i'm an optimist, so you know what? if yao gets stronger, then why can't he be as good as shaq? one time tonight he went up for a dunk and got stuffed by doleac, the ref called a foul but clearly it was clean and then he uncharacteristically misses both free throws. my point is maybe there's a time when he'll just throw the likes of doleac off his back and dunk it through despite the contact. i mean it's not like he has to jump and keep balance or anything, just absorb the contact. if that ever happens, Yao will be as good as shaq. i mean he'll never be as athletic. but if he can get stronger, catch the ball better, and finish better, geez... you can't foul him like you can shaq because he'll kill you at the line. and you can leave him outside like you can shaq because he can hit the 18 footer. he won't be as physically dominating, but why can't his offensive game be as dominating? right now his defense is getting close, he already changes as many shots as shaq does, those block numbers should go up as well. anyway, in response to the thread. i think there's enough talent. another low post threat? MoT! as long as this team gels and JVG manages matchups better we can play anyone. just maybe not the kings...
Well, why not pad my post number? I'm telling you, when Mark Jackson hit the floor, it was pretty to watch the Rockets play. I realize that MJax is about 49 years old and has the mobility of a land shark; and that he'll probably need three Advil just to make it to the next game; and that he wanted to show that he can still matter, this being his first game since the Carter administration.... ....but goodness gracious. Steve's talents are being wasted here. What we need from our point guard we aren't getting. Steve Francis deserves to help carry an EC team. We need a Carlos Arroyo, or a Kirk Hinrich, manning the point. Or Eric Snow (although he's on a contract that will take him to his mid-30's and will he be worth that money then?) I have often stated that this team's other superstar (or near-superstar) should be at one of the forward positions. I just don't know if any of them are available (Marion, Rashard, Abdur-Rahim, Brand, etc).
Wouldn't you consider Mo to be someone who could consistantly score in the low post, as well as someone who has a pure mid range game?
I agree Snow-cat Taylor is the Pf of the future and Boki the Sf of the future. Taylor can score in the post more consistently than Yao at this point, and that'll be case for a bit longer, something like a year maybe.
I would say a bit of both. We need more time in the JVG system for sure. This team is just scratching the surface. We have already made BIG strides this half season defensively and we are moving the ball offensively better than we have in a while. So that is a start. Talentwise we need more. I have been as big a believer of the 3 star system as anyone on this bb. I think unless you have the MVP (Duncan, Shaq etc) you need 3 stars to compete. I just feel that the Western Conference is just too damn tough right now and unless you have the firepower you will get left in the dust. To make it up the mountain that is the Western Conference we need to have star power to do it. Now, I am not suggesting trying to field a team full of stars, just 3. Then fill the rest of the team with Jim Jackson type role players that play good defense that compliment the star players.
More talent. If you get the right guys, they will mesh very quickly. It didn't take Clyde long to work with Hakeem. If you have the wrong guys, no amount of time will ever make them gel. See Clyde and Barkley, or Barkley and Hakeem both fighting to post on the same low block. Blow this team up, and start over with guys that complement Yao. Get the right mix of talents, and things will come together in a hurry. Keep waiting for players to change, and you're condemning yourself to a cycle of frustration and failure, while trade assets continually diminish in value.
As has been said, we do still have weaknesses.....but. Some here are so locked into their positions on the SF issue that they are unable or unwilling to see the efforts he is making to fit himself into the role we need him to play. They look at him tryin to play more like a point and see him struggle with his shot...and figure that those problems will never be resolved because SF is "playing to his weaknesses" That isn't quite fair in my eyes that people arent allowing him to really make an attempt to change...they say..."5 years..blah blah"...and forget the fact that never before in his career was he *asked* to change his game...this is the first time his coach has come to him and asked him to totally change the way he is playing the game...and he is responding.. Sure, a couple of weeks worth of games does not a total change make....but dont you at least admit that he is trying? and succeeding? When it comes to our point guard...I think time will be the deciding factor..IF under VG, he is unable to get it together by the end of the year...then fine...lets look for a better solution.....but cant you guys at least give him till then to complete the change that is underway? It isnt like he isnt changing before our eyes...it is happening.. Sure, it is great that we have MJ coming in and making all sorts of pretty passes and running the offense in the way we wish SF could do..and I do agree that even if he cant play for much longer, we need to find another backup point that can play like that.... The only other thing we really need is a good forward...preferably a more rounded PF...Mo has improved his defense...and now works hard on the glass..but if we could get someone a little taller with Cato's meanness that shoots like Mo...we would be set. I love Cato as the defensive enforcer in the paint...but his offensive weaknesses are too much to ignore. I hate to say it with the way he has been playing...but use him to help get a better PF...there has to be lots of teams in the east that could use a good defensive center that doesnt need to shoot often. Overall, I think we can do some damage in the postseason if they all keep up the hard work and improvement under VG.. Sometimes it is the most unlikely bunch of guys that can come together and mesh in ways that you cant forsee.
He's gotten better this year at taking the ball inside, but he's still primarily a long range (18 to 20 feet) shooter in my book. I really like Mo Taylor, and think he makes a great 6th man. But as a starting PF his weakness on the boards would be even more exposed. And as for mid-range shooting, I think we need more than one or two players who can do it consistantly.
Right now I think we need more time. JVG has brought a defensive emphasis to the team that has turned the Rockets into one of the, if not the most intimidating, defensive team in the league. When you allow 83 to 84 points a game, you obviously don't need to score much in order to win. If you can average 87 to 90 points, you should be able to achieve the 50-win plateau playing this kind of defense. So the goal for the Rockets should be to find a way to score 7 points more a game than they are currently scoring. JVG's challenge will be to figure out where to scrap up those extra points from. The obvious source would be through the further development of Yao Ming. Ming needs to get to 20 points a night. It's been well discussed on this board that Ming is more than capable of 20 points a night, but he must become a more aggressive player. Another possible source for points could come by reducing the team's turnovers. This team is terrible in the turnover department with too many guards that do not know how, or maybe a better way to say it is "when", to pass the ball. I think this Rockets team has some shortcomings that will keep it from ever competing with the top teams of the west, but I think the way this team plays defense, those shortcomings can be compensated for and this team can reach 50 wins this season with some improved offense.
MacBeth this is a very good question. And I generally go back and fourth on it. The Rockets are so damn inconsistent that is really hard to tell if the current core of players is enough to turn us into contenders. I've come to the conclusion that no major deal should be made untill the offseason to give JVG time to properly evaluate the players. That being said, I just don't see Mobley being part of this group. I can see him in a deal to upgrade one of our foward positions. Jackson is a natural 2 anyway and he's a JVG type player. Taylor and most likely Cato will be made available in the expansion draft so getting on of them off the books will also play a role in any offseason moves.
No. I simply don't buy the argument that they need more time. The facts indicate that the front office has not done a good job of acquiring talent. We have a team loaded with athletes who can run and jump right out of the gym (although lately, they seem intent on collecting old obsolete former Knicks players). The only problem is that they cannot play team basketball. With dimwits like Dawson in the front office, don't expect this situation to improve anytime soon - in fact, I expect it to get much worse as they have no 1st round picks for the next year or so and their record in acquiring talent through free agency or trades is abysmal. That plus the fact that Uncle Les' wanting to save money means that all player decisions will be based on money and not talent. That's a major reason why they have been hitting the NBA bargain bin for old Knicks players lately. Giving them more time only adds to the problem - not solve it.
On a side note, I think we're one of the least talented teams in the league aside from maybe the Hawks, Jazz and Magic. I mean our talent includes Steve, Yao, Mobley and then some average NBA players. Every team can match that in the league. Look at the horriffic Bulls: Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Marcus Fizer, Kirk Hinrich, Jay Williams, Jamaal Crawford, and Eddie Robinson. Aside from that they have Antonio Davis, Scottie Pippen, Jerome Williams, and Kendall Gill. Are we mroe talented than the Bulls? I really don't think so. But I think this organization's winning mentality versus the Bulls suddenly losing mentality has really been the difference. We are not really loaded with pure talent, but we've got a good squad of players and have always had a coach who gets players to overachieve (Rudy and JVG). Do I think JVG would have the current Bulls in the East playoffs? Hell yes. Do I think the Bulls organization could have this Rockets squad in the hunt for 6th seed? Highly unlikely.
We need more time to evaluate the talent. We stand pat for this year and see how/if Yao, Francis and Mobley gel. If Yao consistently performs at the level he has shown in the last 5 games, then we must determine why and decide accordingly. If it's a result of the gelling that we all have hoped for, we keep the squad intact. If Yao's improvement is because of JVG limiting/changing the role of players, then that player can and should be shopped for someone that better fits what we need.
