ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Timberwolves @ Rockets 1/7/2003

Who determines the fate of a player? The coach as well as the player himself.

 

Don't worry. You must forget that Rudy wass the coach who ran the offense through Dream to championships. He should know what he's doing. I guess Yao may not be ready to take that number 1 option role. If only he didn't miss the training camp and wasn't so tired playing non-stop bball for years... Or perhaps Rudy didn't want to put too much pressure on our rookie. Let's remember he's only a rookie...

 

I think Rudy knows about this (Yao as an offensive weapon), but he just resists the temptation. And I think Rudy has reasons, and I am behind Rudy completely.

I believe the reason is to protect Yao. Yao, however great he is, is still a rookie. A rookie has an up and down, no exception. If he immediately becomes the offensive focus, it may shake Yao's confidence when he plays poorly. Mentally, Yao is perhaps not ready either

 

Goine without notice, Posey got his hands on a lot of basketballs on defense. I'm not sure what his steal total was, but he deflected a lot of balls and came down with a few rebound Rice wouldn't have ever came close too.

 

this "give yao the damn ball" stuff is really starting to piss me off. he gets it plenty. yes i'm sure there are times he could get it that he doesn't but that goes for every player in the NBA not named terrence morris or jason collier b/c they should never ever touch the ball. he shoots 3/10 today, get him the ball. he starts off 2/9 against GS while getting two of his shots blocked, get yao the ball. he gets out-physicaled by the knicks most all of the game, get yao the ball. truth is, yao is not at the "run the offense through me at all times" stage yet. he will get there one day (we all hope) but that day isn't here. he can be out-muscled currently, he can struggle to get off clean shots, hell he can even force passes sometimes (although he makes so many good ones this is ok, gotta have some risk/reward to your game). he isn't perfect yet and isn't ready to run the whole show. no one can keep steve from penetrating and no one can keep him from getting that little pull up jumper. i want him running the offense primarily (and not just b/c his name is in my member name). i would even say mobley is better at getting his own shot consistenly than ming at this point in time. he may not be as effective or shoot as well, but he can get his shot at almost any time and ming cannot (at least not all the time) and this is a factor in who gets the most shots, especially if the offense breaks down and one-on-one is required. ming should be a big focus of the offense, 2nd behind steve when they are in imo, but that doesn't mean he has to touch it every damn time.

nba2night, which i like, even did a whole give yao the ball thing and they were so off in their examples it was crazy. in the GS game when steve hit the 3 to tie it at 82, it was ming who set the pick to free him up and they acted like it shoulda gone to ming. he set the damn pick to open him up and we tied the game, yet we should pass it to him, omg. i thought ming got the ball quite a bit tonight, it seemed he got it everytime he posted up and we were in a set halfcourt offense. what more do they want. he isn't dream who can just flat out dominate from the post yet.

 

You got to know the meaning of "get Yao the ball" and "run offenses through Yao". This does not mean that Yao has to shoot the ball. What is the importance of a tall talented center? He passes the ball around and organises the offense. That is quite simple. Why did Rockest use their first pick to draft Yao and now play him as a starter, if he is no good for the team?

 

I am the last person here for a long time. OK, got to go for a good sleep now. Good night, oh I mean good morning everyone.

 

If my memory serves me right, from the very beginning, Yao has always said Basketball is a team game; he does not shoot every time he gets the ball; rather he shoots when he feels it's a good scoring chance; he might be a NBA rookie, but he has been playing the game for quite a few years now. Judging by the number of assists and passes he made, I certainly trust him to organize the offence more than Steve or Glen Rice.

 

Wow. What a game. Good win, except for the mini-colapse in the last few minutes. This year the Rockets haven't lost when I've watched the game live! (2 from 2!).

I don't have much to add that already hasn't been said here. But, what was with Cato's pre-free throw routine? He passes the ball behind his back- anyone know the meaning of this?

 

I wished you can watch more games live, getsmartnow

 

Great win. Mo was great, Rice shot the three's well, and most importantly, Steve was unselfish tonight. You could tell he came to the game with a mission. I just wish Cat would do the same. Those of you who watch the games on TV, count how many times Bill Worrell or Calvin murphy says, "Went up, nowhere to go, gave the ball away," Between Stevie and Cat, they say that at least three to four times a game. They get a little more sarcastic every game when the guards do that. I have no problems with them driving the ball to the inside, but kick it back out when your feet aren't in the air.

 

I only heard them say that once last night. Are you over exagerating? You wish Cat would do the same? He got 5 assists last night, was our leading scorer, and shot 6 for 13. What the hell does this guy have to do before people stop complaining???

 

They may have said that once last night, but it goes on more often. They have said it more previously, and more importantly there's a definite tone of frustration in their voices. Because they see day in and day out how our guards are breaking up the system. Not to say that Bill and Calvin are gods of basketball and we should please them, but I don't think yesterday was a good game for him. He jacked up so many shots. I don't mind 6 for 13 as long as those 7 missed shots were good ones. Two of his tree pointer attepts barely hit the rim and the board. I tell you what he needs to do. Keep taking easy and smart shots when he has them, but pass up the bricks that he lays. I mean this guy just dribbles up and shoots for the hell of it sometimes. And pass when your body is not airborn. If you can pull them off like MJ or Magic, do it. I don't think Cat can do it.

 

Maybe I was a little harsh on Mobley, but sometimes numbers aren't revealing. I know he had some good games recently, and Stevie did too, but they miss way too many shots they have no business taking in the first place. I'm not "get the ball to Yao" fanatic either, but couple extra touches wouldn't have hurt. That's all I'm saying. They are the leaders of this team right? Then lead the right way or take a backseat and have 80% of the offense go through Yao.

 

Kevin Garnett in addition to being a great player, is a funny guy. He talks about the Clutch bear incident in his post game interview, printed at the nba.com Rockets page.

 

What do I win? Only 4 pts off...

 

Exactly! Yao and Steve are team players. Even though Francis needs to improve his shot selection, his heart's always with the team. When the team loses it's always him who takes credit for the loss, but when they win he gives credit to his teammates. Steve is a great leader, he just makes some bad decisions. Yao on the other hand knows the game and plays right. Give him a few years and he'll definately be one of the best centers ever. Steve and Yao could be the next big duo in the NBA, and unlike Kobe and Shaq they actually like each other.

 

Gotta love that pic!!!!!