ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 11/5/2007

Hey mate, that dude brought it all up and I was merely stating the truth.
I wasnt even trying to get into Tmac/Yao debate.

Im not happy.Not because Dallas is a better team, its because our Coach didnt manage to get the most of our star player's obvious strength.

After this game RA shud get the message, and I suppose, hes doing or at least trying to do something to it.

 

Anybody who would take Dwyane Wade over Lebron James, Steve Nash, Yao Ming..... is CERTIFIABLY INSANE.

 

I'll gladly debate you about this, just create the topic.

 

again, adelman has never used a big man like yao or given a guy like yao to coach. JVG coached under JVG and coached ewing. so he knew how to use big men. so adelman is still "experimenting" a lil bit. and it's only game 4.

i have no doubt as we move forward, he'll learn more about yao and where yao wants the ball. i think those two will talk more as the season progresses. i'm sure yao will want to talk to him to after seeing he only got 12 shots. and he should talk to adelman.

but i don't think dallas is better. they BARELY won in the last 4-5 mins when their whole team has their system down while we don't.

 

Yes, and mainly is our shots tonight. They have a better night and we have a bad night, that's it.

I really don't care that much right now, we have new system and everyone need to adjust and I belive we will be better and better. so the real test I feel is next three tims we play Mavs and Spurs. I have confidence on RA, he is an experence coach, don't really care about one early game.

Go Rockets

 

It's looks like Tmac is going to his old self where shooting way less than 50% again.....that's just great.......

And James? how many assists does he have in the last couple of games? and how many shots has he taken in these games?

it's pretty sad that we got him back because people though he was going to make a difference in this team.

 

how come every loss is alwqays blamed on one player either rafer or t-mac even though skip barley played and when he did he shot the ball well

 

For a lot of the time TOF's are able to hide as Rockets fans. A night like tonight brings them right out and reveals them.

I'll repeat what I said just so you can hear it louder: McGrady is not a better player than Yao.

 

The team will improve. But...

My concern is the 'bonehead" factor. The Mavs and Spurs very rarely make bonehead plays whereas the Rockets have several players who have a knack for making them at the most inopportune times. Here's a list of players who come to mind who have done it more often than we'd like: Alston, James, Bonzi, Head, and Francis. Bonehead plays can be any of the following: lazy passes, bad shots, missed defensive assignments, bad fouls... which lead to turnovers leading to points for the other team. This can mean a 4-5 point turnaround off of one possession. In the last couple of minutes in a close game that can also be the dagger that deflates a team's spirit, leading to more bonehead plays when a team loses its composure.

I don't worry about our ability to play with any team in the league. It's the bonehead factor that worries me because that's closer to a player's "nature" -- his reaction, without thinking -- and sometimes is difficult or impossible to be "unlearned". Witness Stromile Swift. When the announcers talk about "executing down the stretch" it's a kind way of saying you don't make boneheaded mistakes. Because of this, I don't think that Francis is the overwhelming answer at the PG position. Of course, if he can help the Rockets open up a good lead then the bonehead factor can be largely negated. Something for Adelman to figure out.

I hope this will be looked at as an abberation within a month or so. But if this sort of loss is happening next Spring, then it probably will be the thing that keeps the Rockets from contending for the championship.

Of secondary worry is Yao's ability to hold on to the ball and/or have it stripped more often than I'd like. Also, bobbling passes and rebounds. I think the jury is still out on playing him in the high post, though.

 

It's actually more sad to think that James hasn't had a positive affect on this team so far. Exactly which of the pg's has played better to this point?

 

Dallas STILL has the most irritating players in the NBA. Terry, Howard, Stackhouse, must I go on. Now they have the little midget guard, he is irritating.

Bottomline, they still have more shooters than us. Looks like we might need another shooter or two.

Late game collapses, a longstanding habit. Do we run out of gas, run out of ideas, get out coached?

Rafer didn't do badly, but he should not be in to close out games. TMac throws up too much garbage. I know he is streaky and can hit several in row, BUT, when he is clearly not hitting, give it up. Yao needs more touches. Disappointing, could have won this one.

 

Yao bobbled a few rebounds.... but he had one turnover. I think his high post play is extremely ineffective and for some reason Adelman went to it more this game than he did the last two games.

 

Duly noted.

 

tmac got to the line 10+ times again. he didn't do that last yr.

he's similar to the old tmac. he'll have some bad shooting games but still manage to get his points by going to the line.

and you're going to hate on james after one game? he's not a passer. he's a scorer. he didn't score tonight.

 

Look at positive side, Yao's high post skills are improving.

 

Any word on Yao's left ankle
I don't want any soft-tissue tears or sprains or bone fractures

Chron only says this:
after a brief scare when Yao went down holding his left ankle, he got back up

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5276104.html

 

You took the words right out of my mouth! Here's my take on the loss.
First, to be a real contender, we need a better PG. Hopefully, Steve will get into better shape and eventually take over the starting point guard position. As I said during the preseason, Rafer is a reliable dribbler and passer. That's who he is. Nothing wrong with that and he could be a real nice guy. But with all that being said, he's not the solution at starting PG for a championship team. He's a reliable passer but it's not like he can create great shooting opportunities for his teammates simply due to the fact that he's not athletic and can't shoot. What we see in Rafer is a guy who can bring the ball up to the front court without a turnover and pass to the next guy (usu. T-mac or Yao) without a turnover and let them handle it from then on. He can also knock down some shots occasionally. That's who he is and who he's been for the past two seasons for the Rockets. To sum up, the guy is only reliable as a ball controller but not much of a threat to the opposing team. So, do you want someone who's less reliable as ball controller but much more of a threat to the other team or not?
Second, we're seeing a similar Yao to his rookie year self. The new offense enables him to play without fatigue which I take as a positive. He's also able to grab more rebounds. But just like in his rookie season, Yao's shooting at a high percentage but haven't got enough shooting attempts. Yao is suited for this motion offense, but RA has to find a way to create more shooting opportunity for him. My personal observation is that Yao needs to be constantly on the move, either shooting or passing. When he's on the high post not moving, he can easily be covered by defenders because he can't dribble like smaller players. Also the offense slows down and becomes predictable which isn't the purpose of the motion offense. If this remains the case, I would rather see Yao NAILED in the low post(the disadvantage with this is that the lane will be a little more crowded).
Third, I think T-mac and MJ become just a little trigger-happy. 31 shots, a little too many for T-mac. And MJ should try to control his impulse to shoot. Hopefully they can realize this on their own as supposed to be told by the coaches.

 

we need more people with your mentality, i don't understand how people can be fans yet Trash certain players after a loss. constructive criticism is great but you guys are just out to make sure everyone thinks that t-mac is terrible and coach A sucks. Where is you Loyalty to the team not just Yao? and you guys have the nerve to say that the t-mac fans are showing their true colors, as if you guys are any different.......
(btw the second part of this post was not meant for you Doublehh, it was directed towards the 2 obvious Yao Nut huggers)

 

You bring up the FT's again. The same bankrupt system makes Yao shoot only 4.8 FT's a game, a level not seen since his rookie year, when he is one of the best FT shooters in the league? Last year he was getting opposing front lines in foul trouble. Don't see any of that this year. I blame Yao's drop in FT's entirely on Adelman and his scheme.