This Rockets team is unwatchable, even when they win it is ugly. The parts don't fit, Francis can NOT be a spot up shooter, and Ming clogs the middle too much to let him play the game he needs to succeed. Mobley is a nice 6th man, but he is awful on the break....in fact the only one worse on the break is Francis. If I see one more 3 on 2 fast break where Francis REFUSES to pass the ball and gets a charge called on him, I am gonna puke. Seattle owns us because they play the way you SHOULD play against the Rocks...drive and dish for the open jump shot. The Rocks should do that too, but our shooters are simply not good enough to take advantage of this kind of offense. I really think that EG would have helped this team a TON, a PF that can shoot the 3 and block shots and rebound would be HUGE for this team. This team simply does not work....I hope they make some SERIOUS changes in the off season. We need players who can compliment Ming, he is the future, and the only hope to get this team consistent. I know it is frustrating, but you can just predict what is going to happen judging by their history. Francis can not guard teams with smart PGs, they tear us up....Seattle, Dallas, San Antonio, Memphis, etc..etc...... It is our guards.....we desperatly need someone that can play a smart controlled game. Maybe next year, this year is one and done...IF we even get to the playoffs. ARGH !!! Just so frustrating. DD
CD is to much of a whimp to do anything. I remember that halftime show they had about trades, and CD said it himself, that he gets attached to his players. As long as he is GM this team wont go no where.
Don't judge the team by this one poor outing. After all, when you are facing a dominant inside force like...Vitaly Potapenko...
that missed lay-up by francis when the Rockets had a 3 on 2 was the worst. and what about francis dribbling out the clock at the end of third, I;m sick of putting up with this crap. Is it ok to question the organization's desire to win if indeed, we stand pat at the guard spots for next year. Yao is the franchise, Steve is just a mere generic.
I don't like Steve but in fairness to him, I saw that 3 on 2 play but I think he did the right thing coz their formation or spacing on that fastbreak was really bad. If he passed that ball, that would have been stolen. But yeah, overall.. you know...
Any team that has a smart PG that pushes the tempo KILLS the Rockets.... All this Rocket team needs is a Hinrich, or a Ridnour or some similar player to control the tempo and away they go. Francis is not a 2 and not a 1...he is a talent though...but will NEVER work well in a controlled game like JVG runs. For the good of Steve and the Rockets he has to go. DD
Cynthia Cooper with a Beauty!! (as she analyzes the post game highlights) "Steve takes the fadeaway jumper, something he is famous for, but the other thing he has become famous for is blowing layups."
Memphis, Seattle, Sacremento, San Antonio, Dallas, Minnesotta.... All have PGs that speed up the game and get some early offense for their team.... Anyone else see a pattern here? DD
I second that... Changes must be made. Every loss (and some wins) is painful to watch. Very few games have any sort of flow. We're just a good/average team until CD makes some changes.
I did until Minnesota...Rockets beat their ass hardcore. The Francis criticism is warranted. But Mobley has been one of the few bright spots here these last stretch of games. He has played smart (overall) and has passed well, which is all you can ask of him. I'm not going to pretend that this team couldn't do better with a different type of point guard running things, but to suggest we "blow it up" in the middle of a season when we are competing for the 6th seed in the playoffs after missing the playoffs for 4 straight seasons is a wee bit knee jerk.
I concur about Mobley.....he has adapted better than SF. I just don't think that Francis is going to ever get it....it has been 5 years and he is just as bad at running a team now as he was in his rookie year. It was no coincidence that the Rockets tied the score at 71 with MJ at the point and Steve came in and immediatly the Sonics pulled away. DD
Speaking of smart PGs, here in LA the big news story is that Gary Payton has spoken out about how unhappy he is with his minutes here and with the triangle offense. He said flat out, "I did not come here for THIS," and that next year he would either be with a new coach and system or a new team. He claims he hasn't lost anything, but has been shackled by the lack of PT and his minor role in the triangle. He could have a point -- he averaged 20/4/8 just last year. He's a great defender and a fiery competitor. And he'll be an unrestricted FA this summer. If we could somehow land him, we could use Francis as bait to bring in the solid PF (Brand?) we need, then maybe use the trade exception to look for a young PG to groom for the future. Rather than think about today's miserable home loss, I'm going to dream of this starting five: Yao Brand JJ Mobley Payton
The more I see this kind of effort from the team the more I am inclined to agree about blowing them up. This team needs to build around Yao Ming. Francis is not a good compliment. We need either a stud companion PF for Yao or a sweet shooting SG/SF to stretch defenses. Somehow we should parlay Francis into one of those.
You're a little late...I did that after last year. I find that it makes it easier to accept, even anticipate their bellyflops like the one today.
uhh, how about not completely making things up? with francis in, we went from down 11 to down 5. francis left and when he came back in the score was 77-71, down 6. radmanovic pretty much immediately hit a 3 after taylor left him open to seal the game. so we gained 6 w/ francis in and lost one with him out but he was what let the sonics pull away, okay. criticism is fine, making stuff up isn't. another good ol' dadakota knee jerk reaction thread. you can set your watch to 'em.
