ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Jazz @ Rockets 12/23/2002

I guess I'll put my 2 cents in too. Sloan won this game, he completely manhandled Rudy especially in the 4th quarter. What Rudy was thinking with the small lineup when Sloan was playing big, I just don't have a clue. That stretch is where the Rockets lost the game.

When we were up 7 in the 4th is when Rudy just went completely brain dead. I really hate to say this because I've always been a big backer of his but I wonder if its time for him to move to the front office and let someone else handle the team on the court.

With Harpring and Malone just killing us with their size and strenght advantage, Rudy didn't seem to make one adjustment to help Griffin out much less Rice and Cat. What in the hell was Rudy thinking with Harpring going off on us, to think putting a smaller man (Cat) on him in the 4th was going to do??? Is there a law that says the Rockets cannot double team anyone??

As for the Steve bashing, more than 1/2 of his turnovers were the other players fault. Moochie's in bounds blunder and Taylor's I can't move to the ball because my heads stuck up my *ss are 2 I can think of right off. I actually thought the team played well, shot well, passed well but they couldn't overcome the mismatch with Rudy and Sloan.

 

I think that Rockets play well offensively overall with the exception of turnovers. They shoot 54% from the floor and also very well from the free throw line. Steve tried to get everyone involve and that is why he only get 12 shots. But those shots are good shots and that explain his 9 for 12 shooting night. I think Steve is making a good progress in that area. After leading by 7, the Jazz came back when Steve is taking out. I think he should be back sooner in the 4th when the offense beginning to decline. Also Rudy tried to play small with 3 guard offense to create mismatch didn't work tonight in the 4th quarter. I guess it sometime work in the past but the Jazz was the one who benefit from this since it create mismatch for them by having Mobley guarding Andre K. (which is much bigger than Cat). But the main reason that we loss is the Jazz is a very well run team. Malone keep hitting everything with a hand in his face at the end really hurt us. Defense and turnsovers are what killing us last night. I think in the future with Posey playing more the 3 guard offense is the thing of the past (hopefully). I think Posey play well last night in limited minute but we sure could use his spark defensively last night in the 4th quarter. I am kind of surprise he didn't play more last night especially in the 4th quarter since he did well in the game. I guess Rudy didn't want to play Posey in the critical moments of the game if he is not familiar with the plays. Maybe Rudy will play him more next game when he got some more practices time. It's only one game and we got another 55 games to go. So even though we lose, there are positive signs as this team is going away with the iso and start playing more team ball. Merry X-Mas.

 

Sane,

Yao did outstanding tonight. The Rockets have to realize they have a 7'6 guard type shooter on the floor and give him the ball practically every time down the floor. At least 2 of his turnovers were drops by cutters in traffic.

We might need to look at starting Cato at the 4 against physical pf's, like Malone, Brand, etc. I love Griffin, but at this stage of his career he is not physically able to guard those types. Let him work against the quicker, smaller pf's for now.

Rice has got to be in with our bench unit for at least a few minutes. Not saying I don't think he is useful, I am saying until Mo recovers his form, when we go to our bench, his sharpshooting would be a huge help.

The Rockets for the most part did a great job moving the ball last night, and it was a very entertaining game to watch, I should know, I was in attendance.

I agree about using posey on harpring or what about Griffin or Rice, simply to make him shoot over a taller man. But you got to give it to Matt, he shot lights out last night.

Same with Karl in the second half, we adjusted to him overbulling EG for the most part, but then he became automatic with his fadeaway, not much you can do, considering Cheaney was hitting, Harpring was en fuego, and Kirilenko can stroke it.

We had numerous chances to bury them, but every time the guys, mainly moochie, once was Steve tried to be to helter skelter and resulted in turnovers that tightened up the score.

We should've won, but this is a loss I am not going to lose sleep over, as the Rockets did really play well for the most part, it took the Jazz shooting lights out to win, and the defense wasn't god awful, spotty in parts but not downright dreadful.

Personally you take out the Jazz' role players going insane shooting, a few badly timed Rockets turnovers, and I think, they should've run their offense through Yao more, if he was tired, his game didnt reflect it, except early on his touch was off. But he adjusted in the 2nd half and got the ball closer in, and scored at will on Utah or at least got fouled, where he would hit his FT's. This game was not Yao's fault.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all, and Happy Holidays.

 

To all CC.net chatters: Last night, when the cold front came through, I lost my connection and my power! I was back up and running except it wasn't until after the game!! Thanks to Codell for taking up the slack! No sooner did Codell say they had had some serious rain, wind and hail did it blow throw my part of town. There was some wicked lightning and I must've heard 4 transformers blow up. We also had small sleet and what seemed like 50+ mph winds... it was crazy!! I gathered the wife and pets and hunkered down in the bedroom, not knowing what to expect... it was wicked!

DEATH TO THE JAZZHOLES!

 

Good game last night, and some nice shooting on top of that.

So why wasn't the score higher? Simple, it was more of a 'half court, maximize the shot clock' game, i.e. a classic Jazz game. The vets taught the youngsters a few things about controlling the tempo last night.

The TOs, of course, were the most disappointing thing, but in their defense, the Rockets look a little tired and stale. This little break comes at the perfect time.

 

Sounds scary!

That same cold front is on it's way to the north-east. It's supposed to turn
into 10 inches of snow in the next 12 hours!

 

Wow,

Story Teller,

I am not BLAMING the loss on anyone, but Steve Francis is supposed to be the LEADER of this team and he still makes the same cockeyed dumba$$ mistakes he made as a rookie. If he is not going to learn and LEAD the team, then he needs to defer to someone else.

If, during Yao's 4th year in the league, he is still getting the ball swiped from behind, then you bet your bottom dollar I will be complaining about it.

I think the whole team needs to look between their legs and see if they have a shriveled pair, because they play like panzies, they consistently get out hustled, and are ALWAYS...and I mean ALWAYS on the short end of the BBall IQ Stick.

As for your criticisms of me, you are free to think what you will.

DaDakota

 

One more thing, I am going to the Rockets vs Spurs game in San Antonio, and will be sitting right behind the Rocks bench.

You can bet I will have a few choice things to say to them as the game goes on...

The first time Moochie pounds the ball until there is no time on the clock...I will be commenting to Rudy and the team.



DaDakota

 

Hey guys, I'm as mad as anyone for this loss. But when I calmed down, I think this is actually an encouraging game to me.

The execution was as good as ever so far. Francis played well and controlled in general. We shot well. The defense was not as bad as it looked. All in all, we played a good game. This kind of games would give us a lot of wins. We just happened to run into a hot team.

So don't let this game ruin your Christmas. Merry!

BTW, I'm going to enjoy my Christmas day by watching the Lakers whipped by the Kings.

 

f4p,

Yao didn't have his outside shot working last night, so in that sense I agree. But he realized it and dominated the second half by getting the ball much closer in, and using his skill. And no matter what, Yao could've seen over the defense and found open guys, esp if they double down. He had more of his B-, or C game if you ask me, and look how he did with limited touches.

Steve did fine last night, and I loved Posey. Cato and Steve have a nice chemistry-see two alley oops.

As much as I like Cuttino, he needs to be our 6th man with Posey and his stopper mentality at the 2.

DaDakota, Steve did outstanding last night, the game came to him, he did not force the action.

The Jazz won because Cheaney, Harpring and Karl in the 2nd half shot like they were unbeatable on a video game.

And did anyone see the guy in the Malone jersey in the Red Light-Green Light game, the fact he had to start over twice only made me think it was justice for wearing a jazz jersey to a rockets game .

 

Merry Christmas!


The Jazz are playoff contenders. They have been to the playoffs every single year. They won't win anything, but they are still heading to the playoffs.

 

I know I'll be looking for the guy behind the Rockets bench being escorted from the arena for harrassing the coaches and players.

 

DV- not necessarily starting Cato on those physical forwards, just letting him play against them more . Last night it would have been ok to use Hawkins,Posey,Francis,Cato, and Ming all together and get the offense from Ming and Francis and let the other hustle players hustle. A longer stronger player on Malone,Posey on Kirilenko and hawkins on Harpring maybe could have slowed the pace at which they were scoring.

 

Here comes the nosedive. This could be the losing streak that puts the Rockets out of playoff contention...

 

I would switch that around. Hawkins on Kirilenko cuz he's so skinny but he can shoot. Posey on Harpring. It doesn't matter. We lost. Putting Cato on Karl Malone would be kinda good.


The new arena in San Antonio!

 

Lee,

All I was saying is Eddie needs lots of help in the post right now, and while he should start against the O'Neal's, Gasol's, KG's of the world, Malone needed muscle on him, and Taylor right now is not moving laterally well enough to be a good post defender. That's why I said go with Cato.

Atrain,

Are you a freakin' pessimist by nature, because you aggravate me more and more everytime you make a post like that.

This team is playoff bound, and is as good or better than almost all the teams in the league, one hard fought loss, and a tough road defeat at Minnesota doesn't change that.

I can only figure you have a superstition that if you praise the Rockets they lose and when you bash them they win.

Anyways, Happy Holidays to all.

 

Believe it or not I will be making my comments in the form of biting humor.

I guarantee I will have the team laughing but there will be messages in my humor.

The only problem I have with Steve is that he has to protect the ball better, and he needs to at least TRY on defense.

Steve is too good to be only playing on 1/2 the court.

DaDakota

 

two words for all you people defending the rockets soft asses.
"MAD MAX" We should bring him in as an assisstant coach to beat the living hell out of steve, moochie, and cuttino when they play like little sugars. I would love to see videotape of max pounding and kicking them into men so they can lead this team. And I picture Yao sitting and watching and laughing in thier faces.

 

that's hilarious. i can see it now, you and rudy.

dadakota "moochie you sorry ass mother****er, STOP SUCKING!"

rudy "now come on dadakota i didn't hear any biting humor in there"

dadakota "oh, you're right, sorry. moochie you sorry ass troll-doll looking mother****er, STOP SUCKING!"

rudy "there ya go"

 

LOL,

Actually it will probably be something like this.

"Hey Moochie, are you trying to hammer all those loose nails into the floor for the first 20 seconds of the shot clock?"

"Why not use all 24?"



DaDakota