ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 11/13/2003

Are you kidding me??? The Rockets got 23 assists, and a pretty damn respectable 13 TOs. And it's not nearly the first time they've put up numbers similar to that this year. They still have awesome D. This game may not be the greatest example, but I don't think they ever "held" the Mavs to under 100 pts last year (can't promise that... I could be completely wrong).

This loss is not the end of the world. At many points in the first have and even in the second, I was pretty impressed with what I saw. Still a few careless mistakes, but this team looks MUCH better, IMO.

The only thing that really worries me is Yao's poor shooting of late when it was looking like he was going to tear it up this year... Hopefully it won't last.

 

We played well and hard at both ends most of the game. We only had a couple of problems:

1) We did not shoot well ...
2) Dallas did.

End of story.

 

Amazing how this place dies down late at night after a heart broken loss. There are only 95 people online right now!

 

The strangest thing is coming into this forum after a game and seeing every single thread being started by people who've been here like four days. It's hard to find familiar faces and more experienced opinions.

 

Disappointing loss, but not unexpected.

The Rockets are at least a few months away from being able to hang with the Mavs.

The first 20 minutes of the game were great. They held the Mavs to 32 points. But they gave up 18 in the next four. If the Rockets had committed themselves to playing 48 minutes of defense, they might have had a chance to win in the end.

Anyway, Dallas is pretty good at home. You have to give it to them. If the Rockets come up with a win over Phoenix tomorrow, all will be good.

 

3) The Rockets' same old problem - - - turnovers. Quoted from TNT commentator Mike Fratello "...Again, the ball is over-dribbled and resulted in another Rockets' turnover..."

 

TEAM: Rockets - Mavericks
FGM: 40.2% - 45.0%
3GM: 34.8% - 10.5%
FTM: 100.0% - 82.1%
RB: 42 - 44
AS: 23 - 19
ST: 6 - 8
TO: 13 - 7

I was wondering where this team was defeated most in this game?! Physically? technically? or mentally? Even they have enough talents and capabilities to win, but it seems to me they don't have enough confidence to make it. How could we expect one without enough winner's characters to win an intense contest or fierce fight?! They have not yet grown up as a team with truely Tough Mind, Team Spirit and Unshakable Belief, which are crucial for their success... well, hopefully, they could really learn from the loss, and do something better in coming games.

What's a defeat? Nothing but the first step to something better!!

 

I'm definitely not disappointed. Dallas will continue to be a horrible match up for us until Yao can dominate in the paint. That's just how it's going to be with all their offensive firepower. We can't run with them with Yao and we can't quite pound them inside yet but it will come in time. They're probably the worst match up for us in the entire league right now.

 

Agreed. Watching this game made me look forward to Shaq and the Lakers!

 

Well you won't see the Lakers put 5 forwards on the floor and have us match up with Cato and Yao.

 

I see the same thing over and over and over again. The Rockets guards flat out are not good passers. The creativity is not there. So many opportunities missed by guards who can't feed the post to Ming. The few times we run pick and role with Ming, the guard who is running it never even tries to lob it in to Ming. Offense was anemic in the 2nd half and they were not getting back on defense.

Mavericks pose several matchup problems for us that compounds the problem. We have no answer for their swingmen. Nowitski/Jamison/Walker. They are too versatile and too big.

Didn't like the looks of this game, exposed far too many problems. Where are the kings of the post feeding, Kenny Smith and Cassell when you need them.

They better get back on track tom night, Phoenix is coming.

 

This was the game I saw, so I won't go by what someone else says. Bottom line:

@You don't stop passing to your big man, botching your game plan, after he missed some shot.

@ You don't win if you jack up shots against Mavs before your big man is back.

@ Yao is Open. Don't tell me otherwise. I'll be tired with ruunning up and down floor only to be ignored by your guards when they subsequently turn it over.

 

Were you watching the same game as me? I saw a couple pretty terrific passes from Francis to Ming that got him some nice quick, easy layups. Did you see that lob from behind the 3 across the lane to Yao over 3 defenders? That was pretty sweet.

Also, in the second half, it may just have been me, but the offense didn't seem to run any better with Yao in the game... I dunno, maybe it was just because I didn't get to see him in there enough (JVG benched him for a good while for god knows what reason).

I'm also kind of wondering where our rebounding prowess from last year went.

 

Ditto! Well said.

 

Obviously, you have no clue which play we were talking about. Yao was under the basket and moved out of the way so Nash could get the EASY layup. We have a fable in the West that describes the elephant as being scared of only one thing.....a mouse. Yao certainly looked scared of Nash in that play.

 

FINALLY I get to see a Rockets game. Tough to comment on the Rockets when you dont really SEE them on TV.

Anyway.....

1) The Rockets "fast break" is just unwatchable! Just horrendous! If anyone asks why we should move Francis to the 2 and get a REAL PG then I subit exhibit A...the Rockets fast break. Just horrible! HORRIBLE! Did I say Horrible? Yeah, HORRIBLE!!!!!!

2) Yao is still learning. The Rockets are not going to be able to beat the Mavs until Yao can dominate in the paint. He still is a long way from that. More and more teams are designing their defensive schemes around Yao and Yao has to adjust. He got some good shots but just could not hit them.

3) The Rockets need their bench. Taylor, E Griffin, A Griffin, Pike. Those guys are important to this team. We need them to give our starters a rest and to be able to keep pace with other team's 2nd units so we don't lose control of the game. We NEED Pike in there hitting the long range shot to bust that ZONE defense. We need Taylor in there to give us a second LOW POST player other than Yao.

4) Francis and Mobley need to be hitting more shots. They are as big a part of this team as Yao at this point. Unless we can gets SOLID guard play from them each night then forget it!

Nevertheless....let's face it, the Mavs have a STRONG starting line up with lots of firepower and the Rockets just can't match up with the Mavs at this point. I think the Rockets did a good job in the first half with the game tempo but just let it get away in the second half. They will learn from this.

I made mention in many threads that I was worried that the Rockets would not be able to match up with the PF/C combo of Walker and Dirk. And that was indeed a problem. Cato and crew just could not chase them around. And then on the offensive end we were not able to TAKE ADVANTAGE of OUR strengths with Yao in the middle. That is not going to get it done. We have to make THEM pay if they go small. If we counteract and go small to match them then we lose. We need them to change up to match US.

I think this game clearly shows that while the Rockets are improving, they haven't reached the level of the big boys.

 

This game proves just how far behind the elite teams the Rockets are. The Rockets are NOWHERE CLOSE to being as good as the big four. This game wasn't even close to being an 11 point loss...outplayed on almost every single aspect.

 

Dallas pretty much took it in the 3rd Period.........Overall the Rockets played well.......Our shots just would go in.....

 

I know everyone has been saying how Yao is not aggressive enough. I think what's happening is the EXACT OPPOSITE. I think Yao is TOO aggressive. From playing some basketball myself, I know that to play well you have to let the game come to you. You can't FORCE yourself into the game.

All the good NBA players exhibit a natural flow with their game. BUT what the rockets are doing right now is FORCING the ball into Yao. Instead of trying to get Yao to fit into the mold, the rockets should be a team that molds itself around the strength of its players. I say let Yao roam a little. Let Yao face up a bit. Set some picks for Yao. Cut when Yao has the ball. Let Yao get into HIS flow!!!

AND that doesn't happen by forcing Yao to do this or that. Let him play his game. I will say that again. LET HIM PLAY HIS GAME! There's really no other way around it. Every player has a style or a flavor to their game. If you coach a player away from his style, you take away his basketball soul. That's why you've just GOT to LET HIM PLAY HIS GAME!

And most of his teammates just don't seem to understand that. They view Yao as what THEY want him to be. His teammates can't see Yao as he really is, and truly understand him.

How can I tell this? When Yao gets in the post, most of his teammates stop moving and cutting. His teammates do this because THEY want him to be that dominating center. But they can't see Yao as he really is because they want to force their own image into Yao. Then they get resentful at Yao for missing his easy turn around jumper. But they don't understand is that THEY are a big reason why Yao can't hit his jumper. When your teammates understand you and trust you, for some supernatural reason you automatically elevate your game. But most of Yao's teammates are NOT elevating Yao's game, but DEFLATING it.

I'm sure the rocket's team has the best intention, but their unconscious attitude of forcing their own image unto Yao sabotages good team basketball. As long as that unconscious attitude is there, there will be a flow that is lacking on the court when Yao is in the game. Too bad that has to happen, because I want to see GOOD basketball!!! And good basketball is this: A team that plays to the strengths of ALL its players.

J

 

Agreed. JVG in the next practice needs to take Francis aside and run fast break drills untill he can't walk anymore. I've never seen a poorer showing in running the break then what Francis displayed last night. 3 blown 2 on 1 opportunities is inexcusable. How hard is it to throw the ball to the open man when the only defensive player comes up to guard you. I just don't get it. I'm not normally a Steve basher but watching last nights game drove me nuts.