I feel this team will eventually turn around, with or without JVG. There are several good signs: 1. Sura looks like a much better upgrade than Lue or Ward. 2. Yao still gives you 17-20 points a night, and I think his rebounding will improve. 3. Jim Jackson is playing well. 4. McGrady will break out big time soon- just watch, it's coming. 5. Deke is a solid backup. I don't think it's disgraceful at all to lose to the world champs. Yes, they gave up at the end, but it's not that bad. I feel really good about this team, and I think they're going to turn it around very soon. Who's coming with me? Who's coming with me? Who's on the bandwagon besides me and, Flipper, here? Rockets Forever! I Still Believe!
Sorry B Sura as a starter and an old JIm Jackson aint gonan cut it in this league. bench is to thin. no hope. sorry bud. but feel free to be optimistic cause I aint.
Good thread. I am positive that the Rockets need a quick rebounding PF. I am positive that JVG is not putting his players in positions they are comfortable and most able to succeed. I am positive that Yao Ming is too slow to ever be a real effective rebounder I am positive that Tyrone Lue and Charlie Ward are horrible choices for anyone at the PG position. I am positive that JVG is ruining the confidence of Juwan Howard, Bostjan Nachbar, Mo Taylor, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. I am positive that the team is close to openly giving up on JVG. I am positive that watching the Rockets is like having pollups on your bum. DD
My positive thought is if we go into the gutter, 3 things will happen: JVG will realize he can't coach offense and will hire a real assistant (not some old crony) to help him- Pete Carill or Patrick Ewing? hmmm.. tough one. CD will start realizing that patching holes with Eric Piatkowski/Charlie Ward band aids will not work. We should get a fairly good draft choice - and if we're lucky, really lucky, can shoot lights out, rebound, and/or direct the offense.
Oh, I don't blame anyone whatsover for being negative. Truth be told, I'm from New York, and what Van Gundy says is true: if the Knicks suck, fans get on their case- so, believe me, anyone who's ever rooted for the Rockets, especially those who bleed Rocket red like me, has the right to be thoroughly disgusted at this team. But I'd rather take the chance and go out on a limb and predict that we WILL turn things around and we WILL make the playoffs. It's easy these days to be pessimistic. Me, I'd rather take the risk and have everyone laugh at the optimism- cause I just have this feeling that the Rockets will be all right soon.
I am with you bro. Keep the faith. I believe a move of some sort should be made before it gets out of hand. Taylor, Juwon, Clarence get anything in return. Maybe NO would need Taylor or Chicago, I just don't know where or for whom but something needs to change soon.
I don't know- I think it all stems from that playoff series against the Suns in 94- especially game 3- I don't think I ever remember being as disillusioned with a team as I was after game 2- OK, maybe the Oilers-Bills fiasco topped it- but I was just devastated, especially after the Sonics were knocked out. And you know what else gave me optimism? Strangely enough, watching the Red Sox this year. I mean, how weird was that watching a team come back from 3-0? Wasn't that supposed to be the ultimate insurmountable obstacle? I wasn't even a Red Sox fan, but I was GLUED to the TV for games 5-7. It was just amazing. So, you never know what will happen. I just think that it's going to get better, whether it be by trade, new coach, etc. As long as the Rockets keep the M&M combo, anything is possible. Because I truly believe Yao and McGrady have talent AND heart. Yes, heart. Good things will happen.
This just seems like the signs of a team which unfortunately, has not learned how to play together yet: 1: They are having trouble staying focused and closing out people after a lead. 2: They are not consistent and need to learn how to bring it every night. Beyond this... they always play with a hell of a lot of effort. You know, I am just as tired of the losing but with every loss I get more and more comfortable with the fact that we should be patient with this group. Quite frankly, as a fan, I am no longer worrying about the playoffs or how many wins we get this year. I am looking at what this team can do to gel and instill some sense of teamwork, if we succeed with that then we will have come a long way and this team will be all the better for it in the long run. It may take 5 games or 10 games I don't know but at some point with the individual skill on the team we will all be celebrating how well these guys will be doing. So, in closing, yeah I know losing is a pain, I get just as frustrated and want to vent just as much as the next person. And you know what venting is fine... if you have to boo or cover your eyes and scream at the T.V. or post panicking B.S. on this board, that is cool. But just step back and take this season into perspective. They are improving, the season is young, and they just got their starting point guard back. Just give it a chance.
My positive thought: 1. If Rox turns around and finds a way to win, it would be great. 2. If Rox goes on losing, JVG will be fired soon. That's also great. 3. No much progress, but win a few games by luck. That's bad. Therefore, we have 66.7% chance to be great.
Want to add 2 cents for the painful November 1. 6-10 in Nov will force cheap Les/CD to use the TE to bring in a phyical PF Cato like. 2. A trade (or more than one) will happen b4 the ASG and we can get rid of weatherspoon/JH. 3. Hype is gone, fans are back to the reality. 4. Let Yao know he is not a superstar yet and face it big fellow!!!!!!!! 5. The media do not pay as much attention as before on us..... 6. Forget about the best 1-2 punch, at least period.......
Last time I checked Yao is averaging 12pts and 5 reb in the last three games. So to assume he is going to give you 17-20 points each game is just plain stupid. He scored 9 points and grabbed 4 boards against Utah, who has no size in thier front court. Yao's current averages will fall even more because as soon as this team goes to 15 games under .500, every one will play selfish ball and Yao won't get the ball as much. Can't wait for this.
He will. Trust me. Yao is going to surprise people. He's just having a minor setback. His average will climb steadily this year and over the next couple of years.
