I agree that you need guys who can create off the dribble. That doesn't mean every player on the court needs to be able to do so, if they do other things that are also important (i.e. are very good at playing off Yao). We have guys who are expected to play hard, hustle, and play off Yao. That's an important role, and it is one many players like Ron Artest, Aaron Brooks, and Tracy McGrady were not well suited for. But then you have these other guys who we need to be able to create shots for themselves and teammates -- Aaron Brooks and Ron Artest, principally -- and they were not efficient in the 4th quarter at all. But I'm not going to blame the loss on them alone, everyone else needs to step up when certain key players are struggling, and the bench guys did not help by putting us in the penalty so early in the 4th. To me, Battier and Scola have done their job well this series. It's easy for Rockets fans to be biased one way or the other, so you should just check out what the opposing team's fans are saying. Generally, they say that Scola and Battier have played great this series (many think Scola has outplayed Aldridge), and they think Yao needs to be more involved. When I asked them if they would trade Outlaw for Battier, they respond like its a no-brainer -- of course you take a player like Battier.
Agreed on Shane, but Scola is also capable of creating his own shot in the post, depending on the defender. Not superstar good, but he's done a decent job this series. Anyone casual fan looking at the regular season standings would come to that conclusion Of course the Lakers are on a different level. All I want is to get out of the first round and get the monkey off our backs. I will enjoy the series against the Lakers regardless of result, as long as the players give their 100% as they have most of the season since McGrady went down.
This I agree with. Lowery and Wafer need more playing time. Lowery didn't have a good game, but the offense runs better with him than with AB. Also when Lowery and Wafer are playing, they need to play with Battier and not Artest. Artest really over dribbles and doesn't pass when he's playing with the bench.
i think they main reason why the starters were put back into the lineup was because the bench kept committing bone-headed fouls and seemed to lose their composure after they took the lead. Von jacked up a bad shot along with trying to go MJ on grandpa-Oden..
Just a vent here but I remember one point in the game where Yao had scored 5 straight points on post ups and the very next possession AB brings the ball to the opposite side from where Yao was positing up. I was like WTH? He just scored 5 straight points, run the same damn play. Let's see if they can stop you.
Durvasa, I'm not blaming scoa or shane as much as I am team construction. U do need guys that can play off yao, but u also need guys that can get a good shot without him. U brought up outlaw vs shane. Outlaw is a luxury for them. They have enough long,athletic guy and guys that can get their own shot. The rox don't have enough of those guys. I've seen this movie before and it does hurt not having a healthy tracy. His ability to create shots for him or someone else is underrated on this board. We've seen him get in the lane, suck the defense in and give it to yao for a easy shot or kick it to shane for a wide open shot. When the rockets evolve this team, they need a guy that can get a good shot or make a play when the defense is turning up the heat. Its not yao cause there are times when he can't even get the ball. Brooks hasn't matured to that point nor do we know he will ever. Artest has moments, but u have to be more consistent. That's the problem or part of the problem.
The rockets maybe able to close out the blazers on thursday night; however, if they want to have any success against the lakers they will need to learn how to deal with the fronting of Yao. It was inexcusable that Yao didnt even have a shot in the 1st qtr against the blazers on Tuesday. Even if they are fronting they could have driven to the basket more or lobbed it high up to Yao. I hope Adelman is giving some grief to his players about the shot attempts that Yao got, it was embarassing. The bottom line is the rockets need to get Yao involved early, everybody knows this but the rockets continue to want to play outside in; instead of inside out. It will be the rockets own fault if they dont advance on Thursday night.
"We've seen him get in the lane, suck the defense in and give it to yao for a easy shot or kick it to shane for a wide open shot." Leebigez, the problem with this statement of yours is T-mac havent drive thru the lane since 1937. With his knees injure, I doubt we'll ever see that driving ability again.
exactly what the hell is Artest doing in there with Wafer, Artest stopped the ball everytime he had the ball
can someone tell me when wafer and lowry and shane and whoever else it was that was in that line-up started crushing the blazers....why did rick sub...i think yao in? wtf?! did the blazer make an adjustment. i'm referring to the point when we finally got the lead at 64-62
Good grief! Don't have time to read through all 26 pages. And thank goodness for "cut and paste". There are disturbing trends here. Artest has been an offensive no-show for the last two games. Brooks and Lowry aren't hitting shots they need to hit and are committing fouls/turnovers they shouldn't. Put Wafer in that camp, too. Nobody is finishing around the rim like they need to. Landry looked like he was dazed and wasn't sure what game he was in last night. No excuse for the quick succession of fouls he committed. The fronting defense hasn't been consistently overcome all season. Don't expect miracles for Game 6? Maybe they'll do better and maybe they won't. It's the "maybe they won't" that will bother fans, players and coaches until proven otherwise. I'll keep repeating my mantra: It will be the Rockets defense that either wins it or loses this series for them -- assuming they have a consistent offensive game without all the fouls and turnovers.
Exactly. Yao is not great but good. It would not surprise if Brooks pulled the same nonsense during game 6. Yao has the power to change that. Will he?
We need to stick with what works. Luis Scola had 17 points in the first quarter and 4 points total in the other 3 quarters combined. If we went to him more often instead of ron and brooks chucking then we would have won. I believe this next game will determine Ron's future with the Rockets. Hopefully he won't read this post and come out like a hero chucking and missing.
Bill Simmons (ESPN) Playoff Q/A: Q: When the Rockets need a basket, why don't they pound the ball down low to Yao Ming, a great free-throw shooter who has a mismatch with whomever might be guarding him, instead of having Yao set picks 27 feet from the basket to set up unspeakably bad jumpers by Ron Artest? A: I ... I don't know. UGH
