ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets vs. Sonics 10/10/2003 (PRESEASON)

Yao is the man...I don't care what everyone says...The Rox uni's looked sharp...

I know its another loss, but again, it the pre-season...I think the Rox still are in the learning mode on what the new system can and can't do, but just give it to Yao...

 

We must remember that this is preseason. It’s a time for conditioning, a time for testing new ideas and concepts. JVG is working hard to get the whole team in shape for the start of the season in two weeks. Preseason wins and losses don’t count for anything in the regular season (just ask the Texans).

Eddie – he’s definitely coming around. He appears to be motivated somewhat compared to years past. His shot isn’t falling, but I think that’s because of all the preseason workouts they’re doing. He’s moving around without the ball, setting screens and getting open looks. On D, he’s hustling after loose balls and getting a lot of rebounds.

Yao Ming – he’s a little bigger and appears to be holding his position much better. He also appears to be more certain of his offensive abilities. He doesn’t hesitate as much as he did in the past. I don’t know if this is a change in attitude or that he’s getting the ball much closer to the basket. Either way, I like it!

Steve – looked really good tonight. Good shot selection and not too many shots. The D needs work, but he has the tools. JVG will instill the knowledge. Two things that I wish he’d work on are his passing and his fast breaks. That one fast break with Eddie worked, but the execution by Steve looked horrific. As for his passing, I think Steve holds on to the ball for to long. He makes his drive, and when the defender gets right on him, he tries to make the “wrap around” pass to the other offensive player. Often times either the offensive player doesn’t see it coming or a defensive player ends up picking off the pass and then it’s off to the races to the other end of the floor. Maybe this is just a case of getting too fancy with the ball. Steve with his athleticism and scoring ability could actually become an assist leader in this league in the mold of Gary Payton with just a little work.

Cuttino – if he’ll avoid the ISO’s of the past and play the kind of defensive he worked on Kobe last year, he’ll be a good fit for JVG. If not, then I think he’ll be a cancer. He and Steve are too close, and if one’s got to go I say it needs to be the Cat.

Cato – I like the PF experiment. Some say he doesn’t have the handles to be a PF and that he doesn’t have an outside shot. When you’ve got a 7’6” teammate on the other side of the paint, who needs these? Honestly, how many of you have thought about the prospect of Yao throwing up an alley-oops to Cato. Talk about clogging up the middle on D. Throw in Eddie at SF and that’s a huge defensive backcourt!

Bostjan – showed more positives in this game that the last two. I’m not going to give up on him yet, but I’m definitely not ready to crown him a Potential Peja either. With what he’s shown so far, he’s probably going to be near the end of the bench unless he finds his shooting touch. Cross your fingers!

Overall, I think this team will do fine this year, provided everyone stays somewhat healthy. This team with JVG’s tutelage can be 5th or 6th in the West if they adhere to his philosophy. Also, I think we’ll have a much higher shooting percentage as a team this year and Steve’s assist numbers should improve.

 

Eddie's hustling more on rebounding, but I still see no improvement in Eddie's offensive game at all. He still looks extremely timid when inside the paint on offense. All of those layups he missed were a result of him rushing his shot because he was so afraid of getting blocked. He looked very intimidated by the Sonic big men. How is he going to fair against the likes of Duncan and Stoudamire when he can't even face the Sonics big men.

And his post up game is still the same predictable one he had last year. Back it up, back it up, back it up, turnaround jumper that almost always either gets stuffed by the defense or is altered so much by the defense that he airballs it or shoots it off the backboard.

Someone has to teach Eddie how to use a pivot and how to pump fake, because he is just so very predictable on offense.

As for everyone else. Yao looked great and scored with relative ease. Nachbar looks like he's starting to relax more. Cat played very well in the second half. Steve did alright, but a made a few too many turnovers. Cato was working hard as always. Mooch sucked as always. Jim Jackson had another poor game. God, I hope his improved play last season was not just a result of playing in the Kings efficient offense with their many playmakers.

 

I am not trying to hate but last night was Friday night and was just a preseason game. I mean how can you watch the game and post at the same time? Doesn't that ruin the fun? Damm, I love the Rockets but not enough to stay online and watch the game and comment on it. You are some dedicated fans. I watched Kill Bill last night. That movie is OFF THE HOOK!!! Tarintino did it again. Great martial arts action and very bloody!!! Go Rockets.

 

Having a 3/12 PF is going cause teams to collapse on Yao to the point of causing TOs trying to get him the ball. Plus Yao will be even more tired having 2-3 guys draped on him night after night. If we don't have players who he can pass out to to make them pay for this stratagy - look for some Ls. EG is hurting the team and out SF position is still lacking.

 

Eddie does seem more motivated and experienced this year in some areas. But, he has no touch. look at the clankers and bricks that he laid last night 5-10 feet from the hoop with minimal obstruction. This will never change. This was the same for the past 2 years. There will be nights where he has some touch and the shots fall, but more than likely he is destined to be a 8-10 pt 9 reb player--shooting 40% or less. Now, do not get me wrong...this is a nice to have if he plays D well and sets screens and you combine this with another PF, like Mo. But, the reality is that 3 picks for 1 = advantage NJ...though it was really one for one considering the impact from those other players involved in the transaction......

So, we need to except his no touch--because it cannot be taught. Limit his shooting and keep him fresh for rebounding and playing D...who knows maybe he could turn into Rodman in the rebound area some day....

 

Im not talkig about steve being a me first guy(which he is good enough to be), but he passed alot of open shots yesterday. And do you seriously think than a combined 19 fg attemps from yao and steve will give us a playoff birth?

 

And I tell you he can't guard elite PFs in the west now, he is too skinny. In the first preseason against Portland, Wallace scored in front of him at will.

Remember EG lover said last year that EG should add 25+ pounds, bulk up and work on his shot in this summer. Well, looks like he achieved none of them but they said at least his arms looks bigger and his shot just didn't fall. Whatever.

 

The more I watched Yao play, the more I hated Larry Smith.

 

Some of you are pretty pessimistic..it's disappointing that we are 0-3...but we are learning a new system and chemistry...our offense looks very good...we just aren't making open shots. We are slowly improving!! I wouldn't mind having Piatkowski play at the 3 more...along with Steve, Cat, Griffin, and Yao.

Our uniforms look good. Hideous..?

 

That bring up something interesting... For all how much people dis Yao playing in international/chinese events... Yao's seems to have transitioned in style over the summer.

Those tourneys might have provided a testing ground and confidence gainer for all the things he wanted and knew he should do in the NBA.

 

I think we'll OK in regular season. The reason why we lost the first two pre-season game was because VG wants to check out the new players without playing most of the starters.

As to this game, we lost in the first quarter because they are not used to the system that can be witnessed in too many turnovers. The starting players in fact played better and better as the game went on. At the six minutes mark end of the game, it appears they would come back to beat Sonic except VG cleared the bench to lose the game.

I would not be surprised we would have beaten Sonic if this was the second preseason game we played our starters. Also, so far all three pre-season games were on the road. We all know how badly we played on the road last year. That has to and will improve when our defence-first system is in place.

 

Most of his shots came from passes of his teammates while Eddie had great position under the basket, but he missed most of the easy shots.
The only way to get consistent, is to take the opportunities. You can't ignore a player who is open and has great positon to score.
The defense will notice it, and concentrate on other players, making it harder for others to get open. Eddie's confidence would go down, the team concept would be hampered, and worst of all, the board will diss Steve for not passing to an open Eddie.

 

I like Jim Jackson because he's a pretty good passer and defender...he can shoot...just needs to settle in.

Yao is of course a SPECTACULAR PHENOMENAL passer...Francis can make some passes too...Mobley seems to be making better passes..

Griffin is doing great. He just needs to make those easy open shots. If he made more than half of the ones that he misses...we could have won!

Piatkowski and Adrian Griffn and Maurice Taylor didn't even play.

But neither did Brent Barry.

 

I 100% agree with you. He did not play Ming very much last season when he was acting head man. He really likes Cato and another small guard (we know who, he can't do anything), which resulted in complete fall at end of season. Where is Larry now? I wish him well.

 

I guess nobody noticed this?!
I suggested last year that Rudy and Larry should have done this. Maybe JVG read this board?!!

 

And if your analysis proves to be right about EG, then he would be a major BUST. You simply don't screw away 3 1st round picks to get a mediocre player with such gapping holes in his game. The only reason he appears to be even trying this year is because his contract is on the line and that's simply not good enough in my book to keep him around.

 

I have no difficulty ignoring all of the negative talk on EG. First, defensively and on the boards, there is nothing to complain about. Second, offensively he is way ahead of Pacers' Oneal's development pace. We know his outside game is currently ahead of Oneal's and his post game is as good or better than ONeal's, after two years in the league.

 

How about that for a prediction!

 

Every dog has his day... and it wasn't even the exact score