This is unbelievable. DD wasnt really ripping on Steve and company. He was more interested in simpily throwing dirt at y'all SOF.
Here he is again...the JAZZ fan posting on the Rockets board, give it up for Sam I am, the lonliest Jazz fan on the planet, who wants to come bash posters because he has nothing intelligent to add to any basketball discussion... Way to go Sam....WOOHHOOOO, now go back to carrying Sloan's towel and leave the championship winning franchise discussions alone. More quality posts from Sam below. SHHHHHHH....you are gonna take away my fun.
DD, you say this isn't a bashing thread when you knew it was going to turn into exactly that. But I guess its not suprising coming from you. I guess I just don't understand the point of still bashing SF, Cat, Cato, when they are no longer Rockets. Its old news, but I guess some of ya'll need something to bash.
Actually Gucci, I intended it to be a thread for people to post what they were looking for from the New and improved Rockets. Everyone knows I never liked Steve's game, I wish him the best in Orlando and hope that some day he really does learn to be a real team leader, and not just in stats. However, I am just ECSTATIC that he is gone and a new direction is upon the Rockets. I viewed Steve as the single biggest reason that the Rockets did not improve by much. I am hoping, and this is just conjecture, that with Steve gone, Yao will step up and be more assertive, especially being on a team that plays an unselfish version of basketball. Steve and Cat where not good team players, I don't think it was a consciese(sp?) decision to hog the ball, I just think they did not trust anyone other than themselves and by proxy this caused a breakdown in overall team efficiency. Sometimes a trade is good for everyone, and I think this is the case. Steve and Cat and Cato have a fresh start, and so do Tmac, Reese, Lue and Juwan. I am looking forward to a team that shares the ball and plays as a unit. It will be very refreshing to say the least. Again, not bashing, just got tired of watching over 300 games and seeing minimal improvement at best. Sometimes a man's game is what it is, and it is not changing........ DD
That's really just a half-empty/half-full argument. I'm happy because of the acquisition of T-Mac, NOT because of the loss of Francis, Mobley and Cato. And if you felt you were wasting time the last five years, why watch? When they were really bad, I turned off the tv. I didn't buy tickets. That is what you do when you feel like you are wasting time. I just don't think it is particularly productive to complain about guys who are gone and seasons that are history. I'd prefer to be happy with what we have now.
I am happy with what we have now...if you read my original post, I was merely pointing out what I look forward to from the new team. But, part of my happiness has to do with getting rid of a player that I felt was coddled and was never made to improve for the good of the team. Francis talks a good game, and says the right things, but the guy just goes out and plays idiotic basketball. He has to be the most stubborn player ever...how many times did he dribble out the shot clock, in 5+ years? I am happy he is gone, and Cato (whom should have been better). Now Cat, I used to not like, but I admit he got much better these last 2 years...him I will miss....but...we have Tmac...so I will get over it. DD
i agree DavidS, that's why they took Howard and not Okafur they are rolling the dice on his potential in the hope he will become KG version 2
I would have taken Okafur.....a big man that is quick always has a massive advantage in the pro game....look at Hakeem. DD
I think both Howard and Okafur are 6'10 ish. In the highlights I have seen...Howard looks great, but not overly quick, whereas Okafur is very quick at getting to the ball. Hakeem was 6'10" and quick...and that is a huge advantage. DD
Well, I almost never got to watch them play, so I cannot empathize with the pain of those who DID get to... but I agree with much of what you're saying, Sherlock. I am not interested in coddling their feelings, but I do think that they deserve credit for what they WERE able to accomplish, and can say that in the many many hours I have spent at clutchcity/fans during their time as Rockets they have provided me with many vicarious thrills... I just HAD to say SOMETHING to commemorate all those hours of reading... ... and I'm sure that they enjoyed their failures even less than we did... coming as CLOSE to the playoffs as they did, in a very tough conference... you might think the Rox were at the BOTTOM of the lottery those 5 years, from some of the comments... I suppose this might be a result of expectations, like CD saying that this was the greatest collection of talent ever, or whatever he said... still, they're pros, and I'm sure they don't really need to have the fans who pay their salaries take it easy on them... a LITTLE balance might go a long way, though... I think. What if it was true that the things fans say actually affect how players play? What then? I suppose since they're going to the Magic we should screw with their heads as much as possible, then... except we don't want to motivate them too much for when we face them in the Finals... ya know... I wish I could remember who the poster was who was talking about enjoying BASKETBALL as much as enjoying RESULTS, it was like a year ago... of course not all basketball is equally enjoyable, I'm sure, without the proper drugs... and of course basketball is also about results, but to say that Francis, Mobley and Cato are only capable of taking a team to the lottery? A little omniscient and unforgiving, I think, given the GOOD but not GREAT results they achieved here, record-wise... again, on the other hand, one expects more than collapsing at the end of a season and missing the playoffs by a game, etc... I guess I'm down with people's frustatration with them and relief that they're gone, and with venting a little at their expense, all things considered... We can do that and still wish them well and (grudgingly, maybe) acknowledge that maybe they accomplished a thing or two here and didn't really truly SUCK despite it all (when you consider the depths of suckitude we've all seen on a basketball court), and have mixed feelings... as my dear uncle once explained to me, "de gustabus non disputandum est". (Either "in matters of taste, it is best not to argue", or "there is no accounting for taste"... I think.) Another time he explained to me, "shut up". So... I will. But first -- SO LONG, GUYS, THANKS FOR BEING DEVOTED ROCKETS AND PLAYING SO HARD, AND GO KICK SOME ASS IN ORLANDO! (I'll be a semi-Magic fan now... once a Rocket, you know? I support them all, and can't just turn that off completely...) OK, sorry, I just read some more of the thread... always a good idea, I'm told... so, DaD, if you're saying that Steve was coddled and never made to improve for the good of the team, does that mean that part of the problem was also with the people who coddled him and didn't make him improve? ...just trying to read between the lines a bit... Of course, fwiw, if Steve had been a genius of team basketball but lacked essential physical skills, and had achieved the exact same results record and playoff-wise in his time here, and we had ALL loved him, it still would've made sense to do this trade, right?... the trade and this thread aren't just about how happy we are to get rid of Francis... ok... anyway...
Yeah, sorry, I guess since the post wasn't your normal 3 sentence fragments it doesn't live up to your high standards. BTW, since it was about a week ago, can we say that you officially wussed out in that Eddie Griffin thread? http://bbs2.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=1414175#post1414175 All talk.
It's funny that those so called "family members" were bashed left and right when they were with us and no one tried to ban bashing, and now people who bashed them try to ban bashing them by saying it's not the classy thing to do upon their departure. Hello, why they could be bashed when they were "family members" and not when they left the "family" and joined the "family" opposition?! This political correctness thing is getting out hand.
OK, I lied, I want to coddle EVERYONE'S feelings... I'm coddly like that... what's good for the goose, and all... what was that animated cartoon where they were talking about professional athletes having to put up with people who can barely MOVE (cuz they're so out of shape) screaming "YOU SUCK!!" at them... ? Yes, they do sort of set themselves up as gods a little bit and ask to be worshipped... it's like a big emotional soap opera... it is to laugh... As for me, I am looking forward to reading, this next season, about any or all of the improvements DaD is predicting, as they take shape... please be as vivid as possible in your descriptions... thank you. That is all.
Burlesk, You should post more often. To answer your question, YES, absolutely the coaches and staff should take a LOT of the blame for the coddling. Steve was told numerous times what he needed to do to improve, he even went to Oscar Robertson who told him. Steve had a lot of advice, and he should have taken it, but you are correct in that Rudy and JVG, and CD should have MADE him adjust first. Coddling is not good for overall growth. DD
Sam, If the Rocks sign EG, I will take up your wager. Until then, I will continue to contribute to the BBS as hopefully you will also. However, if you continue to come into people's threads and bash the thread and never add anything of value, you will quickly hit the ignore list. I wish I could put you on Ignore for GARM only...because I actually enjoy reading your D&D posts, even though we don't agree much there either. But in the GARM, dude, you just don't seem to add anything of value. DD
