Looking at the boxscore I really can't see that the guards are the problem. Looking at steve's fg% 12-22 and mobe's 8-19, to me it seems like they were the only ones that could shoot. If they were really that selfish as some people on this site are describing them as, how did griffin get the ball and had a break out game? It is really looking like people around steve and mobes can't shoot. I'm hoping griffin keeps his play up and I'm sure if he can really be depended on to score like he did tonight with seatle then I honestly believe steve and cat will give him the ball. But reading the recaps, only one of Rice's shot went in. KT was off by a mile. Hawkins sounds as if he is scared to shoot and seems like a defensive specialist only. Well I couldn't watch the game so I'd like to hear some opinions here and ask if someone could fill me in because from what it looks like in the stats, the guards weren't as selfish as some people on this site have made them out to be. I will admit though, after hearing alot about moochie and his dribble games, he sounds like the guard problem. Here's the question I have for everyone. Is it really the guards or is it more the implementation of this new offensive system or is it that the others can't shoot? Watching other players on the team miss shots wouldn't really make me feel safe about giving the ball to them, especially if i were that determined to win the game (which it seems like steve and cat are). K thanks
I am no purest like HP, but there are a few things that stick out. We need another ball handler which Hawk appears good at but he does not seem to have the green light to do some creating himself. I am referring to something similar to what Mason does. I am still waitng for those plays that Rudy was drawing on the napkins on the plane. The chinese guards do a much better job of feeding Ming than our guards who are supposed to be better. Is it not a priority? Simple plays to get Ming some good shots are not being run. The simple pick and roll. Pick and fade. If there is one thing he can do at the moment is hit jump shots. All Rudy should do is review the first half of the game Ming played against the US when he was on the opposite block than where we are trying to set him up on now. We have not created one opportunity for Ming to have an open 15 footer. What's the use of showing on the official website Ming hitting 12 of 13 jumpshots in practice then you come in the game and do very little to put him in those situations? Why can't we run a two man game with either Mobley or Wink and Ming. Clear out and let us run the two man game. Let us see how good James is then. This I am sure would open so much more for Ming; in addition it would cause them to use 3 players to guard two, further open up space for our other three players. I cannot believe we ran the 3 guard offense so much and never did the two man thing. They must have done that in practice. What about the high post stuff?
Yao Ming is too passive and slow right now. He needs some time to adjust to the speed of the game... and to get more aggressive. The Chinese guards sucked at getting him the ball. Steve and Cat and Mooch will pass it to him. He hasn't really shown any reason to do so so far...
tycoonchip, Mobley was about 5-15 at the start of the fourth and we were down by plenty. His cold streak and our collapse coincided. It's not his fault we lost - we could have passed to someone who wasn't cold or any number of other things. But he's part of the reason we got in a big hole in the third quarter.
I dont' the Rocket guards are really our problem. Are they perfect? Definitely not. But Jason Kidd at PG for that Indiana game, and we still get the loss. The other people on our team did not bring their 'A' game that night. The supporting cast was not up to the task. Also looking at the Seattle game, our ball movement early in the game and in the 4th Q pseudo come-back was pretty good. Those were times when Steve Francis was in the game. We really lost a lot of momentum in the third quarter when Steve was on the bench a lot with foul trouble. I know people don't see it, but Steve really does elevate the play of entire team.
I think part of the reason the people around the guards can't make shots is because the guards are not getting them the ball where they need it. I see them driving to the hole and dishing out to a big guy standing on the perimeter (while trying to move out of their way) as opposed to getting it to them down low where they can draw a double team and find the open man cutting to the basket. Easy baskets are just non existent in this "offense". -Why don't you just make ten louder?.......Ours go to eleven!
It would be nice to see some set plays run once and awhile. These guys do know that they aren't playing ball at Westside anymore ?
Quote from 610 sports radio morning show: "You get the feel that the Rockets are playing a rec center pickup game versus an NBA opponent." If you could have actually seen the games tycoonchip, you would say that it is a fair description.
Well I don't see why we can't blame it on a player who is avg. 30 a game and another player avg. 22 who also have the best FG percentages of anyone whose taken more than 15 shots this season. Look, its really simple. Rudy isn't calling any plays and the supporting cast (w/ the exception of EG's game last night) hasn't been getting the job done. EG has been getting his shots so far this season ands if it weren't for Cat and Steve Cato would be scoreless after 4 games. Ming is obviously NOT ready yet and w/ no Mo, KT adjusting to a new position, and a Rice whose career is almost done, I think the Rocks have way more problems than the "selfish" play of the only two above average players we have. Give it some time, let Rudy run some plays and let Ming and EG have time to develop into the players we all think they can be and then we'll se the real Rockets. PS: We're only 2-2 so relax
Thanks, I can't watch the games so I appreciate the comments. Were mobley and Francis passing the ball though during the first half. I was wondering that they maybe wanted to pass the ball to other players but because the other's shots weren't going in they had no choice but to bring it on themselves. Looking at griffin's stats it really doesn't look like they weren't giving him the ball Thanks
YES, The guards are really a problem which are not completely reflet by the stats of guards. There's no use if team lose, but one guy have highest stats in the league.
Personally, I feel most of the problems are due to Rudy T's inability to coach what he has. I like what the Rockets have now. I feel the team in its current state is a playoff team but I just don't think Rudy T is the coach to get them there. I know he won two rings but he had a different team then.
Having played without MoT and Rice (Very limited action), this is the same team as last year. Obviously we sucked last year. Give the guys time to fully heal and we will perform at a higher level.
