Sure we've had close games in the first three quarters this season so far, BUT, i've noticed that we've been able to close games out now. Last three games, we've sealed the deal in the last quarter and by 10+ points too. I think that's alot better than winning the first three quarters by 10+ and then losing it all in the last quarter like we've done in past seasons. This is a good sign of leadership, veternship and composure in the 4th quarters.
I will make final judgements when we play teams like Philly and Golden State. They gave us the most problems in the 4th quarter.
I am not that positive. The game shouldn't have been this close for opponents like Memphis and OKC AT HOME. We are capable of blowing them away right off the gate!
rockets have improved in all aspect of the game....they are a force to be reckon with. rockets will destroy teams @ 100%.
So far the best five are yao/(hayes or landry/artest/barry/brooks, if we play that line up for 30 minutes, We are capable of blowing away many teams. However, we are still doing some experients and trying to itegrate TMac.
very good point. I think it has a lot too do with the energy Artest and Brooks brings at the end of games, as well as Yao's surprising freshness in the 4th quarter.
I concur. These are pretty bad teams, with the possible exception of the Mavs, that we just played, and we looked awful at times.
For me it seemed they were just not that focused in the first 3 quarters. The most obvious sign is in defense. We were letting guys having 3 on 0 fast breaks in the first 3 quarters, then in the 4th, the defensive intensity just shifted to another gear, and suddenly the opponents only got jump shots. Dirk got 35 pts in 3 quarters, then 1 pt in the fourth. If any of our resident stats gurus can get a stat for opponent fast break points by quarter, I think that would really say something.
Be real, no player/team can do that. Even the bball god MJ saved his energy for the third and fourth Qs.
I've noticed it too. Even when the team is playing sloppy, there just seems to be more composure and confidence out there, especially in the Dallas game. Of course, it is much too early in the season and we'll have to see how they do against other top-tier teams, but IMO, the confidence is there.
precisely, it's not how you start that matters, it's how you finish. The rockets should know this better than anybody.
I think i know why Rockets don't play well at home and in fact LOSING AT HOME in the Playoffs. It's because the fans SUCK in the arena!! What i mean is that they don't cheer loud enough...they're not raucous and crazy and screaming like the Kings fan. Trust me...if the fans is anywhere near even 30% as loud as Arco...it will lift the Rockets' players and make them play better basketball as a result. Homecourt advantage is not much advantage as far as the Rockets are concerned.
Another positive sign was T-mac and Rafer did not jack up jumpers like they used to. Wait, it might be because they did not play much in the fourth quarters.
They are just so loaded that they know that if one group isn't getting it done, they can get combinations in there that can win. If Yao is healthy then there is no matchup that can completely mess up the team.
the biggest problem with the team last year was the inability to come from behind. we just could not put points on the board in bunches. part of that is because we can't run a fast break with t-mac and yao.
