Error costly, but positive steps taken (JOHN P.LOPEZ)

"My fault," Van Gundy said (JOHN P.LOPEZ)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/rox/3014895

Jan. 29, 2005, 1:33AM

Error costly, but positive steps taken
By JOHN P.LOPEZ
Chris Webber took the shot, Jeff Van Gundy took the blame.

I got no problem with that.

A night that could have gone a long way toward telling us if the Rockets team we've been calling new and improved would really look that way against one of the league's best was spoiled.

The heartbreaking moment for the Rockets came after so many signs indicated these Rockets were on their way toward a special kind of winning streak.

Until the final seconds of regulation in Friday night's 117-111 overtime loss to the Kings, the Rockets were doing many of the same things that were earning them legitimate playoff consideration after wins against the Knicks, Hornets and Magic of the world.

They were rebounding better, sharing the ball better and defending better.

Coming in, would anyone have been surprised if, like tow truck drivers on the Eastex Freeway, it would have taken the Kings all of about six minutes to haul off what had been looking like a smooth-running machine?

But they didn't.


Not fouling bad move
When the Rockets had a three-point lead and the seconds clicking away, they looked golden. Then Tracy McGrady didn't foul Webber after Webber caught the ball — with his back to the basket — on a desperation play.

"My fault," Van Gundy said. "If you don't execute whatever you want to do down the stretch, that's the coach's fault. That play's on me."

Webber turned and sank a fadeaway 3-pointer to tie it. The Kings won it in overtime, and today it might be easy to slam fists into tables and cry that everything that looked so promising was slapped back to reality.

But don't. For all the decisive spells in this loss, including a start that saw the Kings shooting better than 60 percent most of the first half, the Rockets looked as if they were forgetting the things that sparked a four-game winning streak.

When the Kings bolted to a double-digit lead late in the first half and again in the third quarter, the Rockets reverted to relying only on whatever superstar McGrady could muster.


T-Mac can't do it all
He mustered quite a bit, bringing the Rockets within striking distance at the break (54-50) with a solo act reminiscent of the 13 points in 35 seconds he accomplished against the Spurs in a quality win this season.

During the final seven minutes of the half, McGrady accounted for all but two of the Rockets' points and finished with 30.

But then the Rockets remembered: All McGrady is not how they must win.

They can't be the disjointed squad that was so overmatched it had to be remade with a trade for David Wesley, a why-not signing of Rod Strickland and Bob Sura's coming off the injured list.

They must recognize their much talked about shortcomings — notably nastiness out of the power forward position and possessing no point guard who would be considered Mike Bibby-like — and adjust.

The last-second failure notwithstanding on Friday night, they did.

Blame Van Gundy for the ultimate outcome, or blame McGrady. But understand this team appears headed the right way.

The biggest misconception about the Wesley trade, and for that matter Sura's influence, is that more athleticism has tweaked the Rockets' fate.

Nah, that's not it.

Winning in this league is all about surrounding stars with players who not only know their roles but accept roles. They don't have to like them, just accept them.

No team epitomizes that point more than the one the Rockets played Friday night.

The Kings never will be considered among the most athletic squads in the league. Yet they average nearly 102 points per game, have seven players averaging in double figures, four averaging around four assists and never wavered or lost confidence in improving to 29-13.

Why did the Kings win? Everyone knows their place, confidence is high, and Bibby runs the show terrifically.

The Rockets are getting it. But the Kings do it better.

"One thing you don't teach in this league is, either you see the game a play ahead or you see it a play behind," Van Gundy said. "The guys who can really pass the ball in this league see the play before the play, versus the guys who don't, it's a turnover."

During the Steve Francis-Cuttino Mobley years, the Rockets were a team that often sped across the court at what looked like 100 mph. But they got nowhere.

How many times would someone streak upcourt on a fast break, only to be left hanging in the air, desperately heaving the ball to no one in particular, hoping for the best?

Even this season, how many times would you ease into your seat at Toyota Center as if it were a dentist's chair. You knew it was going to hurt, you just didn't know how bad.

This was one of the most entertaining games the Rockets have played this season. They blew it by not fouling Webber, instead letting him sink the tying 3-pointer.

But as long as the coach and the superstar never let a player like Webber get off a shot like he did Friday, this team might well start beating the league's best consistently.

john.lopez@chron.com

 

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/rox/3014894

Jan. 29, 2005, 1:39AM

Mobley's emotions run high
Being separated from Francis, Yao stings new King
By MEGAN MANFULL

Cuttino Mobley doesn't want anyone thinking he is unhappy. If he had to be traded away from his buddy Steve Francis in Orlando, Mobley is thrilled he landed in Sacramento.

The Kings hardly lose and they are definitely playoff bound.

Yet at the same time, Mobley hardly has put Houston and his past with Francis behind him. In his first trip to Toyota Center since the June trade that sent him to Orlando, Mobley fought a gamut of emotions as the Kings won 117-111 in overtime.

It was evident Mobley didn't miss everything about playing for the Rockets, but he did admit he wished the trio of Francis, Mobley and Yao Ming never had been broken up.

"I think we should have stayed (in Houston) a little longer," said Mobley, who hit a critical 3-point shot in overtime Friday night. "(We) got into the playoffs after Yao's second year and after our fifth year.

"We're still young guys. Man, and to let that go, it's kind of like, argh. You just junk your load a little too fast, you know what I mean? I thought we could have done a little damage with us three."


Lively addition
With that being said, Mobley isn't exactly moping in Sacramento, where he was traded two weeks ago from Orlando. He loves the Kings' up-tempo, high-scoring offense.

He also has quickly fit into a leadership role, becoming one of the Kings' most vocal players on the court and in the locker room.

With the Rockets, Mobley used to chatter and loudly serenade his teammates with songs after games.

"I talked to Yao recently, and he said it's a little different," Mobley said. "Its not lively. Of course, they traded me and Steve and all the life left. But maybe it's better for them. Whatever. To each his own."

Mobley spent his first six seasons in the NBA with the Rockets and averaged 17.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. All but his first year with the Rockets, Mobley played alongside Francis.

Despite playing on opposite coasts now, Francis and Mobley are as close as ever. Francis was vocal about how angry he was regarding the trade that separated them; Mobley has shown his continued attachment to Francis in more creative ways.


Special bond
Mobley changed his uniform number to 3 to honor Francis. Mobley also has accentuated some plays with what he has called the Francis "O," in which he holds his hands above his head in a circular motion.

"People who don't know us or people who don't have close relationships with their friends, maybe it's strange to them," Mobley said. "We're brothers. Some people say just because you make that much money, you can't be that close. But that's my little brother."

Francis and Mobley talk daily and he holds out hope they will be reunited. Mobley has no idea where he'll be playing next year though. He plans to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, and said he is keeping all of his options open — including a return to the Rockets.

But Mobley wasn't convincing when he said he wouldn't mind playing for Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy again. He did acknowledge how much he learned defensively from Van Gundy though.

"When I was in Orlando, I was telling people about his defense — not his offense, but his defense," Mobley said. "He's one of the best ever. I watch basketball and I've seen it. Jeff's amazing on defense."

Offensively speaking, Mobley would prefer to stay put. He sank the Kings' first basket of the game at Toyota Center and finished with 24 points.

The only thing missing is Mobley's friends. A big part of him still wants to find out what he and Francis and Yao could accomplish together.

"You know you never know what can happen in the future," Mobley said. "We'll all probably end up together again."