I figured the team would have problems when Yao came back. Players had gotten comfortable in their roles, and now they are all going to have to get comfortable playing with a low post player again. Everyone on the team is effected by Yao being back, it will take a few games before they all settle into their new roles. Juwan no longer will be asked to score so much, he will have to go back to the bench and learn how to hustle for rebounds and put backs. Rafer will have to learn to feed the post more often and shoot far less unless he is wide open. Tmac will not be able to drive as much because Yao is down on the block clogging the lane. Battier - well, he will be just fine. It was clear that the team was struggling early because they were lost out there on both offense and defense. It will take a few games for the guys to settle back into their respective new roles. And as I said in the game thread, that fall was the best thing that could have happened to Yao, he knows he can take a hard fall and get back up again....part of coming back from an injury is the mental issues, I think tonight Yao hammered those away. Don't worry, be happy. DD
kudos. but im, i dont know how to describe it. im still dwelling on past losses and this one and how they may affect our playoffs. plus, my friend bugs me every time after the rox lose. and thats been happening a lot lately. can someone help me? lol
I have given up the goat on the homecourt issue, I think we are set at 5.....so gonna just enjoy the ride and hope for the best. DD
There are some serious re-adjustment for our players to do including Tmac. Boy, it's like the begining of the season.
I'm worried that the Lakers are going to overtake us for the 5 during this adjustment period, they're like what 3 games behind us now? Seriously, if we get the 6 we're going to face SA in the 1st round. I don't want to see that.
The T-Mac/Yao pick and roll needs to start NOW! (or as soon as Yao is back to normal) No more fooling around with our other scrubs as they are just too inconsistent. Luther Head man, one day you love him, the next day he has a boneheaded play in the clutch that could cost the team the game. At least the team played hard at the end fighting for that rebound that cut the lead to 3 off McGrady's 3. That's the kind of intensity the team needs all night, there's not many teams in the league that could hang with us if we played like that every night, or almost every night. But, therein lies the problem. Energy, some nights you have it some nights you don't, and it comes and goes within the game. Anyways...now all we have to do is wait for Yao get back into shape and we're good. Looks like we have the 5 seed locked, no higher no lower. Last time we were the 5th seed didn't end up too well but LET'S CHANGE HISTORY.
It's not a chemistry issue. It's a tbrick issue. He missed 22 shots man. We win if he was shooting ok today. Hopefully it's a one time thing cause he was horrible today.
Lakers are slumping too. No worries. No Lamar, no walton, no wins for the Lakers. They are 3.5 behind, with one to play tomorrow against Minny, which I can see they lose to the playoff struggling twolves.
I completely agree DD. I think everyone would be better served to forget about the playoff seeding. I was very impressed with Yao's return and believe that he will be back to form in a couple of weeks. Over 30 minutes was not expected and a double/double to boot. Kirk Snyder seems to be fitting into the rotation well, but(as someone stated) our rythmm was off which was clearly shown in the turnover stats. It was a game we could have won with some more than clear terrible calls. Props to Lebron though, he hit some rediculous shots tonight.
True. I'm not that upset, at least I am trying really hard not to show it. I have made peace with the fact that we will be fifth seed (I actually prefer that over the third and the fourth). We just have to enter the playoffs with some sort of momentum.
yup. we got the talent. now that we know we cant get homecourt for the first round, at least we're three up against the lakers. i think the 5th seed is ours.
Why would anybody panic? The Rockets managed to thrive with Yao injured for two months and have enough time to get him and the team ready for the playoffs. I'm not worried about what the Rockets can't do. What the Rockets can bring to the playoffs is something other teams will have to deal with. We're going to be fine.
Our D was less than stellar tonight. Very slow on the rotations leaving Hughes open on too many occasions. I hope JVG tightens the reigns and gets us to a good place quick.
They have a back to back against Twolves, then Bucks...then Philly on Friday. This team HAS to get the easy wins against Boston and New Jersey or else we might end up having to footrace for the 5th seed...its not as guaranteed as most people think it is with the way Houston's playing.
good thread. agreed we looked better in the second half, and Yao played better than I thought he would. Although Luther's turnover inbounding and Rafer's (phantom?) fould pissed me off to no end, I think it's all gonna be fine...
Thanks for the positive thread, DD. I agree, I think it will just take a little while for them to feel each other out again. I liked the way they fought back at the end through hustle and defense, despite shooting absolutely horribly. And way to go Yao for popping back up after the hard fall (which looked like a foul to me. Z just threw his body into Yao's legs to get that steal.)
Just one game. I bet Tmac is going to shoot 10 for 32 this season ever again. The postive is, as horribly as we played tonight(Yao first game back) we were right there down the wire. Of course, IMO, Cavs is not a good team, but I think we will be fine before the season ends. We gotta be, if we are not, what differences does it make, 5 or 6, it's first round exit again.
Agreed. Yao was rusty and TMac had an off night, but we were still in the game . If not two, three crucial mistakes by Head and Rafer, we might have ended up winning. Yao really is like an anchor for the team cause when he is now back. suddenly I feel the whole team is more steady, and the bench feels like much deeper. It is amazing! We will be fine. SI
