After watching last night's game vs. the Jazz, a game the Rockets could have, should have, and had to win, here are my observations: 1. Yao Ming has hit the wall full-force. It happens to all rookies, and it especially happens to rookies who had no off-time during the summer. After only one half-season with the Rockets, I already get a sense that "so goes Yao, so goes the Rockets", and as time goes on, Yao, rather than Stevie, will become the focus of the offense. Yao Ming is gasping for air like a 1972 Ford Pinto trying to get into the HOV lane on the Southwest Freeway. Get Yao with the team for a training camp and a full season, with off-time during the summer, and the results and W-L record will be better. 2. This is not a championship team...yet. They still have alot of maturing to do. They still have no killer instinct, and have a tendency to fall apart during crunch time. The only solution for these traits is time, and possibly #4 below. 3. Despite personal optomism earlier in the season, the Rockets will not make the playoffs this year. 4. The time just might be right to move Rudy into the front office. He shouldn't be fired...he should be bumped upstairs. He looks frustrated, and burnt to a crisp. My problem is that I don't know who I would want to replace him.
25 points on 7 of 16, 11-13 from the line, 10 boards, and intimidations at the end of Q4 causing point blank misses by Kirilenko and Harpring. Now that's my kind of wall! I hear ya'! But IMO, it won't happen until after the seasons end. Unfortunately, I fear that the Rox will promote from within and we may wind up with the same ol' same old. My vote is for a strong disciplinarian, teacher type like Hubie at Memphis. But I'm not optimistic that will happen.
If this team doesn't make the playoffs, expect lots of offseason moves. Rice, Cato and Mobley are EXCELLENT trade bait, and we will use them accordingly. But I'm confident we'll make the playoffs. Forget the Jazz. We're going to catch fire, just watch.
Holy cow since when does 25 points, 10 rebounds qualify as hitting the wall full force??? You sir lost all credibility with that ridiculous comment.
I don't think we will make the playoffs. It's that's true Rudy should be gone. He has the talent. Look at the Jazz offense, they continually had a man wide open off of a screen. Rudy still seems to be so concerned with spacing, the Rockets scoring mostly comes off individual moves or simply waiting for a double team. You can't say their young anymore. The player that is the best team player is Yao. But if Cutino can be traded then we should do it. Sorry if too negative, I'll never forget the championships Rudy helped bring us but the NBA has changed and the Rockets are predictable.
Lee Shappell of the Arizona Republic reports: The Phoenix Suns could be getting some help back by the names of "Penny" and "Googs". Doctors removed the pin from Suns guard Penny Hardaway's surgically repaired right thumb Monday. The news was positive regarding healing of the ligament. However, Hardaway is not expected back until after Phoenix's four-game road trip on February 27th. As for Gugliotta, who has been on the injured list since December 6th (stress fracture, right foot) he could be activated for that trip which starts February 21st. We have to catch fire for the next 10 games and the final 10 games. The first 10 and last 10 MUST be PLAYOFF INTENSITY BASKETBALL. MUST-WIN. Suns will get better. The Jazz must lose tonight. Minnesotta beat the freakin Mavs, but they're without Joe Smith and Rod Strickland. We must beat the Jazz, and do great unti lthe Suns and Wolves get their players back.
One of the bigger mistakes that could be made is moving Rudy before the season has ended. If Rudy were to be moved in any kind of fashion it would be a submissive one made by the Rockets. I agree something has to be done but I wouldn't decide the fate of the head coach until the season is over. Sure the Rockets are only a half game ahead of LA for the final playoff seed but Houston is still in the hunt nevertheless. If a move were made the front office clearly need to look at the personnel. When you hear that someone, ANYONE didn't foul Malone at the end of regulation before OT I believe this team might need a wakeup call.
I think what he meant is that Yao hit a "conditioning" wall during the game, not the rookie wall. Yao was effective throughout the game, however he was really sucking wind at the end. You could hear it. Just think how well Yao would be if he had the conditioning like other players.
Dont place it all on Rudy T. The Team leader needs to lead more and get his players involved in Team Basketball. No more needs to be said, the Jazz show us how to, every time we play them!
What game did you watch? Yao scored 25 points and had 10 boards. That is a double double. I wish the rest of the team was that tired.
I have seen the wall Yao has hit. If you watch he really starts slowing down and losing reaction speed by the late 3rd quarter. I have seen it many times, not just last night. Personally I would like to see Cato in sooner in the 3rd (first sign Yao is tired) so that Yao is fresh for most fo the 4th. So it a nutshell I think the "wall" point is dead on. If you don't see a major difference between a weary Yao and a fresh Yao and you haven't seen this the last few weeks I don't think you are watching very carefully--his entire game line is NOT the whole story.
If 25 points and 10 boards performance was when Yao tired. I wonder what will be his score when he has more energy.
Yes the issue isn't that he can't have a good game when tired-- like 25 & 10 though on not particularly great shooting nor many blocks--but whether with a little more timely rest he can get 28 & 12 on better shooting with a couple of more blocks. Yao is doing a great job, even when tired, but that doesn't mean we don't try to keep him fresher, especially given Cato is productive. I don't want to see Yao's total minutes reduced, just spread differently.
