This series has been a true reflection of the regular season. Losing both home games at a 2-0 advantage was just like losing to lesser teams at home which has been dumbfounding. As for tonight's game. Well it's just another game game where Tracy & Yao turn up, score the majority of the points, and the rest of the team barely combine for double figures. Perhaps it's to do with the age of the players but what's apparent is that the Rox need players who are more consistent.
Dallas was the better team....i had them winning in 6.... though the Rocks shocked me with the game 6.... the supporting cast has too many holes.... i knew the Mavs were too deep...and it showed tonight... PG: Sura is one guy who i never thought should have been a starter in this league....he is a bench player....so is Mike James.... hopefully we can find a true point guard in the draft and get lucky. SG: Wesley...is a decent starting Shooting Guard....i have no problems with him. THough an athletic tall guard is need. SF: No problems here. PF: man this is the biggest hole...i think if this team had a decent PF this would have been a different series.... and i don't think J.Howard would have made us win this series.... need someone on the weak side to help Yao...this i think is the biggest hole...i think you can play wihtout a true point guard in this league....though you need a tough front court....it is sooo thin...i pointed this out earlier... but hey i hope in the offseason someone wants to come to Houston...Kwame Brown anyone?...i think in the right system he would be effective. C: Deke....does he have another year left in him?
It's really easy for a 7'6" 300+lb center to develop the Olajuwon-esque quickness you speak of isn't it? Honestly, Yao and JVG needs to develop a plan catering to HIS abilities and not one that Yao has to adapt into. Chasing off guards all around the perimeter ain't something I want my center to do.
I agree. I think the need to find a real PF is more urgent than a PG. Tmac can/will get the ball to Yao and Yao can also get his own shots by offensive rebounds. But our hole at the PF position is too big to win a playoff series. I don't dream of getting a star PF but I would be very happy with Cato coming back.
Rough game. Great, exciting year. With T-Mac & Yao, and some solid role players, we are in a very enviable position -- tonight's result notwithstanding. Juwan Howard, please heal fast & well. CD - please try to pull off one or two sly offseason deals. Yao - you actual grew and showed us alot in this series. T-Mac - you have been more than we could have expected. Next year - 60 wins (I know its early).
While I realize that Yao will never be as quick as the athetic freak that is Hakeem, I think that he needs to make his spin move in the lane right away, as oppose to wait for the double team to come or the defense to sag. He can pass out to the shooters if the lane is closed, but waiting for a smaller guy to come from behind him is waiting for a turnover to happen. I think van Gundy did a good job this year of allowing him to come across the lane to get free for the entry pass. Also, our guards need to work on throwing lob passes to Yao when a smaller guy is fronting him. Perhaps taller guards would be easier, but seriously, I know it's a difficult pass to make, but when it's done, count the 2 points from Yao. PS. I would also prefer for Yao not to scramble out on the perimeter chasing smaller guys, but I think we had to do that on the switches otherwise, a good shooting team like Dallas would just shoot over us. This points to our great need for a PF to patrol the paint.
I'd take Kwame Brown, though I'd prefer Stromile Swift or Tyson Chandler. I really don't want Donyell Marshall though. Our team is obviously too old. We need some younger, more athletic players that can grow with our two young superstars.
Yeah T-Mac was crying. I feel terrible for him. The future's always uncertain, but with this team the future was now (not counting T-Mac and Yao). It seemed for ten years that every deal CD made backfired, then this year everything fell into place. And I love this year's team. We were whipped soundly tonight, and I, for once feel more badly for those guys than I do myself or any fan.
He did. And agree with New yorker, it sucks to go out like that after a great season. But I'm looking forward for next season when Yao and Tmac dominate the NBA.
TMac's talking during the post game press conference right now. He sounds optimistic about next year. And you know what? We should be too. GO ROCKETS, PS. TMac said "****" on National TV and they weren't quick enough to bleep it. LOL.
I agree that an athletic PF is more important than a "big" man for that position ...so i guess the ideal person would be Stromile Swift!!...now all we got to do is call GM Dawson and let him know
That really hurts to see my guy like that. I really love this team, I really am hopeful that nothing bad happens to Jeff VanGundy this offseason. Bless these guys, they gave it everything that they had, I guess that tonight, they just didn't have anymore; even though I did have faith in these guys. I'm not disappointed, I feel so bad for McGrady seeing him cry like that. Hopefully we'll do what we need to, to get these guys some rings. I'm confident that it'll be a bright future.
Great analysis!!! I am proud of our guys regardless this bad loss. We desperately need a athelatic PF and quick PG. Go! Rockets! You have the brightest future in this league.
I hope Dallas goes really far, to the finals and loses to the Pistons. Why? Because it will make it that much sweeter when we knock them out next year. Then they will know that their ascent was stopped by a team that overtook them.
The Rockets weren't suppose to be true contenders this season, but we played well enough to give every single one of us hope. Now that CD/JVG have a full offseason ahead of them, they know what needs fixing, and have more assets to use compared to last summer after the trade, WE WILL BE CONTENDERS!! Offseason Plan: 1. Find a PF. Chandler, Marshall, SAR, Swift, Brown will be available. A true rebounder and defender would be nice, being able to hit the mid-range jumper would be a major plus. 2. Draft athleticism and youth. This team's lack of athleticism was probably the biggest factor in this series. Guys like Warrick, Simien, Turiaf would be nice. Could be nice backup PFs. 3. Bring in Spanoulis and resign Deke. 4. Try to deal 1-2 of our current PFs. As well as Howard played for us, we need to deal him. I don't like the idea of paying Juwan for the next 4 seasons. Spoon and Baker are expiring contracts so maybe they could fetch some picks or something.
Yah, he teared up. You can't question this guy's heart and desire, even in the press conference he was trying to masquarade his frustration and anger but it just came right through, his tone was defiant and determined, and he was biting his lip/pressing on his teeth as he spoke (a clear sign of anger). He said "I...MY TEAM will be back next season." I got emotional, I love the heart of this team.
A power forward for sure, but some perimeter players who have some height and athleticism are key as well. We need defenders - the kinds that will make life hard for guys like Howard and Finley....or Marion and Richardson...or Manu and parker, or Wade and Damon....because it's not just Dallas, but every contender has them. And we do not.
Juwon Howard is not a great PF, and his career may never be the same....but boy the weakness on the perimeter is glaring. T-mac can not defend 3 positions. We need at least one strong perimeter player who can defend and penetrate.
