ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Sonics 4/12/2004

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/quotes040412.html

 

Interesting quote from Sonics coach NATE MCMILLAN:

On Yao Ming:
"Yao Ming is a … you know, you don’t find guys like that. They were lucky to get him in the draft and (Steve) Francis a few years ago forced a trade and they hadn’t made the playoffs in a number of years. They have a seven-footer that is going to be a very good player in this league and they’ve added some free agents. I think we have that opportunity this summer; we need a bit of luck to fall our way, some things to go right to possibly land something like that. Everyone would want a Yao Ming."


I have to admit Rox management made dumb decision now and then, but nobody can deny that they are lucky,
first Mose, then Dream and now Yao Ming.

 

yeap they made the dumb decisions at the right time

 

I really had a great time watching last night's game too, but we were hitting a ridiculous number of 3s last night that this group of players probably wouldn't ordinarily hit. Come on, MJ with 3 3-pointers tell you it was a special night.

We should not get caught up with one pressureless albeit spectactular game. Although I must say I really want the same lineup against Dallas!

 

Interesting to note that Rashard might be available. The article mentions that his numbers have flat-lined (18 pts, 7 boards, etc). Although I'll take those numbers, tell you the truth. Flat-lining doesn't mean too much; I'm sure Steve will get bigger numbers on his next team.

What I like is that JVG now knows that we really need some size at the small forward position. The Seattle game emphasized that. His comments in the last few months have touched on the subject as well.

Hottoddie, find a way to send Steve and Cato to Chicago, T Davis and Crawford (Seattle native) and, say, Fizer, to Seattle, and maybe Rashard, Antonio Daniels, a backup center from Seattle (they have so many) and re-signed and traded Brent Barry to Houston (now we're cooking).

 

Utter crap.

If what you say is true, then how come this team has experienced such massive negative point differentials in games almost all season whenever Steve takes to the bench for Marc Jackson??? Happened in every nationally televised game this year pretty much, and whenever we face GOOD opponents. Steve makes the team better when you actually look at more than a scintilla of the play time the Rockets have had this year...

And did you forget the other way that open shots are created??? They were getting open looks against a team that had no motivation to play defense... and DIDN'T play defense. There are two sides to basketball. Of course you're going to rack up the assists and points when everybody's red-hot and unmanned... Good lord.

And we can take this further. If you want to argue about things that changed in just this ONE game - if you want to make more knee-jerk observations - we can just as easily say that the Rockets' defense falls to pieces when Francis isn't in the lineup, can't we? I mean, their season average of allowed PPG and opponent FG% was much lower than for this game, wasn't it? What other possible explanation could there be? It couldn't just be a fluke, could it?

You fickle little Steve-haters are so blinded by your hatred... Your denial is letting this one game fool you into believing that your disdain for Steve was more than justified all along when EVERY OTHER FACT OR NOTION in the world points against your logic. MJ would not lead this team to higher places.

Please, please don't tell me ANYONE actually believes this team would win more games without Steve in the lineup and with MJ running the point...

 

Of course Jackson can't start at point, because he is a fossil. However, Steve and to a lesser extent Cat are expendable in JVG's system. Fossil plays point last night without the starting #2 guard and the Rockets actually play better!

A first round sweep or 4-1 loss means big changes coming in the offseason. This team is not in the playoffs without Yao, so Steve is no longer the "Franchise."

 

Maybe, maybe no...

 

JVG: "Bokimon, I choose YOU!" (Boki removes warmups, enters game)


Christjan Nachb..., I mean Bostjan Nachbar (dumb Seattle announcer) really has got the length to contest shots. I'm surprised VRad made the last 3, Boki was really in his face. He had alot of intangibles again - came up with a couple of loose balls the first few minutes, and the two big charges in the second half. And he quickly swings the ball on the perimeter, which is important for the open 3-pointer.

 

No way was this game 'better.' Defense was once again matador-like, allowing over 48% shooting. Plus, we were outrebounded, had an average number of assists, an average number of turnovers, and an average Assists:FGM ratio. All this, playing a team that has little interest in the outcome with refs who apparently wanted us seeded 7th with all the calls they gave us.

 

No, we need rest Yao. I think that he is really tired.

Although I must say I really want the same lineup against Dallas! [/B][/QUOTE]

 

Bingo. Yes, with only Fossil we would stink alot of the time, but instead of Fossil, picture Speedy, AMiller, Parker, maybe Hinrich in there, I say we win 48 or more. Even Snow, Wesley, etc. brings you almost as many wins. Steve lost the perimeter touch (which is critical in our system), can't distribute without critical turnovers, can't run a break, and needs to massage the ball to be effective (less conducive to ball movement, less exciting to watch). His offense has become so unreliable, I feel like Allen Leavell is out there playing with us again, and his number "0" fell off his jersey...

His bad rep with the officials seems to be hurting us too. With the reputation he had already prior to this year, he needed to bring a little more maturity this year. Instead, he had the minor run-in over the summer, the Super Bowl incident, the profanity incident, and he leads the league in technicals this year.

To his credit, I love his heart for the game and his celebrations with Yao are a joy to watch, but when you consider what can be had in trade, I hate to say it but we probably would be better off.

 

I hear ya, but I respectfully disagree. The shooting was a bit of an aberration, but the looks were a bit better too. Probably the officiating was an aberration as well, but I've noticed the refs will give calls to teams with better ball movement.

When you have Spoon, Taylor, MJackson, Padgett, Pike out there most of the night, I don't think anyone expects a defensive lockdown performance on FG%, but we caused many turnovers and charges too. Also, we gave up three freebies at the end to raise Seattle's FG% and their point total as well. Besides, Seattle is an offensive, not defensive team.

Like someone said, this was a team that just got through whaling on Dallas. VRad's got a technical after getting very upset on the floor. I don't think Seattle was disinterested.

 

Go out and buy your freaking playoff tickets.....it sad that the games are not sold-out yet!!!! C'mon Rocket fan!!!

 

ugh.....I was hoping to post in the Rox vs Mavs thread....but it still doesn't exist.

anyways....WE WILL WIN! Boki will go off tonight!

 

Posters are saying they were pleased with the performance in the game and want to see it repeated. I agree that you can't expect as much defensively from those guys -- but that's why you shouldn't want to see this rotation repeated! Truth is, this defense isn't any worse than what we've seen from the regular rotation for the last month or 2. We went the better part of the season keeping teams, even offensive-minded team, at 40% shooting. 48% isn't even average, it is bad defense. It could be an aberration if it didn't just happen to us in the 10 preceding games.

As for turnovers, we forced 13. Average.

I'm not saying it was a bad game, or worse than other games we've played. But, posters are saying this is an obvious improvement over games with Francis and Mobley in the backcourt. That doesn't seem sensible to me. The only thing we did in this game better than usual was get to the line. And, I'm not sure how much credit we can take for that.