This is a very accurate write. I really liked how you stressed that trades or anything of that nature will not fix our problems. We need time to gel and time to get the plays down. That is all that is needed, period!
Excellent point. Skip could have had 14 or 15 assists last night. Swift and Wesley both had some UGLY looking shots last night, but the good news was that Juwan seemed to finally get back his steady jumper from the top of the key. As far as the rebounding goes, both teams shot the ball so badly last night that balls were coming off the rim in all sorts of directions and speeds, and Orlando (predictably) was much quicker to react and adjust. Swift disappeared on the boards in the 2nd half, I don't think he had any after his 5 in the first half.
I agree with all your points except one. Wesely has shown no signs of coming out of his 1/2 year shooting slump (if that's what you want to call it). So I think its legitimate to say he is sucking it up right now. The amount of wide open shots he gets and misses is truly amazing.
Hey, we haven't seen a JVG sucks thread yet, have we? Which is wierd, becasue imo, we lost last night mainly because of him, but that is just another of the maladies of the team right now. As poorly as they are playing, they are 5 minutes away from being 3-0. Now they have to play some amazing ball on this road trip.
We don't have any shooters. Therein lies the problem. But I believe it is the last problem we need to solve. Once we get a shooting guard everything will be settled.
Actually, a more accurate statement is that we don't have anyone currently MAKING shots. In their careers, Wesley, Alston, Anderson and Barry are all above average perimeter shooters. It also doesn't help that Yao, one of the best percentage shooters in the league throughout his brief career, is shooting a miserable percentage in the last two games. Even he admitted that he was getting his shots and missing.
To my eye, this is a Rockets team with a huge amount of talent, both raw and seasoned. Even after these two losses, I'm very optimistic about the season and the future. And as ugly as a lot of last night was and as disappointing as it is to lose, I still liked watching the game more than most of the games I got to see over the past 6 or so years, up to last year. Because back then even when we won it was uuugly. The only one who is really worrying me right now is Wesley. All of those bricks have got to be getting into his head.
The other thing is this, fans are only reacting to the hype surrounding this team locally since the offseason. Adam Wexler on last night’s post game show was talking about how guys on 610 picked the Rockets to make the Finals. McGrady pumping up every acquisition. This isn’t last season when this team was a WIP going into the season. They have the pieces. You’re right fans should be patient but its understandable why they aren’t.
Maybe he is trying too hard? Yao tend to be too hard on himself. Some poster said Yao looked tired before the game. I read in sina that after both loss, Yao went to lift weights. Maybe Yao is overworking himself, sort of like tmac did in the offseason which contributed to his knee and back problem.
Head needs more playing time. The guy comes from a winning team and is fearless, motivated and hustles like Bowen. I thought the offense looked the most fluid when he ran the point late in the first half. I don't like the way we always work to get the ball inside to Yao every play. When the defense collapses on Yao, why not run a few plays to set up the guards? I would think most of them need a few shots in a row to get in the flow - gotta be better than an occasional last second shot when we can't get the ball into Yao.
Why did Yao go to lifting weights after both losses? He should've focused on improving vertical leap and lateral movement.
True, but Head makes a LOT of rookie mistakes. He occassionally flings up an ill-advised shot and causes too many turnovers. I like his effort and I love how fearless he is, but it will take some time before he can be a full-time contributor.
First, you don't know that lifting weights wasn't part of the improvement of both of those things. You don't just lift weights with your arms. Second, ALL great players workout after games unless they are injured. The best time to really improve strength is when you are tired and your muscles are taxed. This is common for most good players and every team and has been done for years, so it isn't like this is just some thing Yao took on himself. It is what good players do to help make themselves great. --- Just FYI, and not to pick on you, wnes, but this is exactly what I mean about knee-jerk reaction. Yao does something that LOTS of guys do to help improve themselves under the guidance of doctors and trainers who are working at the highest level of professional sports and have been for decades and the comment is "he should be working on his lateral quickness and leaping???" Either this is just not well thought out or there is just a simple lack of understanding of basic athletic training principles. Either way, it probably shouldn't end up in a post being critical of someone for trying to improve himself.
Thank you, Jeff. Great points. I almost don't want to come to this board after a loss becuase of the 'jump ship' attitude displayed by a lot of posters. We are only three games in, with a team trying to find themselves. Of course, it makes that transition much harder when one of your two superstars is out for an extended time. It throws everything off. Like posted above, this team hasn't been fully together long enough to stem the tide while TMac is out. It will come together on this road trip I believe and, in a week or so, we'll see the team we all hoped for. Uh, Barry, Wesley, Howard, Anderson, TMac all are good shooters. You can even say Head and Alston can hold their own. It's not that there isn't any shooters, it's just that most are slumping right now. I hate all the Wesley bashing as well. If you have ever come back off of knee surgery, you could cut Wesley a little slack. Talking from too much experience, it takes time to build strength back up, gain confidence to do anything on it, and get your timing down and get back to full shape. He has been a real good shooter his whole career and there is no reason why he won't be this season. It's just going to take some time to get back to that.
I was merely commenting on the post by barryxzz, which certainly gave the appearance that Yao felt the impetus to lift weights right after the games to improve some considitions, quite possibly on his own. There could be more to the story, but without any other hints, I am obliged to take it at the face value.
Excellent posts, Jeff. We just haven't had time to gel, as several have pointed out. Besides just not making shots they normally would have, the guys are having to adjust to a point who delivers great passes, without hesitation, like a bullet, and right on the money. I know I saw several times last night when Rafer zipped the ball to an interior player and they seemed startled, and it turned into a turnover. With time, those money passes will lead to baskets. Alston is still getting things figured out himself, and is as inconsistent as the rest with his shot, but he's really impressed me. (although he needs work on his D) After they gel, and the shots start falling, our ppg will shoot up and our turnovers will drop, imo.
You left out the fans sitting on the rears ends and not creating a loud exciting atmosphere in the Toyata Center. Or the fact that the league ordered the Toyota Center roof to be open.
And David Stern was probably in his office sticking pins in little Rockets voodoo dolls. Pins in Tmac's back, and the other players hands, VanGundy's brain.... Last year wins and stats trended better all season long. As many mentioned TO's trended down and down and down, until we were playing great and protecting the ball well by season end. TMac will be back, hopefully Sura will heal, Stro and DA and Rafer and Head will all improve and play more effectively as a team with one another. It may be sooner but Christmas is not a bad time to really start playing well and kicking some serious tail. Patience little Grasshoppers, patience.
I feel the exact same way! Every sentence you wrote I agree with. I am excited as to what this team will become when we start to gel and the shots start falling... I kind of expected people to hit the panic button.. but i also assumed more people would remember the beginning of last season. We struggled pretty badly, not only the players but also the coach. Then gradually the chemistry and committment to JVGs plans went up a notch (then the trades) and we went on that long winning streak where we were shocked if we lost.. That will happen again this year, and i estimate it will happen much sooner than last year.. I'm excited that the problems we have right now can be corrected and will be corrected. Wouldn't it be worse if everyone knew the plays, were hitting shots but losing because Player A is selfish and wants to take all the shots, or is in a contract dispute with the team so doesn't try hard. Things will get better and when it does the league better watch out.
