Have the Rockets ever had a good last play this year?

Still not a good shot. Yao's man was still pushing on him and you can't just say that because he was fading away, he's "uncontested" when there are two Wizards within an arm's length from him (not to mention that fading makes it a hella difficult shot, especially with 2 seconds on the clock). Either way, you can't count on Yao to do your job for you. I mean, look at the Utah game, all Adelman did when the pressure was on was postups for Yao...and when he finally realized those failed miserably, postups for Artest. The same theory here. The Rockets are not paying him just to dump it into Yao, which he has done pretty much everytime the Rockets are under pressure. You and I could do that. I expect better from Adelman on last plays, not just "dump to Yao and pray.". This is one decision from Adelman that puzzles me and that I really can't defend, because while Yao may be our most efficient player, he's not Jesus Christ. You have to have some variety, especially when you know Yao is struggling.

 

Fine, agree to disagree on the shot itself. I think it was a bad shot and I'm not going to rewatch it in detail, this game is way too traumatizing for now (maybe tomorrow will be better).

But either way, not the ideal plan. The Rockets couldn't even get it to Yao until there were 3 seconds left, for heaven's sake. Going to Yao in the first place was shaky as well...he was 2-11 on jumpshots during the game. Even if he usually makes those (though I think on jumpers outside the paint he's shaky, just that we all think he's exceptionally good because he's got a really clean release and it goes down clean...just my opinion though. Think his percentage is something like 35% on jumpers outside the paint?), once the ball was in his hands he had to release it. He had no time to kick it out. Basically the plan lead to the point where he had no alternatives and had to take a high-pressure shot when he was cold in the first place. You have to wonder if that's what Adelman had in mind; Yao Ming with no choice but to launch a jumper, basically a plan with no alternatives and no contingencies. Sure, the coach has to rely on the players to some degree; I'm blaming Yao as well for missing the shot...I just feel like, under the situation, I can still excuse Yao for missing it. I just can't really excuse Adelman for drawing up the situation that lead to it. It's been what he's going to pretty much every game, and it's getting old. Yao is not perfect. And really, given the expectations of Adelman, this is something I never would've expected; a stagnant, predictable last play. Once Yao got the ball, everyone knew what was going to happen.

As for alternatives...I mean, these Rockets are packed with alternatives, what happened to our depth? Artest was stroking it from three. Mac had just hit that tough mid-range jumper. I'll be swallowing my words from another thread, but Brooks could have contributed something with his speed. Battier had a corner three. Rafer is not completely useless. Landry was energetic and managed to get inside the paint a s***load of times. Scola could have been moving around and getting an open shot. Barry's been shooting the three nicely...I mean, really, the Rockets have a crapload of options and they always seem to go back to Yao. It's getting a bit tiring.

 

What's wrong with the last play tonight? The fact that we went to Yao...again...despite the fact he was struggling and clearly on a cold streak. Seriously, is that the only option we have at this point? And it's not just this game, but every other game this year that I've thought through. It seems like we can never really rattle off a key basket. I could be forgetting some, but the impression I get of key plays for the Rockets is forgettable. And this is where a coach truly earns his money. I'm pretty disappointed with Adelman about that.

And I don't think my BBall IQ is high (in fact I'm pretty dumb on this stuff, which is why you don't see me coaching, well, anything), but if I can come up with alternatives and Adelman can't...

Yao had so many of those "9 out of 10 times shots" today that he, well, didn't convert. Did Adelman think it'd be any different with 3 seconds left? Would it be a reach to see something other then Yao post-ups? I'm really frustrated about that.

 

Man, having watched that game...I contrast Terry Porter getting Grant Hill a wide-open layup to take the initial lead for the Suns and then Pop getting Mason a wide-open three with the clock ticking down...to our last plays and it really actually makes me cringe even more. Us? Yao Yao Yao. I'd like to see a nice, fresh play for once, especially given how Yao was struggling this particular game.

 

ohoho you sly guy you

Yeah, it does. This game got me a hell of a lot closer to the Brooks should end games denomination, because I seriously thought the Rockets didn't have any significant problems...but now I do. Losing at home to the second worst team in the league (1-11 on the road before now!)...with a fully healthy roster? Brother, you have another convert!

 

um...I would argue there is a significant what-if factor, since based on your guidelines, a grand total of EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR BROOKS AND RAFER were shooting above Yao at that point (4/13 for 30.7%) and Scola and (7/8-87.5% FG), Battier (2/3-66% FG) were shooting ********* above Yao.

We don't have a Kobe, we do happen to have a pretty talented 6'8 guy on our team as well who's been known to hit a few clutch shots before. Another 6'8 guy who just finished willing this team to victory in OT. A crazy Argentinean who was shooting above 80% and has been known to be great squirming around and moving without the ball. A little point guard who's speed could have been a factor since they were in the bonus and the Wizards had no foul to give...the list goes on.