If this team is going to win then this has to happen: 1. Cuttino must only concentrate on Defense and on opportunistic baskets. He can still average 14 point a game by getting loose balls or running the floor on fast breaks. 2. Jackson has to find his stroke. If Jackson keeps getting feeds from Yao, he better start making those wide open shots. If he doesn't, all the hustle he does is for nothing. 3. Francis must realise that he is the POINT GUARD in this system. Let's not forget he had his chance in Vancouver to be the shooting guard and he declined. He forced a trade to come to Houston because he wanted to play POINT GUARD. So, when Francis brings up the ball, he should be looking to pass; and if he want's to score, he should be cutting to the basket and maybe he get's a nice feed from Yao for a dunk or layup. 4. Cato must keep doing what he is doing. 5. Yao must continue to keep shooting and pass less. 6. Norris must be released or retrained!!!! 7. Piak must get healthy.
RE item 3, At the last game Steve was over-passing. I had a lot of problems with his decision making, but not his intent.
I disagree, coz if he starts to lower his passing he will get double teamed left and right, and end up turning the ball over. To be a good post player, you have to know how to pass. See: Karl Malone, Shaq, Hakeem, Walton, Sabonis. etc etc.
When he said pass less I dont think he was saing dont pass at all but that Yao Ming must like all the great Centers be a determined scorer rather than a Point Center. Yao Ming is a great passer unlike any of the Guards.
None of these would matter if Rockets does NOT have the chemistry JVG always talks about. It is NOT there for sure. I doubt it will be there soon.
Priority # 1 should be trade Cuttino. Cuttino in - bad team. Cuttino gone, winning team. Cuttino must be eliminated.
The Rockets main problem is their inability to feed the post. One guy playing 3/4 on Yao should not be able to deny an entry pass. This is the fault of both the perimeter players and Yao failing to execute correctly. If the Rockets can solve this problem, it will go a long way toward eliminating all there other problems.
The Rockets desperatly need Piat to get healthy. He is a true threat from the 3 point line. How many times haven't we seen Yao pass the ball to a wide open perimiter shooter just to miss the shot! Piat will take a lot of pressure off of Jackson. Once Jackson sees Piat making the 3 pointers, then the pressure will come off. Then we will have Piat and Jackson draining 3 pointers.
