Hey HP or whom ever... I have a question for you; since I know that you are real big on stats. During our last winning streak could you tell me how many players were in double figures. Also how many players are in double figures during this current losing streak. Since I have been traveling for work I haven't had the chance to see a lot of games. My only source of information comes from this BBS board and other sources on the net. But it seems to me when we were spreading the ball around and using a balance attack we were winning games. And now it seems a lot of guys are trying to raise their stats backup and going back to more iso's we are losing. I'm not just talking about Mobley, I'm talking about the entire team with Shandon, possibly being the only exception. I've read everybody's comments on what's wrong with the Rockets and what need's to be changed. Basically the only problem I see wrong with the Rockets is immaturity and not playing together as a team. There is a lot of talent on this team not being used like it should. But that could change if they started to play as a team and not as individuals. Although I don't like the iso's myself, it is a great weapon if used correctly. Basically if the players play as a team and stop worrying about their stats they will win games. But if they keep trying to do everything on their on they will be back in the lottery. ------------------
We do lose when we go to more ISOs. Because we go to the ISO when the other things aren't working. After a few trips down w/o scoring, Rudy gets frustrated and calls for the ISO. I imagine that he's thinking "Screw, all these busted plays. Francis/Mobley, you take the ball and stand at the wing. Everyone else just get out the way. This time down, we're gonna run a play that works". I did see 3 in a row last night. It was boring. But they weren't busted plays. And we made buckets a couple of times. We could just keep plugging away with the busted plays, practicing them maybe. Running the ISOs gives us a chance to score when the other plays aren't working. If we're a really bad team with no playoff aspirations, if we don't wanna win games, we SHOULD just keep plugging away practicing busted plays and losing games. I understand that we're not contending for a championship, that we're "rebuilding", but I'd rather see ISOs and chances to win, then busted plays. Rudy calls for most of the ISOs. Sometimes Francis/Mobley do way off other options (like waving Dream out of the low post to clear out the lane) and set up ISOs for themselves. I hope that Rudy and are players are trying to win, not trying to "pad their stats". Do the Rocket players have a secret agenda to pad their stats at the expense of the team? PS: I did see the all-time first-ever Shandon isolation the other night. Crazy nuts full fledged Shandon ISO. I think he even scored a layup, IIRC.
I'll field this one... Last five games: Record 0-5 Five games prior to that: Record 4-1 Player averages - last 5 games(previous 5): Francis: 20(22) Mobley: 17(17) Taylor: 15(12) Olajuwon: 11(11) Williams: 8(8) Norris: 12(9) Bullard: 2(7) Thomas: 7(9) Anderson: 8(8) The numbers aren't that different, but the key lies in Bullard and Norris' numbers. Bullard had more playing time in the previous 5 due to injuries and illness to KT and Taylor. Norris had more playing time in the last 5 because of injuries to Mobley and Francis. Their averages rose and fell based on playing time. The key stat, to me, is really record. During the previous 5 when the Rockets were 4 and 1, they faced teams with a combined record of 69-71, a .493 winning percentage. The Rockets went 0-5 against teams with a combined 79-63 record, a .556 winning percentage. In fact, the only loss in the 4 and 1 stretch was to Sacramento. During the 0 and 5 stretch, they've lost to San Antonio twice and the Lakers while playing two games without Steve Francis and one without Cuttino Mobley. In the 4-1 stretch, they were without KT and MO T for only 1 game, a win over Dallas where Francis had 36 and Anderson had 22, a rarity. It really boils down to the fact that the Rockets are a young, inexperienced team that is just not that good against the playoff contending teams in the West. ------------------ The way to use life is to do nothing through acting, The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu [This message has been edited by Jeff (edited December 27, 2000).]
Dont try to make it seem like our guards are being selfish and excluding Hakeem from the scheme of things. I'm all for getting Hakeem some touches to balance our attack but when he's not producing he shouldn't and doesn't deserve to get the ball. Also I think the 2 man game mooch and dream were running at the top of the key should be done with Francis in there. RARELY do I ever see the Rockets players try and pad their stats. I've only seen it happen ONCE this season and that was against the bulls at home. Cuttino kept jacking up 3's and making em' despite the fact we were blowin em out. Also maybe you think because Francis raised his hand to say the points were his on a tip in yesterday even though they went to Thomas that Steve is selfish because of that.If so you're wrong. ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited December 27, 2000).]
TPL. Why would someone be wrong to think Steve was being selfish yesterday. I couldn't believe he did it. I have never seen a NBA player try to get the score keeper's attention to try to make sure HE got credit instead of one of his teammates. It looked to me like Kenny was the one who tipped it in but, that isn't the point. We were getting our butts whipped but he was concerned about HIS stats. ------------------
Thanks Jeff, I appreciate you posting those stats. I saw the Dallas and Seattle games and the one thing that I noticed was the ball movement. It was nice to see the Rockets play as a complete team and not as individuals. Last night against the Spurs I did not see the ball movement that much. Once Francis and Mobley learn to get their teammates involved into the offense, other teams will realize how hard it is to guard them 1 on 1. It took MJ and Hakeem half of their career to figure out that they could not win a Championship on their own. ------------------ Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.....
When Francis learns how to run the show, the Rockets will start winning. Right now they lack a leader. This leads to bad offense and terrible defense. Francis needs to step up, like Andre Miller has done in Cleveland, and like Nash has done in Dallas. If Steve can make himself the leader of the Rockets, they will start winning again. Knowing Steve though, that is probably not going to happen for 7 or 8 more seasons. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."