3 stars, no leader

CHRON: 3 stars, no leader

http://blogs.chron.com/franblinebury/2008/11/leader_of_the_pack_rockets_91.html

A loss to the Blazers followed by a win in over the Clippers. A wipeout by the Lakers followed by a whipping of the Suns. A collapse in San Antonio followed by a rebound at home against the Hornets.

Is there anything else the Rockets need, besides, of course, someone to keep pushing their swing to and fro?

Well, yes, a leader.

Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and Ron Artest.

The Rockets have three guest stars and no emcee for their game show.

T-Mac, Yao and Ron-Ron.

The Rockets have plenty of weapons, but no inspiring general to carry them into battle.

Are they the Big Three? Or just three guys who occasionally share the same space on a basketball court?

Sure, there are reasons for the Rockets to be sorting things out and coming together. Shane Battier has not played a single game while he nurses his injury. Aaron Brooks is new to his role as key sixth man and first weapon off the bench. Brent Barry was still trying to fit in before he sprained his thumb. McGrady occasionally limps around on a knee that had surgery more than six months ago.

All in all, a 6-4 record is not unexpected at this point, especially when you factor in the just-completed five-game road trip. The trouble is all of the ups and downs, the highs and lows. There is, right now, no reason to think the Rockets will be any different when the playoffs arrive this year than they were the past several - a team still trying to convince itself that it can. What has there been to make you think they won't walk out in Oklahoma City on Monday night and look like they're trying to learn to ride a bicycle all over again?

Pretenders can always be resilient after bad losses. Contenders don't keep regurgitating those bad losses. They play at the same level every night.

The Rockets are a team that has abundant talent to be true contenders in the Western Conference. But they'll never get there until somebody - one of the big dogs - steps forward and gets everybody else to bark in line behind him.

Yes, it's wonderful that McGrady can pump in 18 points, grab 9 rebounds and deal 4 assists to beat the Hornets. He came out with a scowl on his face and fire in his eyes and he played like winning this game really meant something.

Real leaders do that every night.

Yes, it's wonderful that Yao made 7 of 12 shots, led the Rockets with 21 points and got 6 rebounds to beat the Hornets. He moved around the court better than the night before, maybe just to catch the attention of the teammates who wouldn't pass him the ball in the second half in SA. He took just 9 shots in the entire game against the Spurs.

Real leaders don't stand for that.

Yes, it's wonderful that Artest, while still adjusting to a new team and trying to fit into the offense, can stab the long 3-pointer at a timely spot and finish with 10 points and 7 assists against New Orleans.

Real leaders kick open the front door and make an impact.

Nobody thought Artest was going to arrive in town and change the entire culture of the Rockets the way Kevin Garnett did in Boston last season. But he was supposed to make them tougher, meaner, give them an attitude. Yet they wimped out after building a 16-point lead against the Lakers and were shrinking violets in the fourth quarter at San Antonio. What's more, he spends most of his time in the offense flitting around the perimeter, launching 3-point shots so he won't step on the toes of McGrady and Yao.

I would submit that Artest is consciously holding back. He knows that he carries around a reputation as a troublemaker. He knows that this could be his last chance on a real contender. He knows that he's playing to hit the jackpot on a new contract. He doesn't want to blow all of that and he's singing in the chorus rather than grabbing the microphone for a solo.

Yao agonizes over every loss, analyzes each play, takes apart his own game and does everything that he can in preparation to get better. He was even the one who organized the veterans' meeting after the Lakers' game, actually a dinner where the stars told each other to just play their games.

The trouble is, when things like Friday night in San Antonio happen, when he is open constantly in the second half, when he has his defender sealed off in the low post and the ball isn't passed to him, he doesn't - he won't - blow his cork and demand it. If you're going to be the big man, sometimes you have to act like the big man and throw your weight around.

Then there is T-Mac, who likes everything about the leadership role except actually being the leader. He likes the spotlight, but not the heat. He likes the accolades, but not the criticism. More and more, he brings it occasionally. Sure, he popped in 18 against the Hornets. But that was after just 7 against the Spurs. Sure, he had 27 in Phoenix. But that was after 3 and 2 at the Lakers and Clippers.

Championship teams take on the characteristics of their leader(s). The Lakers of Shaq and Kobe were overpowering. The Spurs of Tim Duncan were numbingly and clinically effective. Michael Jordan's Bulls were killers. Hakeem's Rockets never quit. Isiah's Bad Boys would cut your heart out. Bird's Celtics were relentless and determined and always raising the bar. Magic's Lakers were smiling, happy assassins.

So what is the personality of these Rockets?

Three stars. No leader.

i usually don't agree with blinebury, but he hits it on the head here. one of the 3 stars have to take this role. it doesn't have to be the best or most talented player (KG is the celts' leader, but pierce is usually their best offensive player). i think artest can do this, but like blinebury said, he doesn't want to step on anyone's toes. yao will never be one. tracy tries to be, but really not a vocal guy. so we'll see.

 

i think it's overblown in terms of "if you scowl or scream or do things lke that, you're a great leader," which is completely erroneous. tim duncan doesn't do that one bit but he's a great leader.

we just need a guy who will say, "gimme the damn ball" when the tough times come and has the guts to go out there and do that and deliver.

 

i love steve, but he was never a leader. just b/c he plays with a lot of passion doesn't mean he's a great leader. hell, he sucked at leadership.