I am not sure if this was posted earlier but last night Mobley went One on One with Channel 2. And he basically said, that this season has been dissapointing, but then again how many YOUNG teams do you see actually coming in and dominating. And that the Rockets NEEDS to keep the nucleus such as himself, Francis, and Yao. And that they shouldnt be making any big changes. Because otherwise everyone will have to relearn everything and so forth. But if the Rockets can stick together and keep the nucleus together they will be in good shape. And he also emphasized that they went from a Hakeem, Barkley, and Drexler era to a 2 guard era and now with the addition of Ming it changed the game. So they needed to build from that. I have to agree with Mobley here, we did go from a 2 guard game to an all around game with Ming in. And I think with Ming finally taking this season off and resting up, and after ONE full season of Ming getting a NBA taste, he WILL come back next year stronger and hungerier. Ming will get better and better.. I do hope the Rox do keep Posey, as erractic he gets at times, but his defensive skills are just what we need at times. He can get his hands on the ball.
We need a veteran at the 2-guard. Mobley can go for the 6th Man of the Year if he is up for the challenge. We really need help and it is obvious no matter how you, Cuttino, or any other person wants to spin it!!!
I agree - but we don't need to make a drastic change in our roster, but if we can get a good 2 guard and not make any major major changes to our roster and let the boyz continue to grow with each other then we will be in good shape. But what I am worried about is, the other day Francis indicated if Rudy is fired he is GONE. If that happens we are SCREWED! I don't 100% blame Rudy for what happened to the Rox this year, but the BLAME lies on BOTH the coaching staff and the players. I hope after this season, the players will realize how CLOSE they were to the play-offs and come back next year Hungerier. Right now I probbie can say MING will start playing on FIRE next year after playign this year. I hope he picks up a weight training program to strengthen his body and spend some off season time with Hakeem or Moses Malone and learn a thing or two from them!
Technically we don't really have a "team". You must first assemble a "team" before thinking of evolving. I am talking to Mobley
You can tell these guys desperately want another chance. Unfortunately, a lot of Rocket fans feel they've used too many already.
Blah blah potential blah young blah blah blah grow young blah Same thing they've been saying for 4 years. Cat and Steve are VETERANS now. Only 2 of our starting 5 are "young" and one is a pothead! Potential means you haven't done anything.
This is my "never would have thought...." post In all honesty, the Rockets exceeded my expectations this year. I never dared to dream that we'd land the #1 pick and Yao Ming. I figured we'd add a solid role player that would compliment Francis and Cuttino and to a lesser extent Griffin. I never dared to dream we'd get Yao. Once we got that #1 pick, I wanted Yao from the beginning. I never thought that Yao would be a bust, but I also never thought that Yao would have this big of an impact this soon. I figured at worst that Yao would have career numbers of around 15 and 12 with a couple of blocks per. However, once we got him, and he started to contribute so much and so quickly, I realized that not only was a huge chunk of our playoff hopes riding on the raw skill of a rookie from the other side of the planet, but a huge chunk of our playoff hopes was also riding on a fairly young and inexperienced team actually learning to play with the raw skill of a rookie from the other side of the planet. We didn't add the solid role player I initially expected with a high lottery pick. We added a huge cog to the machinery, a huge piece to the puzzle, a major f**king player with true "franchise player" potential in Yao Ming. What's more, we added a rookie with whom the sky is truly the limit. Initially, I never dreamed we'd get Yao, but I expected the Rockets to get to the playoffs. Once we got Yao, and he started tearing ass, I not only expected playoffs, I also dared to dream about something only accomplished by Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld. Admittedly, that didn't last too long once I realized the things mentioned above in the previous paragraph. Simply put, everyone has to learn to play together, and the first season together is not going to come without some serious growing pains. Choking your way to barely missing the playoffs is a erious growing pain. Lighten up, people. Yes, the Rockets did it to themselves, and yes, they made some incredibly stupid mistakes throughout the season. Once I realized everything I wrote above, which was after Yao's first few huge games, I gave the Rockets a break. Yes, I b****ed about them every bit as much as the rest of you, but I forgave them a long time ago if they didn't make the playoffs. Give them time. Yeah, we need to make some changes, but once the tandem of Yao Ming and Steve Francis comes into their own, and barring any unforseen catastrophes (knock on wood), their going to own every team in the NBA whose name isn't the Los Angeles Lakers.
I agree, Steve's comments are saying the same thing. They are wanting another chance and he seems to see that it is the player's fault, and they will do better next year. The question is, does Les feel the same, or does he feel like 4 years in the lottery is too much. I think that we will see changes next year because this team has proven that they don't listen to the current coaches and do not follow the gameplan.
There WILL be changes this offseason, no doubt...fans are getting increasingly impatient. This offseason, the only two untouchables are Yao and Steve. Another year in the lottery, and Steve drops off that untouchable list...
That should be they're, not their. Anyway, the above quote was a bit "heat of the moment." Francis and Yao is truly a combination with potential: Oscar & Kareem Magic & Kareem West & Chamberlain Clyde & Hakeem I'm talking that kind of potential. And that kind of potential doesn't come together in the first year. Again, yes, some changes are in order, but just wait, Rockets fans, just wait.
Let us examine our season, it had its ups and downs but most of all it had its mistakes. I would, under normal circumstances, hope for better things next season, but these mistakes were going on game after game after game! The Coaches never corrected these mistakes or the players didn't listen to the Coaches, if they were told to change. If we get new Coaches and keep the Team, as posters are suggesting in this topic, Then they must decide the direction of the Team. Players not willing to change to that direction should be Traded, even Yao Ming, Francis and Cat Mobley. Our team needs diciplin and needs to play set plays called by a competent Coach. Which ever direction that the Team is going, Street Ball and Dribble Mania should be over with, once and for all.
For those who think the Rockets can find another 2 guard as good as Cat, you have another think coming. Get NBA league Pass and compare.....or if you like to rely on stats you will find Cat is one of the top offensive players in the league, who isnt a first option. If you listen closely, Cat is a team player who loves playing for the Rockets. Replacing Cat with a shooting guard who cant shoot..wont help the Rockets. If you intend to compare...start with this criteria ....17.56 ppg , 2nd option. That will shorten your list of names.
Good post, Lynus. Looking back, it was a great year, because we got Yao. I enjoyed watching the games infinitely more than last year, because of Yao. Next year, we will have a new building and be rid of the pajamas. Finally, we can have a fun summer dreamcasting on this forum on ways to improve the team.
The key words or phrases you need to study and memorize for future conversation purposes are; Good fit Complimentary player. 3rd or maybe 4th option Devoid of ISO mentally Role player Yao's team. Non-disruptive
Does anyone think Turbo has lost a step or two? Do you think we should go in a new direction? How long can he hang on?
Well if that is the case, you should be able to go to your local Kroger to sign him up - isn't he a stock boy now? He certainly isn't playing for the NBA. Come on, at least pick an NBA player to be better than Mobley...otherwise, you just look silly.
Rimmy, I mean that Oscar is a better fit because he moves without the ball, and is a good 3 point spot up shooter. I think Mobley is better then Oscar, but OT would fit in better with a Yao dominated offense. DD
