Recap typed as listening - so please excuse the typing errors. --------------------------------------------- Host : How has trip been pretty pleased with game 1? DM - We knew we needed to win 1, job not done, we may need to win 2 in LA. Host: what needs to happen tonight to have same outcome? DM: Everything starts with defense, able to get them into the shots we want, keep them off boards and FT line, game plan RA and Turner put together and execution wa solid, still a lot we can do to improve from game 1, our offensive struggles were masked a bit because they fouled late, and we got FTs...we made some tough shots, we need that type of good fortune going forward? HOST: AB Surprised? DM: We know AB can play that way, he is young will be up and down, and we are now trying to get him to get 2 out of 3 good games instead of 1 out of 3, Rockets are on him hard because they know he is that good, and his talent level is really high, we need him to be consistently good to beat the Lakers, AB was the key to beat the Lakers, we need him to score to beat these guys. Host: Reflect to trade of Rafer - what in his game pointed to the fact that he was ready to take starting role? DM: AB had played great as a starter and with the starters, when he played with the starters, AB played better than Rafer, and having someone that can take advantage of the openings in the defense when Yao is doubled is very important. Rafer's game was underated but more defensive, but once Tmac went out we needed AB's dribble penetration it is more important with Yao. Host: Not a lot of assists out of Rockets PG, ball movement is more important. DM: If you go back to coaches, you will see assists are across the board because everyone handles the ball, a lot like the Lakers, where it is important that everyone trusts everyone, and Ron has stepped in since TMac and his elite passing have gone....Ron always leads the team in true assist or passes leading to great shots Host: what were your thoughts when Yao went out and came back DM: I like to be stoic, he thought Yao was really hurt based upon his reactions...they showed it on the video monitor but DM noticed that his knee didn't flex so he felt pretty good unless there was a fracture.....DM didn't know he would tough it out and get back out there so quick however. H: Ron Artest gives you so much, but being that he might be on Kobe....so he might not be such a scorer. DM: We need Yao, Ron, AB and Luis to score more than they usually do to beat this Laker team...we are probably not going to get 100 points again and at least score in the high 90s...will see Shane on Kobe more the whole series but thinks the team lines up better with Artest on others like Odom etc... H: What is left, how can the team improve? DM: Offensive execution - get into higher percentage shots, too many late clock shots, Yao made some tough shots, Ron made some tough shots...very difficult, we need to get in offense earlier get Yao more touches the way they are guarding him...need to get more earlier....or it will be a tough night. H: Joey Crawford is refing D. Joey Crawford is gracing our series, doesn't mind him on the road..."I don't know what I can say, I am holding back...don't mind getting him on the road"...that is all I wll say. H: What can Scola and Von do to get in the game. DM; Von was surprised by defensive pressure, eh will be ready in game 2....if you are going to pressure Von, he will take advantage of that....RA had quick hook, expecting Von to play a LOT better in game 2, we need our hole team to play well to beat them. Luis is luis, he will take advantage of what they give him...he is the one guy they don't worry about. H: Will the Lakers allow AB to dribble around ro will they be physical? DM: Fisher can not stay in front of AB, more defense expected like Portland where they shade that side and make sure there is a shot blocker at the rim...but AB wil have to adjust and be aggressive even when they play it that way...and use that extra tension to find open shooters on the interior or the perimeter and that is where he is struggling...and stay aggressive finding those shooters....he has a tendency to get less aggressive but we need him to stay aggressive and find the shooters. H: Who is the best defensive team in the playoffs -sans Rockets..... DM: I am not going to take the Rockets out, I am proud of coaching staff and players we are the best defensive team, Portland top 5 offense hit our defense and the defense won.....in game 1 the Lakers hit our defense, and the coaches had us ready....Orlando had the number 1 D at the end of the season....Boston 2nd, Clevland 3, and the Rockets 4th but in Playoffs we are the best. H: DM will take calls....next.... END Segmant 1. DD
Recap continued: Segment 2 - got to earn my keep around here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Host: DM, we were saying Clevland was tops in defense, you said in your stats it was incorrect..... DM: In terms of ranking individual D, check Basketball reference, which measures defense and how you might think about it, everytime the opponent crosses half court how many points do they score before you get the ball back? Host: Teddy - Do he think the Lakers Bench is more deeper than the Rockets? DM: Bench wise - I think there are good players on both sides, in some arrangements they will bring Bynum or Odom off the bench and we don't compete with a player that quality, if we had McGrady.....and we brought Ron off the bench he heard the other team complaing that we were briging Ron FRICKEN artest.....with Tmac we would have been deeper. Caller: Shane and Kobe, not a fan of Kobe anymore...how did you feel about how SHane handled it.....glad that LBJ won MVP, because he is all class, Kobe is not...what did you feel about Kobe after that? DM: Shane obviously did a tremendous job, and Kobe has been someone that tries to intimidate his whole career and Shane and Ron are not going to be intimidated, DM said it was a bit dirty but no big deal Brian: Everybody is sayying the Rockets were lucky because the Lakers were not shooting that well, maybe it was more our Defense... DM: Don't forget Chuck Hayes, we have 2 great wing players and Yao as pointed out....underated Yao has gotten better every year on d....they missed shots but a lot of that was defensive effort.....DM thinks we had fortune on offense making shots we don't normally make. Host: Bynum and Gasol getting early fouls. DM: TOok them out of aggressive D on Yao...only d is fronting and physical if you play behind him...impossibel to guard Ocho - Texto: A lot of comments made about Yao...been accurate...but I did not factor in the arrrogance and dumb-arsity of some of the coaches, and their refusal to commit to fronting Yao.....and he wants to be a head coach and use Morey as a reference....LOL - ....obvious that based upon what I have seen and he apprecates Morey's support. DM: We don't need anyone else in the media preaching how to defend Yao, JVG has been doing that too much in the media..friend of the Franchise, but wishes JVG would keep that to himself. Host; Portland overcommitted to Yao, supporting cast did what they were supposed to. DM: Every team wants to start with a defensive integrity assuming their players can guard the opposition because if you bring double help, the other team eventually figures it out and it opens it up for the rest of the team - most teams figure out that you can't guard Yao with one, same as with Kobe....we may bring more help than usual against Kobe.....the best formula is to bring a little bit of extra help against Kobe but not too much. Host: Yao taken another step as a leader? DM: Yes, he has, especially defensively, most exciting thing is that on offense Yao can be even more aggressive, our guys need to help get him the ball more, but Yao can do more things better to get himself open and once he has the ball to get to his higher percentage areas....DM sees a lot of areas for improvement on teh offensive side....defensively.....DM thinks he had a great series and against the Lakers in game 1. Caller - Daryl GOLD...you gonna resign Ron? DM: We are pretty focused on winning now, but what we have said on the recored is true we are gonna talk after the season, both sides want to get it done...step one of the process and many steps after that to make it happen. Caller- If we beat the Lakers are you gonna get the Von Hawk? The hosts are going to do it... DM: I am worried where if he does that, his hair might not grow back...he declined...and his daughter wants everyone to paint there hair red.....if they go one more round...many more haircuts to come if we keep advancing. Caller: If we make it to the finals.....can we all get the Battier cut ? DM: The Rockets should never listen to his marketing ideas, but he likes the fake blood idea......of the fans...Ron and Shane are both TOUGH players....DM is impressed that we knocked the Swine flu off the front page with the Bloody Shane. Host: Good luck tonight..> ------------------------------------------------------------------- My fingers hurt.....this is actually really hard.......OUCH ! DD
in morey we trust. i wish i could see that man in real life and give him a genuine hug. now no rocket fan can complain about the lack of talent on this team. what a great job he has done in such short time.
