ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets vs. Pistons 11/02/2004

Yao's shooting woes were due to the injury to his left arm.

 

You people are amazing. When will you guys admit Yao is no superstar? He has one thing better than Brad Miller, height.

 

Good post FranchiseBlade. Might I add the following?

Ward is Ward. I was concerned when they picked him up because SA really wanted him last year only to discover that he could not play. That did not bode well. And I'm not all that sold that Sura is the answer here either. I bounced between the Maverick game & this one and the Maverick PGs, Nelson (rookie) & Terry, look light years better than what the Rockets are rolling out there.

T-Mac was off - he was just too pumped but Howard was Howard. As I have posted before, he's just OK. The PF position is just awful and I expect them to get consistently outplayed on a nightly basis. Yao's elbow has me worried that this "injury" is more serious than we have been led to believe. He looked very uncomfortable out there. Let's see how he plays tonight and on Saturday.

Eventually they will solidify as a team. The big question is whether or not this "team" will be competitive enough to make a move up. They have an awful lot of negatives to overcome and I'm just not sure what to expect.

 

Yea, I think MoT's play is being overlooked a little. I think he played well inside. Wallace is one the best post players on offense and was hitting fade aways and 3pts on Taylor, so he played him pretty well considering he was forcing him to take those types of shots. Wallace was just on this game. He also looked alot more aggresive on the boards and trying to make plays inside on defense. I wasn't sure about him starting, but now I feel it is a good move.

 

I dont know this MIGHT just be me BUT i was very satisfied with the loss.... We got the shots we wanted (just didnt make them), & we played very good D. When it comes down to it, our team is basied around Yao & T-Mac and if both of them are off we just cant win.

 

You're not alone, I feel the exact same way. I saw enough last night to get real excited about the rest of the season.

 

What I loved was how T-Mac's offense was so flowing and so easy.

Watching Prince get used on many possessions, versus how he handled Kobe was quite nice also.

This team when it hits on all cylinders will be deadly.

 

artificial is trying to tell everyone something....


Yao must not be the main offensive weapon on this team. McGrady should be. Leader, this, leader that. We keep hearing this.

McGrady should be our main offensive weapon. Yao 2nd. That's just the way it should be. Yao is not mobile or capable enough to score 29PPG, nor 24-26PPG. McGrady IS.

Now, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't use the inside-outside offensive. That still applies. But, McGrady IS the MAN when it come to scoring and creating.

Right now, McGrady is sensitive to Yao and (and YOF) that he doesn't step on any toes. It's politically correct to say that this is "Yao's team." That's superfluous. It's NOT reality! Yao is a very good center. But he can't be a main man in scoring every-night. McGrady can.

You watch, as soon as McGrady starts to feel more comfortable with his role and allowance on this team, he'll break out and start to take control. Yao will help. But McGrady must be free to do his scoring thing. He's a SHOOTING GUARD. Let him do that. Our point guard problem will be addressed sooner or later, it's a problem. By the way, let me interject, "Go BOKI!" Ok....back to my post...

As far as the game.

TIMING, TIMING, TIMING! It's way off. Know one knows where to be on the court, everyone is lost and out of sync (as a team) and no one (except Boki) can seemed comfortable in their shooting. We've heard the phrase, "Give the team time to gel." Well, the "gelling part" has to come from McGrady first and foremost. Then, everyone else. That's the "leader" thing we all hear about.

Someone needs to inspire this team. And if it's not Yao. Then, let McGrady do it.

 

It was an ugly game overall, but that was expected and feel they will improve every night. To be honest I didn't really care much for this game since its just one game and it don't mean much in terms of standings. Its obvious that the Rockets are still not meshing or have a feel for each others game but that will come with time. I think a lot of fans are disappointed b/c we set our expectation a little too high since the McGrady trade which was understandable with all the hype and media coverrage. Anyway, heres my quick thoughts on the game.


-It just wasn't our starters night where ironically our bench kept us in the game in the first half. Thats actually a good thing and gave our bench a much needed confidence.

-Both of our stars played poorly, but T-Mac still manage to get 18pts and got into a little rythem in the 2nd half. Yao also was in a slump offensively and wasn't himself missing most of his free throw. Our clutch man JJ wasn't much better and seem like he was quick to take a lot of bad off balance shot which is not his game. We all know they can play better and I expect them to come back strong against the Raptors.

-I think the most surprising and couraging thing I see in the game beside the good play of our bench was that Yao actually never looked tired for once. The way he runs up and down the court and I never see him once bending over like he usaully does. Like Kenny Smith said at half time "the guy could run" and that he suggested the Rockets should play at a higher tempo to generate more points. This will come a long way for him to have a break out season and be more dominate...we will see. Despite his poor shooting he did manage to get 10 rb and 3 blocks. The effort is there, just his shot are not falling for him. Sure he took a bunch of outside jumpers but when he tried to be agrressive and go deep he gets called for some questionable fouls and he actually made some shots inside that was taken back b/c of the fouls.

-I admit I was disappointed, but I had low expectation coming into this game facing the world champ at their home court. Remember that these two team had the best defense last year was the reason for the low scoring and it seems everything was goin right for Detriot and we still lose by only 10 pts. I think the only diffrence is and was the deciding factor was that Detrioit starters was intact from last year while the Rockets had to work with some new faces and still trying to get a feel for each other.

-Its not time to worry or panic yet, but if they still manage to play poorly like this after the all-star break than I will heavly critizied them and the season would be a faiure as most of you will agree. I don't think thats gonna happen thought since we have enough talent to be a contender for many years to come, its just a matter of team chemistrty that will decide what kind of team they will be.

 

Doesnt matter who is the leader, as long as they play together well and the team gets deeper into playoff this year.

 

man,i miss them....

 

I agree that T-Mac should be the main focus.

Think how affective Yao will become when defenses collapse around someone else!!!!!

 

Gutter Snipe,

Well said and couldn't agree more. We had nothing going our way and were still in the game until the stretch run. As the season wears on, my bet is that we're going to be a hard team to beat. Looks to me like point guard is our Achilles heel...at least until Sura returns.

D R

 

It's only the first game of the season, everyone chill...

Pathetic as it was, Detroit was the better team last night...

 

I was close, but man, did I overestimate Yao.

 

For those who did not see the match, found it on internet

http://bt.davkanet.com/

there is the torrent file of the match. don't mind if it's already posted.

 

Some Notes:
1. Somebody needs to tell Yao to hold the ball over his head: it is maddening to watch gaurds swat at the ball and TAKE IT from him (injury or not: this hasn't changed since day 1).

2. Don't know what happened to the "D", but it was sorely lacking against a team that is NOT an offensive juggernaut.

3. Wasn't able to see the beginning to the game, but I didn't see the intensity needed to show the NBA that the Rox are the "new" hot West combo (or really, even to be feared): where was it? I'm puzzled: we let an opportunity get away to beat the champs on thier own floor.

First game so no biggie, but a little "pride" would probably be a good thing for this team: same as last year, I'm not sure they know how to win (or fight: if we're going to be taking hard fouls all year this team will quickly become labeled like melted ice cream (read:SOFT).

 

But you can't teach height...

 

Attacking other member? Me? Never....

Ok..maybe only at the r****ded ones, just to straighten them out.


As for the rest of your post, you basically said everything i said. Except in a more indepth, and refined tone. You are like the anti-Durden, the good version of me.

I too am astonished at how many people on here seem to be just bandwagoners. Spewing crap after ONE game. Its amazing. Everyone seems nice and cool and then a game starts, and BAM!, b****city.


*gives a big burly hug to Gutter Snipe while simultaneously b**** slaps everyone else*


b****es.

 

I just took a look at the box score....20 - 8 in assists in favor of Detroit....that just can't happen if we expect to win. Turnovers weren't bad we had 16 to their 12. But i think we need to improve on the assists a bit.

Also how many times are we actually going to see Big Ben shoot from the outside and make them...come on now...the just had everything going for them last night.