....but I prefer the style of play the Rockets are playing now!! It's really enjoyable to watch a game that is more than an isolation circus. And having everyone play defense for the entire game, give the team a chance to win every game. I'd forgotten how much more exciting it was to watch a team play basketball instead of guys trying to be the next poster dunker. I'm being redundant, but "It's just so nice having stars (McGrady and Yao) be so willing to pass the ball for a better shot". I liked Francis and Mobley a lot as players, but it just appears from watching the games now that the outcome of the parts are greater than the individual pieces. It's synergy, something that was lacking on the Francis and Mobley led teams.
definitely. i like how james is scoring sometimes when needed..and then other times playing defense nad hustling and passing and ballhandling. I wish Steve did that. But of course he didn't have Tmac to defer or play with him. But Mobley was good too.. We'rej ust playing smarter. We make shots..it's not a struggle to score..well sometimes it is..we just execute better and we have beaten teams like the Mavs and Sonics and Spurs..I don't think we would have beaten them if we had same players from last season. Tmac is just crazy. HowaRd has gotten used to the team and is playing well..consistent..same with basically every player on the roster.
Man, you give me Francis, Cat and Richard Jefferson, I still like the current team. Like JVG said "Francis and Mobely caught up too much in their own personal success"
What would always get me upset with the Francis and Mobley teams was the those teams usually were more talented than almost all of their opponents; but they just couldn't play defense or team basketball. As a fan to see that your team is more talented, but to consistently lose is just painfull.
wow yeah that is seriously a bad connotation in my mind. yuck describes it LOL..yeah And it'd be nice if we got Rasheed and Rashard..that would just be like dreamcasting..haha Rashard would be great.
I hope you guys are seriously appreciating what you are seeing, particularly from McGrady. Watching him is a true joy. It is like watching Hakeem circa 1990 when he was just coming into his own and kicking everybody's ass. Yao is getting better and, IMO, in a couple seasons we'll be watching the same thing from him.
I disagree... wait.. no I don't! Finally I can walk into a bar in Austin and watch every Rockets game without embarrassment. When the dude next to me says "hey man, did the Spurs win tonight?" I stare him in the eye and say "yeah... but I'm watching the Rockets... so shut your pie hole." last year was a rough one. Hell, I even sat through Karoke tonight to watch the game. and i noticed something. My hatred for those nights has subsided a bit due to the fact that stupid hot chicks dig that sh*t. Who woulda' thunk. Next week i'm singing some prince...
There was one defensive possession in the second half of tonights game that totally blew me away. The Sonics passed the ball like it's a hot potato and ran tons of screens to get people open on the parameter, our 5 guys rotated like an well oiled machine and didn't give an inche of open space to their shooters and interior guys. The whole frenzy lasted the entire 24 seconds with the Rockets defending like maniacs, and Allen had to throw up a prayer as the shot clock expired, which wasn't answered. Flashy passes and slam dunks on offense are nice, but this kind of defensive effort as a team was what really impressed me as a fan.
I've had NBA LP since Francis's rookie year. I'm unashamedly more a fan of old school basketball and although I rooted for them as Rockets, I never enjoyed the play on the court. Had Francis not been traded, I would have seriously considered not renewing LP. I'm really enjoying the new roster. What a great group of players. Seattle was unconscious from the arc for the first 24 minutes and then the Rox turned up the defensive intensity to a playoff game level. Simply beautiful. On offense, they make good decisions on the break, set good screens, move the ball back to the weakside, dive into the stands for errant passes, and almost always give the ball up to a more open teammate. Lastly, I hope I'm not the only Rox fan who has noticed the genuine chemistry displayed when the Rox head to the bench for a timeout. You could see them pulling for each other even when they were 6-11 and it's only gotten better. Steve and Cat are talented players but I'm just enjoying the current roster so much more.
totally agreed. fun to watch a team put it together. and incredible to watch just a pure hoops talent like McGrady. he's just ridiculous. we had the poll here about "is McGrady the best Rockets guard ever?" recently. let's say this...at the very least, it's a very short list ahead of him.
We have revamped the team. But these guys have come together so fast... they are Rockets. The chemistry is sweet, TMac is everything we hoped for, Yao is growing, getting better better better. JVG demands effort and our guys are responding. Stevie's posse is out of town. Man I always loved the Rockets but I died so many times watching us make stupid mistakes, crazy turnovers and dribble dribble dribble. We have gone from a dysfunctional group to a well oiled machine. I think these guys enjoy playing together.
the best word to describe this current team is "professional". people taking their job seriously and its great to watch. and brock, where in austin do the have rockets and stupid-hot-girl-karakoe? do tell, please!
