ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Hornets 11/5/2006

Perhaps it is due to fatigue, but it seems like we lost our sense of purpose on offense. Yao still makes the mistake of coming out a little too much on pick and roll defense. He needs to realize that it is much better for the player to shoot a jump shot, than driving to the hole and risk having himself picking up the foul. He also needs to be slightly more forceful on his moves to the basket with the goal of racking up fouls on the opposing centers. This way he can create even more space for his jump shots since the opponents have to respect his drives.

Chuck was fouling left and right. He will have to improve on not only defending wth both his head and his hussle, but also his offense. He needs to develop more consistency with his finishing by the basket, or else he will be rendered irrelevant on offense.

I am not worried about tonight's lost. The common theme has been that even when we play like crap, we still have a chance to win. Once everybody gets back in shape and the team develops an identity, it should be fine. I am also unsure if the is the season to win for us. As some of the more conservative posters have indicated, the process will take time, and there are so many intangible factors that must kick in before we succeed that I won't be overly disappointed if our team fails to win.

 

ugh!!!

I can't believe this crap...what a let down...

 

I know ONLY how to post Yao Ming's pictures.....

Actually, everytime I gave the link to a full gallery of game photos of other Rockets in action. If you don't mind, you can click into those photos, and pick your own.

 

We should be 5-3 after this week though, not bad compared to the 11-loss starts we're used to. At Memphis without Gasol is a must/should win, the back-to-back game after that at Milwaukee worries me though... Then we're at home vs. the Knicks then off to Miami. I really see us showing up for that game for some reason...

Keep in mind every game that passes 2 things will happen for us, team chemistry enhances and Bonzi Wells' health/shape gets better!

 

Possibly he is already irrelevant on offense, with limited ability to alter this fact?

 

Pryuen :Your posting of the Yao Ming photographs brings a breath of fresh air to every posting. Without these pictures the BBS would be the looser.

 

A few more observations/thoughts on this game.

1) It seems to me the Rockets didn't lose because of Yao's early foul trouble. The squad without Yao dug themselves a hole early on, but for the most part, they kept themselves in the game.

2) The Rockets rallied in fury and went ahead by as many as 7 in the 3rd quarter. Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived once Peja started to hit consecutive 3s from downtown and David West abused his defender repeatedly when driving to the hoop. Gradually, the Rockets' offense also fell apart as they were no match for Hornets' intensity.

3) Bonzi had a few bad turnovers, but the shots he missed were not that bad. He is expected to make many of those if he gets into shape and shake off rust. One could definitely feel his inside presence though, as he seemed to grab rebounds with ease.

4) Just when TMac found his shooting touch at the FT line, Yao inexplicably missed 3 of 8. A deadly shooter one night before, Yao failed quite miserably in those close-to-mid range turnaround/fadeaway jumpers last night. He hesitated a lot more, sometimes opted to muscle in, but without much success either.

5) TMac committed a couple of costly turnovers in the 4th quarter, including one when he tried to bring the ball up to the half court. It makes you wonder if he can be an effective ballhandler in pressure situation.

6) Did anybody notice there was zero blocked shot from entire Rockets team last night???

 

with all we did wrong last night, it's a miracle that we were only down 6, let alone still in the game. like I said, bat hits a couple more WIDE OPEN threes, we win. NOK played very good defense, they are gonna be a good team.

 

My observations on the above 3 points:

Bonzi Wells is just not in shape. Period. The consecutive turnover (when he received a steal and pass from Alston, but fumbled instead of having the whole rim to his mercy), the defense error for leaving too much space to allow in the Butler's 3-pointer, and then the freebie for 2 points on a totally unnecessary foul in the paint, IMHO, costed the Rockets the game. At that time in 4Q, the Rockets was only 1 point behind. The consequence of the turnaround of the above turnover/error/foul was instead of leading 1 point, the Rockets was immediately 6 points behind.

Yao Ming was hesitant as he was with 3 fouls already when he was sent back on court by 3Q. Of course, he missed 3 "automatic" free throws inexplicitly....but those things happened.

As to block shot, who blocks better than Yao Ming on the team ? Maybe Mutombo in his prime. Since he got 3 fouls already, again, I don't think he dare to risk blocking anymore, as you just don't know what kind of BS calls you will get from those referees.

 

Have to promote it here to get more peers joining...

The full game (Hornets) BT file is ready for download now. Here's the link

There's a pregame and post game show but no highlights. Perhaps it is too difficult for R2K to watch the game again?

And always, thanks a lot R2K!

 

I have a feeling that the Hornets, Suns, Utah, Toronto, and to a lesser extent the Sonics, the teams with good point guards who are intent on pushing the ball every posession are going to give us alot of trouble this season. However not too bad, the Utah team we've really never seen before so our game plan was poor, and New Orleans beat us away on the second night of a back to back. So we still have a lot of room for improvement but I'm confident they'll come around.

 

no...the clips have been done...I just couldnt get them ready before I had to go to work this morning.

I had just enough time to put those two on the tracker and then I had to run, I was already late for work

The highlights will be posted when I go home for lunch (in about a hour or so)..

 

didnt NO have a back to back too? not sure .. but anyways these are professionals.. i dont really think the back to back should be used as an excuse for poor performance.. we simply have some major issues with this team already.. i think most of htem can be worked and fixed EXCEPT for the TMAC issue.. i really hope he's okay..

 

There's not really too much to worry about, outside of T-Mac. If Yao plays his normal amount of minutes this game, we win. I just hope Snyder get more playng time in the future than he did here. The new rules really benefit his game more than anyone else on the team.

 

T-Mac can not drive to the basket anymore. If he thinks he can score by just jump-shooting, then he is wrong. Look at Kobe, he scores by driving to the hoops.

 

Didn't get to see the game.

Would someone mind recapping how Yao picked up those early fouls?

 

Over the back on an offensive rebound around the 10 min mark.
One BS call on tripping around the 8 min mark, the replay proved it.
Pushing Tyson Chandler on the back trying to chase him, which was stupid of Yao. What can Chandler do 18 feet away from the basket even if he caugh the ball wide open there.

 

Based on our offensive scheme/spacing... T-mac isn't asked to drive it to the basket anymore.

And, when he does (after the pick and roll with Yao), he normally finds the OPEN man after his path is blocked (whether it be Battier, Snyder, or Alston).

If those guys start making more shots, and the spacing improves, you'll see more "T-mac to the rack"... albeit, he may not be skying over Shawn Bradley just yet.

 

So one garbage call out of 4? Boy, I sure would have been tempted to leave him out there.

 

No kidding!! I'll bump it again... cause there are only like 6 peers in my list!