Francis: "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs"

Exactly the kind of attitude you need to have in a young team. I feel the same way, and I wish some of you doubters out there would believe in the team as much as they do. Remember the slogan: Believe it!

Also, big news on Hakeem-- says he will be practicing tomorrow and might play against Denver. We shall see. Anyway, here's the Chronicle's midseason recap on the Rockets- a pretty good read.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/801599

.500 record has Rockets thinking big

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle

The Rockets publicly stated they had one goal this season. Reaching the playoffs was the objective, and it would be the standard by which they would measure themselves.

When the season reaches the midpoint after Tuesday's game at Denver, the Rockets, who are 20-20, will be several games and at least two rungs in the standings off the rapid playoff pace set in the Western Conference.

So the goal has changed just a bit.

"We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs," Rockets guard Steve Francis said. "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."

The first half of the season has the Rockets back where they started. But in many respects, they consider their .500 record an accomplishment, if not quite a triumph.

"Even looking at the record, it's kind of a tribute to these guys," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We have one of the youngest starting lineups in the league, maybe next to the Clippers, the way we've been starting lately. We're in every game. We've won some big games. We've beaten some good teams, contending teams. I think the progress is coming along at a very high clip. There will be some setbacks like anybody would experience. I couldn't be more pleased with the growth."

But the first half of the season also has produced headaches as agonizing as torn rotator cuffs, sprained ankles and knee cysts. Along with the growing pains the Rockets' young nucleus has exhibited, the team's age and direction continue to be issues and could bring stunning upheaval in the second half.

Center Hakeem Olajuwon suggested last week the Rockets might be better off without him, but the chances of the Rockets' working a trade for Olajuwon and his $16.5 million contract are negligible. And an outright release is at best unlikely given that the Rockets -- as Friday's loss to Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers demonstrated -- still need centers, even in somewhat diminished and wholly revised roles.

"It's real important," Francis said. "Kenny (Thomas) and Mo (Taylor) have been doing a great job, but we need those guys to get better. We need their presence inside. We need our big men, (Kelvin) Cato and especially Hakeem."

Said Tomjanovich: "We love him, and we want him here. It's as simple as that."

When the Rockets speak of the progress they have made in the first half of the season, they cite an increasing cohesiveness that has come about after Cuttino Mobley moved into the starting lineup, increasing the minutes for the team's second-leading scorer and making Shandon Anderson virtually a full-time forward.

The result is that the Rockets have started running their offense more efficiently and have in recent weeks begun to make strides defensively.

"We're getting a feel for each other," Anderson said. "We're a lot better at moving the ball and getting easy layups and transition baskets. It's hard when you don't get any easy baskets like we were.

"We're recognizing what the defense is doing and moving the ball better. We're in almost all the games. And in a one- or two-point game, a few of those baskets during the game is the difference."

But if all that is the result of familiarity and repetitions, the process might have to begin again when the centers return. Olajuwon is scheduled to practice today, his 38th birthday, and could be activated from the injured list in time to play at Denver.

"We want to put everybody together and get to the point that everybody is playing well," Mobley said. "We're getting to be where everybody knows where everybody is and has a feel for each other. But we need everybody back."

The Rockets could use all the manpower they can get when they begin a second consecutive week with four games in five days.

Still, with Olajuwon out, the Rockets have found a groove offensively.

With Olajuwon in the lineup, the Rockets would check out his usual low-post plays. And if Tomjanovich has demonstrated anything as a coach, it is that he will run a play every time down the court if it continues to work.

But many times, the Rockets moved on to the next thing, clicking with it more effectively than the plays left over from the championship years. They have asked Olajuwon to set screens and cut hard to the basket, taking him away from what he has always done best -- creating his own shots by setting up the opponent with his quickness and balance with the ball.

Since Olajuwon was sidelined, the Rockets have averaged 99.8 points per game and made 46.4 percent of their shots. Before the swelling in Olajuwon's right knee forced him out, the Rockets had made 44.4 percent of their shots and averaged 94.3 points per game.

Some of that recent offensive success has featured cuts and drives that take advantage of lanes made available by the lack of a low-post presence. But the Rockets believe their increased production in January is the result of their improved execution, Taylor's adjustment to his new team and Anderson's turnaround.

"I know we're making a lot of progress since the first preseason game, and I think we can do a lot better," Francis said. "Even though our record is .500, I think we're a lot better team than we were back at the beginning of the season.

"We have more confidence, one. I'm sure everybody does. Two, we play better together. Guys are beginning to mesh better. I know when I drive now, somebody will be open. Coach did a good job changing a lot of plays around. It's easier to get the ball to my teammates. You know I like to jump in the air. I used to get stuck. Now, I know where guys will be in the corner or floating on top."

The Rockets also have been playing well defensively. But they remain a .500 team for a reason.

While they rank 10th in scoring, eighth in field-goal and free-throw percentage and fifth in 3-point percentage, the Rockets are 15th in average points allowed and 22nd in opponents' field-goal percentage. They are 24th in rebounding.

"That's where we have to improve, just concentrating on rebounding and defense," Mobley said. "We all can score. We're playing great considering we have so many guys hurt. It's important the guards and small forwards help the big men on the boards and really do a good job on their men to help keep them (the Rockets' big men) out of foul trouble. If they have to help us too much, they pick up fouls. If we relax even a little bit, they're going to pick up some cheap ones.

"It's got to be more of team concept. We have to be even tighter defensively."

With all of that said, it all goes back to the original goal. With none of the West playoff contenders showing signs of a collapse, there is no margin for error.

"I know it sounds bad, but we just need to win more," Francis said. "We're in almost every game until the last two or three shots. We're executing great. As long as we continue to execute, I think we will win more games."

They will have to. The schedule does get easier in the last six weeks, but the Rockets might need a hot streak before then. Still, they remain confident.

"It's been pretty good so far," Anderson said. "There's always one or two streaks in a season, losing streaks and winning streaks. We had our losing streak. We've been pretty consistent. But we need to get one good winning streak together."

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President of the Jason Collier and Mo Taylor fan club!

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