A horrible way to lose after McGrady's ascent to the premier player and the high hopes. Dallas is clearly a better team, we surprised them early, but they won 4 of the next 5. That being said, I think Yao and T-mac are the playrs to build around. Wesley, Padgett, Bowen, Sura...well, I think it's clear that these guys can not get the job done. We need some real basketball players who can defend, you won't get beat off the dribble or shot over with supreme ease. A great season to be sure, a bitter end, but to improve, we got to have real role-players, not a bunch of guys past their prime.
1. i refuse to believe that dallas was a better team this year. this series should have a been over a game or two ago. a few calls here, a few calls there, a few non-calls here, a few non-calls there... well... you know. dallas depth was a problem, but our chemistry was much better. 2. wesly, padgett, bowen, and sura could have gotten the job done. just so happened that tonight... in the 7th game of a seven game series (argh!)... they couldn't. there's going to be nights like this. it's just so unfortunate that it had to be this night. 3. "we need some real baskeball players who can defend, don't get beat off the dribble, or shot over with supreme ease"? you are talking about this ONE game in particular, right? one out of eighty-nine games isn't too bad. there were games early in the season where shots from opponents came with "supreme ease", but they were held in check later. the defense this season has been spectacular (the seond half of the season anyway). 4. i do agree with us needing a few younger players though.
Our lack of speed and athleticism killed us all series. We really need to get a few more players in that mold for match up purposes. Our slow, veteran half-court team works against most teams, but obviously it doesn't work against every team.
Let's not forget theprogress we made. * We won 51 games * We took a 58-win team to 7 games * We saw that a Yao/TMac combo might on day be unbeatable Sucks to go out losing by 30, but we had a heckuva ride
Yeah remember...this kind of defeat is what this team needs in a way...until you lose like this you won't be able to win......let this loss burn in there souls for a while..
T-Mac and Yao are going to destroy the league next season. All the Rockets need are some players who can consistently score off the bench.
In today's game T-Mac & Yao = 60 points (27 and 33 respectively) Our 8 other role players = 16 points (or 2 per player) We have a bright core, now its just our role players we need to take care of. -G'day-
I agree. I don't think anyone expected the Rockets to do this well at the beginning of the series and we still had a good shot to go to the second round. I still am very proud of our team and our future looks very bright.
I think we really missed Juwand Howard in this series. If he hadn't been hurt, we would have won this series.
I've been a Rockets fan my whole life... never been more disappointed with the way a game turned out... yet I realize that this year was a overall success. I'm looking for bigger and better things next year. I trust that Carroll Dawson and management will make the neccessary adjustments to make this team a true contender for many years to come.
They better remember this game. They better have it etched into their minds. Forget the first 6 games, this game is the one they need to replay in their mind over and over. On that note.... The Rockets can improve. That's one of the most important things about this team. They have room to improve. I think we can actually say that the loss of Juwan Howard really hurt us in the long run. Don't think so? Howard would have been a more than capable player. Keep putting McGrady on Dirk and you don't lose much if you had Howard out there. I think that was one of the things we forgot after game 2. I think we can, of course, use a 4 and a PG. But if I only had to pick one, I'd pick the 4. A defensive 4 that can defend and rebound like an Otis Thorpe back in the day is all we need. And if he's a shotblocker...well...game over. I honestly thought they could pull it out. I never lost faith until 7 minutes left of the 4th. I think this team made me feel nostalgic about the Rockets teams of the early-mid 90s. You root and root for this team and you would kill someone (preferably a maverick fan) just to see them go home with a W. Thanks Rockets. You put the love and the fire of an NBA fan back in me.
I'm proud of our guys. We battled from a disjointed, dysfunctional group in the beginning of the season to a smart, efficient, if under-talented group with a lack of depth a the PF position, a surgically sewn together point guard, and an aging bench that has given the NBA the most compelling first round series. I'm proud of our guys. We fought hard, jumping out to an early series lead with incredible perfomances from McGrady and effective, if not dissappointing, performances from Yao. The Machine carried us when Yao was inconsistent, and McGrady has been stellar. He has been the consummate leader, with enough talent to cover for 3 Stevie Franchisse (although I love ya man). I truly believe we have the core of a big big man and an unselfish, wunderkind wingman to compete for many years. We have a passionate coach that will give his health, reputation and genius for a group of guys that play the game the right way. And it shows. I've seen more grit and fire from these group of guys than I remember in the past 4 years. Mike James is a great sparkplug. Barry speeds up the game with his passing and poise. Sura is more than grit. He is perserverance. All of our guys hustle and they never stop -- even against superior talents. We've had a great season, where McGrady has exploded our imaginations with his greatness and Yao has tantalized us with flashes of growth. We need to retool. Our first priority -- a brusing power forward that can keep the offense at bay, and take off the pressure for Yao in the inside. Most of the foul problems for Yao has happened when he switches off the pick & roll and gets out of position on the driving man. We need to secure our rebounds, especially the offensive rebounds, better. Juwan Howard has given us a good 3 months, but our depth at that position is sorely lacking. We can't live and die with open jump shots. Our size disadvantage at the shooting guard position needs an upgrade. So does the inconsitencies. While Wesley has had hot streaks, he is that: a very streaky player. He is also prone to bullheading his way into an offensive foul situation and often cannot pass well on a fast break. Jon Barry is great for his hustle, and when he is stroking the three, we're unbeatable. Our point guard position has been such an upgrade from the season's start -- and from the Stevie & Moochie Era. With an creaky Sura, however, we lose valuable playmaking. Mike James is a great scorer, but when he's not giving us the points, the ball is in his hands too much (see Game 7, 2005 W. Conf. 1st Round), and he is prone to forcing the issue. We desperately need some speed at the guard positions. We can't compete effectively when there is dribble penetration each and every time, forcing Yao to switch and leaving the opposing teams' big man open for an easy flush. The vulnerable perimeter also causes our defense to scramble and raises the possibilities of early foul trouble for our big guys. Finally, it's Yao. He needs to step up, big time. The moving screens, the stupid touch fouls, the weak charges --- he needs to see the game in slow motion and make his adjustments at warp speed. There is great expecations on his wide shoulders, because there is immense talent there. He needs to show up for each and every game, and not pull the dissappearing act every other game. He needs to demand the ball, and punish the smaller guys inside. Quick moves. Keep his elbows up. Soft layups are not an option. Don't give your hand to pick the opposing player up when you just knocked him down. Spin, fake, juke. Dunk. Move your feet. Rest up and improve your stamina. The weak fouls happen because you're tired and get lazy. Own up to your responsibility. Take your aggression out on the court, not on video games. Rebel. Scream. And be a gentleman and abassador off the court. There have been countless times where I've seen him make the mistakes over and over again. It' s amazing and a testament to our coaching staff and McGrady's abilities that we have gotten his far with the worst lineup of power fowards in the NBA. But throughout all this time, we have not given up, and we have shown the toughness and the smarts that, when given better playing chips, will make us -- no, will give us that shining trophy soon. If not next year, then at the very latest in 2007. From what I've seen this year, I'm a believer. So my thanks to all the boys in Red for a great and entertaining year. This is the best game in the world, and thanks for making it fun again. I'm excited about our prospects, about the support that the players and coaches are getting from management, and about the noise level of our fans in the TC for game 6. It's been a while since Houston got that amped for basketball. Rest up those weary bones, ye scrags, ye princes of the hardwood. There's no excuses for the loss, but thank you for the wonderful season, if not for the last heart rending 48 minutes. Now at least I can get some work done and not stay up til 2 am watching the game and post-game coverage on the East Coast! Whoever is left or not left next season, it was a great journey. We'll see you Dallas next year -- you and your flopping whiny ass "star", your ugly-ass brace wearing punks, your ****** owner and your "got a Hemi" fans too. I'm proud of our guys. I hope you are too. Peace out & Rocket Red forever, cur.ve
