ClutchFans Game Thread: Sonics @ Rockets 12/29/2003

Chuck Nevitt = 89 inches = 1.6 rebounds a game = .02 rebounds per inch.

 

Normally I don't post in these game threads(it's more fun just to read them, whether it's a win or a loss), but this performance tonight flat out disgusted me! About the only guy who showed up for the Rockets was Pike.

Yao's problem is not his vertical. It's his desire(or lack thereof). The man gives up way too easily. Scrubs like Potapenko should not be pushing him out of the paint and outworking him for rebounds. It's no wonder the refs aren't showing him any respect. He's done nothing to earn it thus far in his career. I hate to say this, but his softness is looking eerily like that of a certain center who retired in San Antonio just a few months ago. God help him if he ever actually plays in the postseason. Imagine what opposing teams will do to him then.

Steve, I'm a little hesitant to criticize him too harshly after that brutal hit to the neck he took tonight(BTW, where the hell was the foul call on that play?!). But is this guy ever gonna find his shot? And no, that last second three which meant nothing doesn't count. I like that he's looking to pass more, and his assist numbers are up over the last week or so, but he has to be more of a factor in terms of scoring. Oh, and quit fouling when you're in the penalty!!!

Cat had a mediocre game. He let Ray Allen go off and he bricked all his three attempts. Plus he attempted zero free throws tonight which means he wasn't aggressive.

Mo Taylor. He missed two layups and a dunk tonight. Not one of his better offensive outings. And his rebounding left a lot to be desired.

Cato. Tough to criticize him since he did what was expected. Although he could've gotten at least a couple points on offensive putbacks.

The biggest problem tonight(even more than the crappy offense) was the defensive intensity. Now I know what you're saying. The Sonics shot a poor percentage and only got 87 points, well below their average. But defense isn't just about getting the other team to miss shots. It's also about coming up with the rebounds and limiting their foul shots. And in those two categories, the Rockets flat out stunk. Yes, the Sonics shoot a lot of threes which means long rebounds, but this was just a matter of being outhustled. That's not a good sign because that means this team just doesn't want it badly enough. It showed late last season when the Suns stepped up and the Rockets folded in the playoff run. And it's showing this season against the rival lower seeds in the West like Seattle, Denver, and even Utah(admit it, the Rockets were lucky to win at home against them).

The problem in this situation is that the coach doesn't have the solution. The players have to want it. The Rockets are talented enough to be a 6th or 7th seed, even in a conference as stacked as the West. But if they don't give a damn, then all the talent in the world won't make a difference.

 

you need to refigure your math at per 48 minutes since MoT gets almost 10 minutes less a game

 

A poster on another message board said it best, Yao is a Shawn Bradley who can shoot the ball.

 

Could somebody come up with something new other than " Did you watch the game"

There were two or three times down the strech that Yao didnt grab it. One was he out of position, the ball bounced away from him. The other one, I think he could've grabbed it, but he didnt. He is freaking soft. Maybe he is not even that good. But put him for the main reason for the loss of tonight... Please

Ok here is my point

Francis is hot headed, free wheel point guard, who is actually not as good as he think he is. He srewed it up down the strech. Now argure with him, why he didnt.

 

Regarding Yao's rebound: Last season and early this season, Yao was always boxing out first but not going after the ball first. I think somebody must have told him "go for the ball, forget about boxing out". Now he is not boxing out, but he hasn't learned how to fight for the rebounds with others. He is much slower than an average 6-9 guy, and his wingspan is short. I don't think that is soly a problem with aggressiveness. I bet if Yao gets a electrical shock on his toe, it will take him 0.5 sec to jump away. That is biology.

 

I hate how no one follows their shots. Hell, that is basic elementary school basketball. I can't believe they think that all their shots are falling to not even attempt to position themselves for offensive rebounds. They take shots and as soon as it leaves their hands, they immediately run down to get on defense. That is insane basketball. Calvin Cato is actually the only player that consistently follows his shots, but thats probably because he knows he can't shoot worth a damn.

 

Yao is not as tough as Bradley, at least Bradley uses his boney elbows....

Well, I guess Yao does to...when he breaks his fall with them on the floor.

DD

 

There wasn't just 3 times down the stretch, it was all night long and you should have seen it if you watched the game. Yao Ming had all of one rebound in the entire second half and almost all of his 5 in the first half were uncontested with all of the Sonics running down the court. Yao Ming was terrible at rebounding all night long.

I did not make that the main reason we lost either. Once again did you bother to read my post? It was reason #2 out of 3 reasons. Francis was one of my reasons we lost so what is you r point again?

Please at least read my post if you are going to argue my point.

 

I agree that Yao isn't in the same league as David Robinson(not yet anyway). My point was that Robinson never won anything in this league on his own, and if Yao keeps playing like a pu$$y, he'll suffer the same fate. And he won't be as lucky as Robinson who had Tim Duncan hand him two rings toward the end of his career.

 

No question about it. Yao needs to rebound. He knows it himself. One fan got so pissed once that post on his fan site asking him "why the hell you dont follow up to rebound". He replied that he agree with him that he needs to do better job. Now dont forget this is a habbit, he didnt need to jump at all in CBA, he said once himself "The ball just fell off to my head". Yao needs to rebound.

 

As so many have observed here... this team is playing terribly for the number of years of experience in the starting lineup.

I would say a lot of the criticisms listed in the game threads this year are very valid. In other words, almost any criticism of the team has been validated at one time or another by their play.

In a nutshell:

1) They play dumb AND CARELESS too much of the time leading to unnecessary points for the opposing team and lost points for our own.
2) Most of the time they can't shoot well enough to be called "shooters".
3) Because of the player we thought we were getting (Yao), the position that should be the strongest and should be the foundation of the team is the center position. But Yao does not fill that role. I wonder what Bill Walton is thinking when he watches Yao this season? If Yao played stronger, it would lessen the impact of the mistakes the rest of the team is making.
4) I would still characterize this team as not having "focus" and being extremely cavalier about their mistakes. In games decided by 1-3 points, these "little" mistakes (and their demeanor and lack of correcting them implies this is how they see them) cost them these close games.

I wish a lot of the fans posting on this board would all write (hard copy) to Les Alexander summarizing the frustrations and criticisms on this board. AND carbon copy all the players in the rotation so they can see what was sent to Les and know that what they just read was also read by him. (Of course, Les may not see all the letters sent to him, but how do the players know which ones are read by him and which ones aren't.)

Like so many others I've seen post here, I really don't watch much of the Rockets anymore. It is a waste of time that can be better spent doing something ENJOYABLE. I do, however, spot check the score during games and maybe watch 4-5 minutes at a time, in case they are playing out of character -- in which case I may watch the game for a while.

I suppose JVG may still produce a winner here in Houston, but I don't think it will consist of the current set of players.

... certainly makes one appreciate the championship years and teams a lot more, doesn't it?

 

I don't have that much problem with Yao's offensive output since a lot of it was dictated by his teammates, the opponents’ defensive strategy, etc. But there is no excuse for him not producing greater results at the defensive end. Too many times, he tried to draw a charge, or chasing a penetrator. Hello, you are too slow to do that! Most of the time, you will get a damn FOUL. If Yao can be a little more intimidating, namely, knocking a couple people out when they coming into the paint, no one would challenge him again, just look at how many players dare to challenge Shaq?!



--daoshi

 

Not so simple. Even he trys, he will still have this problem. He doesn't react as quick as shorter guys. For example, he doesn't win tip-off. When he say the ref toss up the ball, it just takes longer time for him to jump up.

 

If you're talking about the guards then they're suppose to get back on defense.

 

That's probably hard for him to learn. He was called a little giant, but never a "beast" or "monstor".

 

All night long? All seattle's offensive rebounds are Yao's fault? It's easy to point fingers to the tallest guy when there was big defecit in that department. One strech Yao was one the pine, how many offensive rebounds did seattle get?
Actually I recall there was one play that he grab a rebound nicely in the first half(2nd quarter), he sort of reached out grabbed the ball when the ball actually falling away. He also grabbed one last two minute mark or also after seattle missed a J. Rockets was down by 4 that time. So it's not all night long.

The way I looked at it this game. Cat, Mot, Yao all screwed it up somewhat. How many shots MoT blow up, easy layups, dunk, you name it, he hogged it and he couldnt get going. But the single main reason to tonight's loss is Francis. I dont if he got concusion on the neck. He played like Kurt Warner, he lost it, period. This is not the first time by the way.

 

My feeling exactly. Yao needs to get nasty. Enough of this nice guy crap. He needs to throw elbows like Karla and inflict major pain to anyone who dares to challenge him around the basket. Otherwise, I am afraid he is going to turn into an upgraded version of Bradley.

 

No one said it's easy, but he has to back up his "trash talk", he made quite a few when talked to Chinese media. He was drafted as #1, and it comes with expectations and resonsibility. If he wants to be a great player, and he said he wants to, then you have to give out your maximum effort night in and night out, do what ever it takes to win.

NBA is professional, it's his job, not a hobby. Currently, I think he treats it as a hobby.


--daoshi