I think the starting power forward of a good team needs to be able to block shots as well as the center. Look at Nazi Muhammed of the 05 Spurs. Horry of the 95 Rockets. The Rockets need a starting power forward who is willing to to the dirty work. Ewing had a younger Oakley back in the day, and that is the type player the Rockets need to take the next step. You are right here. Those are strengths. But the fact that Howard has them really doesn't mean a whole lot. This Rockets should definitely rely on Howard and other role players to translate wins. When the Rockets won championships, the role players on those teams were very productive in getting wins on the board. Yao and T-Mac can't do it all themselves. If they did, we'd have a bunch of Moochies and Serge Swikkers and Pig Millers surrounding them. Plus, VY is a difference maker on the field, Juwan Howard is not a difference maker on the floor. I guess our debate is over but, Howard gets little fan-fare because he impacts games negatively too often, like tonight.
Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy ripped his team's effort after the game. He said the Rockets were equally lackadaisical in their shootaround. "How little we put in the game, from the start of the day to the end of the game, was totally uninspiring," Van Gundy said. "We went through the motions, but didn't even fake it very well." Well, screw it. If they're not going to put forth maximum effort, given the state they're in, keep Alston, Yao, T-Mac, Hayes- and the heck with everyone else. I'm officially boycotting the Jazz game in protest- no updates, no TV, nothing. Which is extremely hard for me to do- it's addicting. But I can't support a team that gives in. At least not until next week.
If JVG leaves, we need to hire a Rocket. Mario Elie. I think Mario is earning his stripes as a coach. He brings leadership and toughness. If that rat Avery Johnson can be a good coach, then for sure Super Mario can.
Well, I say all that about Howard but I sort of agree with you. I'm like you in that I would love that Oakley-esque, enforcer at the 4 next to Yao. I think the PF needs to be able to block some shots but to me, the better the shot-blocker your center is, the less you need the PF to block. Neither Otis Thorpe or Chucky Brown were good shot blockers, but they didn't need to be with Hakeem swatting everything away (Horry was, but he was SF with the Rockets). Oakley never averaged over .6 blocks in a season and averaged .3 for his career. But again, he had Ewing next to him. If we had the option of getting a better option at the 4, I'm all for it. I just don't think Howard is anywhere as bad a some make him out to be. But, that's just me. So there, we do agree on something.
To JVG: Your players will not give you full effort when they know if they made some mistakes you will start to yell at them and even worst take them out of the game immediately!
This is not to you dandorotik, but... JVG coaches his team like crap, "tires" them out in shootaround, and then makes them come out with no energy and no offensive rhythym!?!? come on guys that sounds like a load of bullsh*t right? If your name is not Tracy McGrady (and sometimes Yao) all you need to play in JVG's game is effort and hustle and defense. When Chuck Hayes showed he had that, he got playing time. The true offense of this team would not take a shot without having Mac or Ming touch it first. They would hustle like crazy on defense and get the extra possesions needed for tmac and yao to really win the game, even if they don't score 30+ ppg. He ripped them tonight for a reason, for a wake-up call. There has to be a resaon Barry and Hayes aren't playing, you guys dont' know hwat goes on behind closed doors, you guys (myself includeed) just want anyone playing on the floor that will help this team get a W. The effort wasn't there, so the team lost. Also, the shots didn't go in. Ryan Bowen is not our offensive specialist, but i remember a time when i could stand opening my eyes when he was on the court and he would get extra possesions and get some layups and not shoot anything from range. Those were the days. hahaha.
or they'll learn their mistakes and figure out what they need to do... this is the NBA, this is not a pick up game. these games matter a lot. you can't baby anyone in the nba, they're all grown men. you think greg popovich doesn't yell at his team? i'm not comparing jvg to popovich, but i'm just saying good coaches rip their team too... JVG doesn't take alston out everytime he makes a mistake (he used to), he doens't take wesley out everytime he makes a mistake, because he trusts them. Howard too. He knows they know their mistake and won't make it again (or at least taht night) You've obviously never played ball at a high level ( i don't play nba ball of course but...) IT'S PRETTY EASY TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND NOT KNOW WHY IT WAS A MISTAKE. my coach has to rip me to shreds before i realize, then he lets me stay in if i make that error again, because i know what i did wrong and i don't do it anymore as often. it's not that easy. that's just my two cents.
Wow, this game might have been more painful to watch than any of those 20-pt, Yao/T-Mac-less losses we had earlier this season when we were clearly the worst team in the NBA. Now that distinction is a question, but i'm sure if we work hard enough at it with efforts like tonight, we'll be back there in no time.
BTW, Howard played 28 minuts in this game, Stro 18, and Hayes 6. Howard had the worst help defense by far of anybody on the whole team tonight. Watch the game over again. He just stood there several times. He double teams at the wrong time. He's a terrible defender in a Van Gundy defensive system predicated on fast rotations.
This was atrocious. Words can't put into context what I'm thinking right now. The fact I showed up tonight and "tried" to cheer them on at Toyota Center made it even worse. I don't get this team...They win 4 in a row, the Lakers had lost 4 in a row, they had a day off, Lakers played the night before, yet the effort from the opening tap was pathetic! Yao looked lost, David Wesley couldn't guard me, JHoward is just laughable and I'm not sure about TMAC, he forgot we had a game tonight. I'm tired of this team, I can't make any excuses for them anymore, I don't like the direction the team is headed. We just have too many dinosaurs playing heavy minutes. I need to vent!
Maybe the "strength and conditioning" nazis are working the players too hard. This may explain why all the players look so gray and worn at the TC this season.
Lamar Odom came back for the Lakers in this game. The Lakers lost that 4 in a row without Odom. They are simply a much better team when he plays.
that essentially sums up tonight perfectly.. Kobe: ooo, im so badass! Rockets: theres nothing we can do! ow ow<sob sob> i want mommY!
