I enjoyed the game. It was fast paced, high scoring, and very entertaining. But, I have three problems with how we lost. 1.) Francis had a very good game, and maybe his injury is why we lost. BUT, he needs to understand what CLUTCH free-throw shooting means, and how important it is. So far this year, his FT% is respectable, but he has missed WAY too many 4 quarter free throws. 2.) On the same topic. Our whole team sucks when it comes to FT shooting. It is getting ridiculous and as it did tonight, bad FT shooting will lose you close games. It's one reason I've always preferred good FT shooting big men. But, tonight the worst offenders were Barkley, K. Thomas, and Cato (If only for his poorly timed miss). 3.) Charles Barkley has played in the NBA for 15 years, and organized basketball for over 23 years. So, why the hell does this guy still make silly, stupid, rookie, mistakes? I'm not gonna totally blast him, because he shot well, and rebounded well. But, it was his bad passes in the 4th quarter. It was his idiotic foul on Luc Longley, and yes it was a foul. Not a blatantly flagrant foul, but a foul none-the-less. It was his jacking up a 3pter late in the 4th, when he could've passed it out to the top of the key. The shot clock had just been reset. And finally, it was his poor FT shooting down the stretch. I just don't get how a guy with so much 'supposed' heart, can play so foolishly in crunch time. I just have heard so much about how he's a smart basketball player, but tonight I didn't see it. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem. [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited December 01, 1999).]
DREAMer: At least they lost going down fighting, with guts, heart and efforts, instead of D-I-T to Hakeem to sooth his ego. This team is a much better team without having to rely Hakeem as the offensive go to guy. When Hakeem comes back concerntrating mostly on defense, they will be a even better team. BTW, how come DREAMer is suddenly acting like a so called "pessmist" that he so passionately denounced, before Hakeem got busted by a gentle yank from Sabonis? ------------------ Rockets' biggest problem is not player talent levels, it is the coach's ineptitude. [This message has been edited by Caveman (edited December 02, 1999).]
Caveman, You haven't been around long enough to know how I am during an NBA season. I'm always pointing out the teams weaknesses. During the offseason, it's a little harder to tell exactly how players will play together and how things will be run on the court. On paper, I still say we have one of the most talented teams in the league. And when the team isn't playing all you really have to go on it potential and how the team looks on paper. So far, the team hasn't played like one, and I don't know if they ever will. But, if they do, and they do in time, I still say we'll be okay come playoff time. NOTE: We lost to Portland without Hakeem. We lost to Phoenix without Hakeem. Sure, we played well, but we lost. Like Will said, it sure would've been nice to have a post up to Hakeem near the end of the 4th quarter against the Suns. I'm not gonna argue about how much Hakeem contributes to the team on the floor. I think most people know. Yeah, he started slow, but he was beginning to round into form before the hernia. Any team, regardless of it Hakeem or not, will suffer when their starting center goes down with an injury for 4 - 6 weeks. And don't bring up the Knicks, because they still would've been a better team in the playoffs with Ewing, than without. Especially againt the Spurs. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
