I'm sorry. I really don't like posting negatively. The 4th quarter of last night's game was excruciating to watch. It would have been, even if we had pulled out the win. Van Exel was right. I couldn't believe it. Iso after iso after iso after iso after iso after iso. Just like Rudy was responsible for the "Barkley backing in" rule this year, he will be the most responsible if the NBA does away with no zone defenses. Back when I coached 5th and 6th grade YMCA basketball, we had one coach who would do the same thing. He would pull all the players but one over to the side and let one kid go one on one. All the rest of the coaches hated his tactic. I can see all the free agents just salivating, wanting to come to the Rocks so they can stand and watch the guards isolate time after time in the 4th quarter. It's a good thing Dream wasn't in there last night, wanting some touches in the low post. He would have been holding back our young guards who are learning to play BASKETBALL. Thing is, they are going to have to learn all over when Rudy forces a change in the rules. You guys will be harping "it got us back in the game and we almost won", but from a league standpoint, its boring bull**** and detracts from the game. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Moe (edited January 24, 2001).]
Our guards wouldn't have to isolate if we had more then one low post offensive weapon! That's why free agents would come here, so that we could get another offensive option to spread out the offense! Right now that "crappy" basketball you're watching is the only basketball we can play right now! I love how people blame Rudy for everything, if you gave Rudy somebody like Rahim who can give you another offensive option you wouldn't see the ISO. ------------------ Rocket fans UNITE to bring Pig Miller back home! WE NEED PIG! OINK! OINK! OINK! [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited January 24, 2001).]
By the way, Rudy wasn't "responsible" for the Barkley rule, that rule was made for Charles Barkley AND Mark Jackson, and unless we have Mark Jackson the last few years it isn't Rudy's fault. ------------------ Rocket fans UNITE to bring Pig Miller back home! WE NEED PIG! OINK! OINK! OINK!
Did anyone hear the Denver commentators last night? They were like...."Rudy is standing up like he is going to call a play on almost every trip down the court but he doesn't call a play and then they isolate the one guy and move the other four guys to the other side of the court." I was about to piss my pants that was so funny. Really now, what do we need Rudy for ? He's not calling any plays. Hahaha Surf ------------------
Moe, the guards did not iso in the 1st Q. But they failed to achieve any results with the pnr. Something was funky last night with Mobley's heart. And something was funky with Francis's legs. I think this was fluke when compared to the last 5-6 games. Mabye I'm wrong and the last 5-6 games of pnr were a fluke. I hope not. Bare with it. The pnr sucked last night because Mobley was way too passive. Denver was also packing it in the lane once they realized Mobley, Walt and Bullard were not hitting. Damn, did we actually see Bullard shoot a Langhil airball. I hate Mile High.
I don't understand. We came into the quarter losing to the best home team in the NBA...we used iso's to even the game back up and we gave ourselves a SERIOUS chance to win...what else do we want? One of my favorite things about Rudy is he plays his team to their strengths (for the most part). As RocksMillennium stated, we don't have a post weapon, for the most part! Not to mention, I don't know what the hell is so boring about iso's. I thought that quarter was one of the funnest to watch I've seen recently (until LaFrentz's three). We can say it's not good fundamental basketball or that we don't find it exciting personally, but I think it's hard to fault when we put ourselves in a position where we could win the game if we had just not given up the open three. And that open three had NOTHING to do with the isos. They got us back in the game and gave us a good chance to win, so I'm not complaining at all. ------------------ Jazzkiller
We have exceptional one-on-one players on our team. When other things don't go right, the Rockets know that they can iso them on the wing and score points. BTW, did y'all know there is a rule against isolations in the NBA rule book? It's a rather weak rule cause its very easy to get around, but its still there. ------------------
The only problem I had with the fourth quarter last night was that Francis was iso-less. I've said this before and I'll say it again: When Moochie Norris is on the court along with Mobely, Francis becomes, most of the time, the third option. I dont mind Mobleys isolations that much. Moochie Norris's piss me off, though. Mobleys are usually quick and decisive while Moochie spends 20 seconds actualizing a move which usually turns out being a 24 second buzzer beater. I dont know what it is. Maybe age factor and respect have something to do with it, but Francis, on nights like last night, needs to grow some balls and waive off Mobley and insist control of the ball from Norris, especially in the fourth. ------------------
TB-Cain, Moochie brings the ball across mid-court. He has full control of the posession. Unfortunately, last night, for 33 minutes it was up to him as to who would recieve the ball, especially in the fourth. ------------------ [This message has been edited by ROCKETBOOSTER (edited January 24, 2001).]
I would like to see more movement in our offense and also,we have alot of guys that can fil it up.Why must it always be Cat down the stretch?..I know the %'s,but man...Rudy mix it up..especially if you have a freaking superstar and another guy that is hot as a pistol.It also would be nice to see Shandon actually play..don't get me wrong,we are developing chemistry and when the big guys are all healthy and Dream's situation sorts itself out,we will be lookiing good.Just another example of the madness that sometimes is Rudy,but in the long run has it's payoff. ------------------
The most frustrating part of watching the game was to see Mo Taylor go absolutely off in the 1st quarter and then have Rudy completely isolate Mo from the flow of the game. KEEP IT TO MO WHEN HES ON!!! ------------------ The next time I have meat and mashed potatoes, I think I'll put a very large blob of potatoes on my plate with just a little piece of meat. And if someone asks me why i didn't get more meat, ill just say, "Oh, you mean this?" and pull out a big piece of meat from inside the blob of potatoes, where ive hidden it. Good magic trick, huh?
There is absolutely NO excuse for Bullard playing a single minute in that game. He has not been hitting shots lately. When he does not hit shots, the game becomes 5 on 4. Mo should have played the ENTIRE second half, along with Shandon, Carlos, Mobley and Steve. Until Hakeem is back, that should ALWAYS be the fourth quarter lineup, with maybe KT substituted for Carlos or Shandon. No Moochie, no Bullard, no problem. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
Typically, when shot attempts go up, field goal percentage goes down. It's bad logic to say that Steve will continue to shoot 56% if he were to take 23 shots a game. He's shoots a high percentage because he picks his shots. Cuttino is asked to create. Naturally, his percentage will go down. Be patient. ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Well, against the Lakers he was 6-11 with 16 pts, against the Warriors he was 3-3 with 9 points. So in the two games prior, he was shooting 64% from the field and averaging 12.5 points while only averaging 18 minutes per game. Oh yeah, man, he was ICE-cold... ------------------ Jazzkiller
I can't agree more. This is beet-able, bull-sheet basketball! This is basketball when you don't respect the post. Signed, Hakeem ------------------ Respect Hakeem's legacy. A championship in the hand is worth two in the bush!! [This message has been edited by 3Rings (edited January 24, 2001).]
Every other game, Bullard has been horrific. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
HeyPee, did we actually see Bullard put up some Matt Bullard defense? Yes we did. I'm not even talking about the LaFrentz 3. ------------------
HAHA Surf! But then again those are the same broadcasters that said "Get that sh*t out of here!" when Francis had his shot blocked so I don't think we'll be hearing much from our favorite Colorado broadcasters for quite some time! ------------------ Rocket fans UNITE to bring Pig Miller back home! WE NEED PIG! OINK! OINK! OINK!
I especially liked the way Rudy sat Mo Taylor until frostbite set in while allowing Cuttino to put up long jump shots when he's already demonstrated that he couldn't hit the outside shot. <FONT SIZE=+1> Why does Cuttino take 23 shots shooting only 30% (7-23) while Steve takes only 16 when he's shooting 56% (9-16)?</FONT> ------------------ "We're growling more...I would not say it's a growl. It's not a purr either." -- Rudy T.
