I don't really care if Rudy is pissed!! On some level it's comforting to know that he is not a complete automatron, but on another, I want to know exactly what he's mad about and at whom. It can't be Ming, because he's doing everything he's been told and more. It can't be Collier, Boki, Cato or even Morris. That pretty much leaves our 3's and 4's and our guards. Please God, let him be yelling at Cat and Stevie. I doubt it though. I thoroughly suspect that his yelling is similar to the rants that I and others offer on this board. I don't think Rudy has the cajones to call S.F. or Cat on the carpet in a REAL way that would actually have an impact on them. Those two guys ought to be forced to read every single post since the loss to Dallas. That alone should be punishment enough for them to pull their heads out........
Thanks, W&S. For those who don't read Chinese, the quote here says that Rudy was mad about them not getting rebounds, not making efforts (hustles) in the games. He used the F-word about every 3 words.
I know him and he is. He is very analytical and not very emotional about ANY team, but he does LOVE basketball and he knows as much about it as anyone in town.
D2112, I'd like to share your good attitude here, but please find evidence of another real point guard in the history of the NBA who showed these trends with assists and turnovers in his first four years. None of the good point guards had a sophomore, junior, and senior-year assist slump and turnover fest.
*sigh* we want a PROTOTYPE PG and a PROTOTYPE PF blah blah blah Rocket River I think we are just fine
That Rockets record when Francis has 7+ asst should say something to him and the team. Just like the heat are 30-1 when they score a 100pts. So the question is, why don't steve try to hit that mark every game just like the heat should try to hit theirs? Its pretty confusing to see a team can be good when the suppose pg throws 7 simple asst. I mean everyone didn't like it, but i think one of the best games Francis played was the one when he had 12pts and 11asst and 0to's. Many people will look at La game with the 40 and 11, but did anyone notice the 7to's. Francis can be as good of a pg as he wants to be, and thats whats so disturbing. If guys like Davis,Miller,Payton and Nash have poor shooting games one game, they don't come out the next and try to make up for it. As long as the team is in a good flow, they don't care about the points. Its all about the team.
I know him too, and yes, he is analytical, but his knowledge of basketball is simply ok. He is VERY knowledgeable about baseball, and anything to do with Syracuse, his alma mater. But, basketball, he is average at best. DD
I can't say that I know one off the top of my head but that does not mean it won't happen. Steve is an incredible talent who has never played PG at any level. I think he needs a vet the play behind him to help him learn the position or at least have a assistant coach who has done it.....Avery Johnson , anyone?? Avery, who most likely retire after this season, has expressed interest in coaching. I say hire him and let him help Steve out.
Avery Johnson was quietly considered a cancer on the teams he has joined because of his holier-than-thou attitude and comments due to his deep devotion to Christianity. I'm not bashing the guy - I just remember there being reports that he was actually considered one of the least likable guys in the league. Even David Robinson (supposedly) thought he would take things too far.
That only increases my level of respect for Avery Johnson. He is not only a fine person, but he is an excellent playmaker. The Rockets would do well to have him. I bet he could make this team work coming off the bench.
Yup fully agree Dakota. Charlie Pallilo's analysis of basketball is very average imo. A large part of his analysis is based upon individual statistics which is why Pallilo is so exceptional baseball wise. However, basketball is analyzed in a completely different manner. For instance, you simply cannot sit down and look at Steve Francis and say, ok the guy averages 23-6-6 and thus is a great player and cannot be part of the problem because his game esp from the PG spot effects a LARGE part of what happens on this team. The way to analyze basketball is by looking at certain statiscal categories ie. Ast to TO ratio, FG% against, point differential etc and seeing where your team ranks vs others. Based on historical precedence, you know that teams that win big in this league excel in those categories. The Rockets have been very good in the FG% against category but awful in the Ast to TO ratio. When you see their ranking of 25th overall in Ast to TO a serious alarm bell should go off. Thats where some subjectivity comes in and you start to determine why you are ranking so low in Ast to TO ratio as a team. With the Rockets, it shouldnt be so difficult to figure this out, the entire backcourt is piss poor in this area, and historically, backcourts of championship level teams have been reasonably steady in this.
