I've said it once before and I'll say it again. The Rockets seem to be able to play only at the level of their competition. They don't have a strong style of play that can dictate the pace and direction of the game. They can only play matchup to what their opponent gives them. Example, Dallas had high level play and The Rox kept up with them scoring 90+. Portland palyed horrible last night as the Rox kept up with them scoring only 71. How many close games have the Rockets been in this season? How many absolutely convincing wins did they have against an opponent? It's not just lack of leadership, it's lack of identity and it's up to our Max Player and our Head Coach to resolve all that.
the one thing that drives me crazy is when francis has a wide-open looks or has the defense is out of position...he usually pauses and lets the defense reset...and then goes through his dribbling routine..before hoisting it up...especially evident on the pick and rolls..i just wish sometimes he would just catch and shoot..he doesnt need to break someones ankles every play...
I think we're a completely different team on the road than at home. Very diappointed in last night's performance. Shoot, we haven't even played Sacramento yet and this road trip's been awful.
Another Brother I feel you bro. I said "PASS THE DEM BALL" so many times my wife was bout to kick me out of the house. Common sense - if you move the ball quicker you get better shots. If you look up more - you see open players like TMorris and Yao streaking to the basket. If dribble less your assist/Turnover ration will not suffer. If you are the man - you play like the man. If do not play like the man you loose your team mates respect. To whom much is given (SF) - much much more is expect/demanded. 2 years ago I would have not even raised an eye lid over his dumb mistakes but this year WE ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS - WE ARE EXPECTED TO WIN. I love Stevie and I know he is smarter than that - I hope he turns the corner soonest.
Some very insightful remarks in this thread, guys (or gals). Is there still hope for a learning curve, or have we hit the mental ceiling? (with SF that is)
The depths of the ingnorance of some of your posts is really beginning to amaze me. This latest one I can not ignore. To say that we will know if Steve has reached the full extent of his learning potential after tonights game is supremely idiotic. One game is not indicative of a the extent of a players skill or potential. Neither are 14 games for that matter. If a single game was a good barometer then we should have given up on Yao after his first game, y'know when he went 1-5 against the paltry Nuggets (who is their Center again), or when he went 0-2 against the Sonics and was absolutely manhandled by a relative nobody in Jerome James. It wasn't that long ago when Yao fans were claiming he was a disappointment. I hate to go there, but criticizing players by comparing them to others seems to be the only language you understand. Why not chill out on some of the senseless posts that you make and try letting these two players grow together. No one said that the growth process would not be painful, and along the way both will make mistakes, but harping on the mistakes of one of them, while elevating the other (and at the same time ignoring his flaws) is rather small minded.
Every time I think SF has turned the corner, he turns back and crashes. He is not a rookie. He had appeared to be taking his game to a new level, Jordanlike. THEN, major regression to old self destructive (and team destructive) habits. I guess this is a life lesson for us all; self-defeating habits are hard to break. Hope springs eternal but not in the NBA. THE question has always been not if SF is an increditble individual talent (that is beyond dispute), BUT can he lead his team to the playoffs and a championship!? The next two or three years will answer this question. Games like last night raise serious doubts because we have seen so many games like last night in the Frances era.
Francis looks like he doesn't believe in Motion Offenses, sometimes. In fairness to him, guys are bumping into each other and are timing is off ... but Francis is way up their on my list of guys needed to watch some video.
Please for the love of everything that is holy tell me that you are joking! if you are not, I just have to say, that is one of the dumbest things I have ever read. Do you think kids pick up a ball and BOOM, he knows how to make good decisions. Thats a load of bull, it has to be taught, much like you have to teach some kids how to work hard. . . . . yes that is taught too. I mean sure there are going to be people that can work their tail off from day one in basketball, but they usually learned how to work hard from someplace else. . . home maybe, parents. Jeez get a clue before you pop off. You pretty much have to teach everything in basketball, sure there are guys that know or understand what you are teaching quicker than others, but still it all has to be taught. That is unless you think everyone is born with the knowledge of how to shoot a basketball. Then again from your post i doubt you have ever done that. Hey if you were joking, I didnt mean a thing I said about you. . . .
NO WAY DaDak Zones can be broken down just as easily as man defense, maybe even easier. Ball movement, player movement, spacing, splitting the zone and thinking are all required, zones can be destroyed, perhaps Rudy should spend some time on it.
Zzzzactly! The problem is we don't have much ball/player movement or spacing. I swear if I see one more pass to the player standing less than a foot and a half away I am might throw my beer through the TV. Motion offense my ass. I could run this offense better than the players currently in charge.
It isn't as black and white as zones are better or aren't. Zones can cover the deficiencies of a bad defender. They also can take away an aspect of the offense (post, dribble-drive, etc). As our team for a while has been focused on guard penetration (and sometimes even forward isolations away from the basket with Mo and Kenny) the zone can be devestating to the Rockets, especially when we have offensively inept players like Hawkins (aka Shandon Anderson Lite) on the floor.
We may also being seeing how much SF depends on Mobley. He plays off of him a good deal and Mobley is missing.
I've seen that. It's funny. SF will cross-over a guy, and have him BEAT. Then, SF will cross-over again and just put himself right back in coverage. He doesn't even realize when he has a guy beat because he's confusing himself!
