Rockets are 2-4 in close games (5 point or less) so far this seaon, but we dropped 3 straight since against Lakers on Nov. 17. Portland, W 86-83 @Pheonix, L 87-88 @Lakers, W 93-89 @Clippers, L 89-90 @New Orleans, L, OT @Memphis, L, OT Who are the clutch players on the rocket team? The only one I can think of is Ming. Ming. Clutch. @Memphis, big offensive rebound and hook shot with 32 seconds left in regulation. 1-1 FG in OT. @New Orleans, big offsensive rebound and put back near end of regulation to force OT. Clutch play against Lakers too. Francis. 30-70. @Memphis, big 3 pointers for the tie at end of regulartion. But two TOs in the last two minutes of regulation and, two missed free throws. Bad force shots in OT. Cluth play against Portland. Mobley. No clutch. Two missed FTs against Memphis near end of regulation. K Thomas. Big no clutch! He jerked up so many bad shots in OT. Norris. 50-50. Bad play that totally costed us the game @Clippers. Two missed free throws and TOs at the last minute. But Moochie has recovered from that slump. Clutch play against Warriors and Spurs in the fourth quarter. No comments on rest of team yet.
That's exactly the problem. In OT Ming only got 1 shot. Ming cann't do his thing if the guards don't give him the ball.
I've got a solution! Whoever's playing the worst that night should be the CLUTCH! If we lose, we know who's exactly to blame!
Yes, Cuttino isn't clutch...because of one game. So in his rookie season he didn't hit a game-winning three in his first game...and the season after that he didn't get a game-winning three against the Lakers on Super Bowl Sunday...and that same season he didn't drive past Spree to give the Rockets a win against NY...and throught the the two seasons before this he didn't score the most points in the forth quarter.... I guess one game makes a career.
Being Clutch is One Part Talent, Two Parts Mental, IMHO I think we're all beginning to see how Yao has not only the "talent" in getting good looks, but the poise to make something good happen. Others who share this trait include Cuttino, who I think, when he's open and gets a good luck, is perhaps the most Clutch player. Same is true of Mooch, but only if he has a clear look. Unfortunately, both Mooch and Cat often come upon taller defenders who obscure their look. That's why yesterday's pass in to Yao who passes out to Stevie is a great strategy, IMO. The inside/outside game makes for open shots. I think Stevie has the "Talent", but he doesn't quite have the "Mental" part yet. Perhaps, he tries to do too much, and in doing so, fails to make the "right" decision. However, one thing I am glad about, is that the Rox have so many "trusted" options. After watching yesterday's Wiz vs. Nets game, I couldn't help but feel that many of the young Wiz players like Hughes and Kwame Brown suffer from being under the "shadow" of MJ. If they shoot and miss, they get lambasted. If they don't shoot, they get lambasted. Either way, there is obviously little "trust" here. Meanwhile, while MJ has the "Mental" toughness, his shots/aka talent, simply isn't what it used to be. By my understanding, Cat and Mooch are also a little "older" than Stevie. This may explain their relatively better "decision-making" than Stevie. They don't seem nearly as urgent as Steve, and I think that being "clutch" means that you have "poise" even with seconds on the clock remaining. When I think Clutch, I think of former Rocket, Robert Horry. That guy is as cool as a cucumber. Even if his game is limited, he has 1.the talent in his 3-point range and 2.the mental toughness to get the job done. After a Laker win, Horry was once quoted as saying something to the effect of, "it either goes in or doesn't go in." Like a kid needing to go pee pee, I think KT suffers from "urgency" bouts too. So right now, I think our best go to players are Cat, Yao, and Mooch, in that order. theSAGE
Here are the clutch players on our team. (In no particular order) CLUTCH 1.Moochie Norris - If you haven't watched the Rockets before this season you will think "WHO?!". But trust me, when time is running out, Mooch is your man. 2.Cuttino Mobley - The guy is never afraid to take "The Shot", but Cuttino's clutch shots are usually not for the win, they are always the "Nail In The Coffin" type. 3. Yao Ming - When his shot is falling he can't be stopped, either in the first quarter or crunch time. 4. Steve Francis - Steve is clutch, he just needs to slow down. Oh yeah, and work on those darn free throws! Everybody else should be assist men in crunch time.
moochie was the clutch player last season, he always can hit the last second shots. but i still hope that sf can be the clutch player of the team.
Know what? Steve shouldn't have to be THE clutch player, there should be more than one. Cause if Stevie was the only clutch player the defense would just trap him leaving the game up to non-clutch guys.
I think for SF to become an even better clutch player, he'll have to defer to his teammates first. As you all know, old habits die hard. It's not by coincidence a lot of reporters/analysts/fans, are drawing comparisons between this last game and are previous Clips game, and games from previous seasons. SF is a high energy dude. To get him to settle down in the waning minutes is like asking "Sleepy Floyd" to get excited once in a while. SF's development into a consistent clutch player will rest on his maturation as a play maker for other members of his team. Until then, he's still a loose cannon in my book. I love Mooch. Mooch is such a cool cucumber. Just look at his hair??!! Any guy who can run around on TV with hair like that, and still look cool has got to be a confident cat. Mooch is the fellow you put in those waning minutes. His little cut around Yao against Sac was priceless. theSAGE
If it's late in the game, I'd go to (in this particular order): 1. Francis- can create his own shot; hit 3s; drive and create or draw fouls. 2. Mobley- great 1-on-1 player; can score at will; can drive or hit the three 3. Ming- can score over anyone, and his passing will make everyone else on the floor a threat. With due time, I see Ming moving up to #2, but Francis is "The Franchise" and will continue to be the first option in close games.
