tired of seeing negative bashing posts.. im taking a page from someone else's idea and want to discuss what the Rox have been improving in. From last season to this season or from the beginning of the year to now. 1. Defense - this is the first thing that comes to mind.. I keep hearing players talk about how good our defense was last year but it doesnt even seem close IMO. I think there is a huge difference between top tier defense (1-3) and the rest. 2. Assists - it seems like we are really moving the ball around and hitting the open. Our assist numbers have been excellent lately (minus Seattle) and it looks like we trust the other players to take the big shot. 3. Turnovers - someone started a thread that our turnovers have decreased over the last few games and im happy for that. so it appears our team is headed in the right direction.. I like the direction of the team for the most part.. and would be sad to lose anyone. side note : funniest quote I have heard on this BBS "Stupid, Ugly basketball Must Die!" J
I think as a team they have improved their basketball shapes as well. And this is where JVG starts to come in to play. Jeff has done a great job, of not only teaching a new system, but getting the team ready to play in it as well. Cato looks like he has dropped atleast 25 pounds, and looks alot more tone than he did last year. It has inabled Cato to get to the ball quicker for either a rebound, block, or his favorite alley-oop. Yao has definitley benifited from the extra muscle. He has gotten better at getting his position and holding it long enough to be effective. Ming is also alot stronger in the paint this year, but has alot of work to do if he wants to be a dominate force night in and night out. Francis has gotten stronger, but has not really benifited from the 10+ pounds of muscle . I mean the guy is built like a PF, so there is no reason for him not to be able to finish on a drive to the basket. Cat seems to be in better shape this year if that's even possible?
Another improvement I notice is the Rockets are off and running and taking a big lead in the 1st quarter for as long as I could remember. Now all they have to do is build on the lead until garbage time.
Another improvement I remember seeing during one of the stats the Sonics broadcasters were announcing was the Rockets were averaging just shy of 96 points a game since all star break in comparison to their season average of 88.1. I dunno how many PPG the Rox are averaging now after the Sonics game, but a 7 point PPG increase for the team is fantastic.
That's why stats tell half truths. Did the Sonic broadcasters conveniently forgot about the triple OT????
The biggest improvements are related to JVG. He has brought system, structure, discipline, motion, plays, defense, and conditioning. I like his intensity, determination, and committment. He is totally into it. It just hasn't rubbed off on all the players. Some personnel changes are needed to really "run" his system properlly. Some of you will be amazed what Ming can do when that happens. When the zone is being consistently "gunned" from the outside it will release its stranglehold on Ming and you know what he can do when he is single covered. A consistent outside shot will "free the tiger."
another thing im happy about this season is MoT's play.. he really has been a spark off the bench for the most part. Im also happy that Cato has really stepped up being a defensive juggernaut in the paint.. I think Yao called him "the guardian of our rim" I know he is still an offensive liability and cant chase people around the perimeter but hey no one is perfect. J
Roc...in discussing players that have lost weight or improived their condition... you forgot MoT.. it was talked about at the beginning of the season how he had lost more than 20 something pounds and came into camp in the best shape of his career. otherwise..I agre with most that has been posted already. Defense is up turnovers are decreasing lately ball movement has increased Yao is more aggressive Cato has shown up to play this year(a real shame about that O of his) Cat is passing more..defense is much better JJ has provided a nice lift that very few expected out of him Mo has provided a nice spark of the bench(more often that not) and even SF has changed somewhat how he plays...He looks to pass more often than shoot..(with that shooting %age...thank god for that)...his assits would be much higher if we could collectively hit the shots when open. anyway... we arent quite there yet...but we are closer than we were at the start of the season...I havent given up on them yet.
Progress? This team is slightly better defensively, much worse offensively. The "JVG experiment" has been a failure, and whether or not the Rockets make the playoffs this season, they are no closer to "returning to the promised land."
I agree, other than defense, I haven't seen much improvement in this team. The offense has been erased, so has the fast-breaks, but I wouldn't say it has been a failure. I do think that this season is a good example of things to come. We struggle against the WEST and destroy the EAST, JVG is an EASTERN style coach. WE NEED TO RUN, AND WE NEED TO SCORE A LOT IN THE WEST, PERIOD.
