Heypee nice story. Some of us aren't like you though. I am not that big of a basketball fan. I love the Rockets first and foremost. Everything else comes in second. If the Rockets aren't playing up to their potential then I get really frustrated. But don't worry I am not jumping off the ship any time soon. Or ever for that matter. In fact I just bought an extra ticket for my girlfriend for the Sac game about a min ago. I have tried to be on my best behavior and not bash the Rockets for about two years. You might remember my "Rudy and Cuttino might be gay" threads? I used to start those every other day the season we won 45 games. I have matured, but I can't say the same about the Rockets.
Steve plays with all his heart, there shouldn't be any doubt about it. Last night he did make several very good passes to Yao and Yao made them. Is steve a great passer? I don't think so, but he is trying very hard sometimes. Mobley is another story. He is a less steve, and more selfish player, or a blind player. He doesn't know how to play PG at all, he doesn't have a slight idea how to help his teammates to create open shots, oh yeah, even when someone is open, he won't be able to see it, but even when he sees it he will not pass anyway. Yao had a great game during the first half. I felt Rudy T didn't capitalize it enough, when there was a time Dirk was defending Yao. If they passed the ball more often to Yao at that time, Rockets probably will have more lead to go the next half. IMHO, Mobley/Rudy is the person should be blamed mostly for the third quarter's callapse. Mobley gave too many open looks to Finley. Rudy called a couple of timeouts, but made no effective adjustment to Defense end. Next game is a tough one too, I hope everyone can learn something from their mistake from this game. Steve/Cat need to find the hot hand and pass the ball. Like Yao in last game, like Morris in one of the previous game...
But you did tune into the game, right? You did watch the second half, right? Are you really going to go to bed mad? Nah, of course not (well maybe some do). So actually it all does come down to just watching the game and enjoying it. Let me use a date analogy: If you take a first date to that game, do you b**** all second half and all the way to the car and all the way to her house and ruin the night!!! of course not (Well, maybe some would) so why would me and my best friends do that. I don't enjoy b****ing. It isn't fun. Finley was just amazing. That was sweet to watch. At least we got to see their best. LaFrentz with those 3s...no--not *that*...you can't beat that! Nowitzki hitting them on the run...unbelievable to see. Sure, anticipation of wins that winning teams bring builds excitement in both the fans and the players and make for great nights...but there are still going to be Rockets fans no matter what happens, and you are still going to tune in the game, right. enjoy it, or forget it. Garnett is up next... a n t i c i p a t i o n
And you are calling other people's fanhood into question???!!!! You're such a great fan, but it was "sweet" to watch Finley take us apart? If you enjoyed ANY part of that second half, you're a sick man. Personally I was in my seats with my head in my hands...in a constant state of disbelief.
There lies the difference between you and the rest of us. For us watching Finley hit threes after threes is not "sweet". I felt like vomitting all over the place. Felt like decapitating myself and throwing it at Mobley for not playing any defense. Rockets first, basketball second. Sure these setbacks will make the winning more enjoyable when it finally comes about. But what harm can a little b****ing do? b**** about it and then forget about it. Garnett is up next... c o n s t i p a t i o n
Yea I tuned in for the game, but I also tuned out (mentally if not physically changin' the channel) mid-way through the 3rd. I was talkin' on the phone, screwin' around online... there was nothing fun about this game. I'm a huge Kings fan and a huge-huge college basketball fan in addition to the Rockets. I know what interests me and gives me pleasure. Watching a well-played game, exceeding expectations, and achieving goals against tough competition. That's what gets me. Remember, I'm the guy who flew down from California to catch the Rockets play 3 games the weekend of the Lakers. After this most recent stretch, it's increasingly hard to even bother to tune in. I want the Rockets to do well, and I'll keep rootin' for them and following their scores... but am I flying down again? Am I even buying tickets to their games in California? No way, it's not fun. What? ... let me ponder this analogy for a while. Let's just say if I took a first date to that game, there's a great chance I'm not going to take another date to a Houston Rockets game. If I took a date to the Cal Berkeley basketball game last Saturday (when they creamed UCLA), there's a real good chance the two of us (or at least me + other dates) will be back for more. Not b****ing and ruining the night is one thing. Pretending that everything's ok and I still enjoyed the evening is repression.
He would have dribbled it for about 23.8 seconds and then he would have thrown up a desperation jumper against three defenders.
heypartner's post about enjoying it has really brought home his perspective to me like never before. And I completely agree with it -- might even clean up my act a little. I'm serious. If we were a bunch of literature freaks who supposedly all enjoyed reading Victorian novels, how stupid would be (additionally stupid, that is ) to then sit around and whine about this and that in the novels. "Oh, I hate how this character does this! Oh, this writer is too flowery for me!" You'd just pick up another book, or decide to read a different genre. Simple.
I thought I was just calling R0ckets03's fanhood into question...that's why I tell other people "was I talking to you." "Sweet to watch" was a comment out of context there, Refman. I didn't like seeing, but after the game, I sure go away thinking I saw something highlight worthy and worth the price of admission. Well, it is 2 halves, so I'm not a sick man for overall enjoying that game, and coming away with some real and tangible positives, not just a bunch of Rice Owls sunshine ass moments. On the contrary, I say to you that if you didn't come away from that game any positives, *you* are a sick man. (and you know i don't really mean you are sick, right). Oh, and I did enjoy the utter humiliation of truly "garbage" minutes by Rigaudeau. That's for damn sure.
After watching the Houston/Dallas game, I am convinced that Houston has got a big old problem that has yet to be resolved. This team has no discipline, is not result oriented and is not well coached. They played a good first half, and they didn't learn from it, instead, they thought they could afford to play their old basketball again in the second half, they got slaughtered. Something, they may get away with it, if Catino can have a HOT night, but it does not make this team accountable/better. That is why I have no confident that this team can win a game against a "weaker" team, and we have seem it again and again. They may have the sufficient hardware, but they don't have the software yet, to be able to systematically execute and develop a well planned, improving ball game, to demonstrate that they are actually getting better and solving their old and new problems. When you watch them play from a higher level, you see random noise, you don't see an upward trend. There is a lot for Houston to learn from the Lakers, on how to play the offense. If Catino continues to play his own game, he should be disciplined, regardless whether he makes the shots or not, because he is the road block in developing the PLAN that works for Houston if they want to have another championship. If he can change, the others will follow, otherwise, trade him.
good post HP, I'm glad I didn't flame you like I first wanted to for calling us 'closet jazz fans', otherwise I might have missed that cool post. But from what you tell me, its hard to believe that you'd enjoy a rocket's championship as much as an emotionally 'involved' fan like R03 and myself. The failure hurts like all hell and you try so hard to understand the reasons for the horrible play...then when you think you've figured it out you lash out at full fury to explain what 'MUST' happen to right the ship. After this week I'm so tired of lashing...HP, what do you HONESTLY think needs to be done to fix this team? I'm really curious.
I don't know how much this means, but I'm still with you. Watching that first half was awesome! Besides a few stupid turnovers, I think we played as good a half as we have all season against the top teams. And, the Mavericks had to have the best 3-pt. shooting half in recent history to beat us. The Mavericks, the team with the best record in the league, needed an astoundingly high(In the 2nd half, anyway) 3-pt FG%, an astoundingly low 3-pt FG% on our part, and a terrible game from our best player to win. We are 24-20(3.5 games ahead of the nearest competitor for the 8th spot), and just lost to what is supposed to be the best team in the league. Why is everyone so damn upset?
Because we got our ASS KICKED at home. Because we did not even show something resembling team basketball in the second half.
i guess heypartner is Rudy. T or SF or CM who trys to make the fans feel sorry for talking s**t abuot him.
Rockets03 - I feel ya -- I got home in time to watch the second half. Boy, that was a waste. HeyP - Rockets03 has no sisters. But besides that, I actually agree with a lot of what you said, especially your story. I still get riled up once in a while, but after the 1997 season I think I had the same epiphany you had. In any case, for those who say you can't enjoy what Finley was doing, I think you're mistaken. Yes, you can be pissed about what the opponent is doing against the Rockets, but at the same time, there should be appreciation for what it actually TAKES to beat the Rockets. I'm not really saying Finley was fun to watch; I was gritting my teeth along with most every other person in this thread... but at the same time, seeing that Dallas passing made me think how awesome the Rockets could be with: 1. a legitimate, healthy three point shooter (a la Finley and Nowitzki) 2. Stevie with floor vision (didn't he initially come into the league claiming he wanted to lead the league in assists?) 3. a stronger Yao (as opposed to Bradley and LaFrentz, who both played well) in the middle. Once the Rox show some decent maturity, give them 3-4 years like the Mavs have had, and.... oh wow. Now as long as people don't go overboard in the meantime...
