I don't get it. I am all the way in NYC and maybe thats why. But how the hell people see one win against the Jazz as making progress just befuddles me. Can you explain to me what anyone sees on this team that can get you all giddy to the point where we use words like "progress" or "get it" or "playoff" or even "good team". This team is just a bunch of guys who can't figure out that Yao Ming is their best player. So much for the Oscar Robertson speech. We are crazy to think that this team is going ANYWHERE this year. I am starting to hear that "if" we get into the playoffs, nobody will want to play us. Well, guess what? "If" I was a coach of another team, I would want to play us over any other playoff pretender out there. This team has the same problem the Mavs have now, the Bucks had two years ago, the Spurs had 6 years ago and the Suns had 10 years ago. With the exception of a couple of guys, this team is soft, uninspired and I am starting to think sometimes just don't give a damn. Perfect example. Look at the Knicks who I hate with a passion. Hell, look at the Heat. Hell, look at the Grizzlies!! You never hear that they didn't come to play on ANY given night. At least they suck but they suck trying. This team is just a big ole marshmellow who has a PG who is all-world and a center who could be all universe when all is said and done. How long did it take for the Spurs to figure out that Duncan was them man when he came in? Robinson was just 2 years removed from an MVP year and Duncan comes in and they automatically see that HE is the man to lead them and not Robinson. Better example? How long did it take for the Magic to see that it was SHAQ not PENNY who needed to get the ball. Shaq was like Yao is now. And Penny was a player in the top 10 league wide just like Francis is a top 10 player now. Hello? When we going to realize that this team is not going to make any progress until they get rid of the players, the coaches and whoever else we all know is stunting the growth of the team. Progress? Headway? Where? When? And most importantly...HOW? I don't want a ring this year. I want progress. Some sign of life on a CONSISTANT basis. But this type of play is getting tiring. They look like all the other Yao-less teams we have overrated before.
Very well reasoned. If nothing else, it's absolutely true that the team has consistently failed to get Yao enough shots. I don't know if it's the coaching or the players... but he isn't shooting enough. And the way some people excuse that is mind-numbing. I mean, it isn't something that takes "chemistry" or "development." He's your b est player (or at worst, Option 1A). Get him the damned ball.
It’s just so disheartening to see how much this team has regressed since being 8 games over .500 and 3rd best in the west. I’ve seen this happen so many times with bad teams. They start the season on a roll, and just fizzle out the rest of the season. Just look at the Clippers last year. They looked like locks for the playoffs earlier in the season. Everybody was calling them THE team of the future. It’s been downhill ever since. There’s no guarantee that talented young teams only get better with time. There is always that possibility that the players become accustomed to losing. Then they start blaming each other (and this would be the group that would blame each other). And chemistry gets worse and worse as the team continues to lose.
I think part of the early success was due to the fact that they played the majority of games at home. It is just very frustrating to watch the Rockets now, you never know what team will show up. I hope they can find their way, it doesn't look good right now though. Tuesday night decides the season, if we lose, count on a big skid that will push us below .500 and crush the playoff hopes we have had. But I think we will WIN and make the playoffs. Let's just hope I am right.
Well as long as we have a me 1st point guard, we are going nowhere. When your center gets more assists than your point guard you do have a problem. Steve may want to win but he wants to win on his terms. Screw the team I want my points and I don't care how many shots it takes to get them.
Following this theme. Do you know how destructive it is to the fan that realises that Yao Ming is the 'MAN', when he sees Yao run away from the playing side, to give space for the Franchises one on one plays. I follow & watch the Rockets because they have Yao Ming, who is in my opinion our future, much like Hakeem was.I want to see Yao Ming developing through the season. I dont watch the Game to see The Point Guard(leader) have a high score and one assist. Rudy is not giving the fans what they want, they want Yao Ming, not the Mobes and Franchise Show. Les Alexander is going to realise very soon that changes need to be made, this will happen when the number of spectators attending the games fall away and the team doesnt make the playoffs.
Why I think many thought the Utah game meant progress: Steve had a brilliant game. He played smart as a decision maker and it was his second straight game doing so (12 assists, 2 turnovers in the 2 games). It was also the first two games coming off of the All-Star game, where he played very well, talked to legends and it could have been suspected that Stevie did a little "growing up". Also, the Rockets' defensive intensity in Utah was, I thought, much higher than normal. But obviously trusting this team was making progress was a mistake. I also suspect Mobley is in hell right now. He knows many fans are "on to him" or have "turned against him" (depending upon how you look at it). Two teammates - including a rookie - started the All-Star game while he sat at home. His role on the team is not what he suspected/wanted it to be. He can't shoot a lick in the last 3 games. Given everything, if the Rockets miss the playoffs, I will be very surprised if Cuttino sees the new arena, and I am still curious to see if he sees the end of next week in a Rockets uniform.
Clutch... But the intensity they showed in Utah was enhanced by the fact that the Jazz looked old after back to back games. This is mostly frustration on my part. I am in NYC and the minute the Rocks look good...even if its one damn quarter, I start talking alot of shiznet. I should see it coming like most fans. But we are nuts. Thats the problem. The point guard should be the back up option when Ming is having an off game. Do the Rockets know how lucky they are that we have virtually 2 unstoppable forces on the same damn team? The only other team with that option sits in LA with 3 damn rings in a row. And how the hell do I, Clutch, Haven and most every one else see this but the coaching staff doesn't? Is Rudy and the crew drunk or high or what?
Just to be nitpick, Shaq was the rookie of the year, and then the Magic drafted Webber who was traded for Penny. Meaning Shaq was the established player first so your example fails, just to be nitpik once againg.
the rockets need to focus on winning championship now. if the players don't fit your championship plan, get rid of them. the rockets is not the university of houston; it's not a place for young guy to develop. it's all about winning championships.
I remembered one offensive sequence last night against the Heats. It tells you about the player and the coaching. SF brought the ball up all by himself. With all Rox players trailing him and nobody having the position under the basket for offensive rebounding opportunities, SF fired the shot at the top of the key and missed. Rebound went to Heats where there were 3 heats players under the basket. SF did not even try to pass once! He just shot from the top of the key. This should never happen. If I were the coach, I would immediately call a time-out and sit SF down. But Rudy letted SF continue playing. How can SF learn from this experience? No wonder SF is still not a good PG after 3 years! Coaches are not teaching him the proper way. I can not understand why people here keep saying the team is young. The Rox management built the team this way!!! In a good team, you always have veteran players and young players. Pacers GM is much better than Rox's GM. Plus, we signed many bad contracts, like M. Taylor, Norris, ex-Cato. Apprently, Rox's GM is not very good at finding good players. Rox is lucky though . SF and the first overall pick last year, so lucky!!!
Francis MAY be top 10, and Ming is #2 because other C's suck and Duncan plays PF. Right now, all we know is that Francis can score a lot when Ming gets touches, and Ming can be a monster when Francis scores efficiently. What does this mean? It means that if Steve and Yao understand this concept, then all we need is a constant bunch of players. Players who will get their points night in and night out in the flow of the offense and work hard regardless of conditions. George Lynch, TyHill, Eric Snow, Rick Fox, Samaki Walker, Oakley, T-Mo, Bryon Russell, Ho Grant.. Do you guys see the pattern? I would be surprised if Mobley makes it to the new arena also, unless we're able to simultaneously get rid of Mooch, convince Mobley to go to the bench, get a SG that fits the role without trading Mobes. Here's my prediction: We'll beat the Lakers, and still won't make the playoffs. Why? Because that is the definition of our season.
