AB, this is one of my pet peeves that tears the Rockets apart. The Mavs, Kings, Warriors and Grizz have used this against us. The Rockets think that other teams play like us. They don't. When other teams' plays break down, they don't go into ISOs. They reset the play, even if there's only 5-7 seconds left. Thus, we play man-on-man, and then double-team when the ball-handler starts to drive... Pass, open-man, swish! We get baited. When the Rockets plays break down, we immediately go into an ISO, get double-teamed and then *still* jack up a shot. No pass, no open-man, clank.
<blockquote><hr>Originally posted by Another Brother Hey Bud keep your drawers on, I'm still a fan but my lofty expectations have been extinguished...<hr></blockquote> So, let me get this straight. You are "giving up" (your words, not mine) because the Rockets aren't living up to your "lofty expectations" (your words) of being... what...? 27-16 .628 That would be a 3 game difference and good enough for 3rd best team in the league (forget the East). That's it; I'm outta here, dammit, until they are good enough to be 3rd best in the NBA. Or were your lofty expectations to be as efficient as the Kings? btw: don't compare negative posts to posts about "giving up" as if we are all bandwagonners. Go sit with A-Train, Darren1998, The Pimp and Sirhangover and all the other hecklers, have another drink, and think you are making the night more interesting for who are having fun watching the show. next
Hecklers? We could be 27-16. We could be 28-15 if we hadn't lost to pathetic teams like Memphis, LA Clips, Atlanta and Chicago, all teams with a sub .390 winning percentage. Throw in wins against NY and Golden State and we could be 30-13. You're kidding yourself HeyPee. No one is giving up or going to stop watching. Otherwise you wouldn't have guys like me, AB, Sirhangover and even Jeff(yes, our own Clutch City saviour) to kick around.
Everyone, 6. The "full court press" is non-existent. Can anyone explain why we have one of the "most talented" teams int he league and are the "second youngest" team and we can't press the ball, EVER? My opinion: our defense may be good in half-court but our transitoiin D is terrible. Anyone have another opinion?
AB- I can't believe that this has come from you! Just a month ago you were telling me to essentially "get out and stay out" for expressing pretty much the same sentiments. What's happened?
<blockquote><hr>Originally posted by RocketsPimp You're kidding yourself HeyPee.<hr></blockquote> Really. And I was sitting here thinking the ones kidding themselves are those "who can't watch this team" anymore, or Another Brother saying "my dillusion of grandeur for this year is just about over." I think that fits in well with your 30-13. What? Did you run out of your Steve Francis "We are Witnessing Greatness" happy pills that you two got from Jeff in early November. Or are you coming down from taking too many Bill Walton "Yao is a gift from god" hyperactive little greenies.
<blockquote><hr>Originally posted by darin1998 Everyone, 6. The "full court press" is non-existent. Can anyone explain why we have one of the "most talented" teams int he league and are the "second youngest" team and we can't press the ball, EVER? My opinion: our defense may be good in half-court but our transitoiin D is terrible. Anyone have another opinion? <hr></blockquote> Rudy doesn't believe in the press without a great center court defender like Pippen/Garnett and guards, and it puts a lot of pressure on the back man...and Yao is not exactly fresh enough to be waisting energy in a full court press. And, exactly how far did Rick Pitino's legendary press get him in the NBA anyhow. And by the way, a full court press is not really a transition defense. It is usually played out of the basket. And forget what Calvin Murphy was saying tonight about trying to pick up great dribblers like Williams early on a break...Calvin doesn't know what he is talking about. That is for HS and college. Rudy and his coaches of done a league wide study of film on this, and their findings are that retreating and picking them up at the key is much better than when they have operating room at half court for them to dribble around your ass. Why is it that people quote announcers during games all the time when statements like "you have to pick up Williams as soon as he gets the ball" are proven to be wrong? Calvin is not a coach for a reason. And that statement is one of the reasons. NBA guards will leave you in the dust if you try to pick them up too early. Retreat and close the angles to the basket with which they can operate.
Our transition D is bad because our perimeter players bar Posey are mostly terrible defenders and ref whiners and don't make any effort to go back to our half more quickly. Also, considering we have the supposed young, quick and athletic guards like SF and CM, why is our transition game always so terrible? We must be one of the worst fast-break teams in the league. I noticed that we only got 6-8 max fast break pts a game. JP helped a little bit lately though.
heypartner, First, thanks for the response, it makes more sense to me why Rudy et al do not like to pick up full-court press. I like to hear that they did their homework on game film, but it still would be nice in certain situations. I would add that Rudy and staff realize the lack of dicipline/focus/experience on this team would additionally hurt the full-court defense. By the way, I am not a knee-jerk, "say what the announcers say" fan. I didn't even watch a lot of the game tonight (Joe Millionaire instead) and didn't even hear what Calvin "Stress The Color Commentator" Murphy had to say. You should know me better than that, but I guess you have me confused.
Well, Rudy is right on that one. I heard him on 610 regarding this. We don't have the players that can play that type of D. Francis/Mobley? No way.
darin, after I posted that and left to walk my dog, I thought to myself..."you know, he's probably going to think I was referring to him quoting announcers to me." Sorry, I have a bad habit of starting posts and then drifting to generalities not directed at the person I was responding to, but rather just asking them why. I've had 4 people this past week (or so) tell me ('but Heypee, you don't hear the League Pass announcers") what announcers are saying, and Clutch quoted another one on the front page yesterday, too. I was just trying to point out Calvin was wrong on his statement tonight about guarding Williams on transition, and your post was a good opportunity to make that observation. Didn't mean to include you in the Gene-Said, Walton-Said, Calvin-Said crowd. My apologies.
You would be wrong, even *I* did not expect true success until this year..and even then, I realize we are still at least a year from any *real* success.. Even the optimists and homers know what a "rebuilding phase" is. The only people who were expecting the team to get better during that phase are people who know nothing about the way the league works. At least we are getting thru the "phase" faster than alot of other teams have in the past..look at the Bulls...how long since MJ left? and they still arent that good?( yea, I know they beat us, but are they better than we are?) ....the Clips have been building for their entire existence....does anyone actually believe they can compete for deep playoff spots yet? We cant either, but we are within a year of being deep in the playoffs..a faster rebuild than almost any team I can think of. Patience people, patience...
I jumped on someone a while back about this..."Who cares what a bunch of announcers are saying?" and what do I get? " All the teams have ex-players doing the commentating, so you dont know what you're talking about R2K" About time somone else joined me in the "screw what the other team's announcers are sayin" camp. If the "announcers" knew that much about how things really work, they wouldnt be sitting on the side and talking about it, they would be on the sidelines coaching. Ex-player or no... but after all, I dont know what Im talking about...so feel free to keep believing what other team's talking heads say...
Hey P, In order to be a fan, I must expect championships? Read the post, I said that I am still a fan but I don't think that this team is a championship team. The thread is entitled 10 reasons why I am ABOUT to give up, dang Homey don't attack me challenge my point. I am still a FAN. I support this team. I like this team. I will defend this team, but I expected more. I am surprised that you would personally call me out because I don't fit into HeyPartners definition of a fan, maybe there some other reason that you are angry at me. Let me know whatever it is so I can straighten that out too.
<blockquote><hr>I am surprised that you would personally call me out because I don't fit into HeyPartners definition of a fan, maybe there some other reason that you are angry at me. Let me know whatever it is so I can straighten that out too. <hr></blockquote> I thought you could handle hecklers like a professional. I still love ya man; I won't challenge you in this forum ever again. Is that better?? Oh, btw, backwardhead is correct: You tore into him for saying the same thing back when you were still "dillusional." <blockquote><hr> The thread is entitled 10 reasons why I am ABOUT to give up, dang Homey don't attack me challenge my point.<hr></blockquote> Challenge your point. What point? You recanted the top 10 whines of the BBS. And it wasn't even an attempt at humor. Anyone could have done that. The only thing you added to what we read everyday here is your title of the thread and your "my dillusions of grandeur" about jumping off the bandwagon. btw: I thought I was being funny...not personal. "FIRE Tim!!" "happy pills" Seems I might have enjoyed posting in this thread more than you had defending not being a bandwagonner... I love kicking Rockets Fans when they are down on the ground kicking the team. It is very cathartic. You see; when whiners are right, it means the Rockets suck. When you are wrong, it means we are winning and I am having more fun. So, it is a double pleasure for me to challenge the whiners, when you are wrong. And when you are right, what are you going to do, take pleasure in saying "I told you so." No way you'll find me agreeing with you, even if I secretly do...just like Rudy.
About the Press... Rudy also said on his radio show that they researched all the teams that have extensively utilized the press, and that it doesn't really pay off. That's one heck of a lot of a research for a coach to do. It's little things like that, that Rudy does, that make him a good coach. Fans won't see that kind of work, and very few will ever know about it. I disagree with some of Rudy's substitution patterns just like many, but I still give the guy credit for all the little things he does. His strengths do go beyond just being able to work well with his players. Their fast break isn't perfect, but it is fifty times better than it was last year.
I do handle heckers but I have too much respect for you to handle you in such a manner. Challenging me is fine, mocking my passion is what I had the problem with. I don't remember what backward said but I think he refused to watch ever again or gave up on the team. I, on the other hand, have given up on advanced playoff play. It's what I saw at Chicago. Humor? HP I'm not the site Jester I'm just Another Brother. Yall be cool
