The only final shot that the Grizz took that was easy was the JWill drive...and he still had to make a not-so-easy finger roll over Ming coming to help. After that, it was the Gasol drive where he had Ming in his face...not much shot there. In OT, it was Wesley Person shooting a three 50 in the air so that Cat wouldn't block it...luck b*stard went in. Before then J-Will hits an un-freaking-believeable fallaway prayer (on a play in which Francis played good defense, I might add) that was answered for some reason. I can't remember exactly what kind of shots we got towards the end of the game tonight...but as I recall 2 of them were with us down 3, so we had to shoot up a three pointer, and the Grizzlies knew that. It is very difficult to get an open shot when the defense knows they only have to worry about playing defense out beyond the 3 point line. The Rockets played tough tonight. What bothered ME was that Francis missed two key FTs and traveled two possessions in a row down the stretch. Francis had a great game tonight (9 assists, only 3 TOs), but those plays were crucial. In the future, I am sure the players will get better in crunch time as they get more and more used to each other (I noticed that on at least one of the Francis drives where he traveled, he was going to the hoop and Ming kind of got in the way, which threw Francis off). On the whole, I think tpl said it best in chat in that this team did not regress tonight. We played almost as well as we have the last few games, but the Grizz just played better. That won't happen very often.
I haven't seen any debate actually. We're piling on. In that spirit, separate from JW's points, you look as his 12 assists with 1 turnover, and you know he was way, way too comfortable out there. These stats are the surest sign that SF put next to know meaningful pressure on their point guard.
What the ****? It's called accountability. I think that's rare in sports these days. I think Stevies TO's are from him not knowing what to do when he gets in the lane. Jason Williams does. He has a better feel for the game. Steve is the better player though.
Raven-I was just making a comment all in all, not just in reference to yesterday's game. We always end up with Mobley or Francis forcing something off the dribble. The other team finds a way to get an open shot. That is basically why we lose 75% of the close games.
I am not really upset about Francis' defense or lack there off but I am miffed about his two missed free throws (which Yao bailed him out) and his 2 consecutive moronic turnovers. This man is NOT a rookie anymore - enough of these avoidable mistakes. We need to get him playing chess in order to sharpen his brain for goodness' sake. Talking about accountabilit - I am tired of verbal accountability (we have been through 1 time too many), it is time for-on-the-court accountability. Kudos to Mobley for his heady plays though; I thought he would find it difficult adapting to the "New Rockets" but he played hard, selfless and smart (almost always) basketball since his return from injury. Francis is still the man IMO but he has to do better when we really need him to. IMO = In my opinion
That's an interesting observation. There have not been many games where the Rockets would have either blown out opponents or gotten blown out. What do you think are the reasons for that?
We have no killer instinct. We don't step on their throats when we have them down. The team does not know how to close the deal on the road. They will get it...I am hoping sooner then later. DaDakota
Yor are right, Yao is under control of Francis and Mobley!!! When they lost the game they think they need this guy, when they win the game they think they can win a game by themsleves.
it seems like everytime late in a game its francis's man blowing past him getting the bucket, its like a instant replay every close game
Mobley was guardin j-will when he threw up that falling down jumper, I believe. So, there wasn't 1 instance where Francis played good D on Williams.
I only watched two of the Rockets game this year, but from what I've seen so far I have to say that Francis's defense is terrible. Several people made the comment abou his improved defense, if that's an improved vesion of defense, man I really don't want to see his original defense. Right now, his defense is way below the average in the league at his position. When you atheletic enough, the defense is just the effort and hard work. With the talent he has, the way he plays the defense, how can anyone claim he just want to win.
He needs to back off, he gets to close to his man and he lets them get right by him, and since he is the PG and usually guarding the PG, the other teams PG gets by SF, causes rotation, and then passes for the easy 2. DD
Well, there was two falling down jumpers. One airballed and one he hit. The airball was earlier in the game, and Mobley might have been guarding him then. But I am quite certain it was Francis guarding JWill on the second one.
That probably is true. Usually when you gets that close to your man, you put more pressure on the ball to force some turnovers, create some steals. But he didn't get any of that. The problem I have seen is that he moves his feet too much, easily lose his balance with his gambling.
