Yes... but they'll still be below YOUR expectations. And you'll be wrong about being better without Yao.
you said I was just pointing out the contrary to your original statement. And it isn't like the Rockets aren't playing a lick of defense ala the Golden State Warriors and are just running and gunning.
Meanwhile, in tonites game against Utah, the ROX are proving several statements being made in this thread to be wrong...or questionable at the very least. Theyre offense is making up for their defensive activity. Utah aint the Lakeshow, but they ain't a scrub squad either. Be happy it works, even if it aint what you're used to seeing.
I can easily think of 2, Clifford Robinson and Jerome Robinson, both were solid players back in the early 90s.
and neither was James Worthy....or Magic...or Kareem. They did a lot of their winning with Duckworth. Duckworth.
And...? First off, they never won a championship. In fact, they got owned 4-1 and 4-2 in the Finals. Secondly, he never said you need 3 top 50 players to do well in a running system. 3 stars (with 1 top 50 player) in a depleted Conference is good enough.
They weren't better than ONE team. That aint bad. Dude, just watch the game that's on right now. They are playing a BIGGER and more experienced team. They are playing UTAH. In UTAH. Their offense is covering any inconsistency they may have on defense.
And you're drawing conclusions from this one game? I told you. If we're playing .600+ ball by mid-season I'll give this notion a thought. Until then, this, as well as conclusions that Brooks should be MVP, should be put on hold.
dude, thats all we have...game by game. conclusions are drawn by coaches, fans, press, etc. on a game by game basis. im not saying theyre going to win the title this year. im just saying that this CAN work...and that the hype that has been spread that without Yao we are walking dead...well, it just aint so. sorry. it isnt. they win tonite, theyre 3-1: 3 of those games against playoff calibre squads. deal with it. jesus, its GOOD news.
I'll admit the Rockets have an interesting, scrappy new dynamic without Yao, but "better" without Yao? No way, no how guys... so I hope somebody shot the topic creator like he asked. There's no question that right now I wish Yao Ming was in uniform, and likewise, no doubt that he'd make the team better and a title contender. However, something could be said, especially if we continue to have success with this style thru the remainder of the season, that Yao should be released to FA or traded with the intent to acquire one of 2010s big FAs that would fit into a run and gun, tho still defense oriented style. It would only be worth it if letting Yao go meant getting someone like D-Wade or, at least, someone like Bosh or Amare. As much as it would kill me to see Yao go, if it meant getting someone nearly as gifted, but certainly less injury prone... then, maybe, just maybe, it would be a good move-tho that's only if this year's team continues to have success, both in a more speed oriented system, and in competeing for (and hopefully getting) one of the last 3 playoff spots. Still, as things stand now the Rockets are NOT better without Yao. Just because we've seen a little early success with the small lineup and fast pacing doesn't mean it'll maintain, and even if it does the Rockets would have to make it to at least the second round of the playoffs for me to be convinced that Yao might be holding the Rockets back.
Jesus Christ... I HAVE NEVER SAID THEY WERE BETTER WITHOUT YAO! geez. READ the posts before you post.
Ok, that's fine. I'm not saying you can't make a conclusion. Any conclusion can be drawn, but it doesn't mean they're all equally valid. A claim that this team is better than Yao after 4 games is about as speculative as it gets. In fact, any definitive claim about any player or team this early on means little to nothing. As sample size increases, then the data becomes more robust and your conclusion carries more weight. You can believe anything you want, but realize that you don't have much supporting evidence to go on.
I really don't know how else to interpret the statement that Yao "was in the way," unless you want to specify that he "was in the way of worse basketball."
For THIS style of offense...he was IN THE WAY. Its a very simple point. The ROX could never run like this with Yao in the game. Its not good or bad...fellas, it JUST IS. My point is that this type of offense is the kind that Adelman has perfected. he admits himself that he is more comfortable coaching this style rather than the half-court oriented style that YAO dictates. Im not saying its BETTER: Im saying it's not necessarily WORSE. Its different. IT and YAO could not coexist. I think THIS offense is better against teams like the JAZZ. DId you notice the relative ease of tonites game? It FEELS different. (usually after a Jazz game, win or lose, im sweaty and trembling)
Yao makes this team slow. dream scenario would be yao to toronto for bosh and bargani. Brooks Ariza Battier Bosh Scola thats an explosive team
No Tmacs not built for this. He's another main reason why we use half-court offense in the past. He doesn't move without the ball. He doesn't run. He doesn't really play defense.
Wow. An absolute revelation that Yao was in the way of us playing a more up-tempo game. What other epiphanies do you have in store for us today? As for the comparison of efficacy... again, you don't have a big enough sample size to make a definitive statement.
