Thanks for the kind words Pizza. A new episode will be coming shortly. As for the rest, I am more excited about this team than I have been about ANY team in the last 10 years. I just feel this team is going to get better and better, and has so many more weapons. For me, I always prefer team ball over the one guy dominates and makes all the decisions ball. I honestly feel that after watching Tracy for 4+ years that he was part of the problem. Don't get me wrong, he is a mercurial talent, but his inability to trust his teamates to make the crucial decisions was a huge factor in his playoff failings. I believe the team is better off with Aaron and Lowry at the point, and Ron at the SG than they were last year with a healthy Tmac and Yao. Ron fits in better with Yao, with his 3 point shot, and when he stays WITHIN the offense is a more efficient scorer. Now you take out Rafer, another guy who was resistant to changing the way he plays and you now have coachable guys who are going to play hard each and every night. Sure, they will take some lumps as they grow chemistry, but I honestly feel the team is making SIGNIFICANT progress, and based on where they fall in the playoffs has a great chance of advancing....AS IS. DD
Honestly i feel the same way, believe it or not people this team is alot better then the 06-07 team with hca and of course last years
So you don't think the Rockets can beat anyone in the first round? I expect them to win regardless who they play in the first round. Their defense will be their bread and butter and, quite frankly, saving grace. As for the Yao fronting problem, the Rockets will no doubt see more of this against any team in the playoffs. Do you see this as an achilles heel preventing them to succeed? How do you see them overcoming this late in games since they don't have a Tmac/Wade/Kobe type to create out of nothing? The past couple of games (and Portland) have shown Yao can effectively be taken out consistently.
I don't know man, I really liked the Dallas series team with Jon Barry, Wesley, Sura, etc. What...04/05 was it? I seriously thought that was our year if we could just get past Dallas. I knew it'd be a tough series. But I felt that if we could get past them, we'd have a good post season. This was when Dallas was considered one of the best teams in the NBA at the time. There was so much energy in that squad. The year we were favored against the Jazz was a very close second, but I didn't get the same feeling they'd go much past the first round. Oh well, maybe it's my selective memory, but to me that one hurt the most (Dallas series).
we are better than an unhealthy tmac, tmac was like i dunno 80 percent in the playoffs last year and we did alright, but now he is like 70 percent MAYBE, we will miss his ability to create on his own, didnt get to see the chicago game was out of town, but from what i hear we had a major let down in the last 5 min. we couldnt create a shot to save our lives...who is better at creating their own shot than tmac on this team? absolutely no one, don't say wafer cuz he will dribble into a tripple team 9 times out of 10, artest will tuck and run like a full back and yao...well just imagine yao running the point crossing marbury and making HIM fall...
i most definitely agree...that team was awesome, their chemistry was off the charts, seeing jon and bobby run down the court after making a 3 was priceless
While I fundamentally disagree with precepts of this article, there was part of it that just made me laugh. God, he is such an arrogant b*stard, but I love him all the more for it.
Are these writers blind or lazy? A two-legged Mcgrady has never made himself out of the 1st round in 11 tries. A on-legged Mcgrady would do any better? lol. Do these people actually get paid for spewing garbage? What a waste of ink, and paper.
Rafer,T-mac,mike james,steve francis all had egos and all were resistant to change. I don't think rick really liked coaching any of these dudes they all thought they knew more and all were van-gundy guy's. None of these dudes really respected rick and his system. If you look at it only shane and Yao are left over from the vang-undy system and both players are more coachable dudes.
I think the biggest factor people, especially on-deadline sports writers, aren't taking into account was hit on by DD... Resistance to coaching and not trusting teammates. This team is going to make a good run at finals.
i sure love the sound of that and hope you're right! I've posted this question to DD but no one's bothered to respond. Yao's fronting problem will be exploited indoubtedly by any team that they face in the playoffs. The past couple of games have shown when Yao is taken out by the fronting, we don't have a formidable go-to for creating something out of nothing. How do you see the Rockets overcoming this in the playoffs (much different animal) in order to be successful and advance?
One thing is for sure, the defense is MUCH better w/o tmac THIS year. That along cost us many games. Had we gotten three more wins (Philly, Milwaukee and ?) out of those , we would be @ #2 right now. On the fronting defense, we have no other choice but to get better at it. Because you can't rely on AB yet. Ron is not fast enough to get by his defender, and with Yao down low, he does not have room to back off his defender either. Scola is not great on iso play at the end. I thought last night they had one play to beat the fronting were excuted pretty well. Where Yao locked his defender on the outside and turned to the other side. In the same time, the ball was moved from the side to the top of the ring. The pass comes straight into the middle and Yao's defender could not recover. Yao had a layup. This is a good play, IMO, because even w/ the same risk of TO, this play can be a easy basket. While lobbing to Yao a little further from the basket does not help much because when Yao gets to his shooting position, the double team usually comes and Yao is forced to throw up a low percentage jumper (and usually misses). Anyway, we'll see how it goes in the next two or three months. W/ the defense we have right now, if we'll always have a chance agaist most teams.
I'm surprised noone has touched on this as it is the most important part of the article. Why would this matter at all? Any team trading for him would be doing it solely for the cap relief. What difference would his health make? I hope I'm not wrong. Utilizing that trade bait appropriately is the most important step for the future of this franchise.
I'm not sure what DD would say and to be honest I'm not a great play maker when it comes to basketball. However, I have observed many teams overcome these front issues with creative play making and spot on execution. The only thing we can hope for is that Adelman can work his magic and that the players respond accordingly. What else can be done? I'd like to see what you guys think on this issue?
Do you think the Rockets are capable of doing this in the playoffs? Because they are going to face Fronting against any team and the last couple of games they haven't looked like they know how to overcome it. Your thoughts?
Good plays will make the defensive team take an offer they can't refuse, leaving things to flow the way they should. I'm sure Adelman can make it happen because he kind of looks like a Godfather. Also remember, it's a new starting PG... this change is going to take time.
