We can beat Dallas . . . Dallas can beat Minnesota WHY CAN'T WE BEAT MINNESOTA!!!! [I know the answer but d*mn it is frustrating that Dallas SPANKS the T-Pups and we always struggle against them] Rockets should review the tape. Rocket River ------------------
But why don't the Rockets match up well with the Wolves? Obviously Garnett is a great player and will outdo whoever the Rockets put on him, but the Wolves have no center. Their guards are terrible defensively and average offensively. The Rocket guards are tremendous offensively and average defensively. That ought to be a huge mismatch in the Rockets favor. The Rocket bench (even without Mobley) is better than the Wolves' bench. ------------------
Right now we don't match up well,but I think that will change. Stevie routinely gets schooled by Terrell Brandon and we would all expect that to change eventually I would think.Like you said there is no answer anybody has for Garnett and we are so weak defensively on the front line that he feasts too(more than usual).Wally has such good size,good shot,and can put the ball on the floor too...another problem...also Peeler or billups always seem to get off against us.Hey,they are a DANGEROUS team,a team that has arrived.They should make alot of noise in the playoffs. ------------------
If the playoffs started today, the Wolves would not qualify. Unless they make a change, I do not see them qualifying. They are too up and down and Garnett can't carry them every night. It is not good when the player you count on to lead you has 26 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists and you still lose by 20 at home. They have had at least 3 major altercations (Wally vs. Brandon and Wally vs. Garnett, and 1 I can't remember - no Wally that time) Billups started out great but has reverted back to his past self. Peeler is a "poor man's" Vernon Maxwell (without the baggage). Mitchell is old, Avery is not good, Nesterovich is not good, Todd Day is Todd Day. I live in Minnesota and see them quite a bit and am just not that impressed. They are a jumpshooting team and when the shots aren't falling they have nothing to fall back on. ------------------
I was not aware of all the internal problems...Just curious,what do you think about the developement of Wally?I really thought coming out, he was the bomb...He SEEMS to be developing well,but since you see them more I'd like to hear what you think. This being said,the West is so full of landmines and it is early. ------------------
Hmmm...sounds like another team I know. ------------------ "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Gandhi
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but the Rockets seem to be defending pick and rolls much better. Opposing guards get far less open jumpers than they used to. It all started in that Dallas game, and has continued from there. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
JEFF - 100% agree with the commentary ZRB -Mostly agree, but unfortunately it's not ALL the Rockets. IMHO, Los and Mo are the ones stepping out from behind the pick. ------------------ GATER
I like the way Wally plays. He's hardnosed, hardheaded and hustles but hasn't grasped the defensive aspect yet. Those traits are what create friction between himself and his teammates. He has had a lingering knee problem and has only recently taken off his brace, which coincided with his recent better play. He starts at the 3, but is probably better suited for the 2. ------------------
We don't match up well vs. Minnesota for several reasons and Garnett isn't one of them specifically. Like any great player, he gets his points, rebounds and assists. They key really lies elsewhere. The Rockets have a great deal of difficulty defending the pick and roll. Minnesota runs it very well with Garnett and Brandon. The fact is that Brandon LOVES to go around a pick and take a 15 or 20 foot jumper. That is his game. The Rockets have not learned how to defend that well and it isn't just Steve. Deciding when and if the big man should show on the pick and going behind vs going over are all issues to deal with and the Rockets don't deal with them well. Most of that is youth because Minnesota's pick and roll is good but they aren't Utah. Also, Minnesota leads the league in assists meaning they move the ball around a lot. That makes rotation on defense extremely important. The Rockets rotations on defense may be their weakest area not because of a lack of quickness but because of a lack of experience reading defenses. That split second it takes to read a defense is crucial to deciding where to go, when and how. And, speaking of rotations, Minnesota is a very good rotating team on defense. They play the passing lanes and know their rotations and that makes a big difference for them on the defensive end. Now, Dallas has only played Minnesota once - last night. The thing is that they have the size to match up with Garnett down low and the quickness in the backcourt to stay with Brandon. Dallas is a good team right now. We match up better with Dallas because they don't have the backcourt to stay with guys like Francis and Mobley who can get to the hole every time. But, Peeler and Brandon are jump shooters and Dallas does have the ability to get in their faces when they shoot. ------------------ The way to use life is to do nothing through acting, The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu
