Let's just admit to ourselves the realities over the hype. There are 2 major expectations this season that has people fuming in dissappointment: 1) The Rockets are good enough to be a playoff team Truth: The Rockets are a chaotic team that looks more like a project than a finished product. There is no clear on-court leadership with a definite lack of communication. They do however have two high powered guards that make up 50% of their offensive scoring. This forces them to become a guard dominated offense. Therefore, the team becomes hostage to the "good day/bad day" that their guards will have because the have yet learned to play without them. With no sign of a low-post alternative, they usually end up with low percentage perimeter shooting and acrobatic shots earned by hard work and a little luck. The points they get in the paint comes from the guards slashing to the bucket or offensive put backs. They rank among the lowest for teams with fast break points. Passing is a fad that they start with and then forget about because: 1) they are behind and the guards feel they have to "take it upon their shoulders" or 2) they are ahead, so they resort to ISO's to kill the clock. All of this leads to them being last in the League for assists. They have been unhealthy for the second season in a row so there has been nominal team chemistry thus far. Their best defensive player is a rookie. Inside defense is good at times, but the perimeter defense looks like a strainer holding water in every game. Playoffs? Maybe, maybe not. Just be ready to give Rudy another chance/year, just in case. 2) Yao Ming is gonna have an immediate impact for the Rockets Truth: Yao has played Pro since he was 17 in a soft Chinese Basketball league. There, every possesion has a play called by the coach and they run it. Their game style is more to the pace of the NFL than the NBA. They don't know how to play above the rim and their basketball strength and conditioning training is inferior by more than a generation gap. This is Yao Ming's first taste ever of hard-nosed, free flowing, lightning fast action. There is no true veteran support so he his learning curve is limited to practice times with Larry Smith. Not to mention that Cato and EG has a share of those times as well. Rudy likes to break his Rookies in slowly. Yao averages 15 minutes and 3.5 shots per game so far. This is a team expected to win, so no way are they gonna give Yao the touches he needs to develop on the court. At this rate, he'll be lucky to see a starting role at all this season. Throw in the no training camp, new language, new culture, new system, yada yada yada, and it all comes down to he's not going to have any real impact for the Rockets this season. The Rockets truly have gifted players on their team. I think that someday, when they get it all together, we will see the Championships again. Heck, we are just hoping for the playoffs for the moment. If we can just be real about what to expect, then maybe there will be less holes punched in our walls. I'd much rather be suprised when they play well than pissed when they don't.
1) True. They need time and some real game experience to gel. 20 games at least. Part of this is to just get healthy and to get MT back in the rotation. People underestimate how much pressure guys that can knock down 18 footers will take off Ming too. It surely will help stop the packing it in and double teaming. 2) I disagree. I think by the second half Yao Ming will make a difference, but not as much as some hoped. He could probably end up being a 8-10 points, 7 rebound guy. With Cato that would probably add up to our centers doing 18 points 16 rebounds!
Actually, I agree with your predictions for Yao Ming but, that really falls short still of defining an impact player.
His big numbers will start next year. He is really going to have to see each team once and get a better feel for how the NBA game is played. Especially speed and positioning. He appears smart and talented so he will gradually ramp up.
1) agree. While the Rockets have enormous potential and a huge upside, they havent gotten there yet. And the Rockets ususally seem to come out w/ good energy and a good offensive scheme spreading the ball around, but it does seem like our guards/team as a whole just havent developed enought patience yet to stick with that offense most of the game, so the guards take it upon themselves to shoulder the load when we're winning or losing which gets us into trouble. 2) agree. The fact that Yao played 20+ min on opening night was due only because it was opening night, a sellout crowd, Cato picked up 2 early fouls, and the momentum was swining in Yao's favor when he came on the floor. And I think Rudy is justified in playin him limited min because he still is getting used to the system, to the NBA and just endured a physically straining summer w/ the Chinese National Team. If he plays 20-30min a night right now, there wont be anything left after the All Star break.
To some degree, we have a share of the blame as to how the Rockets are playing too. We as the fans are demanding that the Rockets go to the playoffs this year. Stuff being said like "there's no excuse if they don't make it this year" or "Rudy should be replaced if they don't make the palyoffs". I don't buy into any of that. If we agree with the points that have been made, then publicly, we should lighten the pressure on Rudy and the Rockets to allow them to develop themselves. Give them a chance play Ming and Boki more, or develop a working player rotation where Cat and Steve is not the focus of the entire offense. There are a lot of things that a team does to grow that may not be conducive with making the playoffs. We should understand and support them through that. Just my 2 cents.
