As a fan, I can take a loss; what I hate is a lack of effort. Play hard, play smart, give it all you have, hustle, look like it is important (which it is, if you are into the playoffs), be tenacious. If you lose, walk off with your head high. Fans will even follow a losing team if they work hard and never quit. The Rockets turned in a gutless performance today. They looked disinterested, unmotivated, and unfocused. Considering that this was one the easiest games in the upcoming schedule, it was a must win. This is what makes some of us mad, this was an inexcusable loss. It may cost the Rockets dearly on down the road.
i don't think any of these games after the playoffs have proved the rockets to be not as good as we thought. all it has shown is exactly how valuable bob sura is. i think they're still a legit playoff force as they were before. just look at the games: seattle, though technically a loss, was completely stolen from us by the refs. the spurs have lost one game at home so losing at their place while putting up a fight without sura is nothing to be ashamed of. the jazz game, even though we were trying to incorporate a new pg was a weak effort. we got beat to rebounds, didn't play any defense and atleast 3 times(t-mac,yao,deke) went to the line and came up with nothing. personally the only disspointing effort of the 3. this team just looks so different without sura. he's clearly the heart of the team and makes things go.
DavidS, you are up too late, go to bed! P.S., I always enjoy your posts; you and I think a great deal alike. Do you think the Rockets are into a losing streak mode, or do you think they will snap out of it in Chicago? I had a bad vibe about the game today, and I have the same feeling about the next seven. Sura is the engine that drives this team, more psychologically than physically, not to underestimate his skills. He is desperately missed. We knew this was brutal ten game stretch, they needed this one tonight, bad. If they go 0-10, they may be out of the playoff picture.
Right on the money. When they lost to the Spurs and Sonics atleast they showed some effort and hustle. Today from the get go they looked like they were lacking some intensity. Maybe its because we are missing our sparkplug in Sura but I can't believe that a team with 2 Superstars depends on a role player like him so much.
I agree, but apparently they do! He is their intensity, their drive, their toughness. Apparently he inspires them, and who knows what he says to TMac and Ming during games. Ball movement is much better when he and Barry are on the court. Sometimes a machine needs just one small part to run more efficiently.
Yeah, I'm a late bird anways! I think they are going to have to get used to playing with James. He's not familar with Yao and McGrady. So, he's going to learn their tendecies. We might have a rough spot for the next couple games. But we'll snap out of it. But we defininlty need to step up the hustle. Sura is out. So, James, Barry and Westley have to show some fire! TMac and Yao are very busy. So, we need those other guys do make things happen. They can't be passive. And lets secure those offensive rebounds, please!
If the only reason we lost tonight was due to lack of effort then i'm not worried. i mean it's not like it cant be corrected. you can alway comeout more focused the next game. the bulls game now is a acid test in my Opinion. ther e a young energetic team and over in Chicago there real hard to beat.
I have to believe that they will come out more focused for the next game and not take the Bulls lightly. They have to realize how important the next 2 games are b/c after that we have to face the W.C. #1,3,4,5 seeds with 3 of those games on the road.
It was lack of effort, and James. He's just need to feel that it's ok for him to be asstertive. He can't act like he's *just* a role player. He's stepping into Sura shoes and we need that type of hustle (scoring and D). So, this might take a couple games. But if we focus next game, we should be able to overcome any uncomfortableness that James might have. He really impressed me late in the game.
I am not pissed at the team or any of the players, mainly because so far the big L's are a result of no Sura. That's not something that can be blamed on the team. Get well soon Sura! We need you!
Even though i agree with you that Sura is an important piece of the team, we cant use him being injured to justify losses. Its not like Yao or T-mac are injured. Besides I thought James filled in fairly well for him in every area except rebounding.
Yep. That's true. The team came out with no fire. The Jazz were playing like it was life and death. Heck, eveything they chucked up went in. Crazy!
By all means, I am not justifying the losing streak. I am just saying it's not as "harsh" to me right now because of the fact our starting pg who (6.2rpg) is just 2nd to Yao (8.4 rpg). It shows. Like tonight, we couldn't rebound worth a crap! Anyways. I am not all that worried, I think we will win the next two games. But hurts to have the 8 game winning streak only to follow it with a losing streak.
We shouldn't have to use Bob Sura as a reason we lose ball games but sadly we can, he's Bob Sura, X-Factor or no X-Factor Bob Sura shouldn't be the difference, but he is. Not good at all if you ask me.
Losing streak or not, with our schedule, we'll stand pat at the 6, Seattle stands pat at the 3, and we kill the Sonics in the first round... foregone conclusion at this point IMO...
Don't worry, it was my fault, the rockets foam hand is once again pointing toward the north star and I will again order pepperoni pizza on game night, but only eat the required 4 and 3/4 slices needed for victory. 6 slices proved fatal. All is well.
I knew something was different. Damn you Phi!!! But like most of ya'll said, I can swallow losses, but its losses where the team just doesn't seem "ready" or "willing" that piss me off. Sura is a big loss, but we can't cry and complain until he gets back. We played with zero toughness and zero intensity out there. No excuse.
