10 reasons why I'm about to give up 10. Though our defense has improved over last year we still make too many dumb mistakes. 9. Cuttino can shoot you into games, but more often shoots you out of games. 8. With less than ten seconds on the clock (game or shot) no one will pass, whomever has the ball will try to penetrate and shoot. 7. Our talent is mismanaged. 6. The "full court press" is non-existent. 5. Everytime we make one step forward we make two backward. 4. Steve Francis does not make his teammates better, he exposes their weak points. 3. We still "stand around" on offense. 2. Rudy cannot seem to motivate this team to beat the losing teams. 1. We have one of the most talented centers to enter the NBA in recent years and we still treat him like a punk, CAN SOMEONE PASS THE BALL TO YAO AND LET HIM CREATE FOR A CHANGE? I am a Rockets fan for life win or lose, but my dillusion of grandeur for this year is just about over.
Yes, AB...welcome to the dark side of pessimism...we welcome you with open arms... OK, six games to go until the all star break. It's gut check time. We can either go into the all star break limping like this team has been doing recently, or go in strong, playing like we all know they are capable of... Personally, I have no hope for this team. There is usually one losing streak that a lottery team can point to and say, "THAT is what killed us". This is that streak. The Rockets have NO confidence, and every time they make a mistake, their confidence goes down even more. They are playing just like they were during last season's 15 game losing streak...poor defense, no offensive execution, and too many mental errors. This time, however, they don't have an injury to use as a crutch. The only game I see that is salvagable is the Cavs game right before the break. That would put us one game below .500.
No doubt A, we have no excuse! There are no significant injuries to point to, we are at least adequately staffed at every position and two of our starting five are all-star starters! I just don't get it... You are soooo right about the streak that killed us.
Ha ha. Somehow I did not feel bad about our last four loses. I am looking forward to rebuilding next season. Next Seaon our team will be better (with hopefully less parts). I have not given on this season yet but it is hard to root for a team without a "real" coach and real 'team' leaders/players.
We have been saying our team will be better next season the last 5 years. Damn im just getting sick of even thinking that. I think something ( I DONT KNOW WHAT ) needs to change NOW!
Wait to till next year...I hate that phrase but if the Rockets don't change their ways we will hear that hated phrase echo even louder. There is still time but the Rockets must make a move to make this team better this year not next year. Rudy needs to really go over those plays he dreamed of when he got the number one pick, Yao Ming. He must of lost them in his one track mind (ISO, ISO, ISO, ISO).
True.. True... Im a fan but being realistic I rather see us suffer right now so that change can come about in the future. I feel as if we win 2 then lose one night in and night out it will justify (optimisim) and change will never come. I have always had my personal thoughts on the Rockets problems (coaching) but I wont get into that. If we keep losing I think it will be better for us in the longrun. Les pays way to much money for the inconsistency and the excuses (we'll be better next year). This team can be great but IMHO with the coaching we will forever be a Portland type team. High expectations Mediocre results... Rudy is a players coach, but I dont think you can be that type of coach with a young team. With Vets yes because they understand work ethic and team work. Young players seem to talk team work but do differently on the court. You have to ride their arse to let tehm know who is in charge and what the (coach) says goes or you sit. No excuses for Yao not to touch the ball, for the turnovers, for the lack of ball movement etc. Rudy does not have physical control over what the Rockets do on the court, but mentally he does, he is their coach and what he says should go. Im sorry but being a friend (players coach) does not (always) work. Its like you being your wife or girlfriends boss... It just doesnt work out no matter how hard you try. But hey what do I know..
ILoveClutchCity I was only trying to be sarcastic. It hurts me too because I have been wait for "next year" for 3 years now. Obviously the part that hurt the most is their Mental (Basketball IQ) stagnation or even r****dation.
Give the Rockets a break, please! They are in a slump right now. Besides that, they are the 2nd youngest team in the league. No playoff experience. Let them LEARN. The Rockets have to fail (losing in the playoffs) before they learn how to succeed. Don't give up on a young team. No one said it better than Rudy T: "Don't ever under estimate the heart of a champion!"
Well, when you lose the franhise player (or in the Rockets case, players), it usually takes time to rebuild. So, obviously you have to realize that it takes time and patience. The Rockets lost Drexler, then Pippen, then Barkley, then Olajuwon, then Taylor/Rice/Francis due to injury. You're telling me that you expected a team with those kind of losses to get better every season for the last 5 years? The only people I could guess who would be saying that are optimists, homers, or people who simply don't understand what exactly a "rebuilding process" entails. For me, there are two seasons in the past five years that I actually expected the Rockets to improve. One was the year they acquired Taylor in the offseason and had a 2nd-year Steve, and the second is this season, where they acquired Yao and got nearly everyone else healthy. It's hard to argue that they haven't improved from the previous season in both of those cases. I'm not happy with the way the Rockets are playing right now either, but I'm not going to say I've been expecting them to improve over the last five years. This is the first year I truly expected the Rockets to make the playoffs, and right now they're on pace to do it, eventhough the last couple games have been discouraging.
Are you suggesting the benefit of the doubt? If so, that expired when we lost to the Griz the first time.
Lottery time baby! Yao...poor guy barely gets the ball...so when he does...he settles for a bad shot (tough shot) instead of creating a play for others...he feels that he must shoot it. hence his poor shooting nights the last few weeks.
Rudy T is also misusing Yao. When they give him the ball to the post, everyone else runs to the 3 point line and far away from Yao. I understand this could work with Hakeem, but Yao is a great passer, there should be people moving around for Yao to get them easy baskets.
Tired of the too young trash. Steve and Cat have played in the NBA for 4 years. That should be enough to know what to do. Neither player wants to pass the ball except to each other. Steve wants his stats above all else including team play. Witness his taking 29 shots and his 7 turnovers. We need a true point guard.
They'll win tonight. They haven't been giving Yao the ball much because he has been struggling. All this talk about him being tired. Even Rudy T. said it in an interview, he said for the All Star break, he hopes Yao don't play much in either of the two games. He would perfer him to sit out and take a much-needed rest. He is 7'6'' and our leading shot blocker. Why wouldn't we put him in the last minute of the Bulls game? Yao has said it himself in alot of interviews that he wants more rest but his schedule is too busy to permit that. He was very effective down the stretch for us in yesterdays game. They'll experiemnt with giving him the ball early tonight to see what he is playing like. If he is sluggish, then don't expect him to be the #1 offensive weapon in tonights game in Memphis.
Good point. I call it setting the tone. Note this guys - when we set a good tone early we play well win or loose. Nobody tries to do too much. The best way of setting a good tone is by going to Yao early - period. Tone!
I agree with what you say somewhat,but I do think a team that is rebuilding should get at least a little better each season into the process. Do you think this team is any better than they were midway through the season 2 years ago?
Actually, I do. But it's hard to tell for sure until the season is over. Anyways, I agree with you that we should be expecting more this season. I just thought it was unreasonable to expect much more the last couple of seasons. But you're right, this season there will be no excuses for not making the playoffs.
