You hit the nail right on the head. I went to the Laker's game and from my point of view (18 rows up & directly behind the backboard) I could tell the Rox were running pretty much the same play over and over with just a few variations. Nachbar and Bowen would just stand in the corner for most of each possession and the PGs dribble around with little purpose. I was with 2 of my cousins and all we can comment is how boring the game was compared to watching it on TV. It was almost eeree (sp) how we could clearly hear the shoe squeeking over the 15,000+ fans most of the time. Bottom line: The Rockets need to scrap this boring offense ASAP.
I will admit that I've been in the club section a few times, and would have to agree that if they had the food in there everywhere there would be no room to complain. However, I'm not able to afford those seats and don't have the luxury of the "real food." Pugs
I was a season ticket holder for 18 years, so I am somewhat qualified to speak to the home crowd issue. Rockets crowds have always been somewhat fairweather, but they are much worse than they used to be. I went to the Lakers game last Saturday night to give Rudy his due. The fans were horrible, as was the game. In the old days the Lakers on Saturday night would have been a GREAT crowd. Probably 3/4 of the seats in the lower bowl between the end lines were empty when the game started. That didn't used to be the case, they would have been 3/4 full. It is hard to say what the cause is, but I don't think it's boring basketball. Bill Fitch and Don Chaney had graduate degrees in boring basketball. I think it has more to do with the exorbitant cost of tickets. While tix have always been expensive, they were not so far out of reach as they are now. As I recall my tix about 6 rows behind the Rockets bench were about $17 in 1982. Now, most of the people in the lower bowl are more interested in their blackberrys than the basketball game. The ring of suites which puts the rabid fans so far away from the floor don't help either. Too bad.
I'm actually considering not getting tickets next year already. I've already missed one game I had tickets to because I just wasn't enthused enough to go. I was going to get tickets to another game (last night) but decided not to simply because I don't think it's worth it anymore. Thank God I didn't go to that one game or get tickets for last night's game because they have been the 2 worst home games thus far. I'm going to serve out the rest of my "suspension" and finish off the tickets I have, or at least try to, and see where it goes from there. I just don't look forward to ANYTHING that the Rockets have to offer. I don't just mean the team either, our performances (half time, time outs, etc.), food, parking, those are all what I would consider below average based on my previous experiences. A funny thing is, I've actually learned over the last couple of years to expect certain things. 1) When we're up by more than 10, expect a comeback from the other team. 2) When we're down by more than 10 expect a comeback (start getting excited) and fall apart at the end of the game (most likely a turnover that costs us either the game itself, or a chance to win the game (breaks our hearts)). 3) When playing a bad team expect a close game with us barely coming out on top most of the time (most teams would be up by a good amount and could rest their starters). 4) When playing a good team expect a close game expect with us usually making another crucial mistake that costs us. I'm sure I could go on and on, but this just seems to be the trend. I see one of these things is happening and expect the worst, which is usually the outcome. I'm not saying I'm psychic, I'm just saying something needs to change because those goes back to not only this season, but the last 2-3 seasons as well. Pugs
Yup. This has nothing to do with population. It's one of the largest cities in the US. As for not being raucous, give me a break. This place was nuts during the Luv Ya Blue and Rockets championship years. But after that they stopped winning and off the bandwagon people went.
Last night was the first game I attended this year. I was dissapionted to see how dead the crowd was. I only went to 7 games last year and the games that I picked as part of a package were against some good/popular teams. In addition, it was later in the year. I was hoping the time of year and quality of opponent had more to do with the apathy of the crowd.
You would think that TMac/Yao would have Houston in a frenzy at games. I think any town would, even Atlanta!! But people aren't going to spend money to watch this kind of basketball. Its ugly, its not entertaining, its frustrating, and most important of all- we're not winning.
TICKETS are way too HIGH!!! I had season tix in 93-94 and remember going to playoff games that were not even sold out. I had good upper prom seats for $24, you can't get any decent seats for that price now. Seems like only the middle age or older folks can really afford the games and not the wild crazy half drunk younger fans! Just my 2 cents.
The one positive thing about the dead crowd is that I can yell at the players or the refs from the upper deck and be heard by about 10,000 people. There's nothing like yelling, "You suck, Moochie!", or "Danny Crawford, your officiating is subpar at best!" and being heard by the actual people on the court. I'm definately reaching on this one.
Push the ball! If it's not there, wait for Yao to catch up, do his high PNR thing, whatever. This complete lack of initial offense is hideous. Which is worse: missed, ill-advised, quick shots or missed, desparate, shot-clock bricks? I mean, we're getting as many shots blocked by the shot clock as by defenders... It's frustrating. Thing is, I think Ward and Lue can push the ball. Oh, the wisdom of the old Doug Moe Nuggets! Let's face it: these are entertainment dollars we're talking about. If JVG would let his guys jack it up and crash the boards, and marketing would let the fans have a shot at free chicken or tacos or Big Macs, the Rockets in the Toyota Center could be as rocking as the gladiators in the Coliseum. Or, at halftime, fans could bet on which terrorist dropped from the rafters isn't wearing a parachute. Seriously, if I'm taking my family to the game, I want to see some smart, skilled basketball-- not gimmicks. JVG doesn't seem to understand that you at least need to get a shot off to have a chance to score. And, Jeff, if you're gonna depend on your D to produce points, why aren't we pressuring the ball more and earlier in the backcourt? Anyway, that's my suggestion to put fat butts and wallets in the stands: improve the entertainment. Push the ball, on both offense and defense.
I've been to 3 games this year and the crowd has been sub par every time. I hate the Toyota Center but I realize the Rockets will never play in the Summit again. I can't afford the club level seats so I have to sit in the nose bleed seats and the seat Nazi's and the separation of the have's and the have not's make the whole experience a lot less enjoyable than it was before. I'm excited to watch Tmac and Yao play but the over all play isn't as exciting as teams in years past. Too many touch fouls outside the paint and too many muggings in the paint with no calls. That and the zone D has killed the effectiveness of post players in my opinion.
JayZ thats a bunch of crap. Houston is the 4th largest city in America. Plenty of people to fill up a stadium. Boston is not bigger than Houston. Neither is Portland. Neither is a WHOLE BUNCH of other cities that get people into their sports building. Plain and simple, Houston is a great, great city. But SPORTWISE, its the absolute WORST. Its a high school football, pro football city. If the Stros are good, then they get above average there. But Houston isn't what I think about when I think passion and sports.
Well, if the crowd was like me last night, they were sound asleep by the 2nd period. Sorry, but watching Rockets basketball these days is the best cure for insomnia I've ever known.
It doesn't help when the team on the floor isn't entertaining. There were a few times where I got escited, and that was when the and1 plays occured, other than that it was boring. No fast breaks (atleast not many) and the slow gritty grinding it out play just doesn't sell well.
old oiler fans do you remember? 1.the man with the steal hat that use to beat the drum (dont remember his name)? 2.the dude who use to roll out o the field after a kickoff to get the football T? I think his name was( mojo) . 3.the other dude with the ball head (crazy george) use to beat the drum sometimes as well. 4.and of course the cheerleaders. these people all got the crowd involved maybe the rockets could use some people to walk thru the aisles and in the upper deck to get the crownd involved somekind of way.
