Fortunately, I DO run the wagon. How about some nice duct tape for those ankles you broke jumping off in the first place, New Yorker? Wanna tape them back together? Maaaaaaybe we can let you sit on the hood or something? I have a whole warehouse full of tape. Don't be ashamed, non-believers. I can tape some up this weekend. I am free.
I'm sure that most of the role players' shots increase when Yao or TMac play less, meaning that they not only will take more shots in those games but likely will not benefit from doubles on our stars. That doesn't bode well for any of their %'s, but esp the PG who ultimately has to do something with the ball when no one is open.
What I draw from this data is that when Rafer shoots more, it means that Tmac and/or Yao are absent or being defended effectively (double/triple before the pass). This makes him think that he has to do more offensively (for example, the Phoenix game when we had neither Tmac and Yao, he shot 25 times and made 12 of them yet we lost). Unfortunately for the team this often means he's the only one doing anything. This generally leads to the team losing. I've said before that as long as Rafer plays within his role, he's an average or above average PG. The problem is when he's forced to exceed that role. Fortunately, we have Tmac and Yao (and to a lesser extent Juwan and Battier) to lessen the chances of that.
It's sad that once people criticize the team they are "off the bandwagon". I guess objectivity is a sin around here.
There is difference between being critical of certain plays or games. To be critical of a whole team, classify guys as scrubs, and say we cant win is different. Now the rockets start to win and suddenly there not that bad after all. Just my opinion.
Thats called "Flip Flopping". And personally, I think if you are constantly critical of the team, its hard for anyone to seriously think of you as a fan. So if you say that the team is full of scrubs and can't win. You aren't a fan in my book. I dont know you personally so I dont know if you really are a fan, but you certainly aren't acting like a fan. Its one thing to be objective and say that you dont think our chances are good, but its another to say "oh, we suck, we are full of scrubs and cant win"
Neither, I just love the Rockets. My love for this team doesn't blind me of the reality. If I see they can win I will say it. If I see problems that prevent them from winning I will say it. There have been changes, and with those changes results, and with those results, I can see the possibility I could not before. As for what kind of fan I am - you can judge however you wish. Either way, for me, I watch every game I can, go to MSG once a year to watch the Rockets, will fly try to fly down to Houston to catch on of the playoff games, whether it's the first or last game - it doesn't matter. I've watched and rooted for this team for 25 years. I've traveled from the Thai hill country back to Bangkok so I could watch the entire playoffs on satelitte TV back in 95. Did I think we had a chance? No. But i watched anyway. I spent a month is sweaty and hellish bangkok getting up at 7:30am in the morning to watch the games live. I gone to watch games when the Rockets were a 25 win team. I went last year. I don't care if we are winning or losing - I watch regardless. I'll always watch the Rockets, no matter how bad they suck. If we are 10-60, I'd still be on this board. I'd still go to games. And i'd still enjoy watching the games....this team has brought me a lot of joy in the past - and it wasn't 1994, it was 1986 that made me a fan for life. I'm a Rockets maniac - I have the 1994 tarnished decaying newspaper still hanging on for life.. If you want to say I am a bandwagoner or not on the bandwagon - that's fine. Really - it doesn't bother me - in fact, it makes me smile - cause I know what I am, and words can't take that away.
I THINK YOU GT IT WRONG,I WAS TALKING ABOUT NEWYORKER,NOT MYSELF BUDDY. I AM A DIEHARD ROCKETS FAN THE LAST 15 YEARS. YOU WONT FIND ME SAYING NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT THE ROCKETS!!!
It think once the defense gives him the shot and Rafer starts hitting them, the defense is no longer giving him that wide open shot, hence him having a high % and not taking that many shots anymore. This breaks it open for the rest of the team.
My opinion hasn't changed. I'll never rule out the possibility of them winning a championship. I never thought it made sense to do so. At the same time, I recognize that them winning it all is a long shot. I think that's the only realistic position, at this point.
And yet you've been here on this site for a month, and have the gall to call a guy who's been a Rockets fan for nearly 25 years a bandwagoner. A fan before we picked Ralph Sampson - and while you may remember the day Francis picked the winning numbers to get Yao - I remember the day the coin flipped and we won - and Phi Slamma Jamma was going to stay in the NBA. And then they eliminated the coin flip because we tanked games to get Hakeem. And then we passed on Clyde for Rodney McCray the next season. Yeah, I'm a bandwagoner. If I watched Cedric Maxwell, David Wood, Chuck Nevit, Buck Johnson, the coke brothers lewis loyd and wiggins, dirk minnifield, world b free, sleepy floyd, joe barely cares, oh man.... Dude - call me a bandwagoner all you wants. You can't touch me!
Just to clarify, it's not necessarily Rafer choosing to shoot less. Rafer is going to get open shots. Everyone is going to get open shots because of TMac and Yao creating; that's just how this offense works. When Rafer shoots well, the defenses will double off of other Rockets, which means the open shot will go elsewhere. When Rafer shoots crappy, teams will continue to give him the open look. And Rafer is soooo streaky, so a 1/5 start to the night has a really good chance of ending up 3/15, which most likely means the Rockets lose. Defensively, Rafer is above average. He's quick enough to stay in front of most guards 1 on 1 (he gets burned at times, but that happens to EVERYBODY). He slaps down when he gets beat, and he also slaps down on help defense...which hurts more than helps in my opinion. Quick guards kill the Rockets, but that's due more to team defense on the Pick and Roll (slow big men in Yao, Deke, and Juwon). We are a dark horse contender in my opinion. I hope and expect them to beat the Jazz, and they have a punchers chance vs. Dallas. I'd be pleasantly surprised if they beat Dallas and absolutely shocked if they beat Phoenix. I'll be rooting for the Rockets all the way though.
I made a change to your post if you agree: I confess 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. I confess ... ..., we got a chance, a tiny one but hey, better to be the underdog - just makes it sweeter. Whatever, I do believe you care about Rox.
