I don't know why everyone is so critical. Lets look at the positives 24-20 . yeah it could be 28-16 but it could've also been 20-24 Yao Ming and Steve Francis starting at the allstar game. No other team has 2 allstars starting from the same team Why is everyone so critical of Rudy. There is only a handfl of coaches in the NBA with Championship eperience as a coach. Why do we want to get rid of im. Everyone is saying get Yao the ball more. I saw the game against Dallas and he is clearly not ready to shoot 15 times a game. Maybe once in every 5 games but not every game We have to go to our strengths to win games and that is Steve and Cat. right now. When Yao becomes a consistent player I will be screaming if no one gets him the ball. Also remeber couple of years ago Stev and Cat got us 45 wins. So they can get the job done. There is no denying the Rockets are not playing their best basketball. t remeber this is a very young team and should get beter with time. If we make the playoffs this will be the perfect season. If we don't lets hope we end up with Lebron.
Good post, except if we do not make the playoffs there is no way we end up with LeBron, as we do not have a first round pick this year. It goes to Memphis to pay off our deal to get Francis. But don't worry, we will get in, and we might make some noise when we get there.
I agree that Yao is not in great shape and has conditioning/fatigue problem right now but still we need to utilize him better whenever he's on the court. Also the game is played inside out whoever is on the court. Our strength being Steve and Cat doesn't mean that we have to play 1-on-1 iso ball. And yeah please don't mention about the 45 wins that season. Steve and Cat didn't get us 45 wins but they plus a healthy Mo Taylor and a rejuvenated Hakeem got us those amount of wins. Please don't kid yourself that Steve's and Cat's 1-on-1 iso stuff alone can get 45 wins a season. It simply cannot be done.
Alirules - I don't know which game against Dallas YOU were watching, but Yao Ming made 7 of 9 FG, and had 20 points!!! So, I don't know what the hell you need as more evidence that he needs more shots. He is the ONLY starter for the Rockets whose FG % is over 50%. If Yao is tired (and I agree that he is), I can't wait to see him when he is not. In the interim, we have absolutely NO REASON for not getting Yao more shots. 15 should be the MINIMUM number of shots for Yao each game, and NOT the exception!!!
I am just saying he is not ready to be the #1 or 2 option everynight. Only occasional when the other team has basically no size at all.
I agree with 15 shots per game. He needs to be the focal point when he is the game. Inside out not outside in game plan.
I think the opposite is true. I'd rather have Yao jacking up 20 shots a game instead of Cat whose performance this season disgusts me.
We are not watching the same game. What makes you think Cat deserves to take 15 ill-advised shots every game? Steve & Yao perhaps, but Steve & Cat? Cat is not our strength, but cancer. Speaking of being consistent to earn more touches, your logic is damn funny. No, it wasn't them who got us 45 wins. And you consider 45 wins alone getting the job done? How about making or going deep into the playoffs? No more arguments needed if you think 45 wins is "getting the job done".
I don't know why everyone is so upset at Cat. This guy is clearly a damn good player. He does take ill advise shots but atleast he is confident about taking shots. You're not going see him disappear down the stretch. He plays damn good defense. He is not the defensive player of the year in any strecth but he brings the intensity that lot of players leve in the locker room. You can't measure his heart and intensity. Ofcourse he needs to improve on shot selection and learn how ro pass the ball but he is still a young player. He is going to be the most feared 3rd scorer in the league when Yao becomes a dominant force to reckon withl
Hotheaded young player who thinks he's better than he actually is and refuses to accept a more limited role (3rd choice scorer on this case) is always chemisty killer.
So it takes MORE THAN 5 years to learn what a bad shot is and how to pass to open teammates? "See open man,pass to open man." Whew! That's reeeaaalllllly a tough philosophy to learn,isn't it? That might even take 2 or 3 practices and games to learn. Or 5 years if you're a moron or a selfish insubordinate who puts himself before the team. Especially if your coach lets you get away with it and doesn't discipline you at all for ignoring his instructions and game plan.
If I'm not mistaken(a BIG if), there was no zone allowed that year. That would make the isos relatively effective. I really agree that the people that compare this team to the 45-win team are incorrect. That was a totally different team.
I agree, with our current team, on our better days we are a .500 ball club. We have hit the skids, but it has been worse. Remeber last year? How 'bout the on before that? As for Yao, he may be a mountain, but he is still a rookie mountain...the kid's 22...be patient.
I like this post.. why can't we have more of these? I agree with just about everything.. makes me feel so much better. Thx Ali.
I too enjoy the positives. However, when you include uninformed statements like - then something must be said. Yes, this team has GREAT potential. No argument. Yes, Rudy has 2 rings. Again, no argument. Yes, things could be worse. Things could also be MUCH better!! 2 All Stars and 2$ will get me a cup of cappucino at StarBucks!! We are young, but that's NOT our problem!!! It's a combination of selfishness and stupidity!! So, if we are going to list the positives, let's also be practical, realistic and honest!!! Now, i'm going to go and eat brunch and then take a mid morning nap!! Be cool y'all
Nice post. I loke optimism, but your post borders on the line of being naive. Dallas game? Well, i'm not gonna beat a dead horse. Everyone else pointed out that you ust have been watching the Dallas game last week. Far as "Stevie and Cuttino" carrying us, you need to snap out of that dream real quickly my man. they aren't going to get us anywhere. Yao cannot do it himself either. Teamwork. Yao needs at least 12 shots, and Cat need not take more that 12 unless they are totally leaving him wide open. Stevie, as we all know, creates shots, so he can do what he wants I guess.
