ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 2/21/2004

After reading all the post, I have to disagree with alot of the posts here. SF and Mobley played poorly in the 2nd and 3rd, rocks offense looked stagnant and they couldn't hit the broad side of the barn. SF really isn't a pt guard since he's inept at controlling the tempo of the game. But remember. the Mavs also play like crap in the 1st and the 4th. What I took out of this game is Rocket are a better team than the Mavs!!!!!!!

For me, numero ono reason why Rockets lost is the ****REFS. I though the rockets had great ball movement. All the blown calls and offensive fouls on Yao killed any momentum Rockets had. Bradley hammered Yao on a dunk attempt and got away with it. Najare drappped all over Yao, hold, clutched, and flopped his way to get two offensive fouls. In the 3rd Q, Yao picked up his third 3rd offensive foul. That's right, 3 fouls on Yao and all offensive. Najera didn't neutralize Yao, the damn refs did. 4 blatant blown possession = 16pt swing for the Mavericks. I just hope Yao will get some home cooking at the Toyota Center.

 

A great poster, keep doing more.

 

does anyone know where the money cuban spent on his talking on officiating went? is there a possibility the money went to the ref pocket. if it were the case, wow, i wouldn't be suprised last nite, should i? <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_114.gif' border=0></a>

 

Rockets aren't getting Hinrich. He's the Bulls' best player. I think it might be possible to get Steve Blake from the Wizards. He is #7 in terms on adjusted field goal percentage among rookies, and he doesn't even have the luxury of having a guy down low command double teams. Get him on the Rockets, and he would excel.

 

That's true. I just keep going back to how much he is paid on this team...

I can't forget this...so that's why I said, "star."

But I do understand what you are saying...example would be Bibby or Nash. Not the "leader" of their teams, but they are "floor leaders."

It's just nice to have your "star" also be your "floor leader." I mean, Francis IS our PG, right?

 

Yeah, it sucks. Kelly_Dwyer kept reminding me about that...


"You can't have him!"

 

The first quarter started great, but this cause them to think that they could shoot from the outside to win the game, so they quickly forgot about Yao, and went back to their old style game, so they loss the game.

 

You know what? You are right...It' true. We do look like the Van Gundy knicks...

...but we also look like the Pat Riley Knicks too (Van Gundy's mentor). Now I ask, why would Pat Riley's style of play get transformed so greatly from the "Show Time" Lakers, to the "grind-it out" Knicks? Riley's Lakers were never accused of being "slow." So, why the drastic change with the Knicks? I think it has a lot to do with the PLAYERS you have on your team.

Ask this about your players...Are they capable of running? Are they effective on the fast-break? Do they space the floor well? Do they pass well in transition? Do they shoot well on the fast-break? Do you have a player that has court-vision?

If the answer to a lot of those questions are "no" then it understandable why JVG slows the game down. He's hedging his bets; risk management.

Ugh...I say get better players on offensive. Smart ones.

 

Because according to the people of Houston, being agressive means being a ball hog. The fact is that Steve is now looking to pass the ball first, which is what JVG wants, but it isn't Steve's style. You can actually see him struggle on deciding whether to pass or shoot it. He doesn't want to dribble as much, yet he picks up his dribble to early and lets the defense get set.

I think the best thing for the Rockets right now is for JVG to tell Steve to look for his shot more, because Steve is being to passive right now and teams don't have to focus on him that much.

 

Here's a question:

If Yao is a more effective player than Steve, would you still advocate this option? What I'm getting at - is your attitude premised entirely on a belief that Steve is the better scorer?

If Yao is the better offensive player, and telling Steve to shoot more would minimize Yao's game, do you still want to tell Steve to do so? If so, please explain.

 

You think that Francis and Mobley played with the patience requisite to get good shots against the zone?

I agree with you 90% of the time... but patience is absolutely necessary exact zones - and it was completely lacking last night.

 

Nobody stop SF from shooting, including JVG. Instead, we want him to create easy shot for himself and the teammate. This is what guard role is all about. A guard is like a quarterback who designs a scoring play.

 

I went to the game last night and there were only 20 Rockets fan in the building. I can't believe we blew the lead. I think the first quarter is probably the most amazing quarter we've played this year, but Jim Jackson is right...we can never hold leads. I wish our passing and movement was as crisp as the Mavericks. I think they just move better and that's why we can't win big games.