I know I said we weren't a contender - but a few things I've seen recently (and it's not the win streak) - have addressed a lot of the major issues i've seen with this team. Namely - Rafer Alston is shooting less. He's still a liability on D as he can't defend a guard off the dribble for the life of him. But maybe it just might be good enough if he doesn't shot so much. Secondly, we're moving the ball up the court much fast then I have ever seen a JVG team do. It's shocking. Who are these Rockets? Players breaking after a rebound? That's doing 2 things - easy baskets and much better passing - and putting pressure on opposing teams when they are on offense. Long rebounds now turn into opportunities for us - a page from the Phoenix Suns? JVG can adopt? We still need howard to never put the ball on the floor, and t-mac and yao to find a finishing touch....wouldn't hurt if hayes could learn to stay out of foul trouble...but we got a chance, a tiny one but hey, better to be the underdog - just makes it sweeter.
I hear that. It will be interesting to see how many people start warming up to the rockets as we continue to play well heading into the playoffs. I guess those crummy Rockets aren't that bad afer all!
I also notice Shane no longer hesitates when he's wide open in the corner, no matter where the shot clock is. That is a step in the right direction too.
again, we can all talk now but the point is moot if we don't get out of the first round. we have to PROVE it. actions speak louder than words. JVG, tmac, and yao know that. the game yesterday was a good starting point. but they have to win in the playoffs for ppl to consider us elite.
I believe we are way too dark not many people think we are dark horse anymore. Rockets is a top 5 team, along with Mavs, Sun, Spurs and Pistons.
Someone mentioned in the game thread and I agreed with his take...the Piston didn't give a full out effort because they play the Spurs tonight on a back to back and see the Spurs as a more worthy opponent to get up for, possibly a Finals opponent...only gave a serious effort at the end when they had the chance.
I said it, because the Pistons and Spurs played a 7 game NBA finals two years ago. Just like the Mavs and Heat, the Pistons and Spurs won't look at each other the same again. I can't wait to watch that game tonight. Coming off a loss, the Pistons should play inspired basketball like they did recently against the Suns and Mavs.
Correction: I didn't say the Pistons lacked a full effort. They just weren't the same team I've watched the last week and I attribute some of that to looking ahead to the Spurs.
Co-sign, It definitely too late to start hopping back on the bandwagon. Yall can catch a ride somewhere else.
I would say it's been more Rafer making his shots than taking less. He has done an outstanding job from long range in 4 of his last 5 games and strong from inside the arc for the most part also. In the playoffs, I don't think it will be a matter of just Rafer shooting less... he'll have to shoot when the defense gives him the shot. That's required on this team when you're a spot-up shooter around Yao and T-Mac in the halfcourt. And if he's not able to hit consistently, defenses will double on Yao/T-Mac and give him that shot all day. He'll just have to knock it down. If Rafer shoots well in the playoffs, this team could do serious damage. I agree though that if you had Rafer shooting the same poor percentage from the field that he has most of this season, it would be a matter of reducing his shots (or time). Just watch the Rockets winning percentage wilt to nothing on this chart... <table width="450" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor=#000000><td align=center><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1"><tr bgcolor=#cc0033><td><font face=arial size=1 color=#ffffff><B>RAFER - NUM. OF SHOTS</B></font></td><td><font face=arial size=1 color=#ffffff><B>RAFER - FG%</B></font></td><td><font face=arial size=1 color=#ffffff><B>RAFER - 3P%</B></font></td><td><font face=arial size=1 color=#ffffff><B>ROCKETS W-L</B></font></td><td><font face=arial size=1 color=#ffffff><B>WIN %</B></font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>Less than 8 shots</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>40.6%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>38.1%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>5-1</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.833</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#eeeeee><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>8 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.7%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.5%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>39-24</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.619</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>9 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>38.4%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>38.9%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>36-21</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.632</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#eeeeee><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>10 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>38.0%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>38.6%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>34-20</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.629</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>11 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.2%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>36.8%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>28-17</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.622</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#eeeeee><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>12 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.1%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.1%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>25-15</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.625</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>13 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.2%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.9%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>20-14</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.588</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#eeeeee><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>14 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>36.2%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.1%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>15-11</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.577</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>15 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>36.6%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.8%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>12-10</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.546</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#eeeeee><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>16 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>36.6%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>36.1%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>7-9</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.438</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>17 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>37.2%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>34.7%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>5-8</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.385</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#eeeeee><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>18 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>38.6%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>28.3%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>2-5</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.286</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>19 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>41.9%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>26.7%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>1-3</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.250</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#eeeeee><td align=left><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>20 shots or greater</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>41.8%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>19.0%</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>0-3</font></td><td align=center><font face=arial size=2 color=#000000>.000</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table> Pretty soon you'll have your one-year anniversary of talking Rockets here... good job!
I do not understand why detroit waited until the 4th Q to aggressively let sheed post up hayes and billups post up alson. One reason might be yao got two fouls in the first 2 minutes, they were to eager to attack yao.
Unfortunately, you don't run the wagon. the Rockets have done things I said they had to do in order to contend. They took care of the two biggest things....maybe JVG reads my posts. Just kidding of course
That's an intriguing chart - and i think that taking less shots is only represented of something even more important which you are getting at. Rafer has IMPROVED his shot selection. He's not taking wild 3-pointers off the dribble....he's passing more, and he isn't driving and taking shots in the midst of 2-4 defenders. Instead, he does what he does best - taking spot of three's off of double teams. It may help that Yao is getting back in his groove. Yao clearly is more valuable then the 25/10 he puts up...because if defenses didn't focus like they have to on him, he's put up much bigger numbers and shoot 60% from the field as he was doing early in the season. It will be interesting to see if Hayes can manage the SF position. The real test will come when we face Carlos Boozer on the first, that might give some sneak peek into our future. It's not winning or losing as much as it's more about seeing how Rafer and the role players play down the strech.
I like the picks and cuts they are doing with or without the ball at the top of the key... creating atleast more movement on the offensive end... Tmac and Yao will bring it to the next level... but our role players will decide how far we go... ill be happy if we put on a good show... and get some free agent interest for next year... and maybe win it all in a few years...
We still aren't title contenders, but we are close. We just need one more scorer who can create shots for himself, a decent shot blocking 4, and a backup pg. Then we will be a legit contender. If we can address those 3 issues this coming off season, then we will become a power house.
pretty amazing stats....i was just trying to think of any other teams that have so much depend on one of their role players. i can't think of one. it is pretty sad how much effect rafer has on this team. we have 2 of the best players in the league, but it seems the guy who has the most effect on the W/L is rafer. We know what we are getting generally with Yao and T-Mac, but rafer's play makes us either a championship team or a bunch of pretenders. God I hope rafer has an amazing playoff run.
