The real difference in this game was Deke. I am simply amazed at his dominant presence the past few games inside the paint. Hell, the Chicago announcers made comment after comment about him and the no kidding feared him while he was in the game and grateful when he wasn't. Ben Wallace was a non-factor in this game! The Bulls looked utterly helpless when the tried to drive into the paint. Deke is truly the heart of the incredible Rox defense we witnessed tonight. Wow, he is truly a force in the paint!!! Just can't say enough about our fortunate of having Dikembe on this team. Now if we can just do something about Rafer...Good God he sucks!
Yeah I guess JVG is going to let Rafer shoot his way out of this slump he's in. Sure wish he'd play V-span for ten minutes a game.
That was funny. Try this one though..... Never underestimate the PROBLEMS this championship team has.
I don't think playing V-Span 10 min a game right now is going to help much right now. I don't like Rafer but V-Span is not going to take JL3's minutes right now. My guess is that we won't see V-Span in the rotation until next year after he has a good workout this summer with the Rockets. He's just not ready. We can only hope that the Rockets can swing a deal for another PG.
Great win... something about our team -- they have so much heart... even if things aren't going well, they just keep on competing... .. and I think Matt Bullard visits ClutchFans .. it seemed like it when he was talking about people wanting Rafer to be benched because of his poor shooting, but JVG keeps him in because he gives us a better chance to win the game
Rafer is about to unfold to JVG the next step before the trading deadline if we lost from the Bulls! The guy just simply missed a lot of shots,. But good thing we hang on strong. Thanks to Battier, Head and Tmac!
Yeah, that's what I meant. Actually, we have Head off the bench too, so that counts. I think the Rox have a few pieces in place, no matter how big or small a role they have: Yao, Mac, Battier, Head, and Hayes. I think this is the 'core' and we shouldn't mess with it, and try to add a piece every season. The key here is good decisions by management, we need a smart GM who knows exactly what this team needs and can make an occasional steal in the draft/free agency and build around our core. Oh yeah, and better talent doesn't always mean better results; the emphasis should be on getting players that fit.
the thing that amazes me bout Tmac is that his passes were so much better than Rafer's. he found guys wide open, i loved his mentality to get others some shots tonight, thought he forced it and was a bit selfish last game against MINN
Yes, JVG deserved the credit for the Defence. What I want more is the adjustment on Offense and roster rotation.
JVG got a little outcoached, until the last minute when he did what I've pulled 3/4 of my hair trying to get him to do: PUT BATTIER ON GORDON OR GET SPAN TO STOP GORDON... nice game, nice win, ugly game, but it's alright. Mac came through in the clutch, made a mistake in the 24 secs play. but credit has 2 go to Skip, I mean, setting a record for 20 bricks in a row is not an easy accomplishment. way 2 go Rafer.
Awesome win by the Rockets! An even better butt whipping by the Gaters I am going to have a hard time sleeping tonight
I am a big fan of Luther and Chuck, and did include them as part of the Rockets' core of players to add to/build around. I am not disrespecting Juwon or Bonzi or Deke at all, what I meant was looking at the long haul, but I do agree Juwon and Deke can and will be instrumental to our success in the short term. As for Bonzi, I strongly doubt he will be a Rocket beyond this season...he may even be gone before the ASG.
You should be banned I live in Orlando, FL and am a Gator fan, but I watched almost the whole Rox game and the whole 4th quarter. The heart of this team is inspiring and uplifting. I was having a bad day and this win was awesome Go Rox
I stumbled upon AP game notes: Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy delivered a strong message to those hoping for a change at point guard: Forget about it. Alston is staying in the lineup. "This has always puzzled me," Van Gundy said. "When you lose Yao and you go 5-2, I'm not looking after losing an overtime game to blow somebody up. ... Rafer's our point guard. He's gonna be our point guard. If anybody has a problem with that, wants to see a change, it ain't gonna happen. Everybody can stop all the questions about who's next. There ain't no next right now." Alston was averaging 13.2 points but had shot just 36.4 percent entering Monday's game. He was 32-for-107 over the previous seven.
