For those just scanning the thread, zilches already said: I've decided that I was wrong to title the thread 'Hollow Victory' , so there is no need to keep harping on the title. Also, I can see how he wouldn't be excited about the team play, there's no denying that we didn't play like a top-notch play-off team. Personally, I am very excited for a win on the road (ok crash? ) with a very young team with new players near the start of the season, and Yao's play in particular. 'nuff said.
Should the Rockets make the playoffs, you will find a much better team in all respects, by the end of the regular season. Young teams like the Rockets have two things to work on during the year, player development and execution. Veteran teams just need to sharpen execution. The advantage of the young team is energy and raw talent. The Rockets will improve this year at a faster pace than the Spurs or Lakers...if this team stays healthy, its just a matter of time before the Rockets will be passing up more veteran teams.
zilches, So what is the point of this thread exactly? If you were saying that the Shaqless Lakeres were not a true test of a championship contender then I agree. A true test of a championship contender is the Mavs, Spurs, Kings and Shaqlead Lakers. We did not play one of those teams last night so we beat the team that was available. We are not contenders yet and probably not for a couple of years at least but this is a step in the right direction. At least IMO. If this kind of play gets us into the play-offs then I will be thrilled. A team needs the play-offs to learn how to be true championship contenders...unless you play in the East.
Yeah, okay, good point there. That one possession when the shot clock expired was definitely frustrating. But still, overall, again I have to bring your attention to the number of points scored and the shooting percentages in the 4th. Both teams were almost scoring at will right around the 2 minute mark. Remember when Kobe hit about a zillion shots in a row? Hell, every single person watching that game knew Kobe was going to get the ball and shoot the ball. Sometimes he got open, sometimes he was well defended, but just about everytime he made it look easy. Franchise answered on the other end, too. We even got Yao involved! We had that bad possession when the clock expired. They had a bad one when Shaw rushed a 3, even though Kobe had a hot hand. Kobe missed a 'gimme' layup. Still, overall, I think both offenses were executing.
Crash The point of the thread is what I have been saying throughout it: Just accept the victory for what little it is worth! I have never said there has been no progress. And Yao's play is testimony to this. That is cause for celebration - not that we lucked into a victory. And with all due respect, my memory still tells me there was an exchange between Steve and Eddie that resulted in a time clock violation in the closing minutes of the Phoenix game. Can someone clear this up once and for all? Crash, I'm on your side, believe it or not! I guess I need a few more Heinekens to get euphoric over that victory.
Alas, I had to miss the Phoenix game to take my special lady to see that Harry Potter movie, so I can't comment on the Phoenix game
Phoenix inbounds the ball with about 12 seconds trailing by 1 point. Stephon Marbury drives to the basket and scores leaving about 6 seconds on the clock. The ball is then inbounded to Steve who proceeds to dribble close to the top of the arc. As the defense converges on him he passes to a wide open Eddie Griffin for a 3pt attempt. The shot is off target and the game ends. If anyone remembers it differently than that let him speak now.
Once again, that is not the play that I was referring to. And even if I fabricated the incident, didn't Cat pass the ball to an out-of-bounds ghost in the final minutes? I need a Heineken!
Just noticed this thread. I believe the Phoenix game did have a possession in the last minute or so where we failed to get a shot off, and I was duly disgusted. I'll go see if I still have that on tape (I tried to erase the tape as quickly as possible to rid myself of all memory of that nightmare)! If I'm wrong I'll post a correction.
Yes Cat did pass the ball away in the final minute. I beleive it was the play that lead up to the Marbury drive. That play was not the last possession and it had nothing to do with which play the coach called.
I think we simply failed to put the ball in the hole several times during the last two and a half minutes of the game. Cat did throw the ball away during one of the possessions but it was not the last possession. Check your tape and tell me if the last 12 seconds are not as I described.
Your memory of the last seconds is the same as mine. Once again, I'm talking about a preceding play in which the Rockets did not get a shot off.
Francis threw up a prayer with 12 seconds in the Suns game left that did not hit the rim and resulted in a shot clock violation.
If you can't get excited a win what can you get excited about? A win is a win, if the Rockets win 50 games you're not going to hear people say "well they really won 49 games because they would have lost by 20 if Shaq played"! Nobody felt sorry about the Rocks losing last year with injuries so I'm not going to feel sorry for beating other teams who are suffering through injuries. Besides why complain about a play leading up to a play leading up to a play late in the game. The Rockets didn't execute down the stretch in Phoenix, they made up for it and executed down the stretch against the Lakers. The Rockets are 5-3 why complain because they beat the Lakers without Shaq? 6 other teams beat the Lakers without Shaq and they don't look at is as a meaningless win. You can't get tested at a championship level early in the season, the only true test is in the playoffs, and the only way to get to the playoffs is to win games you should win, such as the game against the Lakers last night.
Can we let a sleeping dog lie? I wasn't complaining about anything. Just thought things should be put in perspective. That's all.
First of all, disregard the username. Ming is the real deal. My mistake. Anyway, does it seem strange to anyone that all these people who proclaim Kobe as the best player in the league, the next Michael Jordan, are the same ones who jump to defend him when they lose by saying that it's cause Shaq's injured? Who did Jordan have playing center...Bill Wennington, Bill Cartwright, and Will Perdue. Not a Jordan fan, but maybe we're getting a little ahead of ourselves with this Kobe-mania. Hmmm...
Its funny how this thread, http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45588 doesn't provoke aninmosity. It strikes at the heart of the team. Mine, however, only cautions against euphoria over ONE game and it is pilloried. Just amazing! Ok, back to letting the sleepin dogs lie.
