As always, we love to hear your feedback, suggestions, comments, and critiques. Thanks for reading! JCF
Nicely done. I like how you put things in to perspective. You have a pretty good sense of the state of the team right now...Just stuck in the mud. As far as suggestions go, I'd like to hear more bball analysis like why you think we're stuck in the mud. For example, coaching decisions you don't like, players who aren't getting it done, etc.. keep up the good work.
Thanks for your article. Battier's comments were absolutely stupid: “We’re still learning. We’re still a young group. It’s really tough to win in this league.” Don't worry about burying the Rockets. They've buried themselves.
Thanks, Fritz, for helping me keep this stuff in perspective to the current state of the Rockets. This team is still the same team basically that is was the LAST time Tracy was out. Guys, we just need to tread water until he gets back and everyone can contribute so we don't see collapses like last night again the Sixers.
Your Battier uote cut the deepest - after all the braintrust (sic) deemed him the panacea for mindless (and/or youthful) boneheadedness. Good, and fair write-up.
Rafer Alston was more succinct with his analysis: “We let up.” His comment, indeed, is succinct. Please Sir Rafer+Head, you got have more to say for your performance in the fourth quarter.
To be fair to Shane, that wasn't the only thing he said, of course. For instance, this quote was left on the cutting room floor: "Listen, for as disappointed as the fans are, they have to know we’re much more disappointed. We want to play well at home, we want to win, we want to put on a good show for the fans here in town, and the best way to do that is to win. There are certain points of the game where you really have to dig in and really understand that a game can be won or lost in the 4th. Mature teams understand that, and can ratchet it up when they really need to. We need to play better. It’s been disappointing. We have let a lot of games go that were winnable. You never give up hope. There are still a lot of games to play. You look at a team like the Portland Trailblazers who just went on that streak. At the beginning of the year, everyone had counted them out. So anything can happen in this league. You never know." The simple fact is, there's only so much the players can say at this point. They're frustrated and fed up, too. They've been answering questions about this tailspin ever since the buzz of 6-1 ended. At some point, the words become meaningless and your play does the talking. Unfortunately for the Rockets, their play is speaks volumes right now and the sound is about as pleasant as Shane singing "Forever in Blue Jeans." JCF
I just wanna know that even if we make the playoffs this year, do we even have a chance of winning a series with the current roster?
there's always a chance. but likely? not really. Right now, you'd have to say the best they can hope for is a 6 seed, and you know what that means, right? A probable first round match-up against San Antonio, Dallas, or Phoenix. Not good times. Nothing is impossible, and who knows, maybe they'll get some good breaks along the way and finally make that breakthrough. But let's just say it's hard to be an optimist right now. JCF
Did anyone else think it was sort of a distraction how Clutch the Bear was jumping around in the stands while the game was going on, acting as if the game was already in the bag? Unnecessary and distracting sideshow, I thought.
I really don't care what they have to say. fight to getting in the playoffs or go grab a nice SG in the draft, good luck.
I'm afraid any quotes that don't make my stories merely exist as Word documents on my computer. I generally try to ensure all the best ones make it into the final version, but that's not possible every time. If you'd like outtakes in the future, I can see about making that a regular feature... perhaps listing them at the end of the column or something like that. But more often than not, the stuff that doesn't make it is merely cliche or coachspeak. just let me know, though. I'm always open to ideas. JCF
