I agree with you. Also, I hate that people are always calling these players dumb. NBA basketball is fast and furious. You don't have time to think out there. It's about instinct. Any coach will tell you that when you start thinking out there instead of reacting and playing off instinct, you get in trouble. The game looks very simple from your coach, but I'd like to see these guys on the floor with players running all around you and one guy hounding you for the ball and the shot clock running down. I want to see how some of these posters would react.
No, I think if Popovich was coaching the Rockets, we'd be in the Finals right now instead of the Spurs. It's all about DISCIPLINE. Oh, and if Avery Johnson was his assistant, we'd have already beaten the Nets.
I agree with you too but I should clarify. I read a coach's article somewhere that said, dumb and low BB IQ on the court are really not the same as being stupid in real life. I for one would not use the word in that context. The article also said low BB I.Q. more likely comes from the lack of preparation, lack of practice, lack of knowledge of the game, lack of understanding of what is right or wrong, or more precisely, what has a better chance to succeed and what fails more, (.i.e. reach in on defense). You are right that the pro game is so fast that u don't have time to think. That makes it even more important to prepare, to practice game situations, again and again, so it becomes second nature (or instinct as you call it) . The Rockets are a prime example. We apparently tried hard, we look like we could do the right things. But at times, especially when things go bad, we seem to revert back to the old bad habits and make dumb mistakes. Does it tell u they did not have it drilled in their head? It does me. I understand what u said about the pressure as the clock winds down but the Rockets brought that upon themselves. We almost always start the offense late, around the 14 sec mark is our norm, not the exception.
Rocket River, I am sorry I did not read this thread earlier. I am in full agreement with you. We had a similar arguement on this board last year and in fact I betted and lost. I am convinced the major reason we lost was due to coaching which thankfully is now changed. I love our team with the only exception being Maddox. We should have gotten Smush instead. Big mistake by CD and co, it seems on Maddox. If Smush Parker was on this team right now, our pg position would be all set and have no question marks like there may be now. Even Tierre Brown should have been kept. I am very excited about JVG's level of openess regarding the style to be played and how the players are going to be used. I hope he would lengthen the rotation, speed up the game on both sides of the floor. In fact if he really wants to win and win big like he says, the team will have to approach the energy and efficiency of the Dallas Mavs. Just like you think we compare talentwise with the Spurs, I also think we compare with the Mavs too, funny enough. If we decide to speed up the game and really open it up boldly, as early as day 1, we are going to be dangerous. Look at what NJ is doing with inferior talent to ours. They are only able to do it by runnning, opening up the game and busting their butts on defense which collectively the product of great coaching.
You're never going to get over are you?? What is it gonna take?? Seriously, how many games would the Rockets have to win next year for you change your mind?
Well, you are comparing playoff Spurs to regular season Rockets. The playoffs are all about hustle. Chasing down loose balls, Saving the out of bounds play, etc. So, it is hard to comment on the hustle. But talent wise we are close to them. I would compare Stephen Jackson to Mobley though. Both are aggresive scorers who sometime forget the offensive scheme and just jack up shots. The difference between the Spurs and Rocks though is Tim Duncan. I can't stand the droll faced guy, but he is the best player in the league right now. Francis and Yao are behind KG, Shaq, Kobe, McGrady, Nowitski, Kidd, and arguably a few other players. I get your point, but I think you are not giving enough credit to Duncan. If he had any kind of fire and would take over in the final quarter of big games, the spurs would be virtually unstoppable. As is, he is the most talented and skilled player in basketball today. Man I hate the spurs.
