In the fourth quarter when the Rockets couldn't buy a basket, the play calling went something like: Hakeem in the post against Shaq one on one - no double team came - AAAAAAAAA - shot clock violation. Moochie and Hakeem pick and roll - AAAAAAAAA - offensive foul as the shot clock went off. Moble ISO, Mobley ISO, Mobley ISO. Their only points came on a Hakeem offensive put back, a Taylor offensive rebound out to Mobley for a three and a Taylor shot from the wing on basically a broken play. With a sore elbow, Mobley had no business with that many ISO's. Hakeem shouldn't be expected to draw a double team against Shaq and he WAS looking for the double because he was already worn out from hacking Shaq on the other end. Which brings me to the whole Hack-a-Shaq thing. Yes, it gave them a shot at winning, but what the hell? I remember Rudy saying it didn't seem like a very smart thing to do when Portland attempted it in the playoffs. Ugh. ------------------ The way to use life is to do nothing through acting, The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu
I AGREE! How about Rudy calling a time out, drawing/pulling some play out of the air and his team goes out and executes the play into a shot clock violation. The pick and rolls with Hakeem which leaves him at the top of the key for a jumper was also a stroke of genius. ------------------ Respect Hakeem's legacy. A championship in the hand is worth two in the bush!!
On the Hakeem/Mooch pick and roll: I dont know whether it was good pick and roll defense by the Lakers, or just poor execution by Mooch & Hakeem. The Lakers just completely shut us down on that play. And Mooch made a bad decision by givin the ball to Hakeem that far out with Shaq right there. There really wasnt much that Hakeem could have done... MOoch should've just done his shake & bake move and pulled up for a jumper. Overall: TerRiBlE ExEcUtiOn. ------------------ da ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence - alaskanSnowman
I wish I could say I'm sorry I missed the game... The Thing That Gets Me -- As you pointed out Jeff, even with a sore elbow Mobley refused to defer to his teamates -- and the longer Rudy sanctions this kind of behavior with all the ISO play calling, the harder its going to be to pull Mobley from this mindset. ------------------ It doesn't matter if I have a signature!
Did anyone else hear when the Lakers got called for an Ilegal D, Philly J say "That's B*ullsh*t basketball!" LOL That cracked me up, it wasn't even bleeped. ------------------ Francis out top, 9 seconds on the clock, he gives a no look pass to Cuttino Mobley, 4 seconds left, Mobley passes to an open Langhi in the corner with 1 second left! Langhi at the buzzer.......YES!!! How Sweet It Is!!
WHY DID RUDY PULL moochie and put in WALT? The hack a shaq was unnecessary WALT Did nothing in the 4th I thought we were better with moochie ROCKET River ------------------
I am just dissappointed that we let another winnable game go by the wayside. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from Monkeys and Apes, then why are there still Monkeys and apes?
The major issue I had with the 4th qtr was the continuous dumping it down to Hakeem. Dream had a good game WITHIN the confines of the offense. It really annoyed me how he continuously hesitated on the low block and basically killed the Rockets offense. This is why I really dont understand how people on this board feel Hakeem can be a 20-10 player and still be a go-to guy. ZRB, Dakota etc must be looking at the situation through some kind of rose colored glasses or just kind of assuming it b/c they like the guy and wish he could become what he formerly was. I have noticed this throughout the season, Hakeem no longer has that spring and explosiveness on his low post moves and hesitates like crazy. He does well when he receives the ball within the offense and is hitting his mid range shot like he was tonight. This is why I was and am still so peeved about him demanding to be some kind of featured option on the low block. He's nowhere near what he once was and is no longer the best option on this team plain and simple. Tonight, Mo Taylor deserved the low block opportunities down the stretch and did not receive them. The guy was simply dominating Horace Grant when he received the ball, and the Rockets did not make him an option in the fourth. Hakeem was hesitating like crazy on the low block, and the Lakers defense was putting the choke hold on the guard isos and the Moochie-Dream screen and roll down the stretch. Why not vary it up and give the ball to Mo on the low block when he was dominating Grant? ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Hakeem needs to get into some kind of a rythm to be effective. He was hesitating cause Shaq was on him. Hell, who would not hesitate in that situation? I do agree that Mo should have gotten MO touches in the fourth, you should always play your mismatches. We lost because we have NO perimeter defense..NONE..SQUAT..NADA !!! Our guards could not guard a lump of coal, much less a superstar like Kobe. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from Monkeys and Apes, then why are there still Monkeys and apes?
I blame this loss more on 4th qtr execution than defense. The Rockets really started off slow defensively in the 1st qtr but then improved somewhat in the 2nd-4th. Their game plan of going hard at Shaq and allowing Kobe to go one on one is a very intelligent one. Kobe cannot singlehandedly defeat you, and the Rockets had a chance to win this in the 4th qtr. This Hakeem hesitation problem has been recurrent throughout the season its not something against only Shaq. He plays smoothly when he is playing off the guards, setting screens and hitting the mid range shots. It seems a lot of times esp since his extremely deft use of the media that the Rockets try to appease him and dump it to him in the low block. Lets face the facts, the explosion in Hakeem's low post game is gone, and he is very hesitant to go to his jump hook. His most successful games this season have been when he fits into the system and plays off the guards. Dumping it in to Dream in the 4th qtr is no longer a viable option. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Hakeem really needs to use his jump hook. I remember something on this board that I read where Rudy said that Hakeem could get 2 or 3 more baskets a game if he would just go to his hook shot. He said there's nothing wrong with Hakeem's knee, but Hakeem is still hesitant to put a lot of pressure on it, therefore limiting his jump hooks. It's like Hakeem just freezes in the middle of his moves. I'd rather have Hakeem going to a hook shot, rather than his fadeway Dreamshake anyway. But if he's planning to do his dreamshake fadeway, then he needs to DO IT instead of hesitating which hurt our offense tonight. But he played a great game today anyway. ------------------ da ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence - alaskanSnowman [This message has been edited by alaskansnowman (edited December 22, 2000).]
Wow, this from the same guy who tried to tear Jeff a new one, saying: "If you are not willing to accept the opinions of other viewers here at the bbs, that is one thing. But damn sure, DO NOT say that we are all naive like only you knowl!!" The fourth quarter wasn't exactly the Rockets "finest hour"... I think some who issue blame have some damn good points. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET [This message has been edited by Clutch (edited December 22, 2000).]
Clutch,,,I know for a fact MManal has something to blame after every game. You want me to pull the archives!! fire away!!
OK, but check the archives on "everyone else" too. I think, particularly this season, I've been critical of those who rip the Rockets after every loss. But this one was particularly frustrating. After going going 3-1 on the road trip, they're now 0-3 on this homestand and they could easily be 2-1. I found Mobley to be particularly frustrating. Mobley is no Vernon Maxwell -- he's a better scorer and penetrator than Vernon, which is why some of the decisions he makes, ala Vernon, is very angering. The fact Rudy's plays in the final minutes drew forced errors due to the 24-second shot clock winding down, and the best thing they could come up in the end was a three by Cuttino, who has been injured, is not encouraging to me. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
Call me the "Exaggeration" Police, but I don't think I was blasting people's opinions last night. I try my best to stick to issues that I can back up with quotes or tape. From a personal side, I don't look to find something to blame each loss on, but I damn sure used to back in by Rudy-bashing days!. So, when I see seas of blaming after each loss, I like to elbow the exaggerations! Now let's have a good "healthy debate" like Kagy loves. Fire away if you want to bash me, you all. I'll listen. Am I too belligerent, not joining in with the healthy vents? Or can elbowing inaccuracies be a fun Rabid Fan right, too? Hey Clutch,,,Why don't you once and for all do a poll about what our Fan type is. Type A: I need to vent after losses, so I don't explode like those Rabid Fans in Reliant Energy commercials. Type B: Losses hurt, and seeing venting makes it hurt more. Type oeilpere: I do both after losses, but usually alone while gripping the stirring wheel sitting in the garage, not wanting to go inside yet to see my daughter's sad face. Type grummett: sigh Type Crisco: <font size="6">DAMN!</font> ------------------ "I'm not going to censor myself or my opinions because some are sensitive...fire away!" --Jeff 12/7/00 [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited December 22, 2000).]
But, we were down by three. The defense will spread the arc and not allow good looks to tie it. I had no problem with Mobley's "look" or the time on the clock. You just don't have many luxuries when down by 3. As for the 4th Q play selection, that Moochie/Hakeem pnr in the center was working well. The Lakers stopped it eventually, and Moochie did not respond well so then Rudy yanked him for Walt. The Laker's defense definitely changed at around the 7 minute mark. I can't really argue with any bad play calling claims. Kobe was shadowing Francis, though. To me, this is a game where Rabid Fans like ourselves get so into the game and watch what our beloved Rockets are doing, we don't realize the opponents defense changed right in front of our eyes. We don't give the opponents defense credit. I was yelling at Hakeem for hesitating on the same shot he nailed several times; I was yelling at Moochie for dribbling into nowhere; I was yelling at Mo for passing up a shot with 4 sec remaining so we have to jack up a prayer; I was yelling at Cuttino for his atrocious transition decisions; but for the life of me, I can't yell at Cuttino for this 4th quarter, nor can I yell at Rudy for going to Two Shakes after the Lakers clamped down. Yelling at Two Shakes is a frustrating business. I don't envy Rocket's fans who are Type A about Mobley. This is going to be a long six years.
heyp: For many of us, it is a question of analysis. We feel the frustration but like to break down what was behind the problems. I blame execution, play calling, poor officiating and bad shot selection for the loss. ALL are frustrating and ALL are worthy of blame. Your original post was as much aggravation as it was exaggeration. Clutch: ------------------ The way to use life is to do nothing through acting, The way to use life is to do everything through being. - Lao-Tzu
HP, what is wrong with pointing out that Mo Taylor had it going tonight against Horace Grant but did not receive the ball down the stretch in the low block esp with the Laker defense choking the life out of Two Shakes, and the Moochie-Hakeem pnr? Even you admit the Laker defense changed so why not adjust to it instead of going to the same unsuccessful plays? Two Shakes is by no means some bulletproof play, Cuttino still does a questionable job adjusting to the weakside defender that comes over on the trap. Either Mobley needs to get better at handling these situations or Rudy needs to stop calling that play so much down the stretch. I have a problem when the most gifted player in our frontcourt has a huge matchup advantage and is not receiving the ball down the stretch. Mo Taylor is very capable of drawing the double team and if he doesnt get it, he will completely abuse Horace Grant. One thing I'll give Rudy credit for tonight, he finally gave Kenny Thomas a good dose of the pine and went with Mo Taylor for long minutes. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
You're telling me about our thirst for analysis. lol I can tell you it's an exaggeration to say a lot of people want to break down the game. I wish there were more. hehe. Let's not turn this thread into continuous rants. You're right! I exaggerated with the "everyone else". If you want to break down the game, please stop staring at Mobley so much. Can we start with one thing. What was happening when we lost the 7 point lead? I recall a Laker clamp down and a Moochie meltdown. At 3 or 4 minutes we were tied, and Moochie got yanked. Nobody looked willing to take the shot. Motion was there. Kobe was tailing Francis's every move. Two Shakes was used 3 times. The Lakers at 1:30 decided to trap 2 Shakes well outside the 3 point arc. I don't see the bad play calling. I saw the Rockets afraid to shoot, except for Mobley. If Rudy saw that, it is no wonder he went to 2 Shakes after yanking Moochie. Jeff, I know Phil plays this mind-game with Rudy saying ISOs are not basketball. But 2 Shakes is a weapon...we must agree on that. Tell me when are the ideal times to use it. Really, I just want some opinions here. I promise I'm done with my elbows from last night...not like that would bother you anyhow
