I still say the problem with the Rockets is a lack real veteran leadership. I had hoped Rice would fill that roll. It's sad when he and Cato are the only 2 guys on this team with any taste of the playoffs - aside from Cuttino who played against the Lakers as a rookie. Break it down: what players on this team are used to winning in the NBA? Not many. The Rockets are a team of losers. Taylor - He played for the Clippers. Enough said. Cato - A couple of years with a Blazers playoff team but did he get any significant playing time with them? Mobley - played in playoffs his rookie year. Moochie? No. Had a cup of coffee with Vancouver and Seattle before signing here. Posey? No. He played in Denver. Enough said. Hawkins? While I'm guessing he had a successful and winning career with the Globetrotters I don't think that counts. Francis, Griffin, Morris, Maddux, Collier and Boki - No playoffs with Rockets Yao - has won, just not in the NBA. The bottom line is these guys have played on horrible, bad and losing teams their entire NBA careers. That's why I wanted this team to get to the playoffs, just to get a taste of what it takes and what it is like to win and be rewarded. Some of you can say you are tired of the "lack of experience" excuse but it is a factor. To what degree that is for each of you to decide. Can this team find the right mix of chemistry and leadership to get into the playoffs and develop a sense of winning? I guess we'll find out.
I think youre being harsh. Remember when we had Golden State Part II with Joe Barely Cares, Sleepy, and Purvis Short. Terry Teagle was in there too at some point.
I understand the general sentiment of your post. Some bad habits are easy to develop while playing on bad losing teams. It's no coincidence Yao Ming despite being a rookie in this league is our most unselfish, mature and clutch player. He came from a championship winning team. Winner knows how to play the game. Winner understands the team concept. Winner knows what to do in crunch time.
There's a difference between no playoff experience and loser. Loser implies the inability to win. The players on this team have the ability to win - maybe not together but they have the talent to do so under the right circumstances. Just because you go to the playoffs doesn't make you a winner. If you want to get technical, every year everybody except the champion is a loser.
I understand your point completely. We don't have veteran leadership that have playoff experience to help win close games, romp all over weaker teams, and actually grab a few on the road. Calling them losers on the other hand is a bit unfair.
The are "losers" when it comes to win/losses in the NBA. I would love for someone to get all their NBA career stats to find out how many wins/losses they have as a team. I bet it aint pretty although Rice's stats would probaby skew it a bit. I'm sure as people they are nice guys.
GOD. The Cavaliers are losers!!!!!! BUT FOR THE ROCKETS TO LOSE TO THE LOSERS....THAT MAKES THEM LOSERS!!!!!!! They are...you are right....losers. But they are winners too. They can win. THEY CAN DO IT. Just not on the road... we really need veteran leadership...not a gangster leader. I don't know if Rice made a difference.....BUT MAYBE HE COULD IMPROVE OUR 3 POINT PERCENTAGE. YOU SEE HOW BAD IT's BEEN?
I don't think Free Agent meant that our players don't have the ability to win games but they do have a lot of "loser" habits, namely the tendency to go one-on-one, make mistakes in the clutch. On bad losing teams you can do what you want and when that get long, you will lose the discipline of playing the game the right way. Unless you have ever tasted a truely meaningful game, you will never learn that "winner" mentality and discipline.
See Indiana Pacers. 1 playoffs run can do wonder. 1 playoffs run can turn "losers" into "winners". We just have to make the playoffs.
Actually took the Pacers two playoff runs to do what they are doing now (bounced out as the 8 seed two years in a row). Of course, their young talent blossomed (O'Neal, Harrington), the coach got the right players for his system (Artest, Miller), and, most importantly, they had a truly respected veteran as their leader (Miller). In our case, we got young talent that can blossom (Yao, Griffin). Do we have the right players for our coach? I actually think we do, at least in terms of players who listen to Rudy. But we don't have that veteran who can will the team into the playoffs or at least "step up" and do what it takes when the younger guys don't have it. It should've been Rice...it ain't.
did i hear eddie griffin is a young talent who can blossom? he might be the sole reason why the rockets will not be the playoff this year. his defense and 3-pt brick are killing the rockets. terence morris plays better than him. eddie griffin reminds me of donyell marshall, a 6-10 guy who only knows one thing: shoot from long distance(most are misses). griffin will follow marshall's footsteps cuz he's going to be bouncing from one team to another. then might balloon up to 300 like shawn, the reign man, kemp.
they have to learn to lose before they can learn to win. it's a good thing if the rockets don't make the playoff because they will learn that they need yao to shoot 15 times a game for them to make the playoff and win a serie.
Couldn't you say that about any totally rebuilt, young team? I'm glad that we don't have a part old/part young team (Utah) on its way down. We're paying our dues, but will Rock-it ( ) for many years to come.
Robert Horry is a winner. Everyone blasts him for having no talent. But, he knows what it takes for his team to be a champion. His priorities are team first, player second. That's why he has all those championship rings.
Indiana Pacers: 01-02 with JO, Tinsley, Artest, Brad Miller, Reggie, Harrington as core 1st season together and Isiah as coach: 42-40, made the playoffs as No. 8 seed (they did it in the last game of the season and many people called for Isiah's head then) and lost to NJ 2-3 in 1st round 02-03 (so far) with the exact same group of players and coach: 34-15 and favourite to make it to the Finals It's no reason to believe that Yao, EG, Steve won't develop like JO, Artest and Tinsley. The trick is to make the playoffs and let them have a taste of playoffs and get that "winner" attitude and mentality and know what "meaningful" wins mean then they would treat every regular season game seriously and come to play every game.
