I wonder how many times he was open and did not get the ball as folks look to go throught double teams?
Good point, DearRock, and as was discussed extensively on the board the other day, sitting through the fourth quarter the other day while the game was on the line wasn't exactly a confidence builder.
Solid/DearRock: You guys are dead on! You cannot continue to sit EG through tough stretches...He has to play through the pain! I remember watching Kobe is first year struggle through some absolute crappy games where he was O-fer and making poor decisions. I remember thinking this guy is hating life right now, but he is going to be something in a few years because of the lumps he is taking now (then). Kobe was always in there at go-to time whether he stunk that night or not. EG needs to be in there the same way. TMO should not be there taking his minutes. The three guard combo is not going to win you a lot of games down the stretch....it works in some mismatches, but let EG work through the bad times. Sitting on the bench is not productive, especially based on the current rocket's condition.
Moe and Pooh- This is exactly what I said when I said he has a lot of Antoine Walker in him. The way Rudy plays him really doesn't sit to well with me no matter how he shoots. Just by avgs, a very good 3pt shooter is 40% from that range, thats just the way it is. As someone that is suppose to be a inside guy, shooting from 25ft every game will make your percentage suck or have 2-10 games if you can't get anything else. I have never been a fan of pulling the defender away from the goal, because basically you're allowing the defense to play inside out anyway. Show me a good defensive team that don't play that way. Even the good defensive teams like the Spurs will give up the 24 ft shot as opposed to one inside 10. I would like to see him in the post a little or at least blocks extended instead of the high pick and roll all the time. No matter how weak he is, on some switchoffs he has a guy 5-6 inches shorter than him . All he has to do is catch turn and shoot instead of firing from 24ft. No matter how many open looks a player has from beyond the arc, most every team will be willing to give up that one that a shot from 10 ft. If every game or most we fire 23 3pt shots and we hit 8 of them, most teams will take that anyday and most if not all good teams will win that game.
kt hasnt passed in 3 years on the rockets it shouldnt shock anyone that he doesn't want to pass plus he not a good passer anyway same for mobley thats the way they will play and its effective
Ok, My INSIDE sources just told me that EG just got his fake ID, and has been hanging out with Stevie at the Ladies joints. So, be easy on him, in the winter it can get mighty nipply in H-Town. DaDakota
DaDakota, very funny with the "nipply," but you tapped one of my all time favorite movies for that line, Christmas Vacation. Remember the department store scene; yea, I know you do.
Has anyone else noticed he plays better with Mooch than with Steve? He still played well in maybe half of the games Steve actually played, but when Mooch is running the point, he looks better out there. I don't know, I maybe wrong, it just seems that way to me.
Sane, Mooch runs the High Pick and Roll much better then Steve. Mooch runs it to set up Griffin, Francis runs it to keep dribbling. DaDakota
Dada, I am glad you noticed that too! I am all for giving Stevie the benefit of the doubt since he may be following the coaches instructions. But it would seem a contradiction if Rudy talks about creating matchups and getting the open shot and then Francis ignores this on a regular basis. It could very well be sturborness and a determination to dictate further to the defense instead of building on the advantage that you earned. EG does not necessarily have to shoot the ball then, it is just one of many options he now has, if the ball is passed to him, including the possibility that Francis, himself, could get the ball back in an even more advantageous position. I also agree that we are not finding ways to get EG the ball closer to the basket. This is probably where Collier comes in. Unlike Cato, Collier can bring out his man just like EG can, and that can open the inside for other people to get inside touches. I am not saying to play Cato less, I am just saying that we should work Collier in. I would also like to see more above the rim stuff for EG.
Steve/EG pick and roll, start getting it going now. Will get EG more aggressive and could develop into a bread and butter. Hell I'd like to see EG pull off that "almost a dream shake" he's shot before. God this team coould really rock with an inside threat. If we don't get it this year, we will next.Until then let's find new ways to win besides OVERTIME.
