Just browsing and saw all of the threads about "Are we really any good", "We haven't won against Spurs, ...", "Yao/Steve/Cat this and that...", etc. One thing I haven't seen is the importance of the fact we are doing this without two players most thought would be the starting PF on this team. We haven't had EG at all, not to mention MoT's new problems, and the fact we are even being considered a serious playoff team is mind-boggling. Ranked in the top 4? Are you kidding? At the beginning of this year, just that thought seemed unthinkable. Who cares if we beat most bad teams and some very good teams? Taking care of the bad teams is improvement in itself. Other than one home game against the Grizz, the rockets have succeeded at beating teams they are expected to. I am personally very impressed with the new team, and just watching this team develop into a Portland/Minnesota type franchise would make this season a success. If Eddie, or when Mo, get back, if either plays to the levels of last season, we will have a huge part of our frontcourt rotation back. Whether it be Mo's inside/outside scoring or Eddie's rebounding/shotblocking, both seem to bring an element that will add to our team: A. Mo's scoring off the bench could lift a huge burden off Yao, and he can play well with either Cato or Yao. Another reliable option on offense would be wonderful right now. B. Eddie, even without ever fulfilling expectations, can still add another good shotblocker/rebounder to our already suffocating interior D. The team isn't perfect, and may not be a legitimate challenger to the top four in the West this year. However, making the playoffs, and doing so as a defensive team, would be tremendous progress from last year. The key is of course still the play of Francis, Yao, and Mobley. But getting back either of our power forwards at full strength could make this team even better.
We're also doing this without people like Piatkowski who could offer up some good outside shooting when he's on and open up those collapsing defenses that are fronting and doubling Yao. It also opens up the defense for our 2 knuckleheads, Steve and Cat, to penetrate or pop mid-range jumpers. Good post. Thanks for some positivity.
We are also going through a lot of fundamental changes to the way we play and percieve the game to be played. I don't think you can ever underestimate the impact of a new coach on any team, especially the transistion from a coach suh as Rudy T to JVG. I think it is going to be a really long process that will take months just to get some kind of rythm and chemistry on and off the court. I think there is probably a lot of frustration out there on the team and a lot of ego's are taking a beating. As fans, I think we just have to ride it out bceause everyone here knows we have some kick ass players with heaps of potential, and we just need to wait and hope taht JVG can bring the best out of the team.
totally agree. On days like this when half the team couldnt hit the ocean form the beach, it would be nice to have someone like Pike to make them pay from outside. having Mo would also help tons since he is almost automatic with that sweet jumper. just having those two players would have enabled us to make the shots to put this one away. btw....Bill said today that it is possible for us to have Mo back by Wed. the appeal will be heard by the league inthe next day or so, and the feelling was that they would allow him to return...lets hope so. thanks for the positive thread...some of us appreciate it.
Piakowski may help but I'm not sure how much that will be nor am I convinced that it will make a difference. Cat & Francis has identical dribble & drive games and have yet to show even the barest hint of a consistent midrange game. I think that other teams have figured out that the key beating us is to fluster our two "guards" who crumble under pressure and go into "dumbass mode" at the first opportunity. Today's game was but the first of many such games to come.
I don't think that we can say that because today's game was horrible for the guards it's going to be like this a lot of the time. I like the positivity in this thread. It was refreshing, and you made good points. Dr is right too. It will be nice to have Pike, back in and A. Griffin to play some solid D too.
Just curious, but how many games have you watched the last four seasons? Hillboy is correct in his assertion that this is what we have, therefore, that's what we'll see in the future. Unfortunately, he has four years of proof to back up what he said.
I've either watched them in Houston or on League Pass. I've watched most of them. How many have you watched this season? While there have been times when Steve has played the old style selfish way, today was the first time he did it for an entire game, without relenting. But the fact that this seaon Steve has sown improvement, and possibly that this loss will teach Steve a valuable lesson we may not have seen the first of many games like this.
The fact is, we know he knows better than to play like this and where it will lead. Remember those post game comments he made a few games ago where he was critising the other team (forget who now) about not sharing the ball and all of that. I think if he keeps it up, JVG will bench him for a few games and cut back his muinutes until he learns to share again.
Exactly. That's what I meant by Steve learning from tonight. Hopefully losing will show him the error of his ways tonight. He tried to do much. But thank you for mentioning that quote he gave about the Chicago game. I think it shows that Steve was aware of those kinds of problems and how damaging it could be. That's one reason why I believe it's premature for others to say this is one of many games that Steve will play like this. There is definite hope for us in the future.
Fundamentally, some players on this team haven't gotten it yet. MOst of us know that it's still early in the season but an ugly loss really hurt the team and their confident. That's why it's been so frustrating because we don't know where we stand exactly against the rest of other teams. We could either be decent, very good to plain out bad when teh dusts settle. We would all preferred for a players to have one bad game in every 7 games not every 3 games. THis is what it looks like now where we have so many players playing totally inconsistent and hurting the team growth. We need to stop making excuses that we don't have Mo, Pi or EG. That's damn lame excuses. Yes it would help but saying Yao, Steve and Mo can't lead a team is damn sad. A good team is that knows how to play as a team and work hard and not individually. You can't elimate you teammates and isolate them when thing get tough. There either no trust or less trust among the Rox or there are still people who wants to prove to teh coach that their way is jsut as good. I'm very disappointed in Steve since he told us he will sacrifice for the team but I havent really what exactly that sacrifice he;s talking about.
Nice post. I think when Pike and AGriff get back you are going to see a good ball team get even better. More options off the bench (we already have several) and most likely less Moochie which is a plus.
Milos, thanks for the 'positive' AND realistic post. Considering a new coach, many new players and the buffoonery of Griffen and Taylor, we are in better shape than most would have predicted at the beginning of the year. Though the jury is STILL out on whether he can make an impact, losing Piatowski has also hurt the Rockets. IMHO, the talent is there to be an upper echelon team - and perhaps our current record reflects that - but this team is gonna need a little time before it can be judged that it does or does not have what it takes. Love him or hate him JVG is gonna drill seargent these guy (ala his 'intelgent play' remaks) untill they embrace and win big time, mutiny, or become indifferent - in which case he will probably walk out of practice; like NY. - I really dig this team -
Bearing in mind that 'what we have' in the 'terrible guard play' has won us more games than they've lost over the past four years (when healthy that is!) Despite the fact that there are four years of wins from a certain style of play, I like the fact that the Rockets are trying to change to an even better style. But thankfully the current coach isn't enough of a 'knucklehead' to cut out plays that have been proven to work. Instead that will be mixed with new plays (read post-plays). Another positive sign is the lower number of TO's from Steve so far (but is that because he's passing it less - less assists too?)
I realize that I am taking a stern approach to the team this year but I simply don't see much reason to be optimistic. I am trying to be realistic and I am a firm believer in the fact that you cannot impose change from without - it must come from within. I see too many folks here "hoping" for change. There is an almost universal hope against hope that somehow, some way the following will occur this season: JVG will work magic and that Francis will finally "see" the basketball light and start playing like a point guard. Cat Mobley will grow a brain and finally adjust to the fact that zone defense is now being played in the NBA. EG will come back to us from the abyss as the player everyone believed him to be 3 years ago Mo Taylor can actually be counted on as an integral asset for an entire season. Moochie Norris will get traded. A Griffin & Piakowski are difference makers and things will be great when they come back. Hope is a good thing. Hope comes from the heart. Hope keeps us going. Above all else, one must have hope. But, at some point, I believe that you simply must start believing what you eyes and what you head tells you. And my eyes and my head tell me that this team is the team that we have. It may change in little ways - it may win a few more games but the major changes that everyone is hoping for are not likely to occur because they require an individual commitment and a willingness to change for the good of the whole team. Frankly, when I look at guys like Mobley & Francis for example, when I look at their demeanor and their attitude, I don't see anything close to what is required for this "change" to occur in them. And, I simply don't feel that JVG or anyone can "force" change on them - they have to want to change - to be better. That requires a commitment to excellence that I am simply not seeing in this team especially from their "star" players. I find it incredible that after 4 years of no playoffs, senior posters like FranchiseBlade have to hope that Francis will start learning from his mistakes, mistakes he's been committing over and over and over. They have to "hope" for change because he still seems unwilling to do so for himself. No, I think that this team, these Rockets is what we are seeing, nothing more and nothing less. Remember, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck swims like a duck and smells like a duck, Mister, you have got yourself a duck. You can hope all you want to for him to become a swan but in the end all you will be left with is a handful of duck feathers.
Let me put it this way. Tonight's loss is actually a positive thing for the team. The selfishness of Steve in the final plays deserved a loss. Imagine if Stevie became DA MAN swishing those wild shots, he will not take the lesson and continue his ignorant and selfish basketball. This is surely not a good thing for the team. Hope the whole Rox, especially Stevie and JVG can learn from the game and improve our team basketball.
