Well, maybe you could read any of the other four or five posts that I wrote in this thread if you want your question answered.. As noted above, I said the last I would say on this issue about 24 hours ago, so you're pretty much rolling your eyes in a forest with nobody there to hear it at this point. Edit: theres a thread over in nba dish that mentions another trashing of the 94 Rox if you want to join in that one, it's right up your alley.
Watching the games doesn't mean you know what's going on. The article was nothing special. I don't understand all the hoopla here. The most b.s. part was his #1 about there "being a 'system' for the first time". First, you can usually tell someone is an idiot when they use the word 'system' when talking about an NBA team. It's definitely a new buzz-word that's been thrown around the BBS this year. I guess he thinks Rudy and co. never spent any time on defense...at least that's what he's implying. Yeah, a championship coach, who had to take time off for EXHAUSTION, just told his guys, "alright, go out there and decide who you're guarding...sorry we never had a chance to talk about what to do when we don't have the ball in training camp or practice guys".
Yep! I did get my question answered. Mostly sour grapes. Heh... Although, you never really answered it directly. Oh well. Oh goodie! I'm on the way!
He attacks and criticizes with the venom of a fan and makes such unbelievably generic, unsubstantiated points that i suspect he must post on this board. Points 2,3, and 5 are appallingly stupid and out of touch with reality which is why it surprises me not in the least that many on this board who are morons in the guise of intelligent rockets' fans lapped it up like so much sweet nectar. I really love the establish yao as the man while making francis the leader contradiction. translated: let yao take all the shots and francis take all the blame. essentially, the mantra of this board.
I agree, as fans on this board we tend to espouse generic fixes like "Play team basketball" "have yao be the man" "play tight defense" "don't be so selfish". Bland strategic advice like this is only slightly more valuable than saying "Score more points than the other team and win." \ Even though CHarley Rosen is an opinionated s.o.b. who really hated Rudy, at least he proposes tactical fixes: Run a 1-3-1 zone and a high post offense. Hell even MacBeth dreams up plays for the rockets to run.
How is he an idiot and you are smart? Don't get it. But anyways... Exactly. What he said was tuned out by the players. What the hell was going on out there with all the lapses on defense? And talk about idiot. You must think that Rudy T. left on his own due to "exhaustion"? Ok. And I have the Brooklyn Bridge for sale so call me at work so that we can negotiate a no money down deal. How most people in the NBA see that it was time for a coaching change/coaching philosophy but Freak says that its not the coaches fault that the team stunk on defense is beyond me. I guess it was the players fault. Yep. Thats it. So...if its all the players, how is Rudy T a championship coach? He didn't install the championship "system" in 1994 and 1995 so how can he take credit for that? I am just lost. It was always the players and not the leadership. I always said coaches are overrated. Way overrated.
He took time off for exhaustion a couple of years back. Do you have any idea where the Rockets ranked in terms of defense last year? Go look it up. Perhaps if you watched more than 20 games a year, you would know things like this.
Yes, Freak. They ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, whatever. But you can actually sit here and tell me this team plays good D, right? And whats with the 20 game crap? I live in Jersey. Work in NYC full time. Have a family. And I have to watch the news way more than most people because my brother is in the Marines. Just because you can sit and decompose on a couch on a nightly basis makes you see things I can't? Ok, everyone. Nobody who watches less than...60 games per year can know what you are talking about when it comes to our team, ok? Wait! Less than 50. Cuz I know some of you got jobs and stuff like that so I can see how 50 would be a good number. It doesn't take much to see this team sucked in every defensive aspect known to man. But this has been your pattern for years. On an island all by yourself just like you like it. I am not talking about 2 years ago. I am talking about now. Let me go tell my wife that I will be dedicating myself to watching 82 games a year (hopefully more) so that I can come on the BBS and make sure that if someone questions my knowledge about my favorite team, I can use much more reference than what I am using now. I have to tell her that there is NO WAY I can get a feel for a team or analyze a team watching just 20 games per year. Lets see...whats her phone number at work....
Yes, Almu. BUT MAN! They were DEAD LAST in forcing turnovers. Hopefully JVG can change that. I think.......if everyone tries hard and hustles and focuses... Then we can lead the NBA in Least Points Allowed...Opponents' Field Goal Percentage...Least Fouls Per Game...Turnovers Forced...Steals......Blocks...we can do it!
I will be personally disappointed if next year Yoa does not average 30 ppg and 20 rpg. Anything less and the coach has got to go. If the coach has got to run onto the court tip rebounds to Yoa, so be it.* TheFreak is right. Deal with it. * For the sarcastically challenged, sarcasm is in use here.
Statistically they're not bad. Is that not good enough? Should we measure their performance by a random 20-game sample using Almu's standards for defense instead? How good of a defensive team do you expect when your power forward is 20 and rail thin and your center is 22 and never played in the US before? Did you look it up yet? Yep, on an island apparently with some statistics. You brought up the 20 game thing, not me. You can say whatever you want. Others have a right to give as much weight to that as they see fit based on your familiarity with the team, however. What are you doing agreeing with me, No Worries, this isn't the Hangout.
TheFreak, et al: if you think about realistically, we're probably about 3-4 years away from serious title contention. at that time period, our frontcourt will be yao ming - 25 yrs old eddie griffin - 23 yrs old that's incredibly young, and should help people to realize exactly how young and inexperienced we are now. if we're patient, and can develop our players correctly, we're looking at a dynasty here.
Freaky, you just the best. As usual, I bow before you and give in. No need to continue the debate. We agree to disagree. And I promise to watch more games so that I also can have stats and be able to comment on games or on the team with the ability that makes Freak so...well, Freaky good! I bow. I am not worthy.
that writer dude is right about a lot of stuff, but i dont know about giving up on griffin yet. i say we let van gundy try to work some magic on him and get his butt in gear. if he still sucks in 3 years, dump him. i do like moving SF to the shooting guard though. that would rock. and mobely of the bench would be awesome. if he really wants to win, he'll do it.
Actually, I didn't agree with everything that Rosen said. Just most of it. I disagree with "have Yao be the man." Francis should be "the man." But he needs to show us that he's matured as a "basketball player." Not just a one-on-one scorer. Remember, it's his job to run this team. And that's why he's under criticism. He has the most responsibly on this team. Not Yao. Not Mobley. But I do agree with Rosen, in a generic sense, of the phrase "play as a team." Because any reasonable person can see that we don't. We're ragged and confused most of the time. And it's not because we are a "young team." It's because of the system that Rudy implemented and Francis's inability to "make his teammates better." His decision making is just bad. Who knows? But maybe Rudy just could'nt get through to Francis. Maybe Rudy knew what Francis needed to do, but couldn't put it into words for Francis. Now, I'm not saying that he has to play like John Stockton. I'm saying that he can at least learn that type of efficiency in his decision making (which includes scoring, passing, and defense). Balance. A complete basketball player. That's what it is going to take to be a leader of this team. If he doesn't, then you'll hear these statements about "Yao for President..." I don't think I'm asking too much. Hopefully JVG can help this team and Francis.
Statistic don't tell the whole story. The defense is called "shot-blocking" from Yao and Griffin. Posey has good defense technique. What about the other two players on the court? Technique (footwork), on the ball pressure, and cutting off passing lanes is something WE DO NOT DO as a team. It's not a collective philosophy! We've lost that over the years. We're not a defenseive team. But we have two players that naturally clog-up the middle (they are big and long). That's where most of that "defense" ranking came from.
Very true. Even statistics said so. We were 5th in Opp FG% (43.3%), mostly because we were 5th in blocks (6/ game). Our opp made 35.3 FG/ 81.5 FGA = 43.3%. If we had less blocks, we would have ranked very low. BS Opp-FGM Opp-FGA Opp-FG% Rank 6 35.3 81.5 43.3 5 5 36.3 81.5 44.5 19 4 37.3 81.5 45.8 27 3 38.3 81.5 47.0 29 (While 1 missed block does not exactly equal 1 FG made by opp., if you add the intimidating factor, it should work out to be close)
If we can get a legitimate PG (i.e. KIDD), move francis to the 2 with Mobley as 6th man, watch out!!!!
I agree! Our guys will be expected to succeed and have a lot of pressure....but they are all young. Yao Ming. Eddie Griffin. Bostjan Nachbar. Terence Morris. Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley are the captains. We are already a good team.... But in 3 years.....we will be serious contenders. We can probably win the championship. And we can possibly be dominant for a long time after that. If we get Elton Brand.....it will be even easier to accomplish this.
