yep he usually is by t-mac's side and they both try to get their focus on the game or so it seems.anyway big night from yao who dominated the knicks.thanks for sharing sweet lou.went to new york three times but didn't go to watch any games .the win is sweet but that was expected. you know who caught my eyes with his play.it was rafer alston.all of you should give the guy his due.he played excellent ball during t-mac's absence and like clyde would say he played like an all star
That's probably WHY a lot of fans are concerned and worried that once Tracy McGrady comes back into the starting roster or rotation, Rafer Alston will defer the ball control to Tracy, and Tracy McGrady will hog on the ball too long, make the offense stagnant, and instead of doing a lot more penetration, no-ball movement, and passing, will resort to what he seems like to do a lot of time, jacking up wild advised jumpers all night long, which in turn strip off chances/opportunities of other players, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Luther Head, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks, Bonzi Wells that had take turn to step up in offense during his absence.
Rafer shot like garbage before he ever came to Houston. Once again: The reason we are improving is because the team is learning the new offense and finally getting comfortable with it. NOT because McGrady has been out. It is debatable that the best game we have played during this little mini-run was the last game that McGrady played all of (against Chicago). The team's offense was a thing of beauty that game, and McGrady played heavy minutes. He is not going to slow down anything. He is only going to give us back our best passer and best playmaker. The sky is the limit for this offense when he returns. ... One way or another, there is going to be a LOT of crow to go around at clutchfans (and all over the NBA fanbase, for that matter) before too long.
Thanks for the summary. Only thing I would say that I saw differently on tv was that McGrady was pretty pumped up on several plays. I just watched the game on my dvr and I replayed a lot of the first half plays just to see what McGrady was doing and he looked very enthusiastic. Great game to see in person for sure. I'm quite jealous.
What are you talking about. Last year he was like that but then last year JVG had him running all over the court like a chicken with his head cut off. Yao works hard to keep in shape but what JVG asked him to do last year was just ridiculous, running around chasing point guards on the screen and then running back to block shots, working his but off just to get position only to never get the pass. Now he works smarter and not harder. Less energy effort is expended to get position if it's not there the run another play to the other side and he rolls over for a quick pass or the post him and he doesn't have an easy shot so he throws it back out and they repost him. The Rockets as a team are also playing smarter now and it all starts with understanding how to get the most out of Yao. Oh and every team knows the key to stopping the Rockets is stopping Yao and they do everything to stop him. Only now the Rockets know how to take advantage better of teams who don't want to give Yao anything. He simply rolls to the top and gives screens and watch others go by him knowing Yaos man won't leave him.
Yes Tmac looked good in Chicago but why should there be crow to eat if too many times before that he just made the offense look stagnant when he dominated the ball and went stagnant. Also if you remember in that game the second string with Bonzi, Scola Head and a burst of brooks looked more like they were running Adelmans offense the way it was supposed to be than the starters. So if the reserves could pick it up so quickly why was there such a poor learning curve for the starters. You can argue that Tmac doesn't deserve all the blame but it's no coincidence they are getting comfortable with it because Mcgrady is out. With noone trying to run the show there way and the rest of the team not adhereing to their primaddonna superstar they are now executing the way the coach wants. I will also add TMac is a super talent and if he comes back and allows the team to flow the way it has while he was out the team well be better for it. ANd McGrady will be better too. He won't have to work so hard and get easier shots. He will also have to understand that this offense works best going inside out and not isoing him. Certainly there are times to iso Tmac, afterall he is still one of the best goto guys in the league. But this team is winning going to Yao first and then moving the ball around are driving to the basket and that part of the offense shouldn't change when TMac comes back. If it does then "IT'S TRADE TIME"!
You mean when Nate fouled Yao. If you watch slow motion, it showed it was a poke to the eye first, so it's a foul.
someone had to say the cheesy line... You do that preparation pre-"seeding" a competition... *sneeks off to another thread*
Clearly, it's "TRADE TIME" when the Rockets show that they can beat the mighty Raptors, Washington, and NY twice without McGrady! Who needs that bum anyway? Can I get a WHUT WHUT!?!?!
I know what you mean. I also couldn't find Francis and thought the Rockets bench looked unusually "small". I thought they rolled deeper than that, lol. Anyway, later I think in the second half I saw Francis in black street clothes. I also saw Snyder. Maybe they showed up later. And I also saw Yao having his head down and having his own alone time. My friend thought he was praying. I told him he's probably just trying to have peace and a moment to think.
I was sitting about 20 rows behind the Rox bench and I couldn't find SF3 either, although I did see Tmac. And then afterward when hanging out by the garage, I watched all the players board the bus and again, I missed SF3. He must have come out very soon after the game. In my section it was cute seeing Knicks fans cheering for Yao while wearing their Knicks garb. Scola was the talk of the section -- someone thought he was Italian! And at first someone thought Aaron Brooks was a towel boy because he looks so small, especially standing next to Yao. Hee!
best night of post entry passing in this teams recent history. they were beating the fronting defense with great passes, moving the ball side to side and then finding yao in the post, it was a thing of beauty. a couple of friends and myself went to the garden last night, and it was a great experience. the knick fans are very good fans. they were as loud as the toyota center ever gets when they took the lead in the third quarter, even though they knew the knicks would blow it in the end. there is a lot of venemous hate in ny for isiah thomas, eddy curry, and stephon marbury.
Both Sf and sydner was at the game in suits. they were sitting behind the team. The MSG procast mention couple of thing about both SF and Sydner. so teh camera was fixed on them for few minuates, while they were chatting with each other.
DING DING DING...ain't it great to have a coach that relies on the ENTIRE team? How was the Rockets record with Tmac out before this season? I mean we played crappy teams those years too, right? It is a matter of philosophy, that is the difference. DD
