Tmac has never had yao in the playoffs. he had him once and yao was getting abused by the jazz. probaly the biggest reason we lost that overall series was due to the jazz bigs having a field day on yao.
Once Yao is surrounded by consistent 3 pt shooters, he'll be more willing to pass. If you recall, Olajuwon went through the same phase. Traditional big men are things of the past? Howard? Bynum? Oden? Look how coveted these guys are. During these past few years, the NBA has been short on quality centers. But a competent center who can score in the paint is a rare commodity. You may prefer centers who can shoot the 3 ball, but if I were building a team, it would focus on a skilled big man. And more often than not, my team would win. Thats not the offense that Adelman is trying to run with Yao. Yao will get fewer minutes, but I predict that he will spend most of his time in the low post. This means that he needs competent 3 pt shooters to stretch the defense. Btw, Tmac isnt a slasher. Let me get this straight. People are trying to say that its now time for the Rockets to become Yao's team. And in an attempt to criticize Yao, you're using stats prior to the Rockets becoming "Yao's team." Thats about as relevant as judging Tmac based on his Orlando days. I've already addressed this, but I'll add a point. Tmac's style of play might win games, but it wont win a series.
First of all, Yao played in the Dallas series in 04-05 w/ Tmac. We lost game 7 by 40 pts. Secondly, the biggest reason we lost against the Jazz was that our bench disappeared. And its a stretch to say that the Jazz bigs had a field day on Yao.
They finished with 56 wins,1st seeds in East.And Magic usually destroyed PHI in regulars too. I have said,I'm not to say Iverson had a good team but just to say his team wasn't that "scrubs" like nothing.Just like if anyone talk some bull**** about our other rockets couldn't beat a high school team...I couldn't bear it.Anyone should get their own deserved respect.
No,T-Mac had Yao twice in playoffs. I agree on that we can't win is because of we aren't yet that good,and,T-Mac has the most responsibility for lose.Because he's a leader,you have you duty,and I don't like outsource a blame. But all blame on him and just so hate and bash him,it's out of legit.
doesn't change the fact we destroyed that team. The East sucked, let me refresh your memory on 2001 season. Paper: Houston Chronicle Date: THU 02/08/2001 Section: Sports Page: 1 Edition: 3 STAR Relentless Rockets bring down 76ers By JONATHAN FEIGEN Staff PHILADELPHIA - Steve Francis machine-gunned the ball between his legs, left to right, right to left, then forward, at the defender and back again. He tap-danced through the lane, turning his back to Philadelphia's trap, offering the ball, then taking it away, all for no other purpose than to entertain. Nothing else needed to be done. By the time Francis looked away and dropped a pass inside to Kenny Thomas for a can't-miss layup, the contingent from Takoma Park, Md., was out of its mind 11 rows up, and the Rockets were toying with a team they consider the best in the NBA. Less than a week after they were the Clippers' road kill, the Rockets rolled past the 76ers 112-87 Wednesday night at First Union Center. And the visitors had transformed their play so dramatically that in the end the Sixers angrily charged that the Rockets had run up the score and vowed vengeance. "They were great," 76ers coach Larry Brown said of the Rockets after his team's most lopsided defeat of the season. "They were great up until the last five-tenths of a second." In the last half-second, Shandon Anderson inbounded the ball from the far side of midcourt to rookie Dan Langhi, who in one motion caught the ball under the basket and flipped it in, sending Brown into convulsions. "Yeah, he was real mad," Anderson said. "What the heck? (Langhi) isn't a starter. It was a rookie, just happy to be playing. They were screaming, telling us they won't forget this. I don't care about that. Whatever." It took only a few moments for Francis, who played down the stretch because Moochie Norris had twisted his ankle, to join the debate. Francis threw epithets at Brown as accurately as he passed for any of his six assists. "I love Larry Brown," Francis said. "I'd be mad, too, if I was just spanked at home." For all the anger about the last second, the Rockets spent most of the fourth quarter going Globetrotter. Facing a team that has the NBA's best record (now 36-14) and is ranked fifth in fewest points allowed and third in opponents' field-goal percentage, the Rockets matched their most prolific night of the season and came within a point of their largest lead. Hakeem Olajuwon, who has apparently stepped out of his highlight videos, posted a second consecutive 18-point game and grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds. He was so quick and active defensively that he seemed to inspire the Rockets into radically picking up their defensive play when the Sixers had taken a quick nine-point lead, making seven of their first eight shots. "Hakeem completely dominated early in the game, got 14 rebounds in 25 minutes, blocked shots (though credited for just one) and did anything he wanted," Brown said. "He looked like the old Hakeem." Less than a week earlier, he had been charged with being an Hakeem who had grown old. In his two games this week, he not only has offered an inside force the Rockets lacked, the 38-year-old has become what coach Rudy Tomjanovich called a "spark plug." "Fantastic. Energy. On the boards. Making shots," Tomjanovich said. "The offensive rebounding really helped. Right when they would make a stop, he'd come up with a big offensive rebound." Once Olajuwon anchored the Rockets' defense, the offense took over. The Rockets answered the Sixers' early spree with a 12-0 run, taking their first lead when Francis drained a 3-pointer, then flashed a crossover dribble move to a jumper that first showcased his personal rooting section. When Matt Bullard dropped a jumper before the first quarter ended, then sank four more in the second quarter, including three 3-pointers, the Rockets found the perimeter touch that was missing. Bullard matched his season high with 18 points, making seven of 10 shots. Walt Williams, 1-of-11 in his previous two games, made two of three attempts, both 3-pointers. Francis made three of five 3-pointers and was 9-of-17 overall to finish with 23 points. "It affects everything," Tomjanovich said of the open shots that had been clanging but have started to fall. "You get your confidence going. The dam breaks. The pressure is off the next guy. Bull makes a shot. Then Walt makes a shot. They feed off each other." The Rockets led by nine at halftime, then scored the first eight points of the second half. By the time Cuttino Mobley, who finished with 23 points, completed a fast break with a three-point play, the Rockets led 66-46 less than five minutes into the second half. "It's fun basketball," Olajuwon said. "Any time we play good defense, we see the result on offense. We get easy fast breaks. We get open shots. The encouragement now is for the team to play more defense." But if all that did not indicate enough of a change, the Rockets had whipped a championship contender and refused to offer the usual post-rout boasts of coming supremacy. "It says we're up-and-down," Mobley said. "We came together tonight. Hopefully, it will continue." As shocking as the rout, he left it at that. That might not measure up to the can't-be-beat promises that followed other recent routs. But this time, the Rockets were outrageous, even a bit loony, before they left the court.
What's most disgusting is that you fools on both sides try to talk down the other Rockets player in order to support your idol. The truth is that all you fools are hypocrites and the definition of 'only fans'. Do you still remember where the mirror is in your home?
This happened: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=101092&postcount=28 Clutch Recap http://www.clutchfans.com/game.cfm?gameID=131
Stupid guy! Who shooted 65.5% FG and 21.4 PTS per game in the series to MAVS ? Yao played bad in the series to JAZZ. But he still had 44%FG 88%FT 10.3 TRB and 25.1 PTS per game. What did Tamc do ? He shooted 39.4% FG 5.9TRB 25.4 PTS per game and these statistics were the lowest in his playoff career in Houston and Orlando. The fact was Tmac played bad too in that series.
you're just missing the point. you talk about yao like he's a superstar, and yet you defend him like he's not. actually i'm fine with any criticisms on tmac b/c it shows the pressure he has on him and that's why he gets paid the big bucks. but it's like there is no pressure on yao. if we lose again this year, i'm sure tmac will get most of the blame, and probably along with artest. yao, once again, is going to go through another year with a very good reg. season and no domination in the playoffs and nobody points that out. you have to understand that THIS YEAR, all the pressure is primarily on tmac (if doesn't win, he most likely will get traded), the rest is on artest (if not, he's not resigning with us). where is the pressure/criticism on yao? all i'm going to point out is your response is that we're "trying" to make this yao's team. FOR GOD SAKES, since 05-06, we have been trying to make yao the centerpiece. it's not the team's fault that yao doesn't want to shoulder that responsibility. JVG started out the year in 05-06 saying yao is the guy. adelman started out last yr giving yao most of the offense (his PER was ridiculous in the first month of the season). the team has TRIED WITH EXTREME EFFORT to make this yao's team. tmac is supposed to be the sidekick for the past several years. the fact that most of the people still focusing on tmac shows that yao still hasn't taken that mantle.
and plus, yao is going on his what? 8th year? he has like 2-3 great years left, then 2-3 more good years? if we're still "trying" to make this his team, something is SERIOUSLY wrong.
When I defend him, are any of my assertions illogical? If I recall correctly, you fault him for not being to outrun Boozer. Not to mention that he has rightfully earned a good deal of the criticisms he receives (not all though). 100% wrong. Blame should be assigned to whoever earns it. Be it Tmac, Yao, Artest, whoever... Nobody points that out b/c its a r****ded statement. Why is it you think the pressure is primarily on Tmac? Part of the beauty of acquiring Artest is that he takes pressure away from Tmac. As does an improved Scola. As does a healthy Yao. Yao should have the pressure of being the #1 option when he's on the court (hopefully, with limited playing time). If you look at the rosters of the past few years, you'll see exactly why Yao couldn't take control. There were no reliable 3 pt shooters to stretch the defense for Yao. Yao isnt good enough to win by himself. Olajuwon had Kenny, Maxwell, Horry, Cassell, and Elie. One look at that roster and you knew that it was built around Hakeem. But look at the perimeter players that Yao has been surrounded by. The only consistent ones would be Battier and Luther (who disappears in the playoffs). Out of all the contending teams, we probably have the worst shooting perimeter players (especially during playoff time). Then factor in Hayes' offensive ineptitude. Theres another help defender that Yao had to deal with.
Why do you newer fans forget Otis Thorpe? That 95 Team was special, but Rome wasn't built in a day. After the implosion of the 86 Team. The FIRST PIECE of the PUZZLE was someone who was TOUGH enough to help out Dream in the Post. Then you had to add another defender and a scorer. Then you add a quick smart PG who can shoot . Then you add a versatile athletic forward and a change of pace PG and scorer and you add a free agent swingman who plays defense Without first establishing a partner in the low post, Dream would have left this place. Rocket fans love OT...at least the true ones.
1) so am i to defend tmac's injuries b/c of his genetic scoliosis? as a player, we all have our weaknesses, physically or mentally. JVG thought yao can defend boozer (b/c he kept sticking him on throughout the entire series) and yao failed. that's point blank. both boozer AND okur averaged double digit rebounds in that series. 2) yes, i never said tmac should be shielded from any criticisms. the criticism that he's a loser, coasts through reg. season at times, injury-proned, not a leader are ALL VALID b/c you can make cases for those. it's the criticism that he "doesn't try" in the playoffs, or that he "fails to show up" in the playoffs is what is pathetic. dude basically is a top 5 player most of the time when the playoffs come around. 3) no, yao basically played well in 2.5 games v. dallas in a 7 game series. yao got ZERO criticism for that series. the blame went primarily to JVG, and then tmac. yao had freakin' bradley guarding him for god sakes with ZERO double team (but yes, you can argue he wasn't a true superstar then, but make no mistake about it, he averaged 18 and 8 that year). the 07 series v. the jazz, well let's not get into that. ALL the blame went to tracy, and we all know what happened to JVG. 4) what r****ded statement? tell me ONE PLAYOFF GAME where yao is clearly the best player on the floor. not a series, BUT ONE GAME. you can't. 5) i said in YEARS' PAST, the pressure has been primarily on tmac (and JVG). this year is the first year it's not. i still think yao doesn't have to shoulder. if we lose again this year, the pressure is on tracy and artest. 6) no reliable 3 pt shooters? let me bring up the team's 3pt shooting since tmac has been traded here. 04-05 36% (mike james, wesley, barry, and padget all shot over 38%) 05-06 that year tmac and yao were both injured for most of the year so our shooters never got good shots and shot 33% 06-07 37% (rafer, luther, and battier all shot above 37%, with luther and battier shooting above 42%) 07-08 35% (rafer, shane, luther all shot above 35%). so what do you want? a team full of guys shooting like ray allen when he's absolutely on fire? 35%+ 3pt shooting is regarded as pretty good as a team. again, yao has never shown he can carry a team. and we are entering his 7th season. usually a franchise player shows his franchise-carrying capability around his 3rd year AT MOST (tmac in his 4th, kobe in his 4th, lebron in his 2nd, wade in his 2nd, paul and deron in their 3rd). hell, hakeem showed his ability in his first season. we are still talking about yao's ability to lead a team and we are entering his 7th season. are you kidding me? let's face it. yao is not gonna ever carry a team, esp. with injuries compiling. tmac is nearing the end of the days where he can carry a team too. and that's why the addition of artest and improvements of scola are made. our team is stacked now.
Unfortunately, the best player on the floor was wearing either a Mavericks or Jazz jersey. best players don't wilt in the 4th quarter best players don't miss rebounds in the 4th quarter So the best player wasn't on the Rockets. Its time to change that. Ron is here.
no, the best TEAM did. i'm simply saying even in games where we have won, yao has not dominated or proved to be the best player on the floor. again, i don't care if ron is the MVP of this team. it's time for this rockets team to start WINNING. and i truly believe ron's toughness will provide that. like i said, ron is maxwell on steroids.
